Periods Are Expensive. Here’s How You Can Save

This costs of a period are mental, physical, and literal.

This article was created in partnership with OrganiCup.

Periods can be messy. They can be painful and debilitating. They are sometimes a bother that those of us with uteruses that still menstruate forget about until THE day comes and we are reminded that our amazing bodies can also make us crampy, dizzy, horny, and just plain uncomfortable. Pad and tampon ads rarely share the whole story. Sex ed and health classes in middle and high school rarely discuss what periods are really like. Instead, most classes focus on the medical reasons we have periods and ways to prevent pregnancy, not tips and tricks to manage this expensive, sometimes annoying, miracle of life. 

On average in the US, someone who menstruates will do so for about forty years of their life. According to HuffPost, that can be upwards of 6.25 years of that individual’s life spent having a period. While “average” can be a dividing term, in this piece, I will be using it to refer to a person with a uterus who has consistent periods and does not have endometriosis or another condition that might cause irregular periods. Additionally, while I do not believe that you must be a “woman” to have a period, research may not reflect this. 

“On average in the US, someone who menstruates will do so for about forty years of their life.”

— Office On Women’s Health

All About the Benjaminas 

A HuffPost writer calculated the total cost of menstruation over a person’s lifetime as approximately $18,173, accounting for things like new underwear, pads, tampons, pain relief, acne medication, chocolate, heating pads, and birth control. That amount of money could be used toward loans, rent, food, medical bills, and so much more. A lot of these purchases are also subject to the “Pink Tax,” a form of gender discrimination where products deemed for women are priced higher than the equivalent “men’s” item. According to an NYC Department of Consumer Affairs survey, women paid more for the same items as men 42% of the time in close to 800 products studied. Whether it is for razors, a common product used by all genders, or more specific and necessary items, like pads and tampons, those who bought “women’s” items paid more on average. These taxations are unfair to all, but especially to those of a lower socioeconomic status where decisions must be made to either buy single-use menstrual products or risk health issues by keeping a tampon in for longer than the recommended amount of time.

Collect Those Coins… and Your Menses

This is where the menstrual cup comes in! A menstrual cup is… well, it’s exactly what it sounds like—a small silicone cup that can be inserted into your vagina to collect your menses. According to OrganiCup, a vegan, environmentally friendly menstrual cup brand, menstrual cups have been used for decades as an alternative to wasteful and expensive pads and tampons. For the past year, I have been using a menstrual cup after deciding that pads were too expensive and realizing how much I dislike tampons. My cup has made having my period so much easier. I studied abroad in Ghana, using my cup during the four months I was away, and therefore not contributing in that way to waste in my temporary home. I traveled to India, where having a menstrual cup meant no longer having to find places outside of my family home to throw out my used pads and tampons.

Unlike pads and tampons, the OrganiCup is made of 100% medical grade silicone and contains no BPA, latex, or dyes, which means it has no hazardous chemicals and is in many ways safer than your go-to period supplies. In fact, when it comes to menstrual cups, there have only been 2 reported cases of Toxic Shock Syndrome, and they were both due to prolonged use well above the recommended 12-hour maximum. The OrganiCup, in particular, is easy to insert, and the website even has instructions for those who are confused or nervous about it. The company provides soap and wipes for cleaning the cup and a cute cotton pouch to store your cup in-between periods. The material is 100% recyclable and compostable, using limited plastic to ensure cleanliness and protection of the environment. From marketing to care, the OrganiCup is ideal for those who want to explore alternatives to the usual period care and, of course, for those who want to save money—the OrganiCup lasts up to 10 years!

The primary challenge with my first cup was that I would have to quickly scurry from a public bathroom stall to the sink and back if I had to change it during the day. When I received my OrganiCup, I was so excited! Not only was this menstrual cup eco-friendly even in its packaging, but it even came with convenient accessories like cleaning wipes to use if I needed to empty my cup while out in public. Their soap was unscented and came in a leak-proof container. 

