Hahaha, too much? Oh well, we’re here now!
Welcome back to the next installation of Ladies Corner! Today we are chatting
(in spanglish!) about our horrid friend that we love to hate when she visits. every month. For about a week…
Yes, your period. Menstruation. Your aunt Flo. La amiga de a’lado. La bendicion. Your wingman to easily get out of outdoor activities. Your gatekeeper from next week’s hot date.
She’s there, whenever, wherever, and you’re meant to be together (Shakira fans rise up!). And you have to keep on living your day to day fabulous life, regardless!
Pues, que haces entonces? When you love traversing the world and want to scuba dive on Monday and hike on Wednesday and flirt with the papi at the hostel hotel pool party on Saturday?
You make it work Baby! Tampons, Diva cups, Birth control that stops the flow for 5 years, or pads and binge netflix for a day or two, whatever! Find the best solution for your body and needs and DO THAT, regardless if you’re at home or traveling. Personally I always continue my travels without thinking about la amigita too much. However, it’s always a rude awakening when the Flo stops in (or my Flo app reminds me she’s about to board her flight) and interrupts a perfectly last minute planned adventure. In previous years, I would always cram my backpack with enough tampons to last the year and curse the amount of space they take up. After several trips and the awareness the Pink Tax movement brought to light, I finally invested in the Diva Cup. A whopping $42 at the time.
I know- the thought is definitely weird- but just like putting in a tamp the first time is, you too will succeed and rise to the top of your freedom tower!
It’s environmentally friendly! No more plastic, cardboard boxes, excess packaging, or bleached cotton up in your hoo-haw. I’m here for it.
It’s made of medical grade silicone and so easy to clean and reuse. Simply rinse between uses and boil in hot water after your weekly cycle.
Also, the cup has a long shelf life. Tampons, understandably so, are one-time use. The cup lasts for generally 1 year when cared for properly! I only buy/use tampons when I forget my cup or have to use a public restroom that doesn’t have clean running water. Although that hardly ever happens as the cup does not usually have to be changed for up to 12 HOURS! I’m usually back into my private commode within that period to empty it, if needed, and freshen up. If I’m not, then I would search for a stall with a sink inside to rinse my cup in private. You could also rinse in the shared sinks, but I wouldn’t suggest it. Only because you’d have to wrap the cup up in TP (in case you drop that puppy!), re-dress, step out, wash cup, then back into the stall, pants down again; I’m already exhausted.
You don’t technically have to rinse every time you dump the cup., either. I do, more so because I like the idea of a “fresh one” popping in, but I certainly have accepted that there is nothing dirty about blood, periods, or doing what you have to do to Keep.On.Keepin’.On. It’s nice to rinse it as it makes the cup wet and easier to insert. ….
On my heaviest days, I’ll change it twice in a ten to twelve hour period. You’d be surprised how much of a heavy flow that little cup can hold.
What really made me make this jump is that I was so so tired of not finding what I needed while traveling. Also, it grew tedious to pack and buy tampons and liners to bring along the journey. And many eastern countries do not always have the same shelf variety for feminine hygiene care. If you’re a brand snob in that dept., you may find yourself forced to try something new. You also may be in a country that does not prioritize or actively acknowledge Aunt Flow, therefore not having access to much more than sanitary napkins.
And pads…On a hot and sweaty day…when you’re going on an 8 mile hike…
No thanks!
Vietnam in particular proved to test my patience the most! A majority of public restrooms did not have doors or stalls. It was an open, kind of squat, and make-it-quick scenario. Which was great for hilarious anecdotes and memories…yes… but so inconvenient if I needed to change! I would then need to search for another restroom or return to my hostel, which did not jive with my party schedule!
It was a welcome relief and win for the femme world to be able to leave my room for the day and explore freely, unchained by a daypack filled with 100 tampons because WHO KNOWS what will happen, maybe my whole body will bleed out?! (Of course it won’t, but that paranoia is fierce, girl…) Being able to just bring what I needed and feel light, clean, and confident was a game changer. I hope that one day all the young girls and women around the world can have access to affordable (should be free) feminine hygiene care.
What are your thoughts? Would you ever try a silicone menstrual cup? Organic tamps for life kind of broad? Or pads forever because ‘aint nothing going up there- well, maybe not nothing…
I’d love to hear your experiences and thoughts on the hush hush topic that literally is one of the most natural and normal bodily functions to experience! Let me know in the comments below!
Until next time, ladies! Well next month, because, you know.
P.s. Never heard of the pink tax? It’s essentially a cute little surcharge that is placed on products marketed to females. We pay more for the same items of our male counterparts; think, razors, shampoo, lotions, etc. etc… Check it out here if you’d like to learn more: https://axthepinktax.com/#intro
P.s.s. This is not an ad for Diva Cup, I simply love the product and am a big, big fan! I’ve been using it for 5 years now and will never go back. 🙂