What Period Protection is the Best for You? Menstrual cup vs Tampons

After many years of menstrual taboo, the world offers many types of single-use and reusable period products. Sadly, single-use sanitary pads and tampons are the most popular options. That’s not because they are the best for everyone, nor the planet. They’ve been widely advertised for years and people are well accustomed to them. New, reusable products get a lot of publicity, but we all knowhow hard it is to change one’s habit and switch to something new. You may wonder whether it’s even worth it. Would a reusable product meet your individual preferences? This article describes the pros and cons of traditional tampons and menstrual cups to help you discover what’s most in sync with your lifestyle.

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The Safety for the Vaginal Health

Although menstrual cups aren’t around for a long time, research shows they are safe for vaginal health. Are menstrual cups safer than tampons? The difference is insignificant. They both are safe for women’s health and are unlikely to contribute to any health problems. However, menstrual cups are said to be more sterile, as they create a vacuum inside a vagina. When the air cannot mix with the blood, germs don’t multiply. Additionally, menstrual cups made from medical grade silicone are less likely to cause Toxic Shock Syndrome, but we need more research.

One of the myths about menstrual cups is that they may contribute to uterine prolapse, which isn’t true. This condition is caused by weakening one’s pelvic floor muscles. The cup itself is never the sole reason for it. If the cup users remember about breaking the seal before taking the cup out, there’s no strain on the muscles.

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When Menstrual Cups and Tampons Aren’t Safe?

The safety of those products is compromised when users don’t use them according to the instructions. Both methods are so comfortable that it’s easy to forget about them. However, you can’t be forgetful, if you’re using tampons or a menstrual cup. They require changing/ emptying regularly throughout the day. You also have to make sure that you reinsert them with clean hands. These are simple guidelines to follow, but inappropriate use is the biggest factor that leads to infections.

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The Comfort of Use

How can someone predict what will be comfortable for you? It’s very subjective. But after reading many users’ accounts, we can say that both a menstrual cup and tampon are almost impossible to feel inside as long as you place them correctly. Some people struggle to place the tampon at the right angle, some people can’t find the perfect fit for the cup. But, when those initial struggles are over, you won’t have a reason to complain, you won’t feel it. If you lead an active lifestyle, a menstrual cup may be a better choice. They stay in place even during gymnastics, yoga, horse riding, swimming, or sauna. And, yet another crucial advantage, you can’t run out of it. No more emergency store visits when you’d rather stay at home.

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The Economical Aspect

Let’s count the average monthly cost of your menstrual products. This varies largely between users.Check what’s the price of the brand of products you use, how many packages you need per month.Multiply that cost by 12 months. Most menstrual cups are the cheaper option. The average cost of the cup is between 15-30 £, whereas pads/tampons cost from 37-110 £ a year. You can safely assume that your cup will last you a year because most users change it every 2-4 years. You will save money, even if you end up buying two cups because the first one wasn’t the right fit.

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The Leak-Free Week

No one wants period leaks. Otherwise, it’s hard to have one’s head free and go about your daily life.Cups hold more menstrual fluid and as long as you’ll place them correctly, the leaks are very unlikely.Many cup users with a heavy menstrual flow don’t feel the need to use double protection (for example, a cup plus an additional pad), which is frequent with tampons.

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The Messiness of It

Let’s break down what causes the most mess. A single-use tampon seems quite clean and easy. You look at your own blood for a moment, you don’t pay too much attention to it, and toss it into the bin.Then, you only need to remember to take the rubbish out if you don’t want to experience a foul smell.The cup involves slightly more cleaning, and you need to be careful while taking it out. Using a menstrual cup, you may occasionally spill a bit of blood on your hands, but then just clean it with toilet paper. Your menstrual blood isn’t anything disgusting! During the cycle, you must rinse the cup underwater, and after the cycle, sterilize it by boiling or microwaving. Does it feel like a lot of hassle?

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The Eco-Friendliness

The indisputable winner in this category is a menstrual cup. An average woman menstruates for 40years, bleeding for 2,400 days on average. How many plastic tampons or pads would that be? It’s certainly worth it to replace it with, let’s say, 20 silicone cups.

Universal methods don’t exist. You have the right to choose the one that fits best for you. What are the reasons for your choice? Share with us in the comment section.