The Fun Factory Fun Cup – switching to a menstrual cup could absolutely change your life and save you money! So, I’m sure everyone has heard all about menstrual cups and the stigma around them. I’ve had a lot of people come into the store and ask me “wouldn’t that hurt?” or “isn’t it gross?”, my immediate answer to both of these questions is absolutely not! Wearing a menstrual cup can be slightly awkward to wear at the very start but this is the case with tampons as well. Everyone has been in that situation of starting to wear tampons and not exactly knowing how to feel about it but eventually you get use to it and it becomes a normal and convenient thing because of course you can do pretty much anything with a tampon i.e. sports, swimming, exercising etc.
What is a menstrual cup?
For those who don’t know what a menstrual cup or have never heard of them before, let me give you a quick rundown. A menstrual cup is a silicone cone shaped cup that is inserted into the vagina during THAT time of the month. There are usually two or three different sizes for these cups which depend on age and if you have had children. These cups, (once inserted) create a seal in the vaginal canal stopping any blood from getting through. The cup has a tail or grip on the bottom end, this is where you would pinch and pull to remove the cup.
So, what is so good about the Fun Factory Cup you ask? Well let me tell you. The Fun Cup is made of body safe silicone which means the feeling of this silicone is extremely soft therefore it wont stick to the skin or feel rough down there while inserting or removing. The Fun Cup is also a 100% vegan product so we can have peace of mind knowing that no animals were harmed in the making of the cup. The Fun Cup also comes with antimicrobial bag for hygienic storage during the time of not using it. The pack in which the cup comes in actually comes with two cups one 20ml (Cup A) and one 30ml (Cup B), these two cups give the buyer a choice on either size. Usually sizes are determined by age for example if the buyer was 18 – 25 years of age with no children she would in most cases only need cup A as it is smaller, whereas if the buyer was a 25 – 40-year-old mother she would in most cases need cup B as the vaginal canal would be wider but also cup B can hold more which also means if the buyer was 18 – 25 with an extremely heavy flow she would be able to use cup B and it would still be effective. To insert the cup, you simply fold it in half and with two fingers holding the cup folded, push it up as far as possible and let it pop back out to create the seal. Your muscles will naturally move the cup further up so don’t freak out if you can’t feel it, it is physically impossible for you to lose it up there. To remove the cup, with the same two fingers, feel for the base of the cup, pinch in the sides and slowly pull it out, I’d suggest doing this on the toilet or in the shower to prevent mess.
Benefits of switching to the Fun Cup
Switching to a menstrual cup has a lot of benefits with it. To start with, a cup can be worn for up to 12 hours unlike tampons which can only be worn for a maximum for 4 hours or pads which can fill up pretty fast. Wearing the Fun Cup also means there is little to no risk of TTS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) which is a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection which comes from wearing or leaving in a superabsorbent tampon for longer than recommended. As the cup is made of silicone there is no risk of irritation or infection unless of course you’re allergic to silicone or you don’t clean the cup properly after use. Another benefit of wearing a cup is the smell, everyone who has experienced that time of the month and used any kind of feminine hygiene product would be familiar with that horrible metallic smell when changing it over to a new one. With the Fun Cup there’s no smell! That smell usually comes from a chemical reaction that happens between the bodily fluids and the absorbent product whether it is a tampon or a pad, these products also usually contain some kind of bleach to make them white, which again isn’t exactly safe for the body. With the Fun Cup you can still do everything in your daily routine, YES! you can exercise, swim, play sports and absolutely wear whatever your heart desires without worrying about leakage or even water absorbing into the product. Another great thing about the Fun Cup is although your initial purchase may cost you more than a box of pads or tampons, in the long run, you will save a bomb of money by not having to purchase feminine products each month and you’ll never be caught by surprise. That means no more sending your partner down to the shops to get you some! And with the added bonus that a menstrual cup only needs to be replaced every 10 years, that’s 120 months’ worth of money not spent on feminine products.
Cleaning your cup
In order to properly clean your menstrual cup, I’d recommend buying a small pot or metal container that can be put onto the stove. You’re not going to want to use this pot for anything else. Fill the pot up with water and wait for it to boil, which then you can put the rinsed Fun Cup into the boiling water and let it boil for 5 minutes. The boiling water will sterilise the cup and kill any bacteria that may be on it meaning next time you are ready to use the cup it will be clean, sterile and ready to go.
Summary of the Fun Cup
I highly recommend switching to the Fun Cup! Reduced risk of infection, all day wear, little to no smell, still do everything you normally would, no need to buys pads or tampons each month anymore and only needs replacing every 10 years. The pack comes with two cups one 20ml and one 30ml so if you don’t have children but are planning on having kids one day that’s perfect, you’re already set and won’t need to buy another one for a long while. The Fun Cup is an amazing product and I think with an open mind, could change any woman’s life!
Kaylah is a consultant at the Oh Zone Adult Stores.