Let me start with a quick disclaimer – periods are such a personal matter and we shouldn’t be told what to do, with this post I just want to talk about my personal experience. You can choose what you want to do with your period – it’s not the best time of the month for most of us. A cup (or even tampons) aren’t for everyone (whether that is past sexual trauma, vaginismus or a just a matter of personal preference), so this post is more suitable for people that are considering cups or curious about them!
Also since tomorrow is World Period Day, I wanted to highlight the very important issue of period poverty and how many girls and women are left without period products because they can’t afford them and the ridiculous ‘period tax’ (that’s been removed finally).
Periods are natural and even though I never thought I’d talk abut them on the Internet, there’s no reason not to! This is the message LUÜNA naturals want to promote with their products and the cup is their bestseller, it’s made with medical grade silicone and is FDA approved.
Menstrual cups are more hygienic than tampons (and better for the environment) but need some getting used to.
I only tried one a few months ago after deciding my periods needed to be a bit more eco friendly. The first time I freaked out that it got stuck (!!) but after watching a few YouTube videos in removal, I succeeded and all was good. Imagine going to the A&E because you can’t remove a cup from your vagina. Yeah I think that thought was the push I needed to remove it!! I found a low squat in the shower was the ideal way – pushing like doing kegels and then pinching it from the side. I found this cup to be easier in its removal, because the stem is longer than other cups I’ve tried.
The way the way you remove it is very important as you must do so slowly, without dragging. You have to always pinch it to remove it, as doing it the wrong way could potentially cause pelvic issues, though there isn’t sufficient evidence.
I asked Luüna about that and they spoke with their team of gynaecologists who said it’s important to “make sure to release the suction from your cup before removing”. In the box they have very details instructions on insertion and removal, which I really appreciate as that wasn’t the case with other cups I’ve tried.
The way I see the cups is that they are a happy medium in between hygienic and good for the environment, while fighting against period poverty. People that can’t afford to buy period products will be better off with a cup as you buy it once and you’re done for a long time.
There are now many companies and charities donating cups to those in need. In a study conducted with 1000 girls, 52% missed school because they had their period and of them, 1 in 10 because they couldn’t afford period products. Thankfully there are government schemes in England and Wales to provide free period products launching this year, though Scotland is way ahead – they’ve been offering free period products since late 2018.
On the last point, I’ve found that the cup feels less ‘gross’ than a tampon because it collects rather than absorbs. Nothing wrong with a tampon but a bloody tampon isn’t the best view is it?
LUÜNA comes in two sizes, they only differ in length, so if your cervix sits higher or lower. They have a helpful video on their page to determine what size is best, but if you’re unsure it’s better to size up.
This is the fourth cup I’m testing and I’ve got to say it’s the softest from the ones I’ve tried. It’s made using medical grade silicone and comes in a cotton pouch to store it in! For every one sold, one is donated to a person in need in Asia. More about the company’s practices coming on another post!
I had a virtual chat with the founder Olivia and was really inspired by her efforts to help those that can’t afford period products and also introduce them to organic tampons/pads and menstrual cups, while being a transparent and ethical company.
The female-led company is based between Asia and the UK and focuses on making positive social changes, through their #NoMoreSecrets educational workshops as well as donating period products to women and girls in need and having taboo free conversations about periods.
As a response to Covid-19, they have donated cups and period products to people affected by the virus, front line staff and low income families – in the first month and a half they donated over 10 THOUSAND products! How amazing is that!
If you wish to help, $46 SGD / £26 and 100 organic cotton pads will be donated.
Plus if you are struggling to afford period products they are offering a discount on their website. Even if you’re not interested in using a cup, you can try out their organic cotton pads, liners and tampons.
I’ve actually been featured on their blog – which you can see here.
Would you try a menstrual cup? Maybe World Period Day is a great excuse to think about it!
