Back in August 2018, I started to transition into the low-impact lifestyle. It’s been quite a fast transition, what with substituting a lot of things with compostable or less-waste options. From straws and cutlery to toothbrushes and produce bags, my life has started to look so different from what it once was. However, it took me a month before I made the biggest change yet—switching to menstrual cups. You see, menstrual cups aren’t a new concept for me. I’ve known about them for at least a whole year beforehand, but hadn’t tried it for two reasons. One, I didn’t know there were some ways of acquiring them cost-efficiently in Indonesia. Two, the concept of them frankly scared me a little bit. That being said, I was determined to reduce my waste production by at least 50%—and fuss-free, no less. So I got one—thanks to my sister—and six months later, here we are.
Back in August 2018, I started to transition into the low-impact lifestyle. It’s been quite a fast transition, what with substituting a lot of things with compostable or less-waste options. From straws and cutlery to toothbrushes and produce bags, my life has started to look so different from what it once was. However, it took me a month before I made the biggest change yet—switching to menstrual cups. You see, menstrual cups aren’t a new concept for me. I’ve known about them for at least a whole year beforehand, but hadn’t tried it for two reasons. One, I didn’t know there were some ways of acquiring them cost-efficiently in Indonesia. Two, the concept of them frankly scared me a little bit. That being said, I was determined to reduce my waste production by at least 50%—and fuss-free, no less. So I got one—thanks to my sister—and six months later, here we are.
A Little Introduction
It was September 2018 when I first started using a menstrual cup. The one I currently own—and the only one I’ve ever used—is from OrganiCup. It is made out of 100% soft medical-grade silicone, allergy- and vegan-certified and contains no toxins or artificial colouring. I’ve been eyeing that one for a while, but never felt it was viable for me, financially, until Ekko Store, a local zero-waste store, had it in stock. After putting it off for a while, with the help of my sister, I was finally able to buy one—I got the size A, for women who haven’t given birth. When my underwear finally got a smear of red, I thought, “This is it! This is my chance to use the cup for the first time.”
That first week it took me an hour or so to put the cup on. The first time I tried, it hurt like hell because it wasn’t deep enough—and the thing sucked at the wrong wall. The second time, I realised I’ve been doing it wrong and moved it, but still a tad uncomfortable. Over the next few hours, it just readjusted itself correctly inside of me—now sitting cozy and barely noticeable. If you think putting it on was bad, taking it off was as excruciating. It was quicker, but—like a band-aid—not entirely painless. Of course, just like inserting, exiting wasn’t done well or correctly at first. And, after figuring out how to best do it, it became less painful and more natural. That first week nothing leaked at all, but that’s because I kept taking it off within 4-5 hours—out of anxiety. It was a strange experience at first, but slowly became more comfortable. By the end of it, I could barely feel the cup inside of me anymore.
It was September 2018 when I first started using a menstrual cup. The one I currently own—and the only one I’ve ever used—is from OrganiCup. It is made out of 100% soft medical-grade silicone, allergy- and vegan-certified and contains no toxins or artificial colouring. I’ve been eyeing that one for a while, but never felt it was viable for me, financially, until Ekko Store, a local zero-waste store, had it in stock. After putting it off for a while, with the help of my sister, I was finally able to buy one—I got the size A, for women who haven’t given birth. When my underwear finally got a smear of red, I thought, “This is it! This is my chance to use the cup for the first time.”
That first week it took me an hour or so to put the cup on. The first time I tried, it hurt like hell because it wasn’t deep enough—and the thing sucked at the wrong wall. The second time, I realised I’ve been doing it wrong and moved it, but still a tad uncomfortable. Over the next few hours, it just readjusted itself correctly inside of me—now sitting cozy and barely noticeable. If you think putting it on was bad, taking it off was as excruciating. It was quicker, but—like a band-aid—not entirely painless. Of course, just like inserting, exiting wasn’t done well or correctly at first. And, after figuring out how to best do it, it became less painful and more natural. That first week nothing leaked at all, but that’s because I kept taking it off within 4-5 hours—out of anxiety. It was a strange experience at first, but slowly became more comfortable. By the end of it, I could barely feel the cup inside of me anymore.
Why Menstrual Cup?
If you’re a zero-waste aficionado or eager-student, you might know that menstrual cup isn’t the only solution to cutting down (plastic) waste when it comes to our shark week. There are reusable pads and organic tampons/pads, to name a few. So why do I choose menstrual cup? Isn’t the whole process scary? Especially for someone who’s never even used a tampon once in her life before. So here are a few reasons why.
