I went to a very artsy, liberal college where nose rings and Diva Cups reigned. I, however, never quite got on that menstrual cup train because, to be honest, I was scared. Am currently still scared. I want to try one, but I'm just a little too freaked out, you know? But clearly I'm not the only lady with this mindset, because BuzzFeed Yellow's new video features four apprehensive women trying a menstrual cup for the first time, and guys — it's inspirational.
So what is a menstrual cup? It's a reusable, bell-shaped, silicon... cup, basically. You stick it up into your vaginal canal when you're having your period, and it catches your menstrual blood throughout the day. Kind of like a tampon, but way, way better for both the environment and your wallet. It's suggested for ladies going camping, ladies going hiking, ladies going rock climbing, or just ladies in their everyday life, because everyday life is hardcore.
This little suction cup is supposed to provide 12 leak-free, odor-free hours but, I will admit that before seeing this video, I had a hard time believing it. I was also worried that the suction function would suction too much and get stuck, or that I wouldn't be able to get it in there at all, along with about eight million other concerns, because that's how I roll.
But I feel like I've had a revelation after seeing this video, ladies. I feel reformed. Like, I even Googled which drugstores near me carry the Diva Cup. Because this video isn't just about menstrual cups. It's about life lessons, dude — and here are the five life lessons I took away from watching these women try a menstrual cup for the very first time.
1. Relax
OK, apologies — this one is kind of a pun, since you have to, you know, relax those vagina muscles in order to actually get the cup up there. But, it's also a good life lesson because even though these women were anxious and scared, they still took a deep breath and went onward. As some guy named Ambrose Redmoon once said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.”
2. Have Faith in Your Abilities
Yes, the menstrual cup is daunting. Yes, it came with a lot of directions. And yes, when you're on your period, stakes are high. But these ladies went forth and conquered! With confidence in their abilities to figure out the secret of the menstrual cup!
3. Loosen Your Control, Even Just A Little Bit
Part of what was so unexpected for all the women was that the little cup felt, as one put it, "Like a phantom inside of me." Because of the way it's designed, menstrual cups (apparently) really do feel like nothing is up there, and that can be unnerving. But sometimes, letting go and trusting that elements in your life will work without your constant supervision is the first step to a calmer, happier existence.
4. Sometimes It Has to Be Difficult Before It Can Get Easier
There were leaks. There were trials getting that suction cup in. There were trials getting that suction cup out. The menstrual cup is not an instant fit for a lot of humans, it seems. But you know what else was hard? Learning how to walk. Learning how to read. Learning how to drive. Now a lot of us do a lot of those things (even though I'm not sure if you can call what I do behind the wheel of a car "driving").
5. Try Something New
SPOILER ALERT: In the end, the ladies were all menstrual cup fans! They were so proud of themselves for conquering a scary thing! Now the scary thing is not scary anymore! They can do anything! You can do anything! I've had too much coffee today, but whatever — maybe I'll try a Diva Cup now. Who knows — the possibilities are endless!
Watch the full video below:
Images: cavale/Flickr; Giphy (3); BuzzFeedYellow/YouTube (2)
