Pointless

Dear pill,

Thanks for giving me a non-stop period for SEVEN MONTHS. After a while, my menstrual cup got too uncomfortable. And then so did tampons. So then I was wearing pads, and I think my skin ended up having an allergic reaction to the pads. Thanks for all the pointless pain and discomfort.

Anonymous, UK

Bloody Cervix

Dear Cervix,

Why do you need to be so difficult?!

I want nothing more than to do away with pads; the monthly expense, the leaking and the crinkly packets in toilet cubicles.

But no, I can't have my life be changed by using a menstrual cup, because you, my cervix, isn't set back far enough.

You're too close to allow a menstrual cup, ANY menstrual cup, to fit inside me.

So cheers for being such a bloody nuisance, pun INTENDED!

Sincerely
Rachel

Rachel, UK

I <3 My Coil

Dear coil,

Thank you for giving me the other three weeks of the month to me. Stopping the migraines, tsunami blood flow and saving me so much money in tampons and pads, (because I had to change both every hour to avoid the tsunami). I’m not sure how I got to 33 without you. My boobs only hurt a little bit now, and my painkiller taking has gone down. I was on strong painkillers, which clot my blood enough that I could use a menstrual cup and a pad. Now I only need a night time one at night, and normal middle ones for day time, only needing to empty the cup three times a day.

Since I had you inserted I have been able to have a light coloured bottom sheet since I don’t bleed out in the night. I keep running through pms, my period (always had to have a week off for that) and the weeks recovery without injury as I couldn’t feel it due to the drugs.

I only get the odd cramp, and my diarrhea is solved.

I have a few extra spots, but nothing as bad as when I ate cheese and milk and ice cream and store bought cake. Or soya. Or monosodium glutamate.

And have I gotten a little chunky due to quarantine or is it you? We shall never know.

There’s no going back now. How did I drive to work when my vision was swimming? How am I alive!

Sincerely
I<3my coil

Anonymous, UK

Fumbling About

Dear Menstrual Cup,

I’ll be honest, I was terrified of you at first, but after 4 days fumbling about with you, I think I’ve finally sussed you out! I really think we could have a future together, especially while I’m dealing with some extra implant-related periods!

Lots of love,

Ellie

Ellie, Australia

My Cup Runneth Over

Dear Menstrual Cup,

It’s been a rough ride finding you, the one that fits and doesn’t hurt or make my cramps unbearable. We’ve been through a lot, and things have been messy, but I’ll never look back. (Plus you’re kind of beautiful in a funny sort of way!)

P.S. thank you for making “my cup runneth over” part of my regular vernacular!

Anonymous, UK

Which is Worse?

Dear The Pill,

You have made my periods 4 days long instead of 7. You have made them lighter, and less painful, and more bearable, but you also cause me to have intense cramps in my cervix and pass clots big enough to fill my menstrual cup. You’ve stolen my sex drive and made my mood swings go wild, yet I feel addicted to you. I’m scared of what will happen if I come off of you, I’m scared the pain and length and heaviness of my periods will come back. I no longer know what’s worse. Heavy, painful, unbearable periods, or mood swings and a lack of sex drive which is threatening my relationship

Please sort it out.

Thanks

Charlotte, England

Not Dirty

Dear period,

Thanks for forcing me to get comfortable with my vagina. thanks for making me spend countless hours digging for my menstrual cup the first time I used one, getting covered in blood and not feeling disgusted, because it wasn’t dirty. It was natural. Thanks for helping me understand my health, by disappearing when I had disordered eating, reminding me that skinny doesn’t equal healthy. Thanks for being predictable. Thanks for being 3 days long. Thanks for making me feel in tune with my own experience of womanhood, but allowing me to realise that being a woman is not confined to having a vagina that bleeds, or breasts that ache for half the month. and I mean ACHE, that is something I don’t thank you for, period.

Yours faithfully, your owner

Anonymous, UK

A Love Letter to Menstrual Cups

Dear Menstrual Cup,

I wanted to say thank you.

Thank you for coming into my life. Thank you for keeping me clean and comfortable throughout my tiring and extremely busy workday. Thank you for saving me from monthly episodes of thrush due to poor pH balance from pads and tampons. Thank you for saving me so much money! (Seriously, why are disposable hygiene products so expensive!). Thank you for allowing me to support the local business that makes you. Thank you for ensuring that a new menstrual cup gets given to an underprivileged person who cannot afford to buy disposable hygiene products monthly, every time a new menstrual cup is bought.

Thank you.

I love you dearly.

Lexi, South Africa

Merry Menstrual Christmas

Dear Menstrual Cup,

For almost a year I begged mum to buy you as a Christmas or birthday present and she finally gave in. I feel bad for not using you as much as I should, I just find you so uncomfortable, and difficult to get into the right position... Like that time I leaked all in my underwear while in central London.... But., I promise to use you more, I know you’re good for me and the environment, and I’m trying my best.

Sara, England

A Big Piece of Plastic

Dear Menstrual Cup,

Why didn't I start using you earlier?! You have completely changed my period and are so easy to use! I always thought you were intimidating from afar- a big piece of plastic going up there? Really?!

But no, you are perfect. You catch the blood, you are eco friendly, you are easy to clean, you save me money.... Even my cramps seem less bad! I just wish I had discovered you sooner, rather than suffering through the rash on my legs from pads, ruined underwear galore, the ridiculous cost and waste.

You make me feel better about myself, like I am actually making mature changes and am taking steps to improve. For me you symbolise my entire zero waste journey- a simple but terrifying change, a step in the right direction, a discovery of something great. I am so so grateful for the ease of use and the savings to the planet you have given me.

Thank you menstrual cup for transforming my periods into something slightly less unpleasant.

Anonymous, UK