Written by: Eva Zubec
The fact that a menstrual cup is a more environmentally friendly choice compared to disposable tampons or pads will probably come as no surprise to you. But how do they compare to disposable menstrual supplies in terms of comfort, body-friendliness or reliability?
Up to 1,200 tampons and pads saved
An indisputable advantage of the menstrual cup is primarily its ecological aspect. While the life cycle of a tampon or pad ends after a few hours, you can use a quality cup repeatedly for at least 5 years. During them, you will save up to 1,200 disposable items that would otherwise end up in nature spanned more than 250 years.
Investment with a sixfold return
The purchase price of a menstrual cup is higher compared to a box of tampons, but it will pay you back very quickly. During one year, the average woman needs disposable hygiene items worth 1,000 to 1,500 CZK. It depends on the type of gadget, the brand or whether he prefers organic or recyclable materials. If you are interested in the price of your period, here you can calculate it customized.
You can get a cheaper menstrual cup in a drugstore for just 500 CZK, a Czech Whoop·de·doo cup made of gentle medical-grade silicone for 890 CZK. With proper care, it will last you 5 to 10 years, so it will pay you back at least six times its price.
No rustling, wet strings or rashes
Once you learn how to handle the cup, a whole new life awaits you, trust us! During the day, you don't have to worry about wet strings in your panties or annoying rustling wings that stick mainly where you don't need it. You can also forget about the smell caused by bacteria growing on the surface of pads and tampons. Oh, and in the summer, you can take a break from the itchy groin rash that pads, combined with heat and humidity, love to cause.
Close-up of a woman's hand with coral pink nail polish, holding a disposable tampon with the text "DISPOSABLE" on one side and a reusable red Whoop·de·doo silicone menstrual cup on the other
Painless
Applying tampons, especially the cheaper ones that do not have a smooth surface, can be painful for many women. A tampon can irritate and dry out the mucous membrane when inserted, and can put pressure on the cervix when worn, often causing much more severe period pain. The menstrual cup does not touch the cervix when correctly inserted, and its material completely respects the vaginal mucosa. Many women have confided in us that they feel better thanks to the cup almost pain-free menstruation.
Kind to the female body
On the market you can come across menstrual cups made of various materials. Most often, it is latex, thermoplastic or medical-grade silicone, which we use in the production of the cup and other Whoop·de·doo products. Of the mentioned materials, medical-grade silicone is a clear choice not only from the point of view of quality, but also of its gentleness to the body and hygiene. medical-grade silicone products do not pass any chemicals through the mucous membrane, while disposable devices are often in contact during the manufacturing process with a whole range of more or less harmful substances.
The only period product you can use for virtually any sport
Sure, you can also go to the swimming pool with a tampon. But you're probably in for a few nervous hours full of watching to see if your bikini line is sticking out or if the tampon decided to get soaked after a few swimming pools. Menstrual panties are also not a win in this case, although they can be nice for home yoga. In contrast, the cup lasts all day without leaking and is discreet enough that you can easily take it to a boring beach.
It takes practice and thorough preparation
To be fair, tampons and pads have a few advantages. When your period hits you unexpectedly early and you don't have a disinfected cup in your purse, just run to the nearest drugstore and the problem is usually solved. The first use of the insert does not require much preparation, while the cup should be boiled carefully before insertion and also learned how to handle it. Especially for young girls who are starting to menstruate, pads or menstrual panties are still a very comfortable option for many understandable reasons.
It is not bad if you feel comfortable combining a menstrual cup with disposables from time to time. With every single use, you can experience a little more free, comfortable and responsible menstruation. And that's what it's all about, isn't it?
Photo: Adam Dvořák