Assuming that just ladies are checking out this site, I’ll say it’s safe to drop the m-bomb and entice people to read on about an m-bomb cup device. But, even if you are a guy, you might benefit from reading about menstrual cups as you’ll then be able to spread the knowledge on to females who can use it.
What are menstrual cups?
Menstrual cups are just like how they sound — little cups that are worn internally to capture the flow of your period and dumped or disposed periodically. For the newbies out there, this probably sounds a bit crazy; perhaps even a little on the gross side. But, let’s be honest: dealing with blood coming out of your vagina is never a fun thing (at least not in my world), and sometimes you just have to “woman up” and realize that menstruation is a fact of life.
What do menstrual cups look like?
There are two types of menstrual cups: a reusable and a disposable. The reusable form typically has a bell shape, while the disposable tends to be more round and look like a diaphragm. The material is also a bit different as the reusable will be made of durable latex or silicon, while the other is composed of a cheaper polyethylene.
What type is best for travelers?
For travelers, I would highly recommend a reusable menstrual cup. One is all you need — for up to 10 years — and so you never have to worry about packing enough feminine products for an entire trip, or wonder if the location you’re traveling to carries your brand.
What size cup do I choose?
With the reusable menstrual cups, there are generally two sizes: one for pre-birth and one for post-birth. Be sure to pay attention to the sizing when choosing the menstrual cup that is right for you.
I’m already comfortable with tampons. Why should I care about menstrual cups?
Female travelers can seriously benefit from using a menstrual cup over tampons during their journeys. To prove my point, I’ve made a list:
- You’ll pack less. Stocking up on personal products won’t have to be an issue anymore.
- You’ll worry less. You won’t have to hunt down a certain brand of tampons in far-flung countries.
- You’ll throw away less. It is better for the environment to reuse a menstrual cup for up to 10 years than to drop tons of tampons and pads into landfills.
- You’ll save money. The amount you spend on one menstrual cup will be recouped after just six months on average.
- You’ll be better protected. You can wear the cup for longer than tampons, and they tend to have less chance for leaks.
- You’ll be healthier. There are no associated health risks for menstrual cups like there are for tampons.
What brands are on the market?
Reusable Cups
Moon Cup: The Moon Cup is made of medical grade silicon and has a clear appearance. They are popular in the U.S. and U.K.
- BUY a Moon Cup on Amazon
Diva Cup: The Diva Cup is a clear, silicon-based menstrual cup. It is probably the most well-known of all the menstrual cups on the market today.
- BUY a Diva Cup on Amazon
Keeper Cup: The Keeper Cup is a rubber-based menstrual cup that is not recommended for those with sensitive skin or latex allergies.
- BUY a Keeper Cup on Amazon
Lunette: Lunette is a menstrual cup that is produced in Finland. It is latex free and available internationally.
- BUY a Lunette on Amazon
Disposable Cups
Instead: Instead are disposable menstrual cups that can be worn for up to 12 hours and then tossed.
great post Brooke! I know it sounds gross to a lot of people but really on the road these things can be beat. You are never caught off guard – it’s great!
If you have to clean out the diva cup and rinse it with water before inserting again, do you have to use filtered, clean water. I’ve been living overseas now for 4 years and many of the places in Central Asia and Africa that I’ve lived do not have clean water. I am tired of carrying with me tons of pads and tampons every time I come back to the US. This would be a great alternative, but I wonder if there is a risk of infection if I can’t clean it out with clean water. Can you help?
What about bottled water? You can also boil it after each cycle for a few minutes, and they have Diva Wash (a mild soap made especially for the Diva Cup) — but I’d recommend water that has been sanitized, or bottled drinking water just to be safe. Also, be sure you sanitise your hands before taking it out and reinserting.
I would add 2 more benefits (that are the most important from my experience):
- you can swim while using it
- it doesn’t cause vaginal dryness (something that tampons do, but I only realized after switching to the menstrual cup)
Oh my! I have never heard of these things. At first read the thought of it made me nauseous but I can see how this would be beneficial for hikers and those traveling in different countries. I wonder if this is what females on Survivor use. I always wonder how they handle their periods on that show. Great article!
How did I not know about these? Y’all need to advertise to female triathletes!