Skeptics Guide To A Zero Waste Period – Plastic Free-ish Challenge #12

I left this one for last deliberately because I was very skeptical of the period cups I had heard so much about. Honestly, I was kind of scared of them. It’s a long post because it was the most asked about challenge for the whole year so I’ve tried to cover as much information as possible. Here’s my skeptic’s guide to a zero waste period by swapping to a menstrual cup. I also recommend watching my video recap because some things were easier to explain by having the cup there as a visual.

Skeptics Guide To A Zero Waste Period – Plastic Free-ish Challenge #12

Disclaimer:

This post was written in partnership with Pixie Cup.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Which menstrual cup I chose

I chose the Pixie Cup for this challenge.

What does the Pixie Cup come with?

It comes with the cup, obviously, and a small carry bag.

There’s a booklet with tips on how to use it, but there’s a lot more information on their website. Pixie Cup also has a helpful YouTube channel, so I recommend going to those for more detailed information.

There’s also a little sticker and 5 cleaning wipes.

How to buy a Pixie Cup

You can buy a Pixie Cup online from their website.

For friends with an APO address, they don’t ship to APO from their website. They have an Amazon store though which ships to APO addresses.

How do you know what size menstrual cup to get?

They come in different sizes and you need to look at their website to know which is right for you.

There are some obvious factors that would dictate the size, e.g. if you have had kids or have a heavy flow.

Also, there are other factors like the height of your cervix and if you have a tilted uterus that might need a little more time to figure out.

But, you might be right on the fence as far as which size is best for you. This is what happened to me.

If you’re like that too, I recommend getting one of each size and trying them both. That’s what I did and honestly, I’m so glad because I tried the first one and I didn’t like it.

I wanted to love it, but I hated it. It was uncomfortable and would leak especially if I was moving around a lot. I couldn’t see myself using it after the challenge.

But, I decided that before I wrote them off I’d try the other size. Straight away, I was like ‘ahh I get it now.’ It was more comfortable, and it worked properly.

Don’t give up too fast. I know it can be frustrating, but if you’re having difficulty with a cup, it could be something as simple as a bad fit.

How to use a menstrual cup

My biggest tip is to practice inserting it BEFORE your period.

I don’t know about you but I don’t really have the temperament for learning new things on day 1 of my period.

To make it a smoother experience, I recommend practicing beforehand.

First, you need to fold the cup. There are a few different folds, and they all even have names, but it’s a matter of preference as to what works for you.

For inserting it, you have a few different options similar to inserting a tampon. You can stand, squat, sit, or rest one leg up on something. Again, whichever works for you.

When you insert it, angle it towards your tailbone.

How to make sure the menstrual cup is sealed

When it is inserted correctly, it forms a seal and is somewhat suctioned there to collect fluid without any leaking over the side.

Pretty cool engineering!

It takes a bit of practice to get it right, though.

The good thing is, it’s not rocket science, it’s just something that takes practice.

Once it’s in, you need to check it to make sure it has opened completely and it’s not folded over in any areas. It can’t make a seal if it’s folded over.

One way to check this is to press the bottom of the cup as if to push some air into it. You can also rotate it and it should work itself into place. If you’re really having trouble, take it back out and start again.

Either way, you need to check the rim to make sure it’s not folded.

After you’ve done that, squeeze your muscles like a kegel exercise and give a little tug at the same time and that seems to seal it.

To make sure it has sealed, all you need to do give it a tug without squeezing and if you can pull it back out then it didn’t seal. When it seals there is some resistance.

How to empty a menstrual cup

To take it out, you need to break the seal. Squeeze the bottom and wiggle it then you can remove it.

Then you just empty the contents and rinse the cup. You can do this in the shower which is pretty convenient. More on cleaning and rinsing below.

How often do you need to empty a menstrual cup?

The cups last for 12 hours.

You can just put it in in the morning, then you don’t have to think about it until nighttime.

If you have a heavier flow, you might need to change it more often though. If you are in that boat, I would check it during the day and you’ll be able to plan out how long it’s going to last for you.

How to clean and sterilize it

There are 2 types of cleaning – the daily rinse when you’re on your period and then the sanitizing after your period is over.