Relatively Fuss-Free
A menstrual cup can be worn up to 12 hours—averaging at 8 hours, for me, on my heavy days. It can contain up to 25 ml of liquid at one time. All you need to do with it is put it on, take it off, rinse it and put it back on. When you don’t have water, a sanitary wipe would do just fine too.
Last For Years and Years
Technically, reusable pads also last for 5-7 years, but you’ll still need at least 4-5 pads everyday. Imagine if you can have only one menstrual hygiene item that you can use for maybe 10 years. It’s unthinkable but it might just be possible this time.
Let Us Move Freely
When you’re wearing a menstrual cup, it’ll really feel like you’re not wearing anything at all. Heck, you might even forget you’re on your period—except, perhaps, for period cramps. Truth be told, however, I’ve never tried putting it on and go for a swim or something, but it seems like an option I’d like to explore.
If you’re a zero-waste aficionado or eager-student, you might know that menstrual cup isn’t the only solution to cutting down (plastic) waste when it comes to our shark week. There are reusable pads and organic tampons/pads, to name a few. So why do I choose menstrual cup? Isn’t the whole process scary? Especially for someone who’s never even used a tampon once in her life before. So here are a few reasons why.
Relatively Fuss-Free
A menstrual cup can be worn up to 12 hours—averaging at 8 hours, for me, on my heavy days. It can contain up to 25 ml of liquid at one time. All you need to do with it is put it on, take it off, rinse it and put it back on. When you don’t have water, a sanitary wipe would do just fine too.
Last For Years and Years
Technically, reusable pads also last for 5-7 years, but you’ll still need at least 4-5 pads everyday. Imagine if you can have only one menstrual hygiene item that you can use for maybe 10 years. It’s unthinkable but it might just be possible this time.
Let Us Move Freely
When you’re wearing a menstrual cup, it’ll really feel like you’re not wearing anything at all. Heck, you might even forget you’re on your period—except, perhaps, for period cramps. Truth be told, however, I’ve never tried putting it on and go for a swim or something, but it seems like an option I’d like to explore.
How to Use It?
Now, if you buy a menstrual cup—no matter the brand—you will get instructions included in your purchase. While that is all fine and dandy, I know you’re probably asking, “But how do you really put it on?” At this point, I can only share my own experience and what works for me, but hopefully it’ll be helpful for you too. You see, with a menstrual cup, there are essentially two ways to fold the cup to fit through your vagina: the C fold and the Punch Down. Personally, I tend to go with the latter—as the C fold really just doesn’t fit through, for me. For more information on how to do these folds, see this video from OrganiCup.
When inserting the cup, please try to be as calm and relaxed as possible. I know, it’s probably easier said than done, but I swear it plays a great role. What I would do to help myself relax is to do breathing exercises—in through the nose, out through the mouth—as my hand eases the cup forward. Something else that I’ve heard would help is lubricant, just in case it gets too dry down there—and that can really induce pain. But I’ve never used it myself, opting instead to keep rinsing the cup whenever I fail to get it inside—although the cup always stays dry anyway.
So here’s the actual process of my insertion: I use my finger first to feel exactly where my vagina opening is—although perhaps using a mirror could also work—and once I’ve located it, I fold the cup and guide the tip toward the hole. As I’m doing my breathing exercises, I ease the cup inside—usually wiggling it a little bit—until the whole thing is in. If there’s no feeling of it popping open inside—believe me, if it happens, you’ll feel it—I would test by tugging at it. It’ll have some degree of resistance or create a sucking sound, once it’s secure. If it’s not yet secure, I would grab the base—not the stem—and rotate it until it’s secure. Usually I would have to do this a few times, unless I was feeling quite confident. Sometimes it would feel fine, but then I would go about my daily tasks and feel it pop open inside. This, to be honest, is the most secure I’d feel about the cup.
After about 8-12 hours—or when I spot leaks—it’s time to take it out again. Taking it out is much simpler, to be honest. All you need to do is pull at the stem, with the help of your stomach muscles. Personally, my fingers would go up the cup as I pull. I’d pull at stem, then the base and, finally, the middle as I pinch down to stop the vacuum. Even if you don’t pinch down, it’ll come out nicely—not painful, but a tad uncomfortable for half a second. Then you rinse it—I usually wash it with soap too—or wipe it with antibacterial wipes, before I put it back inside.
