Concern for your health and the need to pay for supplies every month – these are a couple of reasons to switch from using tampons to using a menstrual cup. Still, many women ask if this is a practical alternative during their menstrual period. These new products may be unfamiliar to a lot of us. Learn more about them here before Mother Nature makes her next visit.
Is It Expensive?
For most of us, each month from the time that we go through puberty until we reach menopause, we have to deal with using feminine products during our menstrual cycle. Panty liners, pads, tampons – the costs add up. Each month, you can expect to pay about $5 to cover a week’s worth of menstrual flow (more if you’re interested in organic or natural products). That’s about $60 for just one year. Investing in a menstrual cup costs about $40 or less and can be used for multiple years. No need to buy different products; this cup can be used every day during your cycle. Using a cup also comes with the added benefits of being more eco-friendly. Reducing your use of disposable pads and tampons will reduce the demand on the resources that it takes to produce these products and the garbage that is going in to the landfill.
Is It Healthy?
Your body naturally produces fluids to keep your body clean during your menstrual period. The use of tampons absorbs this fluid and can disrupt your body’s natural environment. A menstrual cup is a more natural alternative and will not cause the dryness that can be experienced during tampon use. Another unhealthy element to consider is Toxic Shock Syndrome; a potentially fatal illness that is linked to high-absorbency tampon usage. Using a cup does not come with the risks of TSS.
Is It Messy?
It may come as a surprise, but a cup is less likely to leak than using a tampon or pad. Some cups, like those offered by Sckoon Organics, have angled suction holes that provide a high capacity for fluid and less chance of leakage. Also, when inserting and removing, you’ll come in contact with relatively the same amount of blood as you would while using a tampon.
