Menstrual Cups

The menstrual cup is a truly life changing invention! The concept is this: instead of absorbing the monthly flow like a tampon or pad, the cup simply collects it. Currently available designs are all variations of a bell shaped cup made of rubber or silicone that is internally worn and reusable. There is evidence of early collection device design dating back to the 1860's (see here for an interesting history) but the predecessor of the modern cup was patented in 1937 by Leona Chalmers.

The cup is not drying like a tampon, is not associated with Toxic Shock Syndrome, and can be safely worn for up to twelve hours before emptying though it will probably need to be emptied more often on all but the lightest days. Because they do not dry or chafe your tissue, menstrual cups are very comfortable – most users find they can't feel them at all. Since they are reusable they make an ecological and budget friendly choice.

Why isn't this concept as widespread as tampons or pads?

In the past menstruation was such a taboo subject that advertisers were not even allowed to depict their menstrual products in ads. Times have changed in that regard but without the monthly repeat sales that disposable products bring, cup manufacturers cannot afford to generate the massive amounts of advertising that Tampax® or Kimberly Clark® can. In addition negative attitudes about blood and menstruation are still common today. A reusable product that involves closer contact with menstrual fluid is a harder sell. As these attitudes change and people become more environmentally conscious, the popularity of the cup grows.

When I first got a menstrual cup I thought it was so great that it would only take a short time for it to become well-known and popular throughout the world. That was 1994. Since that time a lot of people have done a lot of work to promote the menstrual cup but I can still walk into my local mall in Tennessee and feel pretty certain that 99% of the people have never heard of it. This can be frustrating but I believe that word of mouth has been and continues to be one of the most important ways for people to learn about the existence of menstrual cups. Menstruation, women's health, and trans people's health are not issues that pop or corporate culture tend to prioritize. Talk to other people about menstrual cups. You might be the reason they hear about it now instead of five years from now. Or you could print out these fliers and give them out to interested people. Also, when you buy a cup from me you support my continuing work to educate people about menstrual cups.

What's so bad about tampons anyway?

Most tampons are made of synthetic materials that dry and abrade the delicate tissue inside your vagina. In addition to absorbing menstrual blood they also absorb some of the fluid that keeps your vagina healthy. They are associated with the rare and sometimes deadly disease Toxic Shock Syndrome (Please go to www.divacup.com and look in the FAQs for more information about this disease). Tampons are often bleached with chlorine.

If you must use tampons those made of organic cotton are better than the regular brands. You can find them in most health food stores or online.

Buying tampons is like throwing money away. If you use a $5 box every month from age 15-50 you would spend $2100 - or $60 a year. At that rate a menstrual cup pays for itself in seven months.

What about garbage? Every year in the U.S. we throw away 12 billion disposable tampons and pads. For each menstruating person this adds up to about 300 pounds of menstrual product trash in a lifetime.

Visit www.tamponalert.org.uk for more information about TSS as well as www.alternet.org/story/9120 for an article about tampon myths and facts.

I am having trouble learning to use my cup – is this normal?

I have sold quite a few menstrual cups over the years and heard back from a lot of people about their experiences. From this information I can say there is a learning spectrum when it comes to the cup. Some people get one and go off to the bathroom right away and put it in with no trouble. On the other end of the spectrum it can take some people many tries and an extended time period to learn. I had some issues when I was learning. I am confident that if you really want to learn you will. I think there are a number of factors that may contribute to where someone falls on the spectrum such as how comfortable you are with touching your vagina, general body awareness, how relaxed you feel about learning, how excited you are to learn, and previous vaginal traumas. It's impossible to predict what any person's experience will be. I want to emphasize that wherever you are at with it is fine and totally normal.

I can't insert and/or remove the cup. Help!

If you are having trouble with insertion or removal you may want to do some or all of the following. First – choose a time and place to practice that feel safe and relaxed to you. If your vaginal muscles tense up it can make cup insertion and removal challenging or even painful. Learning to relax your vaginal muscles can be a process somewhat like learning to isolate muscles in belly dancing. Practice and patience will eventually connect the loop between your mind and your muscles. It is very important to be kind to yourself during this process. If you are having trouble there is nothing wrong with you or unusual about you. Learning to use a menstrual cup is an opportunity to become more comfortable with your body. If you have gotten frustrated it's a good idea to put the cup away for a month or two to allow yourself time to get over any negative feelings you might have about the cup. What you don't want is to tense up when you see it again. There is also a kind of learning that can take place when you are not doing something; many people have had success with putting it away for a few months and then trying again. It is also important to be excited to learn to use the cup and have positive feelings about it. This translates to more relaxation in your body. Know that with a desire to learn and enough time you will get it.

Model 1 Top diameter 4.1 cm (1.6 in)
Length 7 cm (2.75 in) Model 2 Top diameter 4.6 cm (1.8 in)
Length 7 cm (2.75 in)