How the menstrual cup eased my period anxiety

Now, I can sleep spread-eagle during my periods. I can go for long hikes without getting rashes. I can go for a swim completely carefree. The periods are just a part of my life and not a looming presence. And, perhaps because of this mental relief, I feel that I have been experiencing less cramps and pains ever since I switched to a menstrual cup.

I first heard of menstrual cups several years ago from a former classmate on social media. I did not think much of it – the economics of it did not make sense for a student on a shoestring budget. A good menstrual cup at the time cost anywhere between Rs1,000 to 2,000 – now you can get it for as little as Rs 500 – and a pack of 50 sanitary napkins costs about Rs 500. Yet, it has led to a lot of savings in the long run. In the five years that I have been using the cup, I have had to replace it only once.

The other hurdle I had to cross before I switched over to the menstrual cup was a mental one. I was worried about inserting the cup in my vaginal canal. Just the thought of it scared me. The idea was appalling even to a colleague who has had two children. It was several Youtube videos and a sale later that I got my first cup. And now I swear by it.

Using it is extremely easy, I realised. The cup needs to be changed every six hours or so and all you need is some clean, running water. And, it needs to be sterilised before and after a period. I boil it in a small pot, but nowadays there are small, portable electric sterilisers also available. Initially I had also been worried about infections, but I haven’t gotten any so far. In the years since I switched to the cup, I have been talking incessantly about it. Now, several of my friends and colleagues are converts.

While I continue to get my periods every month, the cup has made it immensely comfortable for me. I no longer feel the anxiety that I used to. It has helped me take the power away from the periods.