A period cup is a small, flexible, bell-shaped container you insert into the vagina similar to how you’d insert a tampon.

Like a tampon, the cup is a menstrual product designed to expand once in place; unlike a tampon, it’s not designed to soak up menstrual fluid — it collects the fluid instead. The cup is designed to be so

soft, small, and flexible that you shouldn’t feel it once it’s correctly inserted to collect menstrual blood.

Well, to switch less often. While regular tampons typically hold five milliliters of fluid, a reusable menstrual cup may hold anywhere from 30 to 60 milliliters of fluid, which means you don’t have to empty

your cup as often as you’d have to change a tampon.

Many cup users find they only need to empty their cup once or twice a day, depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle. And unlike traditional feminine care products, reusable period cups collect

your flow instead of absorbing it like tampons and pads, so you avoid irritation and dryness during menstruation.

“Period cups are the most sustainable option when it comes to period care,” says Hollender. “One period cup, on average, replaces 720 tampons that will end up in a landfill. That’s huge.”

Cups are usually made from medical-grade silicone material free from bleach, plastic, perfume, and other irritants you may not want to place inside your body.

This is a one-and-done purchase. Switching to a period cup will save you money on tampons or panty liners (and late-night drug store runs) over time, with some menstrual cups lasting up to 10 years.

Sanitary pads and rashes have a long-standing relationship! Since a menstrual cup is inserted into your body, be assured that there will be no more of these rashes.

Unlike sanitary pads, you don’t have to worry about changing every 3-4 hours. Most cups can collect your flow for about 8-9 hours.

If you are not plagued by cramps, then there’s good news for you. Dancing, running, swimming, you name it- you can do it while you’re on your period with the cup!

Using a sanitary pad or a tampon disturbs the delicate PH of your vagina due to all the bleaching and chemicals involved. The cup does not dry out the vagina because of the high quality medical grade

silicone.

The cup sits cozily in your vagina which means the blood has no chance with the air outside, unlike when you use a sanitary pad. Voila! No period odor.

The menstrual cup is one of the most sustainable ways to deal with your flow.A single sanitary pad takes as much as 500-800 years to decompose. A single cup usually lasts between 0-7 years

Hard to believe? Let me do the math for you. An average cup costs Rs. 700. A pack of 30 pads cost Rs. 140 which may last upto 3 months. In 5 years, you spend Rs. 2800 on pads but if you used the cup,

you would have spent Rs. 700.

The easiness of inserting and opening the cup will depend on the manner in which you fold it.

Small – 15ml – for young teenager Below 18 years age

Medium – 20ml – for those who have not given birth vaginally, Above 18 years age

Large – 30ml – for those who have given birth vaginally, Above 18 years age