What is a Menstrual Cup?
For those of you who don't know, a menstrual cup is a small reusable, bell- shaped cup worn inside the vagina to collect menstrual flow. It's is similar to a tampon, although it is much healthier for you and the environment.
How do I use a Menstrual Cup?
To use a menstrual cup you simply fold the cup using one of the many folds, such as the c fold or punch down fold, and you insert it into your vagina. You may want to use lubricant to help it slide in more easily. Once the cup is in, feel around to make sure that the cup is open. You can rotate it or pull it down slightly if you are having trouble getting it open. When you are ready to remove the cup, gently pull on the stem or base of the cup, and then pull the rest out of your body. You can rinse you cup out under tap water and reinsert. At the end of your cycle, the cup will need to be sterilized. You can boil you cup for the recommended time (usually around 5 minutes) and it is ready for your next cycle. Keep in mind that for the first couple of cycles using a menstrual cup it can be challenging to get the hang of it. But don't give up!
Why should I use a Menstrual Cup?
There are many reasons why you should use a menstrual cup, so I will just cover the basics. Unless you buy natural disposable menstrual products, your tampons and pads contain pesticides and dioxins along with being bleached white. Menstrual cups are either made of 100% medical-grade silicon, or a TPE plastic that is used in the same way. Some of these cups may be dyed, but none of the dyes can harm you. Using tampons you also risk getting TSS, and with menstrual cups there have been no reported cases. Menstrual cups are able to be worn up to 12 hours, which is about twice the amount that you would be able to leave a tampon in. This also means that they can be worn overnight. The average woman will use 9600 disposable menstrual products each year, all of which end up in landfills or sewers. Most menstrual cups will last up to ten years, so you will probably only need to invest in 4 menstrual cups for your entire menstruating time period. Not only do disposable products effect the landfills, but they effect your wallet as well. On average, a single menstrual cup will cost $25-40. Let's say you spend 6 dollars on pads and/or tampons each month. It may not seem like much, but it adds up quickly. For one year you would be paying $72, and for ten- $8640 spent on tampons and pads. Lastly, most women find menstrual cups more comfortable than pads or tampons. You don't constantly feel a scratchy pad against your skin, which can leave a rash, and you don't have that horrid dry tampon feeling either.
How do I choose a Cup?
Usually when you are going to buy a menstrual cup, companies offer two different sizes; a smaller size for woman who haven't given birth and a larger size for woman who have. I would also judge it by your flow, if you have a heavy flow, get a larger cup, a light to medium flow, get a smaller cup. It also depends on where your cervix is located. If you have a lower cervix, get a shorter cup and so on.
Where do I buy a Menstrual Cup?
Most cups, you will need to buy online, but some can be bought at a local health store. In the US, I believe Whole Foods sells the Diva Cup. Some common cup brands include Diva Cup, Lunette, Meluna, Ruby, Lily cup, Lily cup compact, Lady cup, Skoon cup, and many more. Before buying a cup, I would recommend doing lots of research about the cup to make sure that it is the right fit for you. 
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