I've wanted to write about my love of menstrual or moon cups for a long time on HIVE, and it's ironic that I'm finally doing so just as I am reaching the end of my menstruating life. My moon cup sits in a drawer in the bathroom, having not been used for four months. I bought it at a market in Devon nearly twenty years ago. One product, twenty years. Not bad. I'm not sure what to do with it now - it's not something you can pass on, is it? I feel a strange sense of grief to say farewell to this feminine hygiene product - not because I'm particularly attached to the object, but because I'm attached to what my moon time or monthly cycle represents - fertility, womanhood, nature, a connection to all woman across all time. But that's another story.
This story is more about asking you to question what sanitary products you use, particularly cotton tampons. I'm not here to criticise you if that's the only product that works for you - you should never be shamed for this - but asking you to consider an alternative, if you have this luxury of choice.
One of the things I loved about my moon cup is that it cost me 50 bucks. A one time purchase, and preventing myself bleeding over the car seat or my jeans was sorted for life. That cup never bled over. In fact, I'd swish it out once a day, rinse it in a bit of vinegar, and it was ready to go again. Sure, it could get a little messy if I was out and my flow was a little heavier (try being at a club and trying to clean your cup a little before re-insertion, then wiping blood off your hands before exiting the loo) but we can be squeamish when it comes to something so natural. I've never been one to be ashamed or repulsed by my bodily fluids, and I hope you are okay with that too.
But yeah, 50 bucks. These days they can be even cheaper - check out this organic one for only $20.
In her lifetime, according to a study by OnePoll1, a woman will spend up to 5000 pounds (that can be up to $7,000 USD or over 9,000 Aussie dollars) on sanitary products in their life time. Many believe that these products should be subsidised by the government, especially as 'period poverty' is actually a thing - woman often scrimp to afford something that is a necessity.
Image by @hiddenblade
Whilst I've never really had to scrimp for tampons (and I've never been adverse to just using a wad of toilet paper if I'm caught short) one of the costs that always really bothered me was that the environmental cost. Did you know that that synthetic pads and tampons can take around 500 to 800 years to biodegrade?Or that pads and tampons are responsible for about 200,000 tonnes of waste per year – most of which contains plastic?2 One argument is that we can switch to organic cotton products in cardboard boxes not wrapped in plastic and do away with plastic applicators. It's something, of course, but cotton's a bit of an environmental evil.
According to Project CECE, a website about ethical clothing choices, cotton
uses around 6% of the world’s pesticides and 16% of all insecticides, which is more than any other crop. Extremely harmful to the environment, they contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and pollute thousands of litres of drinkable water. As found by the World Health Organization, the most common insecticides used in cotton production even include three of the most hazardous chemicals! These toxic substances result in health risks for cotton farmers and inhabitants of nearby villages, and their use has been causing an increase in miscarriages, malformations and cancer in those areas. Basically, not only is cotton bad for the environment: its production is also unethical.3
It also uses a ridiculously high amount of water (a whopping 2,700 litres of make a single cotton tshirt!) and this water is often diverted from other agriculture, and it contributes to soil degradation and uses an extensive amount of land. Chemical free or no, it still has a massive impact on the environment.
Here's a few more factlets about cotton. I'm not trying to guilt you here - just trying to encourage you to consider what it means to bleed in this world.
- Globally, 35 million hectares of cotton are under cultivation.4
- In 2020, the Aral Sea, once one of the largest lakes in the world, has almost entirely vanished as it's water has been used for cotton production. The Indus River in Pakistan loses 97% of the river water because of the cotton industry. And the US? Groundwater levels have dropped 8 feet between 2004 and 2014 as a result of cotton’s water consumption during periods of drought.5
- If you aren't worried about the water, think of the pesticides. If you live around the Aral Sea, your people are suffering the highest rate of throat cancer in the world - a direct result of inhaling pesticide filled air.6
Image by @hiddenblade
Of course, if you're buying organic tampons, you'd hope that half of these issues might not be relevant. And you're right - to some extent. Less pesticides in higher rainfall areas mean less water consumption and impact on workers. But be careful of greenwashing - 'organic' can mask the fact that cotton still uses up a lot of water and because they don't use as many pesticides, they have to plant more - and therefore use more land.
Whilst I might be a huge advocate for a moon cup, I'm also now down the rabbit hole of ethical and sustainable clothing purchases. Of course, I'm asking you to do the same - in an ideal world, we would all be conscious consumers. I'm asking you to give it a go.
You might like to read the following articles by HIVE woman about trying menstrual cups - this onethis onenever going back after using one. by @hiddenblade, who gives a very detailed review of her first time purchase and use of one, or this by @arlinn on why she's
Whilst it's time for me to say goodbye to mine, I hope you might be compelled to experiment with, and perhaps fall in love with, your own moon cup.
It's not only kind on your wallet, but on the environment too - let alone how darn convenient it is. I understand that for various reasons, it might not be for everyone, but if it is for most woman, imagine what difference that could make toward a more sustainable world?
This is the first of the new Moon Journal editorial on HIVE, which has been shifted to a once fortnight position on Fridays via @naturalmedicine. @danielapevs has had to relinquish her role due to real life committments, and we thank her for discussing woman's health issues on HIVE this year. We'll be featuring stories, articles, advice and issues written by HIVE woman every two weeks. If you have something to say, get in touch - we pay 60 percent beneficiary to YOU for your efforts. The rest goes to making this collective what it is - a place to share, create abundance and to learn from each other on our wellness journeys and in our interactions with the earth.
Each fortnight this editorial offers a 5 percent beneficiary to one HIVE woman. This week it's @hiddenblade - thankyou for your wonderful article and for the use of your photos.