Now, if you buy a menstrual cup—no matter the brand—you will get instructions included in your purchase. While that is all fine and dandy, I know you’re probably asking, “But how do you really put it on?” At this point, I can only share my own experience and what works for me, but hopefully it’ll be helpful for you too. You see, with a menstrual cup, there are essentially two ways to fold the cup to fit through your vagina: the C fold and the Punch Down. Personally, I tend to go with the latter—as the C fold really just doesn’t fit through, for me. For more information on how to do these folds, see this video from OrganiCup.
When inserting the cup, please try to be as calm and relaxed as possible. I know, it’s probably easier said than done, but I swear it plays a great role. What I would do to help myself relax is to do breathing exercises—in through the nose, out through the mouth—as my hand eases the cup forward. Something else that I’ve heard would help is lubricant, just in case it gets too dry down there—and that can really induce pain. But I’ve never used it myself, opting instead to keep rinsing the cup whenever I fail to get it inside—although the cup always stays dry anyway.
So here’s the actual process of my insertion: I use my finger first to feel exactly where my vagina opening is—although perhaps using a mirror could also work—and once I’ve located it, I fold the cup and guide the tip toward the hole. As I’m doing my breathing exercises, I ease the cup inside—usually wiggling it a little bit—until the whole thing is in. If there’s no feeling of it popping open inside—believe me, if it happens, you’ll feel it—I would test by tugging at it. It’ll have some degree of resistance or create a sucking sound, once it’s secure. If it’s not yet secure, I would grab the base—not the stem—and rotate it until it’s secure. Usually I would have to do this a few times, unless I was feeling quite confident. Sometimes it would feel fine, but then I would go about my daily tasks and feel it pop open inside. This, to be honest, is the most secure I’d feel about the cup.
After about 8-12 hours—or when I spot leaks—it’s time to take it out again. Taking it out is much simpler, to be honest. All you need to do is pull at the stem, with the help of your stomach muscles. Personally, my fingers would go up the cup as I pull. I’d pull at stem, then the base and, finally, the middle as I pinch down to stop the vacuum. Even if you don’t pinch down, it’ll come out nicely—not painful, but a tad uncomfortable for half a second. Then you rinse it—I usually wash it with soap too—or wipe it with antibacterial wipes, before I put it back inside.
Some Tips for Newbies
Keep your nails short
Do you know that the skin around your vagina is most sensitive and arguably thinnest? Because of this, it is the easiest to get cut and sting. A shallow scratch on your arm might have another effect around your vagina. In order to avoid that, I would suggest keeping your nails short while you attempt to handle the cup and your female body parts. You’ll thank yourself later.
Make sure the stem doesn’t hang out
You might think, when you see the cup and put it on for the first time, that the stem should be hanging out. However, the truth is…it shouldn’t! If you find that the stem hangs about, even when you’ve shoved the cup as deep as it could possibly go, consider cutting the excess parts—so that it won’t get in the way of your daily grind.
Double check after insertion
It’s actually kind of tricky to know for sure, whether the cup is secure or not. Make sure to double check before you leave the bathroom/toilet. I would try tugging the stem first—if there’s resistance or a sucking sound, it’s most likely secure. Another thing I would try is do some squats, to feel whether it sits nicely or not. Personally, the most secure I feel is when the pop happens inside—this can also happen long after the cup is inserted.
Never forget to sterilise the cup
After every period, never forget to sterilise your cup. You should receive instructions to do so, when you purchase the cup. What I usually do is boil a pot of water. Only when it’s already bubbling ferociously do I put the cup in the water. Make sure the cup doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. After 3-5 minutes, I would take it out—it will be warm and toasty.
Keep your nails short
Do you know that the skin around your vagina is most sensitive and arguably thinnest? Because of this, it is the easiest to get cut and sting. A shallow scratch on your arm might have another effect around your vagina. In order to avoid that, I would suggest keeping your nails short while you attempt to handle the cup and your female body parts. You’ll thank yourself later.
Make sure the stem doesn’t hang out
You might think, when you see the cup and put it on for the first time, that the stem should be hanging out. However, the truth is…it shouldn’t! If you find that the stem hangs about, even when you’ve shoved the cup as deep as it could possibly go, consider cutting the excess parts—so that it won’t get in the way of your daily grind.
Double check after insertion
It’s actually kind of tricky to know for sure, whether the cup is secure or not. Make sure to double check before you leave the bathroom/toilet. I would try tugging the stem first—if there’s resistance or a sucking sound, it’s most likely secure. Another thing I would try is do some squats, to feel whether it sits nicely or not. Personally, the most secure I feel is when the pop happens inside—this can also happen long after the cup is inserted.
