Cheers – My experience with menstrual cups

I’m Alina, 27, have no children, and I enjoy yoga and Pilates. Do these facts about me seem a bit random? Not when you’re trying to figure out what size menstrual cup you need. Maybe you don't even know if you want to know what size you need, because you're unsure if you even want to use such a "thing." That's why we'll start from the beginning. I'll tell you about my experiences with cups, and then you can decide if they might be for you.

As I'm typing, it actually occurs to me that the first time I really noticed menstrual cups was on the shelf in the drugstore (very old-school, as I wasn't a fan of social media yet!) – specifically, when I was buying tampons again. Nowadays, those shelves offer so much more than conventional tampons and pads: menstrual cups, reusable pads, period underwear, soft tampons – take a closer look next time. So, I browsed the shelf a bit, looked at the different sizes, shapes, and colors, and then... I bought tampons first. Not because I thought the idea of using a menstrual cup was silly or gross, but because I was unsure if I wanted such a "change" and because I didn't want to throw away 10 to 20 €. At home, however, I immediately delved into the topic, sifted through blogs & forums, read positive and negative reviews, and after a short time decided: I want to try this!

Honestly, the decision to use a menstrual cup wasn't driven by sustainability for me. Of course, I thought it was great that it produces less waste than disposable products like individually wrapped tampons and pads. What ultimately convinced me, however, was that:

• it doesn't dry out mucous membranes and is comfortable to insert and remove, even at the beginning or end of the period.
• tampons aren't lying around everywhere (I still found "reserve" tampons in the side pockets of my handbags months after switching).
• when I go on vacation, I don't have to calculate how many tampons I need per day to have enough, and then in the worst case, forget to bring any anyway.
• I save money, because over the years, that adds up to significant savings.
• I can wear the menstrual cup for up to 8 hours without having to change it.

So I compared various cups online. That wasn't easy at all, because there are countless providers. After a little research, I decided on a standard cup with a pouch for €18 in the small size (20 ml), which, by the way, was in 2017. Why the small cup? Three criteria were specified by the manufacturer: I was under 30, had not yet given birth vaginally, and had a light to moderate period – that was the theory. By the way, I later learned that the position of the cervix can also be important for choosing the right size. But for me, it worked even without this knowledge.

And then it started... well, not directly, because I still had to wait for my period! Although I recommend doing a few "dry runs" beforehand so that everything goes smoothly when the time comes. Since I had already read a lot of reviews and a few experience reports before buying, and the application is somehow intuitive, inserting it worked directly after 3-4 attempts. Initially, I was unsure whether the cup was sitting correctly and would definitely seal tightly, so I removed it again and tried it differently. But that comes with a bit of practice and experience. During the first few nights with a menstrual cup, I also wore a pad, just to feel secure. And then my first period with a menstrual cup was over. Without anything leaking, without feeling disgusted because you come into contact with your own blood (which you do when inserting tampons, by the way), without any other inconveniences. I thought it was good, no... I thought it was really great and practical, and I almost looked forward to my next period. No, just kidding... By the way, I gave my remaining tampons and pads to friends and thus finished with them directly.

A few years later, I had a copper IUD inserted. The fear of many girls and women: period pain becomes stronger, as does bleeding. However, since many cups have a larger capacity than most tampons, the latter worried me little. And indeed, my period became heavier. The consequence: I emptied my cup twice instead of just once within an 8-hour period. Meanwhile, I have replaced my old cup with a slightly larger one made of a harder material, and thanks to the larger capacity, despite a heavy period, I don't have to change it as often. Since I have a well-trained pelvic floor, I find the slightly harder material comfortable, because the cup pops open well and withstands the musculature. This also shows, by the way, that the choice of cup size depends on more than just age or whether you have already given birth vaginally! Therefore, inform yourself well about which size suits you. Ultimately, you just have to try it out.

In the last four years, I haven't used conventional tampons or pads once. I travel, swim, wellness, hike, and do sports with my menstrual cup. And don't forget sleeping! No, nothing leaks out when lying down.

Whether a menstrual cup is the right choice for you is something you have to decide for yourself. Currently, the topic is very present, and you get the feeling there's the "Never anything else again" faction (hands up, I'm one of them) and "Absolutely not!" faction.