So many directions we could’ve taken this conversation in but then we met Georgina, or should we say we met Bowie her dog and then we met Georgina – next thing we’re discussing periods, tampons, and the sheer volume of single use plastic found in the most commonly used menstrual products (as women often do on their first meeting, and subsequent dog walk round Dubai Hills right?!) Here, she takes us through the very conscious switch to menstrual cups, more importantly offers a very ‘real’ guide as to how to use them – on behalf of some very confused women, we salute you G x

Just to put this into perspective, the average American woman will menstruate for 38 years, 6 ½ of them specifically bleeding, she’ll use an average of 11,500 disposable sanitary products, during which time she will generate over 28,000 kg of period related plastic waste. I’ll give you a minute to let that sink in.

Like most women I started out using tampons, I preferred ones with plastic applicators and honestly, I never gave the waste, or the health implications a single thought - until I started hearing about menstrual cups from fellow female divers.

There’s much out there about menstrual cups, but ultimately there’s three main reasons for making the switch;

They’re better for our bodies:

There’s a pretty shocking list of chemicals that goes into the production of disposable menstrual products, I mean, how many of you are really comfortable putting bleach into your vagina – that’s a no from me?! The Cotton in tampons strips your vaginal walls of naturally occurring lining, making the vag more susceptible to disease. (Side note, it also makes you dryer so that trip to love lane, may be all the bit rougher straight after your period).

Reduces Toxic Shock Syndrome:

Cups are associated with a far lower risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) when compared to tampons which means you can leave them in place, flow allowing, for twelve hours!

They’re better for the environment:

Cups can last up to a decade because they’re made of medical-grade silicone, rubber or latex. Think about the plastic applicators, linings, and packaging that using pads or tampons would generate in that time!

At first, I found the idea kind of gross (years of conditioning about how periods in general are gross, anyone?!), but the more I read, the more convinced I became, and I decided to give a cup a try. I’ve now been using a cup for several years, I couldn’t be happier and I’m definitely never going back - but it wasn’t love at first site. Cards on the table, I very nearly gave up and switched back several times, here’s some of the things I wish someone had told me way before I got started.

No two vaginas are the same, so there is no ‘one size fits all’ cup. There are countless cups on the market now, and they come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. It may take a little trial and error, but you will find one that works for you so stick with it! When I first switched, I was using a cup that was too small for me, which resulted in leaks – not ideal, but switching to a slightly bigger size totally solved the issue.

Within reason, you can customize your cup to make them more comfortable. For example, most cups come with a tab at the bottom to make them easier to remove, for me, the tab was too long, and I could feel it when I had the cup inserted which was really uncomfortable, again I could have switched to a differently designed cup, but I’m impatient so I just cut it off.

You’ll need to get up close and personal with your anatomy – which really isn’t a bad thing. When you insert your cup you’ll need to make sure that it fits snugly over your cervix. I found this tricky in the beginning and if you don’t get it in properly you might as well not be wearing anything! The first few times you use your cup I’d recommend checking its positioning with a finger – it will become second nature.

In order for your cup to stay secure, you’ll need to create a slight vacuum (another reason why the fit over you cervix is important) – this is super easy, all I do is give the cup a quick squeeze once it’s in place to remove some of the air and then let go, voila, vacuum seal created!

Probably the one real downside of a cup, and it’s really not that big of a deal, is that they can be messy to remove, particularly in the first few days of your period when your blood is thicker and heavier. I deal with this by removing it whilst sitting on the toilet, use your thumb and index finger to grip the cup and squeeze slightly to break the vacuum seal. Then gently pull straight down and it should slip right out. Flip it over quick smart and let the blood empty. I put it straight in the sink for a quick warm water rinse and then back in it goes.

You can leave them in for 12 hours, so head to bed without a worry. I tend to empty mine first thing in the morning and then again in the evening before bed which means the majority of my changes are done at home - If you are going to need to change yours when you’re out and about, you might want to keep a (reusable!) bottle of water or some biodegradable wipes in your bag.

Few myth busters before I go:

You can’t pee whilst using a cup – wrong, get to know your body better. There’s three openings – the urethra, vagina, and the anus; the urethra is the opening from where you pee, and the vagina is the opening from where you bleed. I pee just fine.

Blood will flow out when I lay down – absolutely not. The uterus pushes out the fluid through the cervix and vagina. The cervix is shaped similar to a donut, with a small opening that does not allow the fluid to move in the reverse direction – you’re all good.

Cups affect your virginity – sooo untrue. The cup sits in the outer vagina, nowhere near the hymen.

Good Luck x

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