Menstrual Cup; Why Should You Choose It?

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Imagine having a small bell-shaped period product that sits fine at the base of your cervix and soaks in all the blood during periods. A mess-free alternative that saves you from spotting and leakage without making a hole in your pocket. A Menstrual cup does it all for you. Yes, that is for real!

Hereon, we will talk all about menstrual cup to dispel all your doubts and unravel the enigma around this mystery period product.

What is a menstrual cup?

Basically, a menstrual cup is a bell-shaped period product made of medical-grade silicone free from any nasty chemicals to keep any harm off limits. It is inserted into the vagina during menstruation. It collects menstrual fluid along with other fluids. Interestingly, a menstrual cup can last up to a decade if you use it the right way and secondly if you don’t lose it.

How to choose a chemical-free menstrual cup?

Most menstrual cups are made of medical-grade silicone. The material used for making menstrual cups are tested for bio-compatibility and are appropriate to be used for internal use. You might find some made of latex. However, If you have latex allergy, choosing the silicone cup would be a better option. Using a cup over other menstrual products makes you less susceptible to Toxic Shock Syndrome due to its chemical-free properties.

To be sure of picking up the chemical-free cup, check the list of materials mentioned on the packaging.

Will buying a menstrual cup cost me a fortune?

The menstrual cup is graded as a ‘luxury item’ by most users firstly due to it’s low popularity and secondly the higher purchasing cost. A menstrual cup costs around 250- 600 INR on average. However, the catch is a menstrual cup can last over a decade with proper care and attention.

How to use a menstrual cup?

Now that you know how to pick an affordable menstrual cup, let’s get to the real task of learning about its usage. Follow these steps to place the cup comfortably inside the vagina –

1. Wash your hands properly with soap and water.
You need to be extra hygienic while dealing with your vagina as even minimal exposure to germs can cause infections.

2. Apply water or lube at the rim of the cup.
If you are a beginner it is recommended to use some water or lube at the rim of the cup before insertion as using it plainly might cause some friction down there making it difficult for the cup to slide in.

3. Tightly fold the cup with your finger so that it bends into half from the middle, with it’s rim facing upwards.

4. Now, insert the cup into your vagina such that it sits at the base of your cervix.

5. After putting it inside the vagina, rotate it to allow the cup to create an airtight lid that collects vaginal fluid and prevents leakage.

To check if you have inserted the cup correctly try to do a few movements such as walking, jumping, and bending. If you do not feel the cup down there, Kudos! You have done a great job.

When should I remove my cup?

Ideally, it is recommended to remove the cup immediately after 12 hours of insertion. Remove the cup with clean hands, empty the fluid, rinse it with water and insert it back carefully. However, if you have heavy flow, consider emptying the cup before 12 hours.

How should I remove my cup?

You simply need to follow the steps stated below to remove the cup out of your vagina safely.

Wash your hands with soap and water
Pull the stem of the cup gently with the help of your thumb and index finger.
Pinch the base of the cup, it will squeeze in and slide out of your vagina.
Once it’s out, empty the cup into the sink or toilet.

How should I clean my cup?

It’s super easy. Follow these simple steps –

Empty the fluids of your cup and fill it with soapy water.
Cover the opening of the cup with your palm and flip it to squeeze the water out of the suction hole.
Rub the cup between your palms to remove the leftover gunk.
You may also use soft bristles brushes to clean the suction holes of the cup.
Once it is clean, it’s ready to be inserted again.

It is recommended to sterilize the cups before the first use and before/after every period. An easy way to sterilize the cup is to first clean the cup with soap and water and then put it into the boiling water for 2-3 mins. Remove the cup from water, let it dry and your cup is ready for the next period.

Though the thought of switching to a menstrual cup may seem intimidating, it really is not that tough once you try it. However, if you still face problems while using the menstrual cup it is recommended to talk to someone who has been already using a cup or consult your doctor.

You choose the best of everything for yourself, then why leave behind your periods?
Smash the taboos and pick what’s best for your sexual health. Your vagina deserves all the care to ensure healthy and hassle-free periods!

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Remember the times when our mothers used to give up on their dreams so that they could build ours?

Yes, while most of them couldn’t really rebuild their dreams and found the content in their children’s’, a few of them dared to start from ground zero.

Malvika Mathur is one such mum who lived for her children first and then followed her passion and fulfilled her dream of creating something which’s not only mind-fulfilling but also sustainable and people-friendly!

Early life

Born in a close-knit joint family of the Shikohabad, Uttar Pradesh, she was a girl with big dreams but lesser options. Married at an early age, she always had this passion for designing since childhood and for keeping this passion alive, she used to create and curate clothes for several friends she made in several places due to her husband’s job.

