Reusable Menstrual Cups - What Are They, And Why Should You Use One?

Companies across the globe have waged war on disposable straws and plastic bags in recent years. Have you wholeheartedly embraced these small changes to fight climate change? You may choose to fight the next battle in your underwear. The disposable menstrual products you use every month are an unwanted legacy your great-grandchildren will still be dealing with, after all. 

Menstruation may be an integral part of being a woman in your reproductive years, but it's hardly something you look forward to every month — unless of course you think you may be pregnant but really, really don't want to have a baby. Most women consider periods to be a literal pain. They're also messy, and menstrual pads or tampons can be expensive.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was something — anything — that could make menstruation better? Periods are the top reason women take time off work. When you brainstorm what could possibly make your periods easier for you, over-the-counter painkillers are probably the first thing that comes to mind... while a reusable menstrual cup is probably not on your radar at all.

A reusable menstrual cup? What on earth is that, anyway? For the last two years, it's been a great companion to my menstrual periods, and I'm not the only woman whose monthly cycle has radically changed for the better after being introduced to these miraculous products. Before you write women who use reusable menstrual cups off as crazy, you may want to hear what they are and why you should consider using one too.

What Is A Reusable Menstrual Cup?

A reusable menstrual cup is a flexible cup that fits snugly into your vagina, where it collects menstrual fluids. Today's reusable menstrual cups are generally made from medical-grade silicone, which is hypoallergenic. They are bell-shaped and have a stalk or ball at the end, to enable users to remove the cup easily. Menstrual cups tend to come in two sizes — a smaller size for women who are under 30 and have never experienced vaginal childbirth, and a larger cup for everyone else.

Two examples of silicone reusable menstrual cups that are currently on the market are the Diva Cup and the Moon Cup. Women who are not allergic to latex can also choose the Keeper rubber menstrual cup.

You may never have heard about reusable menstrual cups before, but the first bell-shaped reusable menstrual pad was actually patented way back in 1932. Back then, they called it a “vaginal receptacle” and said that it was designed to improve women's menstrual experience. Today, various brands of reusable menstrual cups are FDA-approved in the United States — meaning they are safe, as long as you use them as instructed.

These cups don't absorb menstrual fluids but simply collect them inside, without being exposed to air. While tampons have long been associated with toxic shock syndrome (TSS), no cases of this dangerous reaction have been reported with reusable menstrual cups at all. In fact, you may leave the Moon Cup in place for up to 12 hours.

Diva Cups or Moon Cups may be cleaned with soap and water before reinserting one during menstruation, and are generally boiled in a specially designated pan between periods. The manufacturers of the Moon Cup advise against boiling, saying that thoroughly rinsing the cup with vinegar is just as effective and that boiling reduces the life of the cup. More tricky parts can be cleaned with a toothbrush you keep just for that purpose, and cups should be stored in a place where air circulates afterward. Mine came in a cotton bag that is just perfect for storage. As long as you care for your cup properly, you can use it for many years before buying a replacement.

How A Menstrual Cup Can Improve Your Periods

I got my reusable menstrual cup, a Moon Cup, as a gift after my youngest child was born. I breastfed for two years and didn't have a period that whole time, so it was a while before I got the chance to test it out. I was skeptical and saw the cup as a neat experiment that probably wouldn't last long. I am still using it two years later, with great pleasure. I have no desire to ever return to tampons or sanitary pads.

My biggest worry was that using the Moon Cup would be really messy, and you probably have the same concern. To my great surprise, I actually found that my menstrual cup never leaks and that taking it out is just as easy as removing a tampon.

The cup has a greater capacity than a tampon or menstrual pad, so more blood can collect inside. Because that blood does not come into contact with air, it doesn't have a nasty odor, though, and the cup can remain inside for longer periods of time. The cup even has measures on it so you know the exact volume of fluids and tissues collected.

It is clear, then, that modern reusable menstrual cups offer a viable alternative to disposable feminine hygiene products, at least for some women. Some distinct advantages of reusable menstrual cups are:

• The hypoallergenic silicone doesn't irritate your vagina. There are no chemicals, and the vagina's natural pH value is undisturbed. This is in contrast to tampons.

• They are cost-effective. After your initial purchase of the cup, your periods won't cost you money for at least several years.

• You no longer have to carry menstrual supplies with you — everything you need is in the right place already!

• Menstrual cups are environmentally friendly. You won't throw piles of pads or tampons away any longer.

• You will be able to assess the volume of menstrual fluid, as well as keeping an eye on blood clots or larger tissues. This could be particularly beneficial to women with certain medical conditions.

• Menstrual fluids absorbed by tampons or menstrual pads are exposed to the air. A chemical reaction occurs that makes everything smell a bit nasty — which is exactly why these conventional sanitary products are perfumed. Fluids collected in a menstrual cup don't smell nasty.

When I first started using a reusable menstrual cup, I was especially impressed by another benefit — menstruation became less painful. I stopped cramping. At first, I thought this change was caused by other factors, so I returned to tampons to see what would happen. The pain and cramping returned. Later on, I read on blogs and discussion boards that many other women noticed the same positive side effect. Note that there is nothing scientific about this observation, though it's logical enough. Reusable menstrual cups contain no chemicals and do not dry the vagina out, after all. 

If reading about menstrual cups has made you curious enough to try one, do make sure that you purchase the right size. When you receive your cup, read the accompanying instructions thoroughly. There are several ways in which these cups can be inserted and removed, and you will want to experiment a little before settling down in a way that works for you. 

An Update

This article was originally published in 2013. The end of my reproductive years is delightfully in sight now, but I never switched back to disposable menstrual products once I discover reusable menstrual cups. These cups come with a slight learning curve. Once you master them, your periods fade into the background. Barely noticing your periods is one of the most delightful things a woman in her reproductive years could enjoy, and shopping for a new cup every few years is infinitely cheaper and more pleasant than buying tampons every month. 

If you're not on the reusable bandwagon yet, I'd highly encourage you to give it a go. You have nothing to lose and plenty to gain. That gain is mostly a loss — you won't have to dispose of tampons or pads, you won't have to pay for them, and you won't have to deal with awful cramps.