Never forget to sterilise the cup
After every period, never forget to sterilise your cup. You should receive instructions to do so, when you purchase the cup. What I usually do is boil a pot of water. Only when it’s already bubbling ferociously do I put the cup in the water. Make sure the cup doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. After 3-5 minutes, I would take it out—it will be warm and toasty.
Other FAQs
Will it do anything to your hymen?
I myself believe more and more these days that virginity is nothing but a myth, but a lot of people seem to worry about this. Hymen is a complex and mysterious part of the female body. No one truly knows what theirs looks like and how it works. In my experience, a menstrual cup has never dealt damage to my body in any way—including the tearing of a hymen.
Won’t you get infected down there?
As I’ve mentioned above, the menstrual cup that I use from OrganiCup is non-toxic, allergy- and FDA-certified and also vegan. In my own experience, nothing dangerous—or life-threatening—has ever happened the entire time I’ve used the cup. In fact, I find my female body parts a whole lot less prone to inflammation and itch with the cup than with my usual disposable pads.
Will it do anything to your hymen?
I myself believe more and more these days that virginity is nothing but a myth, but a lot of people seem to worry about this. Hymen is a complex and mysterious part of the female body. No one truly knows what theirs looks like and how it works. In my experience, a menstrual cup has never dealt damage to my body in any way—including the tearing of a hymen.
Won’t you get infected down there?
As I’ve mentioned above, the menstrual cup that I use from OrganiCup is non-toxic, allergy- and FDA-certified and also vegan. In my own experience, nothing dangerous—or life-threatening—has ever happened the entire time I’ve used the cup. In fact, I find my female body parts a whole lot less prone to inflammation and itch with the cup than with my usual disposable pads.
Is It For Everyone?
This is the part where I break your heart: unfortunately, menstrual cup isn’t necessarily for everyone. Not only in a matter of preference, but also in regards to our physique and biology. To make you understand what I mean, I need to tell the story of my sister. You see, my sister—whose good graces enabled me to get the cup that I’m using today—also bought a cup for herself. However, no matter how she put it on, she couldn’t seem to get the cup to sit just right and she kept finding leaks on her underwear. She thought perhaps it’s because the cup’s size or shape isn’t suited for her cervix—so she bought a different one. Unfortunately, that one hasn’t suited her either. I wish I could tell you that she finally found a cup that is perfect for her, but she didn’t—she ended up trying to find other ways to cut down her menstrual plastic waste.
What I can tell you is this: our cervix comes in different positions. There are people with high cervices and there are those with lower ones. What’s fascinating is that our cervix doesn’t stay put—they will lower down during our period and also during ovulation and pregnancy. It’s always best to measure your cervix before purchasing a menstrual cup, here is a bit of a guide on how to. Personally, I’ve never done this myself, but it may prove to be a useful guide before purchasing a cup. If it’s, unfortunately, not for you, there are always the option of reusable pads and/or organic tampons.
That’s my experience and all I’ve learnt from 6 months of using the menstrual cup.
Please do your research before purchasing one for yourself, just in case.
Personally, the experience has changed my life.
This is the part where I break your heart: unfortunately, menstrual cup isn’t necessarily for everyone. Not only in a matter of preference, but also in regards to our physique and biology. To make you understand what I mean, I need to tell the story of my sister. You see, my sister—whose good graces enabled me to get the cup that I’m using today—also bought a cup for herself. However, no matter how she put it on, she couldn’t seem to get the cup to sit just right and she kept finding leaks on her underwear. She thought perhaps it’s because the cup’s size or shape isn’t suited for her cervix—so she bought a different one. Unfortunately, that one hasn’t suited her either. I wish I could tell you that she finally found a cup that is perfect for her, but she didn’t—she ended up trying to find other ways to cut down her menstrual plastic waste.
What I can tell you is this: our cervix comes in different positions. There are people with high cervices and there are those with lower ones. What’s fascinating is that our cervix doesn’t stay put—they will lower down during our period and also during ovulation and pregnancy. It’s always best to measure your cervix before purchasing a menstrual cup, here is a bit of a guide on how to. Personally, I’ve never done this myself, but it may prove to be a useful guide before purchasing a cup. If it’s, unfortunately, not for you, there are always the option of reusable pads and/or organic tampons.
That’s my experience and all I’ve learnt from 6 months of using the menstrual cup.
Please do your research before purchasing one for yourself, just in case.
Personally, the experience has changed my life.