And on moving back to India, Malvika’s daughter encouraged her to live her dream, which sprouted LabelEeshav in 2011 — a one-stop-shop for all garment requirements; interestingly named after her kids Eesha and Aarav.

“I had no formal education or training as a designer,” says Malvika, “I completed my masters in Political Science and did a diploma in Business Administration from the University of California.” “Love for my country pulled me back,” Malvika travelled across the globe due to her husband’s job before finally settling down in India in 2008.

The dream of bringing change

Being someone who always has been a curvy (overweight) person all her life, finding the perfect outfit was also a challenge for Malvika. She takes ‘body shaming’ as a person issue, a personal subject as she had to face it, faced bullying and always had to struggle due to the stereotypical world we live in. And that is what motivated her more to design clothes for the ‘real women’!

“In my journey, I have met a lot of beautiful souls who were scarred and scared and vulnerable as people had ripped them off their confidence. While designing clothes for them and making them feel confident, I felt as if I am putting a balm on my own wounds. Their smiles and confidence were my real achievements,” says the 44YO entrepreneur who encourages more women to showcase their talent.

What is LabellEshav?

Malvika calls it a one-stop-shop which cater from 0 months onwards — stands for sustainable fashion, eliminates the middle man and connect the consumers to the weavers directly. The idea is also to recreate and remodel existing clothes to avoid more landfill. The venture also supports small women artisans by selling their handmade accessories directly to the audience.

“It gives me immense happiness to provide a platform to these women who have creative skills but lack of mediums to bring it across due to either societal or family or marital shackles. LabellEshav is just a platform for these talented women to shine out from the convenience of their home,” Malvika continues.

The ‘passion to profession’ moment

“The colours, vibrancy arts of weaving always mesmerized me! Chanderis, Mahaeshwaris, Banarasis — they all have an unparallel elegance while the Dabu, Ajrakh, Lehariya offers so much to play around,” says the Gurgaon mother who breathed every thread of fabric all her life.

The execution was not easy, of course, but Malvika was determined to bring this up in any case. She believes in the 3Ps more than the theoretical knowledge — Passion, Patience & Perseverance. Honesty, hard work, and consistency, as she says, can take someone miles. All you need to do is to identify your niche instead of feeling insecure.

The underrated condition of ‘Handcraft’

Malvika wouldn’t be the first one telling me this! A lot of women I talked to before have confessed that people in our country do not give ‘Handcraft/ Handmade Products’ the attention, love, and value that they deserve. And probably this is why a lot of self-made artists vanish away before coming to the limelight of glory and appreciation even once.

“With Labelleshav, I wish to stand hand in hand with our weavers, get their crafts across the globe, and get them the acknowledgement & appreciation they deserve. It’s all about the connection, trust and honesty with these artisans,” Malvika further continues. With her venture, she doesn’t only want to make a full stop on the body-shaming theory but also wants to provide employment to artisans/ homemakers as much as possible.

Malvika clearly understands how much issues like body-shaming, employment or even giving up on dreams impact an individual. And thus, she prioritizes mental health more than anything. What according to her is still a taboo in a lot of Indian households and just a new buzz or fad among the millennials, is a serious issue which must not be overlooked. She works closely with an NPO named ‘youth for world peace’ to acknowledge the same.

Blinded by Brands

Malvika says that most of the people in India are guided by branding due to which small businesses with equal or better quality struggles.

“I’d urge people to be more polite to service providers and request them to buy from small vendors as they struggle more,” Malvika says. “When we do not think of bargaining with brands or shops in malls, we can also give this thought of being considerate towards the local vendors. After all, even a pinch of kindness goes a long way!”

Malvika lost her father at the age of 10, but she believes he never stopped watching over and guiding her. She believes in being true to herself, her work and not living in the past or holding any regrets.

Future plans

She further wants to expand her business to provide employment opportunities to more artisans and homemakers. “We are humans, and we tend to make mistakes. Let’s not pull each other down but try to extend a helping hand,” she says.

In the end, she encourages people to accept themselves as they are — despite their physical appearance. Most of the apparel on Labelleshav’s website is worn by Malvika’s daughters, Eesha & Kainat, to which she says, “I strongly believe that what my daughters can wear would be wearable and safe for anyone!” She concludes with quoting George Bernhard Shaw’s line, ‘A life spent making mistakes is not only more honourable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.’

Infano encourages every woman to come forward, stand for each other and follow their dreams despite all the struggles and hardships. If you know someone whose story must be heard, please tag us in the comments below!