As a teen, tampons may seem like the best bet to keeping your flow in control, but when things get heavy down there, you may be running to the loo and back, only to see that it has leaked through that little white sponge and created embarrassing stains on your clothes, especially if you’re in public. Although sanitary napkins are reliable, menstrual cups have shown promise as they can be worn for about 12 hours without worry and even save you money. 1
So as part of the no-tampon brigade, here are 7 amazing things that happen when you stop using tampons.
1. Lesser Exposure To Chemicals
Your everyday tampon is made with a combination of two basic materials, which is cotton and rayon (a synthetic soft material sourced from wood). Rayon contains a chemical called dioxin, which is a naturally occurring byproduct that is created when rayon is produced. In recent studies, by the Environmental Protection Agency, it claims that this byproduct of rayon may be highly carcinogenic to humans especially if they are in contact with too much of it or for too long. It is also said to be a chemical that disrupts a person’s immunity and even fertility. Although using natural cotton made tampons, besides polluting the environment when thrown away, they still clog your lady parts from breathing and are still a big no-no. Menstrual cups are flexible and made of a breathing material which are said to be non-toxic and reusable.
2. You Get To Keep The Good Bacteria In Your Lady Parts
Since tampons are made to be super absorbent, which is a good thing when you’re on your periods of course, in the process of soaking up the blood, it also depletes the essential good bacteria that your vagina needs to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Menstrual cups collect the blood but do not make your lady parts as dry and vulnerable. This leaves the good bacteria required for your vagina’s flora, where it should be. This was supported by Elisa Ross, an ob-gyn who works at the Cleveland Clinic Women’s Health Institute, who also said that this alters the pH balance of your lady parts and puts you at a higher risk of contracting yeast infections.
3. No More Bad Vaginal Odor
Tampons do not cover the whole vulva, so there is some air circulation that occurs to prevent bad smells better than sanitary napkins or pads do. However, they still make your lady parts give off a bad odor because the blood seeps down and tends to stagnate there. Menstrual cups however do not interfere besides collecting the blood down there to be thrown away later.
4. You Won’t Face That Much Cramping
Those who swear by period cups say they also experience lesser cramps after they stopped using tampons. Although there is no medical evidence to support their claim, just the thought of having less of those horrendous period cramps is always a nice placebo-like easing thought. However, it may not be so farfetched either because period cups do not apply pressure to the vagina like a tampon does.
5. You And Your Body Become Better Acquainted
Menstrual cups are also good measures to see how healthy your body is based on certain factors for that cycle. Although this may sound a little repulsive, you can assess the texture, thickness, color, and smell of the blood in the menstrual cup to see if your body is doing ok or if something seems off. Women in the yesteryears used these monthly telltale signs as their own personal health checkup, explains Siva Mohan, the founder of Svastha Health, a private Ayurveda clinic in California. Moreover, this is also one of the best ways to get up close and comfortable with your own body.
6. No More Freaking Out When You’re Out Of Tampons
Tampons and period pads are one time uses but unlike them, a menstrual cup can be used for about a decade if taken care of and cleaned properly. There will be no first day of your period, where you will have to worry about having enough tampons or pads.
7. Happier And Healthier Period Overall
Periods are always a pain but that burden could be made a little lighter by getting rid of tampon usage and investing in a good quality menstrual cup. A study from the Journal of Women’s Health said that if tampons and pads were put against menstrual cups, most leaned towards cups in the recent years.
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