My First Time Trying a Menstrual Cup

This text is a backed collaboration between INTIMINA and PAPER

It is Monday. Some other week in quarantine in Brooklyn. However this week I do know I will be getting my duration. A minimum of it is one thing other.

I have been on delivery keep watch over for years, so I do know my duration most often arrives someday on Tuesday. And I have determined to check out a menstrual cup for the primary time. My perfect good friend, a doula, lately informed me what a menstrual cup is and why each particular person with a duration must use one. "Tampons have all forms of nasty chemical substances in them, like bleach and insecticides," she informed me. "Why would you wish to have that sitting inside you for hours at a time and getting absorbed into your bloodstream?! You must transfer to a menstrual cup, completely." She informed me that INTIMINA's Lily Cup is constructed from 100% medical-grade silicone and lasts for a decade, that means I might be getting rid of numerous single-use plastic and extra trash from my existence by way of now not the usage of tampons. "It suits simply inside me and you do not even really feel it," my good friend mentioned. "It is like a little bit, inexperienced, inexpensive secret all up in there."

Once I came upon that the Lily Cup prices simply $30 — which might save me about $700 in paying for tampons over the following 10 years (screw you, purple tax) — I determined to head for it.

After a easy dinner of veggie pasta salad (I reside by way of the principles of Meatless Monday), I sit down down at the sofa and activate Promoting Sundown. I want a fantastical get away presently. I open up my new Lily Cup by way of INTIMINA to test it out. I selected Dimension A (pictured above), supposed for individuals who have not given delivery who've a medium glide. The cup is millennial purple, which I've to confess has been my favourite colour for years — elementary, however true. It is usually supposed to be the easiest dimension for the ones with the next cervix.

The very first thing I understand is how cushy the duration cup feels. It rings a bell in my memory of the buttery silicone on my favourite pink vibrator. It is wider on most sensible (like a cup, duh) with a stem at the backside so you'll be able to simply pull it out. It sits within the palm of my hand, wider than a tampon, however it additionally bends simply. My perfect good friend informed me you simply needed to pinch it to make a little bit smaller to insert it into your vagina, then it remains put.

The most productive section? You'll be able to stay it inserted for as much as 12 hours ahead of you want to scrub and reinsert it. That sounds so heavenly. I will be able to't wait to position the vicious cycle of every-four-hour tampon adjustments at the back of me. I might at all times put out of your mind and damage my lovely undies. I am 32 however nonetheless in some way at all times put out of your mind to deliver an additional tampon with me once I cross out, so I've to possibility stuffing rest room paper in my undies and hoping for the most productive on my lengthy subway trip house. Ugh. Expectantly now I might simplest have to modify out the Lily Cup a couple of times an afternoon.

I drop the duration cup in boiling water for 3 mins to sanitize it. The cup floats round in there whilst I've a 2nd glass of purple wine. It is Meatless Monday, no longer Wineless Monday. As soon as she's accomplished cooking, I let Lily calm down, dry her off and position her on my toilet shelf, subsequent to my selenite crystal. I sense just right power.

INTIMINA's Lily Cup (B)

Within the morning, I get up, stumble to the toilet for that first morning pee and spot some recognizing in my undies. Omg, it is time!

I clutch the Lily Cup and a little bit little bit of lube from my bedside drawer, as a result of I learn that it is helping make Lily simple to insert and just a little extra relaxed in case your duration is lighter. I sit down on the bathroom, rub a pair drops of lube at the cup, squeeze it so she folds (it is the simplest cup that be rolled as skinny as a tampon) and insert it into my vagina. I run my finger across the most sensible of the cup to verify it is open. All feels smartly!

I get up. I transfer my hips round. I leap a couple of instances and throw in a karate chop for just right measure. It sort of feels adore it's in! I will be able to't truly really feel it in any respect.

I stroll to the kitchen and make some espresso in my French press. I pour myself a cup and upload some oat milk, then sip on it slowly as I puppy my purring cat within the recent mild. Our morning ritual. All at once, I consider how that is the primary time I have had one thing inside my vagina because the Ahead of Occasions. I giggle out loud to myself. My cat walks clear of me, sensing my desperation.

Because the week is going on, Lily and I am getting to grasp each and every different higher. The primary day of my duration was once mild, so once I went to drag it out, which was once simple, there was once slightly anything else within the cup. As my glide were given heavier right through the week, I used to be nervous the contents would spill out as I got rid of the cup, however the no-spill rim is helping stay my fingers blank. Once I took the cup out, I dumped the contents in the bathroom then washed the cup with chilly water and she or he was once right away in a position to head once more. It was once in fact fascinating to look how a lot menstrual blood my frame produces in an afternoon. (Lower than I assumed!) Plus, there was once no scent, dryness or inflammation.

The most productive a part of the enjoy, for me, was once realizing I had made a favorable selection for the surroundings by way of opting for a zero-waste method to handle my duration any longer. I will be able to't consider I waited this lengthy to make the transfer. I compost, for god's sake! Now I think extra in keeping with my private values. And I am recommending the Lily Cup by way of INTIMINA to all my pals.

I simply came upon that INTIMINA additionally has pelvic flooring weight running shoes and female moisturizer. And the ones merchandise are millennial purple, too. I am considering of creating a purchase order so I will be completely in a position for all of the post-pandemic intercourse I will have —in the future.

Pictures courtesy of INTIMINA

My First Time Attempting a Menstrual Cup , Paper Mag , 2020-09-01 06:31:01 Source Autor www.papermag.com