How my Mooncup changed my relationship with menstruation

My period experience

Every person who menstruates has a different relationship with their body. Mine just happened to be a difficult one.

I was around the age of 13 when I first got my period. It was summer and I was getting ready for a week of intensive tennis.

But then the hot flashes came, followed by stomach cramps and nausea. I stayed curled up in bed for a few days and only emerged for a bowl of warm congee, Chinese rice porridge. My adolescent brain had no idea why I was feeling this way and attributed it to something I ate or the stomach flu.

After a few days of unrelenting sickness, I discovered the real culprit in the bathroom. For some, getting their period is a celebration. It marks the coming of age and transition to adulthood.

For me, it brought an onslaught of tears and cries of “I don’t want to grow up” while my mom held me.

My tumultuous relationship with my period continued into my teenage years. Mother Earth didn’t go easy on me.

I visited a health care professional to find a solution to severe menstrual cramps during my sophomore year of high school. On several occasions, I found myself passed out from the pain.

She recommended that I start taking birth control. I followed her advice, and now experience very mild premenstrual symptoms. Yet another reason why access to hormonal contraception is so important.

Although the pain subsided, I still didn’t feel very comfortable with this part of myself.

Menstruation is so stigmatized. I was internalizing a lot of shame. On the way to the bathroom at school, I hid pads in my sleeve and was terrified of using tampons.

It wasn’t until I discovered the menstrual cup on the shelf of a pharmacy that I truly reclaimed this part of my body.

What is a menstrual cup?

A menstrual cup is a silicone reusable feminine hygiene product shaped like a bell and inserted into your vagina. Tampons soak up blood during your period, but menstrual cups catch it and prevent leakage.

When I bought my cup, the brand Mooncup was one of my only choices. But now, there are so many options, color choices and shapes it’s easy to find one that fits your needs!

Depending on how heavy your flow is, you can wear your menstrual cup for up to 12 hours. The size of your cup also depends on your cervix. They typically come in smaller and larger sizes. If you are younger than 30 and have not gone through pregnancy, the smaller size might fit your cervix. The larger size fits most people over 30 who have had children.

If you are uncertain about the size you should use, there are methods to measure your cervix before you purchase a cup.

Each menstrual cup has a stem to make removal easier. To take your cup out, gently fold the bottom to break the seal and pull. It takes some trial and error but practicing at home before your period should help you prepare for a cycle without spills.

How has my Mooncup helped me?

1. It helped me feel comfortable with movement

Because of discomfort and worry, I spent a lot of time inside and refrained from sports during my period. The menstrual cup is not a quick fix for the stigmatization and social taboo of menstruation, but it made me feel at ease while swimming, going to the gym and playing tennis.

It can be more discreet. I take mine in and out from the comfort of my own home before activities. Personally, I have experienced fewer leakages using my cup and have less vaginal dryness than compared with using a tampon.

2. Making the switch saved me money

A menstrual cup is a one-time purchase of $25 to $40. I spent around $10 per month on menstrual products before I purchased a cup. My Mooncup is three years old now. It's saved me hundreds of dollars during that short timespan.

3. It helped me get to know my vagina

So many households and schools don’t discuss vaginal health. Most of the knowledge I’ve gained about my vagina has come from doctors or research.

Using a menstrual cup has pushed me to get to know my body. For the first time in my life, I got to know my cervix size, understand lubrication and monitor my menstrual flow.

I also finally feel comfortable using an intra-vaginal menstrual hygiene product.

4. I know I’m doing good for the environment

Doing something good for the environment helps me feel like I’m contributing. Every person deals with eco-anxiety differently, but it benefits my mental health to be conscious of my ecological footprint.

Changing the hygiene products I use during menstruation gave me some semblance of control in an environmental situation that feels out of our hands.

I know I am keeping my waste out of landfills and supporting sustainable brands by using my Mooncup.

Header Photo by Sora Shimazaki