EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT PERIOD CUPS!

Let's start this blog on a positive note.
If you're a guy reading this and would like to educate yourself for your girlfriend, wife, daughter, sister or just for your own knowledge then keep on reading.
But if you are someone who is not willing to learn about this awfully natural and normal thing that women go through every month to bring one of you in this world then please click off immediately.

Hi, fellow humans,
I am writing this blog with a hint of pride in my heart and I would like you to experience the same. For the past 13 years of my life i have, wait no, we all have survived the horror that is wearing a pad or a tampon on our periods.

Let me quickly do some period math for you guys.
If we bleed for 5 days a month and use 3 pads each day, we are roughly using 15 pads a month and that'll be 180 pads a year and i don't know about you guys but its been 13 years since i started getting periods which means i have used 2340 pads in total.
THAT IS THE AMOUNT OF DUMP I HAVE CREATED.
And that is the amount of dump we all create.
Just wanted to put that number out there.

"Omg, i am so excited for my periods to come," said no girl ever.
but fear not i am here to change that, one girl at a time.

I have this theory that all of our irritation comes from the discomfort we feel by wearing a pad!
and by having to forcefully wear a pad or a tampon for the entire day for about 4-5 days in a row.
It gets itchy and very moist down there and Its not a very pleasant feeling to have when you're bleeding from your vagina.
Hey, if i am bleeding for the good of the humanity I better freaking feel like a goddess while doing so.
The discomfort makes us shout at people we don't want to, get mad at things we'd never even think twice about and say things that we'd regret later on.
I am here to educate you all about this god sent ( well not really) miracle menstrual product called "Period Cup" now a lot of you have already heard about this product but know nothing to very little about it.
I was just as unsure about using this product until i educated myself a little more about it.
I am here to answer all you why's, how's, where's, about this product. so let's start shall we,

(Disclaimer : I am no expert and  all that i have written down below is my own personal view and i, in now way want to pressurize anyone into using the product. Everyone has their own different experience so try and see how it works for you.)


WHAT IS A PERIOD CUP?

Well period cup is essential a menstrual cup which collects your period blood as opposed to pads and tampons which absorb your period blood.

here is a photo of an unused period cup,

 

If you'd like to buy the same period cup then here is the link to the cup that i have been using for a while now :)
(FYI I am in no way sponsored by the brand. so you know that i am recommending this only because i am using it and i love it )

https://amzn.to/3gqpLVE


WHY SHOULD WE USE A PERIOD CUP?

I have a tonne of reasons to tell you and i shall start with the simplest and the most powerful one, which i hope you will all relate to the most

• You will never feel like killing someone when you're wearing a period cup. 
• It is literally the most comfortable thing ever made for a women. Apologies for repeating the same statement as above but i hope you understand my seriousness now. 
• All the things you see in a pad/ tampon commercial, yes all of the things you can't really accomplish in real life wearing a pad is possible while wearing a period cup, trust me i've done all those thing. ( Activities ranging from running, squatting, jumping, working out and doing exercises that required me to go upside down)
• You can swim while wearing a period cup!! ( can your pad let you do that?)
• It's good for the environment. okay hear me out! you and I, we aren't perfect but we can try. Right?
• Shelf life of a period cup is said to be 10 years ( well i won't stretch it that far but you can easily use one for over a year or two before you need to change it)
• A period cup is good for 12 hrs and if you have a heavy flow you can empty it once and you'll be good to go.
• The cups are made from medical grade silicone. So its safe to use for a longer period of time as opposed to pads which are supposed to be changed after every 4 hours

HOW TO USE A PERIOD CUP?

Before using any period cup you have to sterilize it, Every time! After you've sterilized the cup the next thing would be to insert it. Its best if you squat or put one leg on your toilet seat to make the insertion of the cup a little easy.
Before you insert it inside your vagina you have to fold the cup ( no the cup wasn't meant to be inserted as it is silly!)
There are various folding methods that you can use. You will have to find which cup folding method best fits you. Once the cup is inside, you will hear a pop ( its not a loud pop, so don't be a dumb ass like me and expect a loud pop sound effect when it goes in) which will mean that the cup is open and to check this you will have to run your finger around the bottom of your period cup to see if it has been placed and if it is fully open.
If the cup is not fully open it might lead to spilling of the period blood outside the cup.
Once the period cup is properly placed you can go about living your life as you normal would because trust me you will not even for a second feel uncomfortable.
The usage can be a little tricky until you get the hang of it.
The two tiny holes on the cup are there in place for easy removal of the cup.
Once you decide to empty the cup all you have to do it pull the cup using the stem and empty it,
you can clean it again with clean tap water and put it back again.
Don't worry i will make a video on how to use the period cup in detail explaining the folding methods that i know and use.
I Feel like this is the kind of topic that will require my presence in the video to explain all of this in a simple and easy to understand way for people who did not get it by reading.
here is the link to my channel, subscribe to it and look out for the period cup video.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwkrBHDiO5UkYao5N_nVHcw/featured

Moving on to the pro's and con's of using a period cup.

PRO'S

• It is Eco-Friendly
• Very long lasting shelf life makes it pocket friendly too
• No severe side effects
• Hygienic and safe to use
• Comfortable to use for a longer period of duration when you're on your period
• YOU CAN SWIM WITH A PERIOD CUP ON!
• They come in different colors!
• Say bye bye to period stains.

CON'S

• Okay it's a little gross the part where you have to handle your own period blood ( I have very bad gag reflexes and i am okay with it so i guess you guys will be fine)
• The insertion and removal of it can be a lil tricky until you get used to it.
• It does not come handy if your periods decide to give you a surprise when you don't have a period cup with you and if you are out in public. ( public toilets are gross)
• Changing/ emptying a period cup in public restrooms is impossible. 

RANDOM QUESTIONS THAT I HAD IN MY MIND BEFORE I STARTED USING PERIOD CUP:

Will my pee go inside the cup?
No period blood and pee both come out from different places

Will it slip out ?
No the cup holds the position with the help of suction so it wont ever slip out neither will the blood ever come out.

Will i have to remove the cup while pooping?
I've read that you can keep it while pooping but i have personally never tried it so go ahead let me know if something gross happens with you :D


FINAL VERDICT:

I want you all to use it once to see what you're missing out on.
Kaustubh knows this better than anyone that i am now a better person when i am on my periods and i don't feel miserable.
It makes you feel super confident when you finally get over the period cramps and pull yourself out of your bed.

If there is anything you'd like to ask me then comment down below or you can DM on my Instagram handle @rasiikaaa

Please share this with all your friends and people you think should be aware of this product. :)
Thanks, take care.