Though menstruation is usually seen as taboo in lots of communities and households, there was important progress lately in lots of international locations worldwide. The constructive change in approaching menstruation right this moment is due primarily to elevated media protection, instructional initiatives, menstrual product innovation, activism, and advocacy.
All this mixed is leading to youthful generations, reminiscent of Gen Z and past, approaching the subject with out self-consciousness or discomfort. They talk about menstruation overtly as a standard a part of a woman’s or a girl’s life. Additionally they care concerning the setting, in order that they typically go for sustainable merchandise. A kind of merchandise is a menstrual cup, an alternative choice to disposable menstrual merchandise that many ladies right this moment are switching to.
Sustainable menstruation is gaining momentum; in an INTIMINA examine of 1,030 respondents, 40% stated they switched to a cup as a result of they wished to scale back their private menstrual waste. The common lady makes use of greater than 11,000 disposable menstrual merchandise in her lifetime and that it takes tons of of years for this waste to decompose, so this can be a constructive development.
There are different vital causes for switching to menstrual cups. One is monetary spending, and 20% of respondents stated this was their most important change issue. Menstrual cups such because the Lily Cup may be reused for as much as 10 years, representing important financial savings in comparison with the month-to-month prices of disposable merchandise.
The survey respondents stated they might use the saved cash on journey, meals and outings (46%), enjoyable experiences (26%), garments, magnificence and skincare (16%). Some respondents defined they might use the financial savings for paying off money owed, donating to charity, hobbies and training, or on their youngsters.
22% of respondents named well being advantages as causes for switching to a cup. They care about utilizing secure and chemical-free merchandise for his or her physique. High quality menstrual cups are fabricated from medical-grade silicone and don’t comprise any harsh chemical substances or dyes present in disposable merchandise.
Ladies who change to menstrual cups additionally discover that they’re extra handy and comfy than conventional menstrual merchandise. They’ve a better capability for menstrual blood, that means girls can put on them for longer durations with out worrying about leaks or odour. Moreover, menstrual cups may be worn throughout all bodily actions, together with swimming, with out the chance of leakage.
Regardless of all the advantages of menstrual cups, many ladies nonetheless want reassurance. The most typical query is easy methods to insert or take away a cup (9%) and place it accurately so it doesn’t leak (23%). All this takes follow, however solely somewhat. 17% of INTIMINA’s respondents stated they inserted the cup accurately on the primary attempt. For 29%, it took a number of days of practising, and for 26%, it took greater than two cycles to get it proper. And 90% of all respondents would advocate the menstrual cup to a pal or a member of the family.
Curiously, 47% stated the menstrual cup just isn’t reasonably priced and represents an funding. Switching to a menstrual cup relies on numerous elements. Nonetheless, when it comes to financial savings, girls can save 1000’s of {dollars} in the event that they change pads and tampons with one menstrual cup that prices, on common, $30 and may final for as much as 10 years. INTIMINA’s calculator may also help with not solely calculating private menstrual waste but additionally attainable financial savings when choosing reusable merchandise.
The survey has proven that switching to a menstrual cup is a straightforward and efficient means for ladies to assist sustainable menstruation whereas additionally bettering their total well being and well-being. By persevering with to coach individuals about menstrual well being and selling reusable menstrual merchandise, manufacturers, organisations and people can work in direction of a extra sustainable future. And make sure that everybody can entry secure, reasonably priced, and efficient menstrual merchandise.