So, you’ve decided to make the move to menstrual cups and reusable underwear. Congratulations! Not only will you be saving your hard-earned $$ but you will also be helping to save the environment. Or perhaps you haven’t yet made the life-changing leap but I’m sure after reading this you will and for that I also say congratulations!

What exactly is a menstrual cup?

A menstrual cup is exactly what it sounds like, it’s a silicone or rubber funnel that you insert into your vagina to catch period fluid. Although they have only recently become popular, they have been around a while with the first commercial menstrual cup dating back to 1937! They are an alternative to tampons and have taken the world by storm as they have a range of advantages. Many have also swapped out pads for reusable underwear, again due to the long list of pros. So, let’s take a closer look at what some of these advantages are …

The pros:

(Honestly, there are so many I’m not really even sure where to start).

(1). They are eco-friendly. On average a person menstruating will use anywhere between 5000 to 15000 tampons and pads throughout their lifespan, almost all of which will end up in a landfill. Crazy right!

(2). They will save you money. A menstrual cup costs roughly around $30 to $40 and can be reused for up to 10 years depending on the brand. Compared to a pack of tampons which costs roughly around $2 to $6 and will only last you a few cycles. Again, this is similar to the cost of reusable underwear, although the initial purchase may seem steep your savings will be evident throughout your cycles!

(3). Menstrual cups can also be left in for 12 hours and can hold much more blood than a tampon or pad can. Now this one is a double win, as it means you don’t have to change your products as regularly or even worry about spillage from leaving in a pad or tampon too long. I also find sleeping in reusable underwear much less stress-free as you don’t need to worry about your pad moving in the middle of the night and consequently ruining your sheets.

Of course, like any product there are a few cons, the main one being putting in a menstrual cup can sometimes be a bit uncomfortable. A pro tip for insertion especially for the first time is to lubricate the rim of the cup with either water or water-based lube, as a wet menstrual cup is much easier to insert. And check out this website for a step-by-step guide for insertion with diagrams: https://moxie.com.au/blogs/the-regular/how-to-use-a-menstrual-cup. Another con is the removal of your cup can be messy. If you find that it is always a messy removal, try taking it out in the shower as this will avoid any clean up!

Although there are a few cons, these products have raving reviews and so many pros in comparison to the traditional tampons and pads. It’s no wonder the world has become obsessed with both menstrual cups and reusable underwear, especially when they are so eco-friendly and so much cheaper. If you are interested in trying out a menstrual cup or reusable underwear, we have created a list of our favourite brands below, but we also recommend you do your own research. You can buy many of these brands for your local woolworths/coles and almost any chemists or pharmacys. Read around, compare your options, and fall in love with this new way of managing your period.

Our favourite brands:

Modibodi

DivaCup

Moxie

Lunette

The TOMCO

Bonds

By AlexisPallister

Sources:

https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/search/products?searchTerm=tampons

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/tired-of-tampons-here-are-pros-and-cons-of-menstrual-cups/

https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/menstrual-cup