For the daily rinse, I just rinse it in the shower with a couple of drops of Castile Soap. Pixie Cup also sells a wash that you can use.

Whatever you use, use something natural and without fragrances and chemicals to keep your va-jay-jay healthy.

The main thing is, there are 4 tiny holes around the rim and you need to make sure they are clean and empty otherwise the cup won’t be able to seal.

After your period is over, you need to thoroughly sanitize the cup to get rid of any bacteria.

To do this you boil it.

I got one of the sanitizing cups from Pixie Cup and this way I just pour boiling water in that, add the cup, and let it sit for 5 minutes. I find this a convenient way of doing it.

Pixie Cup also sells steamers if you prefer that to boiling it.

How to get rid of stains on a menstrual cup

Boiling the cup won’t get rid of all stains.

If you don’t like the stains, you can put the menstrual cup in a container with water and hydrogen peroxide at about a 3:1 ratio.

Leave it to soak for 24 hours and they will be gone.

Pros

Firstly, they can be left in for a long time compared with pads and tampons. You insert it in the morning, then set it and forget it until the evening which is quite convenient.

Since it is all collected inside the body, there is no smell. When it is inserted correctly, it is comfortable and easy to forget it’s even there.

They reduce your waste which is obviously better for the planet. They’re not technically zero waste since the silicone isn’t biodegradable, but their reusable nature and durability make them extremely low waste.

With a menstrual cup, you are not using chemical-laden products for your body to absorb which is also a bonus.

Using a menstrual cup will save a lot of money because they are not expensive to buy and you will not have to buy them often.

Cons

A menstrual cup is more inconvenient in a lot of ways. In all of these challenges that’s the case because nothing is as convenient as throwing things away after one use.

It’s especially more inconvenient if you have to empty it public restroom because there’s usually not a sink in the stall with you.

This is where the wipes come in handy. I recommend saving the wipes and stash a couple in your purse so that if you need to change it when you’re out, then you can empty it in the toilet and clean it with a wipe.

Just make sure you have clean hands before you do this.

Another way it’s inconvenient is that it takes practice to get it right. In comparison, it doesn’t take a lot of practice to get a pad or tampon right.

It’s also messier. You have to get your hands dirty so to speak.

Period cup FAQ’s

Can you pee with it?

Yes.

Can you poop with it?

Yes, but the pressure could break the seal. You might need to check it after. Of course, wash your hands first.

Can you have sex with it in?

No, if the cup is in you can’t fit anything else in the love tunnel, but you can do other sexy time activities north or south of the border depending on what you’re into.

Can you exercise with it in?

I would use a pad as well in case of leaks, at least at first.

For me, I noticed that when doing heavy lifts like squatting or deadlifting it would break the seal and leak a little.

Usually, with those types of exercises, you’re bracing everything and there’s a lot of pressure on your midsection. I don’t know if it’s possible for it not to leak during these types of exercise, so I recommend using a backup just in case.

Can you swim with it?

Yes.

Are they good for travel?

I think it depends.

I’m not going to use the cup in places where the water isn’t safe to drink. If drinking the water is going to make me sick, I’m definitely not going to rinse the cup with it and insert it in myself.

That’s not to say that you can’t, because you can stick to wipes or bottled water to clean it in those destinations, I’d just rather keep it simple since these occasions are few and far between for me.

For countries where the water is fine to drink, then I think they would be great for travel.

If you travel long term, you would need to get some boiling water to sanitize it between periods.

I think regular pads and tampons will still be in my life for a few reasons. Firstly, to have them stashed in case of emergencies. I’m probably not always going to have my cup on me, so I will still leave an emergency stash in my purse, gym bag, car, backpack just in case.

That’s also handy in case I’m out and someone asks if you have one because it’s not like you can hand over your cup.

And like I said, if I’m traveling anywhere with dodgy water, I’ll stick to pads and tampons.

Overall thoughts

Everyone says they are life changing, and honestly, I thought they would be another overhyped trend.

At first, I was right. It was more effort, leaked all the time, and was super uncomfortable. Not life changing or worth changing to at all.

BUT THEN, I found the right size cup and it all made sense. They are actually pretty awesome!

I recommend buying one, just make sure you have a little patience and an open mind.

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