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I don't even know what appropriate thing an american male in his mid 30s can say on a post like this other than, sustainable practices are key to future generations survival and health.
Oh and
vote4vote?
I don't know either, but I'd posit that vote4vote is certainly not appropriate. It will have the opposite effect to what I suspect you want.
I take it that you do not vote4vote.
I have no idea what vote4vote is!
But I think 'sustainability is boss' is the right thing for an american male to say, and well done for reading it and finding a few funny gifs to lighten the mood.
Some accounts became hostile about it but mostly was just a innocent term used by English second, third, fourth or fifth language peeps.
Some people take Steem or Hive too cereal and want to pretend there are rules or that we have to appease or virtue signal top the plutocrats here@riverflows vote4vote was something that people who did not know English very well when joining steem would use that term to find votes even used as a tag for some that would work.
Virtue signalling, plutocrats, trolls, misogyny, threats of violence... what a nice way to end my week. It's enough to want to quit. 😢
One doesn't simply make electricity without resistance.
Would you like SBI shares that you can transfer to hive or would buying LOTUS coin be more impactful for natural medicine?
I must had missed the part about hatred of, aversion to, or prejudice against women.
I don't care if your a woman, man, black white or puppy I'll approach ya the same and hold everyone to the same standards I hold everyone else too in a unbiased way.
Gender, skin color or political affiliations wont stop me from judging ya off the content off your character. Just don't threaten violence and anything can be rationally discussed and worked through.
Vote swapping is generally seen as circle jerking and will likely get you downvotes if certain people see you doing it.
You are a very boring person @minismallholding
Aren't you just the charmer! 😉
Beg for votes? Im giving this account and you (regrettably) our curation trails vote as well as mine. Now if you could go back to shit posting and leave your ignorant comments out of it that would be great
I dont have to beg for votes and you have burned your own bridges. I am the one who always reaches out with an olive branch. Just yesterday I turned back on our group's curation trail on your account giving you extra support despite you being blackballed from multiple groups for being a dick, making false accusations and indirectly threatening violence just like you did here.
You are a lunatic. You are right it is a small world. We know the same people. Making aimless threats of violence is not not a sane way of solving a grivence. Not only is it illegal but it only shows how you are crying out for help because you cant accept the consequences of your own actions with out throwing a fit like a misguided orphan 10 year in chicago with a keyboard gun.
I hate tampons!
My eldest got a menstrual cup when she was about 16. Got the smallest size, but couldn't make it work, so I tried it and couldn't either. I just couldn't get it to open back up and seal once it was in, no matter what I tried and I tried every suggestion going.
I use Modibodi periods undies. They are so much more comfortable than any pads, disposable or reusable. I don't think they'll last 20 years, but you can guarantee they'll go for as long as possible, if I have my way.
Perhaps you could make a memorial to your fertility, @riverflows 😉
Oh yes, they look fantastic, the modibodi undies!!! I'm glad you went for another option over tampons.I know some people struggle with mooncups. I get it!
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I also used one for many years. I had one of the early ones and the stem wore out, so I had to replace the cup. My experience using them was much the same as yours, but I was not a heavy bleeder.
No, nor I, but even if it was heavy I just emptied it more. Glad you had a good experience too! They were so novel when they first came out.
Welcome to the next cycle of womanhood. Transition can be a challenge but the place of not knowing opens new options for the future as well as allowing for grieving for the past. Now I've grown into it, I like it here. I hope you will, too.
I've never been able to do with menstrual cups along with IUDs, mirena coils, vaginal rings and yes, tampons. It was a great relief to go back to external pads, it felt so much more natural and in tune, and pads had other benefits during menopause for increasing comfort.
Here in the UK, there are numerous options for more sustainable products including washable re-usable pads with minimal if any plastic. There are also various websites showing how you can make your own.
Thank you for sharing ❤️
Thanks @shanibeer for you sweet comment, an antidote to the mess above and the downvotes, which made me feel sad. I think it's important to have discussion about our choices as woman, and it's great there's so many more choices than 20 years ago when I bought my mooncup! An option for every woman that's more sustainable with the added bonus of being less costly too. Thanks again.
!ENGAGE 50
yes, I'm so sorry about that.
I agree - great that there are more choices for women and, on the whole, more openness about talking about the choices.
What an amazing post! Thank you for sharing all this information about menstrual hygiene. Not only for the data and statistics that you present us regarding the environmental impact of many products indicated for menstruation, but also for sharing so openly your menstrual experience. We should definitely talk more about it.
I get curious... What happens afterwards? How does it change your life to stop menstruating? I would love to read more about your experience.
20 years your menstrual cup lasted!!! A lifetime. Personally, I have been using my cup for about a year now and I'm not very sure about it. Since constant use can cause me discomfort, I decided to experiment with cloth pads - because because disposable pads and tampons are no longer an option for me. I got to work on this project and managed to sew my first pad with recycled fabric! So we take advantage of cotton fabric that we already have to give it a new use. The results: IS FANTASTIC I LOVE IT!
And I also loved this post. I believe that living on this planet is a responsibility, maybe not all alternatives will suit everyone's needs but, if we try and understand the commitment to live more consciously, surely we will find - or create, an ideal alternative for us. You just have to do your research, open your senses and get down to work.
Kisses and good wishes in this next cyclical/menstrual stage.
<3
I just hate to word sanitary products, to me it really represents how so many see a woman's cycle, as something that is unhygienic. It really irritates me.
On another note, this is such a sacred time for you, but I completely understand how difficult it must be to let go of this part of your life. You are amazing and you are really coming into your power now xx
p.s I love my cup too xxxxx
This is educative.