Sometimes, a post comes along that the boys don’t really need (or want) to read. So, this one’s for the girls because it’s all about menstrual cups! Yes, they’re a thing. And yes, they’re amazing.
Ladies, how many times have you had a hike planned only to wake in the morning to your monthly visit from not so dear “Aunt Flo?” Not wanting to deal with tampons and pads on the trail, you decide to cancel. Well, I’m here to tell you there’s a solution!
I had heard of menstrual cups, but had been hesitant to use one. After three kids, and a flow so heavy I went through a super tampon every hour, I assumed (wrongly) that a cup wouldn’t work. So, I scheduled hikes and backpacking trips around my cycle. Always making sure that I didn’t hike that one weekend a month. That is until my cycle changed on me one day, and I was forced to hike Baldy via the Devil’s Backbone on day two. Oy. For those of you who don’t know, there are almost no places to hide and squat once you get past the 2.5 mike marker (the Notch for those in the know). To say it sucked is an understatement. The next day, I started researching cups and by my next cycle, I was using one.
Now what exactly is a menstrual cup? It’s a medical grade silicone cup that suctions itself to the vaginal walls, creating a seal, and catching your flow. The seal is important! Not only does it ensure that there are no leaks, but because it’s air tight, it also means no more odor….until you remove (I’ll get to that).
Every post you’ll read will tell you there’s a learning curve. There absolutely is. For me, it was two cycles. So if you’re frustrated to start, don’t give up! You’ll figure out what the trick is for you, and once you have that “ah-ha” moment, you’ll be in period heaven. Er, rather just happy you’re not wasting tons of money each month and adding waste to the overflowing land fills.
Removing the cup is easy, but does take a little practice. Some women prefer to keep the stem intact, while others prefer to remove it by cutting it off. I opted to cut mine and instead pinch the bottom of the cup to remove. There will be a little bit of a mess, but keep reading…I’ll get to that next.
Now when I go hiking on the trails, I only have to worry about digging a cathole to remove the contents of the cup. I then wipe the cup down with a baby wipe (what I do when using public restrooms as well) and re-insert. Easy peasy! At the end of each cycle, boil your cup for 5-10 minutes to sterilize and you’re all set for the following month!
I am currently using the Lena Cup. It comes in 2 sizes: Small and Large. Everyone will tell you something different about which size is best. But it really just boils down to what feels right. I was recommended to purcahse both. And I’m glad I did. I use the Large cup on my first two heavy days; cleaning the cup once every 3 hours. Then, for the remainder of my cycle, I use the small cup for a full 12 hours (that’s the longest you can go before having to clean it out). Both cups work perfectly for me! But the small cup would be too small for my heavy days, and the large cup is just too much cup for those lighter days.
Decided to use a menstrual cup too? Been using one for years and love it? Let us know below!
The Pink Hat Hiker 