Common Questions About Reusable Menstrual Cups Answered

Thinking about greening your period, but not sure where to ask those sensitive questions? Today, I’m sharing answers to 6 Common Questions About Reusable Menstrual Cups.

We were listening to partygoers take turns sharing their favorite items at The Favorite Things Party. I
leaned over to my friend and admitted, “If it wouldn’t have embarrassed people, I would have totally brought something different to the party as my favorite thing.” She laughed, paused, then said, “Is it a menstrual cup?”

I turned to her enthusiastically, replying, “Yes! I’m trying The Keeper Cup for the first time and, if I could, I’d give one to every woman still having her period. How’d you guess?”

“Every few months, a friend will begin a conversation like this, with a kind of evangelical enthusiasm for the cup. I haven’t tried one yet, but I’m thinking about it.”

She’s right. I tried both The Keeper Cup and The Keeper Moon Cup (same design, different materials) during my last cycle and the difference in overall comfort and convenience over tampons immediately impressed me. The learning curve for inserting and removing the cup was similar to figuring out tampons for the first time, but definitely a more comfortable experience overall.

My suggestion to my friend, “I was on the fence too. Just try one! I will be giving away 8 Keeper Cups or Moon Cups in my 12 Days of Crunchy Event too.”

Friends around us became curious about our conversation, admitting they’d never heard of reusable cups or didn’t know much about them. Here were a few common Keeper Cup questions they asked (and you might be wondering too). This post discusses feminine hygiene products frankly.

How does it work? Let me say that, if you have used tampons, this product actually has much less of an “ick” factor then they do. You fold the cup like a “c”, insert it, and let the cup unfold. You then gently rotate until it comfortably fits. The cup holds one full ounce of liquid and most women’s flows total 2 to 4 ounces total their entire period, so it’s amazing how little you have to change your cup. It stays during activity and is safe for sleep as well.

Removing it takes a small amount of patience at first, but once you learn how to release the suction, it’s a breeze. You pour out the contents (it’s not as bad as it sounds), wipe, rinse, and put back in. I consider this menstrual cup youtube video from Kim at Dirty Diaper Laundry a must for learning how they work – the tip halfway through is a lifesaver and made me use the term “bear down” in the middle of the party because I was so carried away in sharing how easy The Keeper is to use!

Isn’t it Messy? This was my #1 question about using a cup. I personally found it much less messy then tampons or pads, which often didn’t work effectively anyway. Plus, with a tampon or pad you have to guess the absorbency you need throughout the week and sometimes get it wrong. I experienced zero leaks (yes, zero!) while using the Keeper Cup. Removing it was a relatively clean process.

The big question – what about public bathrooms? This wasn’t really an issue for me, mainly because The Keeper really didn’t need to be changed frequently throughout the day. While my period seems never ending and tampons need vigilance throughout the day, The Keeper was very much “out of sight, out of mind.” I was lucky enough to use a single room public bathroom while out, but you can pour and wipe down while in public (and no, it’s not gross). If this idea won’t work for you, you can wipe down, slip inside a wet bag, and insert a clean cup that you bring with you. I carry along a mini wet bag (a Maxwell Designs Grab and Go works well).

How does it feel? Honestly, once you figure out the correct position for your body, you really don’t notice. No really. The comfort level was so unexpected. I actually experienced less cramps and emotionally felt like my period wasn’t impeding my life in the way it had before. There are 2 sizes for a comfortable fit for different needs.

What are The Keeper and The Keeper Moon Cups made of? The Keeper makes their cups out of natural, organic materials. The original Keeper is made out of natural rubber gum and, for individuals with latex allergies, The Keeper Moon Cup is made of durable, medical grade silicone. I tried both cups and didn’t notice a difference in comfort. The Keeper Cup is a dark brown and the Keeper Moon Cup is see-through.

Is it Safe? The Keeper has been around since 1986 and is FDA approved. It also has not been linked to TSS.

How much does it cost? Does it really save money? $35, plus shipping, for 10 years of use. You can’t dispute that kind of savings and the water cost is negligible, like washing your hands a few extra times over the course of a week.

Want to try a Keeper Cup or Moon Cup for yourself?  Our amazing friends at The Keeper are generously giving away 8 Cups in The 12 Days of Crunchy Giveaway Event! 4 Cups will be given out to general giveaway entrants and 4 Cups to Twitter Party attendees! Follow the link to the event page to enter.