Reusable Menstrual Cups

What is a menstrual cup?

Menstrual cups are a comfortable, healthy, reusable, economical and ecological alternative to sanitary towels and tampons. It is a flexible silicone cup that, when you are menstruating, collects your blood in a funnel-shaped silicone cup.

You wear a reusable menstrual cup internally, just like a tampon. But where a tampon absorbs the blood, a menstrual cup catches the blood. A menstrual cup can catch more blood than a super tampon, which is why menstrual cups offer you unparalleled freedom.

What are the benefits of menstrual cups?

• PRACTICAL - A menstrual cup can hold more blood than a sanitary towel or tampon and you can keep it in for up to 8 to 12 hours, giving you unparalleled freedom. Even if you're out all day, you don't have to worry about your menstrual cup.
• SAVE - A reusable menstrual cup is good for the environment, but also for your wallet. The initial investment may be a little higher, but the cost of a menstrual cup is roughly equivalent to the cost of 5-6 months of disposable menstrual products. Menstrual cups can last up to 10 years, which means a savings of over 95%.
• WASTE FREE - A menstrual cup saves up to 12,000 menstrual products per person. By using a menstrual cup you are making a positive contribution to the environment.
• COMFORTABLE - A menstrual cup can be used throughout your entire menstrual cycle. Even while sleeping, swimming, working out, running and doing CrossFit. And you don't have to worry about your tampon string hanging out of your bikini bottoms.
• HEALTHY - Menstrual cups are made of 100% high-quality silicone and contain no chemicals. This is in contrast to many traditional disposable products. This way you take good care of your body.

Buying a menstrual cup that suits you

It is important to buy a menstrual cup that fits your body well. Menstrual cups are available in different sizes. In principle, you choose a larger cup as you get older and with a heavier menstruation and a high cervix and a smaller cup if you have a light menstruation and/or a low cervix.

How do you use a menstrual cup?

Because you insert a menstrual cup internally, it may take some practice. Tip: change a menstrual cup in the shower the first few times, this way it is not a problem if you make a mess. It may take a few times before you get the hang of it, but that will come naturally so don't give up too soon!

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before inserting the menstrual cup. Sit in a relaxed position, such as squatting or with one leg on the toilet seat. A tense vaginal canal makes inserting a menstrual cup a lot more difficult. Then fold the cup and insert the cup. The menstrual cup unfolds itself when you let go and creates a light suction that keeps it in place and prevents leakage. You can use your finger to feel whether the menstrual cup is in the right place and is no longer folded. The idea is that you no longer feel the cup after you have inserted it.

There are different ways to fold a menstrual cup, which way works best varies from person to person. Practice with different folds to find what works best for you.

You also need to be a little more careful when removing the cup than you would with a tampon. Because the cup collects the blood, it can overflow and you can get dirty fingers.So always make sure you have a tap nearby. To remove the cup, break the vacuum by pushing the menstrual cup in with your finger on the side. Then you can gently pull the menstrual cup down by the stem.

How do I know when my menstrual cup is full?

There is no clear guideline for this and it is therefore a matter of gaining experience. In the beginning, you can empty your menstrual cup more often so that you do not run the risk of leakage. You may feel the menstrual cup 'sloshing' when it is full or that you feel the cup getting heavier. This is personal for everyone, but you will soon enough notice when it is full.

How do I clean my menstrual cup?

It is important to clean the menstrual cup well after use. During the week it is sufficient to rinse the cup well under the tap, but between your periods it is important to boil the menstrual cup well. In this way you sterilize the menstrual cup and remove any bacteria.

Boiling a menstrual cup is very easy. You place the menstrual cup in boiling water for 5 minutes, do not use soap or other cleaning agents. You can use a pan for this or if you find this a dirty idea you can also use a special silicone sterilizer for menstrual cups  use. This sterilizer can easily be placed in the microwave.

Can I exercise and swim with a menstrual cup?

Yes! You can sleep, exercise and swim without worries with a menstrual cup, making it the perfect solution for anyone who leads an active life. And a menstrual cup has no external string that can hang out of your bikini bottoms, so you never have to worry about that again.

The complete range of menstrual cups at Zo Zero

At Zo Zero you can buy menstrual cups from the brands Ruby Cup and &SISTERSWhen you buy a Ruby Cup menstrual cup, you also donate a menstrual cup to someone who does not have access to menstrual products.

Menstrual cups offer a lot of freedom because the chance of leakage is much smaller than with sanitary towels and tampons. However, if you still don't feel completely safe, you can also use a menstrual cup in combination with (reusable) sanitary towels & panty liners or menstrual underwear. This is also a good option for the night. Or view the overview of all sustainable menstrual products at Zo Zero.

Want to learn more about the different menstrual products you can use when transitioning to a sustainable lifestyle? Read our blog 'Go with the flow: sustainable menstruation tips'.

And do you want to make the rest of your care routine more sustainable in addition to your menstrual products? Then take a look at all our natural care products.