I was in 11th or probably 12th standard, and this is one of my core memories. So, every time I had to dispose of my pads or tampons, I would hide them and smuggle them out, feeling like I was disposing of drugs or weapons that were a threat to national security. I always hated that part, and I also read somewhere that pads contain plastic that doesn’t decompose for years even after disposal. I always wanted a better alternative when my best friend told me about a reusable menstrual cup. 

I had no idea about what is a menstrual cup, but the idea of something reusable seemed nice. I thought how much my life would be easy if I didn’t have to play hide and seek every time I went to throw pads.

I went home from school, and that very day I told my mother that I wanted period cups. Just like me, she was clueless, and my poor ma asked me: what is a menstrual cup? I explained to her that it is a bell-shaped feminine hygiene product made from medical-grade silicone, and we have to insert it into our vagina to collect the menstrual fluid and then drain it.

This is where I was stopped. She didn’t even listen to the whole sentence, and my mother gasped in disbelief.

“How can you even imagine inserting something in your private parts?” This was her first sentence.

I said” “But it’s safe, and we can even reuse it after we clean it again. Can you imagine the money we could save every month?”

My ma said: “Go now, and who told you this? I don’t want to hear about it ever again.”

I never uttered a word, and even I thought, it was probably not worth inserting something in my private parts.

The Next Part of My Life

Six years later, when I was doing my masters in environmental studies, I read a column about where our disposed menstrual products go, and instantly the old conversation with my mother hit me. The pads and tampons we throw, rot in landfills or on the bottom of ocean beds harming terrestrial and marine life. Thousands of animals die and soil has tons of microplastic in it just because we are afraid to switch to sustainability.

At that very instant, I ordered a reusable menstrual cup, and it’s been two years. Today, as I buy my next menstrual cup, I am writing this blog, and I couldn’t be happier. Yes, initially, I did take some time to get the hang of the product, and I was skeptical if using it was good for me, but I am glad to say that my ma was wrong.

One of the most compelling advantages of the menstrual cup is its extended wear time. Can you imagine not having to worry about changing your tampon every few hours? Unlike tampons, which need to be changed every four to eight hours, a menstrual cup can be worn for up to twelve hours. This was a game-changer for me, especially during long workdays and overnight. Plus, the cup’s capacity to hold more fluid reduced the risk of leaks, providing me with peace of mind, and no walk of shame while discarding out pads.