Why Candace Cameron Bure Prefers Using a Menstrual Cup
A long-time user of tampons, the “Fuller House” star documented her experience using a menstrual cup for the first time with her Instagram followers. The results? Bure is now a menstrual cup convert, telling her fans, “I’m never going back to tampons.”
If you were wondering whether to try the switch up for yourself, here are some reasons why you might want to ditch the tampon for the cup for your next cycle.
What is a Menstrual Cup?
Although menstrual cups have been used by women for nearly a century, they’ve been steadily trending for the last few years. Unlike tampons and pads, which absorb the menstrual blood flow, menstrual cups catch the flow from the inside in a cup-like insert similar to a diaphragm. Most are made from silicone and rubber (if you have a latex allergy, opt for the silicone version) and while most are reusable, there are some that are disposable.
As for which brand Bure uses? She stayed mum on the subject, telling her followers, “I’m not going to tell you what brand I used because you have to find a brand that works for your body,” which is great advice.
More Time Between Changes
Unlike tampons, which you have to change every four to eight hours, depending on the heaviness of your flow, menstrual cups can go up to 12 hours without changing.
Bure was amazed at how little she had to change her menstrual cup. “There was no leakage, no spotting, no nothing,” she said after revealing she didn’t have to change her cup for 10 hours the first day. “And I didn’t feel it so I was like ‘Oh my gosh, this is really cool.'”
Once your cup has runneth over, just remove, rinse, and reinsert.
Working Out Is Easier
Let’s be honest: bulky pads or stiff tampons can make working out difficult. Which is why Bure was so pleasantly surprised that the menstrual cup allowed her to work up a sweat.
“Not only did I exercise, but it was rigorous because I was filming ‘Fuller House’ and we had stunt moves to do,” she said. “My legs and my whole body were really moving around so if this was going to fail, this was going to be the time.”
A 2016 survey from Intimina (which sells menstrual cups) found that 42% of respondents said that, compared to a tampon, using a menstrual cup would make them more likely to work out during their period. The survey also found the majority of respondents said they were more comfortable and confident during a workout while using a menstrual cup.
They’re Better for the Environment
Because most cups are designed for long-term use, including years, you’re not only saving yourself money but also the environment. Paper-based alternatives like tampons and pads require routinely clog up landfills — not to mention a lot of trees are sacrificed to make them — while a menstrual cup is not only (usually) reusable but is also made from non-toxic silicone, which makes it easier to break down over plastic, like, say, that plastic applicator that comes with your tampons.
They’re Healthier for Your Bod
Most tampons are made from genetically modified cotton, which have used synthetics that have been studied and found to have a link to a higher incidence of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). While there are 100% organic cotton tampons available that are healthier than traditional tampons, they can cost more.
Menstrual cups, on the other hand, haven’t been linked to TSS because it’s protected from the air by a light seal on the vagina wall, which means the bacteria that causes TSS can’t be developed.
“I didn’t have to worry about changing the cup out, as I would a tampon throughout the day, and it’s just so much better for my body not having to have bleached cotton in there, even though I know there are several organic tampon brands out there,” Bure told her followers.
The Takeaway
While everyone’s period product choice is personal, trying out a menstrual cup is not only a healthy and environmentally-friendly option, but it’s also a cheaper alternative. Buying even just one cup will run you about $30 a year — much cheaper than a box of pads and tampons per month for the year.
If you are curious about trying a cup, heed Bure’s advice: “Everyone’s cervix is shaped differently and there are websites out there where you can take a test that recommends what type of cup will fit your body best, so do your research.”
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