Menstrual Cup | Introduction Post | My Experience | How, When, What, Why – PART I

I’ve had a lot of deliberations before putting this post up! Truth be told, though I am very social on Instagram and other networking websites, I am not too comfortable talking about menstruation in public. Nothing that puts me off, just that we still need to normalise the idea of discussing periods in public. I’ve been fortunate to have a supportive father in the house who treated “periods” as a normal phenomenon and was never shy to talk about it. (He worked for one of the MNC’s that sold Sanitary Napkins, and hence it was all the more obvious!)

Anyway, coming back to the topic of a Menstrual Cup, what is it made of? A silicon based cup with a stem (Many a times it comes without a stem as well).

My experience with a Menstrual Cup

Before I begin, I must pen down that this post by no means is urging you to change from your sanitary napkins/tampons to Menstrual Cups. Do it only when you want to! I myself have gone through a lot of blog posts way back sometime in 2017-18, but have refrained from the idea of switching. I lead a very active lifestyle, running around Office-Court and the switch looked dreary to me. Then lockdown happened, and I was only left with a few last pieces of sanitary napkins. Although I could visit a chemist, I imagined what if I was to be locked at home? That was when the idea struck me. If I had to be at home, I would rather give it a try. No harm in trying right? Another added factor was that I had a coupon code on Nykaa that had to be redeemed on an essential products only. Hence, with zero expectations and some research, I placed my first order for Menstrual Cup. By the time it arrived and I sanitized it, I was already on my third day of period. I tried with a lot of apprehensions. First time, it wouldn’t go in. Next time, I was unsure if it had been placed correctly. Once it got placed, I kept on worrying if it would get lost in somewhere and whether I would be able to bring it out safely, unhurt. I even kept reminding myself that in case it got lost somewhere, I wouldn’t even be able to rush to a doctor because of the pandemic situation. All these thoughts kept worrying me, and occasionally I would even try and feel the tail of the Menstrual Cup, so as to ensure it is not lost somewhere! Then I put up a post on my Instagram Stories on Menstrual Cup, and as luck had it, several of you were kind enough to share your positive experiences with it, from which I learnt a thing or two. Will be ever grateful to my friend D. (a Menstrual Cup convert for the last 5 years now), who had amidst all her other positive experiences had specifically mentioned, “it might seem uncomfortable, but DON’T GIVE UP! Keep trying the next month, and again, and again. Because once you give up out of fear, you will never reach out for it again“. So, the following month, when Aunt Flow arrived, I gave it another shot, this time more experienced, more confident, and voila, it worked. The only roadblock that I faced was that the stem of the Menstrual Cup I used was hard and kept pinching and hurting me, so I chopped it off. It was a wise thing to do. In fact last month I had even visited office with a Menstrual Cup on! (Happy Dance). Now after three successful cycles with the Menstrual Cup, I am a happy to announce that I am a Menstrual Cup convert. And yes, once you convert, you will hate going back to sanitary napkins/tampons again.

Choosing the right Menstrual Cup-Insertion-Removal-Storage

A variety of brands offer them in various prices and sizes. Do your own research I would say. I had chosen one by WOW, and as a first timer, I really did not want to spend a bomb on it (Because I was myself not sure if I could convert myself successfully). Hence I got it as a trial. The Menstrual Cup size was perfect and never leaked but the stem kept hurting. I had cut the stem down, but then also, the tiny part that protruded hurt. Then I came across a brand called Safecup, where the stem seemed softer. Although it was thrice the price of what I had paid for Wow, am sure it will be absolutely worth it. It is white in colour (since I have heard colours added to cups might not be medically approved). Also, it is the only brand that I have come across which offers a size change or a complete refund in case you are not satisfied with your Menstrual Cup. I cannot think of a brand that offers this! Their customer service also deserves a special mention.

Once you have the right size and Aunt Flo arrives, its time to insert it. Best way to go about it would be while taking a shower. Sit on the bathroom floor and relax your muscles. If the cup can sense your tension, your muscles contract and your body would not allow another object into it. Once you have folded and let the cup in, release the cup and let it form a seal on its own. Just insert a finger and double check if the seal has formed, else it could leak. It typically takes a couple of cycles to get used to the insertion, so if you do not get it right at once, keep trying. Just don’t give up. In case you want, use a pad as a backup for the first few times, so as not to stain your clothes.

Removing a Menstrual Cup is even easier than insertion. Just pinch the area above the stem of the Menstrual Cup and twist it in a manner that breaks the vacuum. Slowly slide it down. Might take a couple of cycles again to get used to it, but trust me, it is easy. Also while the cup if full, gravitation will automatically allow the cup to slide down on its own. Hence, you need not worry about the cup being pushed into you too far. Just remember that pulling the stem alone won’t do the job, you need to pull it down from further up (near the rimmed surface).

Before and after every cycle, make sure you sterilize your Menstrual Cup well. Just drop your Menstrual Cup into boiling water for 5 mins, and it is ready to be used. Do not keep your cup in open for too long, or it may turn hard. After sterilizing, pack it in the pouch/bag in which it comes. Store it in a cool, dry place. Sterilize again before your next cycle and you are good to go. Wash and rinse with warm water when you are changing your cups during your cycle, you need not sanitize them in between your cycle.

Also practice good hygiene. Cut short your nails. This will help you without hurting you.

The trickiest part is changing the Menstrual Cup while in a public washroom. Honestly since the Menstrual Cup lasts me for a good 8 to 10 hours, I have never had to face this issue. But in case you need to, please ensure that the washroom is clean. Carry a toilet spray, a sanitizer and a bottle of water. Also you need around 10 minutes on an average for the entire episode, so I would recommend you to use a washroom without a queue. But if all of this is not an option, use pads on days you cannot use Menstrual Cups.

In my next post, I’ll quickly run you through some of the FAQ’s that cloud our mind while using a Menstrual Cup for the first time. In case you have any more queries or doubts, feel free to reach out to me on Facebook or Instagram. I will be happy to guide you out to the best of my knowledge.

Update: If you have reached to the end of this post and have made up your mind to buy one for yourself, you can use the Coupon Code TALK10 while checking out with SAFECUP It entitles the readers of Tic Talk Toe to a special discount of 10% over and above their discounts, which is pretty exciting. Thank you SAFECUP for the wonderful discount. You have been very kind.

Disclaimer: Not a sponsored post!

Love S.