Contents:

• Menstrual cup – an alternative to pads and tampons
• What should we know before buying a menstrual cup?

As we become increasingly aware of the enormous impact our everyday activities have on the environment, we are beginning to seek ecological and natural solutions for various areas of life. We are trying to avoid the use of disposable products that expire very quickly and then immediately end up in the trash and landfill. These products include disposable tampons and sanitary pads, which unfortunately often contain derivatives of plastic particles and are bleached with harmful chlorine. Firstly, they come into contact with the body and can cause irritation and allergic reactions. Secondly, they can take up to 400 years to decompose. So what alternative do women have if, on the one hand, they care about protecting the environment and, on the other, comfort, health, and well-being during menstruation are equally important?

Menstrual cup – an alternative to pads and tampons

An alternative to conventional sanitary pads and tampons is a menstrual cup – an environmentally friendly, reusable hygiene product made from hypoallergenic medical-grade silicone. It's safe to use and contains no toxic ingredients that could enter the female body. It's comfortable to use and offers many benefits:

• does not cause irritation, is hypoallergenic,
• contains no toxic ingredients,
• it is cheaper to use than sanitary pads and tampons, which have to be bought regularly,
• It is ecological, reusable and does not produce excessive amounts of waste.

What should we know before buying a menstrual cup?

It's a more hygienic solution than traditional sanitary pads, tampons, and sanitary napkins. It can be emptied approximately every 8 hours and washed under running water. It's suitable for all physical activities, such as swimming, running, or yoga.

When removing the cup, it may get a little dirty. Therefore, it's most convenient and recommended to remove it in the shower. Before you buy your first cup, consider the following:

• Size – Cups are available in a variety of sizes, usually two, i.e. medium/large for women after a natural birth and small for women who have not yet given birth.
• Material – the cups are made of silicone, a material that is safe, adapts to the temperature and shape of the body and offers comfort, as the cups are basically not noticeable,
• Color – depends on individual preferences, but the most environmentally friendly are transparent cups without pigments.
• Durability – the recommended lifespan of a cup can be 4 to even 10 years.

The menstrual cup is a very simple, practical, inexpensive and ecological solution, thanks to which we will not have to buy, use and throw away hundreds of tampons and sanitary pads for many years to come, that is, products that end up in landfills by the ton and are never recycled.