My OrganiCup!

“I really love using menstrual cups because regardless of what I am doing during the week of my period, the cup means I have one less thing to worry about.”

The OrganiCup

For the first few days of my period, adjusting from my previous brand of menstrual cup to the OrganiCup was a little difficult, but after I clipped the end tip of the cup (making it a little shorter) it became easy and so simple. I knew that I had a heavier flow during the first few days, so having the option between two different cup sizes made it easier to adjust over the week from a more intense cup to a smaller one. 

I really love using menstrual cups because regardless of what I am doing during the week of my period, the cup means I have one less thing to worry about. Unlike other menstrual options, I can wear whatever I want without fear of whether or not my pad is visible.  I also do not have to worry about TSS like I used to when wearing a tampon. I feel clean and comfortable. I can wear the cup throughout the night, without having to wake up to change, and I can wear it in preparation for an impending period to the gym, the beach, and on long trips without feeling uncomfortable or worried. 

While there are many, many options of menstrual cups and supplies, I can honestly say that the OrganiCup offered not only the comfort and safety, but also less guilt for putting more waste into the environment. Just like every person is different, every period is different so, while you may end up using a different brand, or a different method of menstrual care—I would highly recommend OrganiCup as an eco-friendly, safe, and easy to use menstrual cup!

Sources:

[1] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/period-cost-lifetime_n_7258780
[2] https://money.cnn.com/2016/03/07/pf/pink-tax/index.html
[3} https://www.organicup.com/

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Must be looooooove on the braaaaain 🧠. Or was that s£x? 👀🤭 Our brains are our largest s£x organs and sometimes they get a little sad, hyperactive, anxious, or overwhelmed. You won’t always be in the mood for s£x and that’s okay! Keep communication with your partner open and ongoing, check in with yourself and your mental health, and lean on the support of a trusted therapist or doctor if you need some extra guidance. 🫶🏽 Anything you would add?

I mean 😏

It is not wrong nor should it feel shameful to ✨seek pleasure.✨ I think those of us who grew up more religious were taught that you should always be in service of others and giving of yourself rather than concerned with our own needs or passions. While it is wonderful to be generous with giving (and can in fact be a source of pleasure), it should be equally encouraged to pursue your own pleasure — it whatever form it may take! It may feel self-indulgent, but why is that a bad thing? Pleasure boosts our mental health. It helps us cope with a difficult world, with anxiety, depression, and stress. It makes us feel good! It gives us something to look forward to. Pleasure helps us connect with others and with ourselves. Pleasure (as long as it is not at the expense of someone else’s safety or well-being) should be a priority, for our joy and for our health. It really is so important! Where do you find pleasure? I personally love a good massage… 💆🏽‍♀️

It’s time for a talk, friend. Let’s be clear, you nor your partner ever has to do *anything* you’re not comfortable with. That said, if it’s something you enjoy and that’s pleasurable to you, it’s okay to ask your partner for it! They can say no, but if they invalidate your pleasure, much less expect you to do something they won’t do?? The ball is then in your court to decide if this is the partner for you. You deserve someone who cares about and prioritizes your pleasure. Who is thrilled to be acquainted with your body, all of it! S-x can be vulnerable to talk about, but when you do…it’s so much better. 👅 included. Ask your partner what their hesitations are and have a *conversation.* Maybe they’re nervous, intimidated, or struggling with shame. Maybe they’re down to try other things you would enjoy and build up to it. The point is, it shouldn’t just be automatically dismissed. You can decide what’s right for you and what makes you feel aroused, validated, and appreciated. Whatever you do, don’t internalize their rejection. Your body is beautiful, desirable, and definitely worthy of pleasure. 😋🥰

A UK study published in the International Urogynecology Journal found that only 46% of participants correctly identified that a female has 3 holes in the external genitalia. 😬 Not great. We’re taught so desperately little about our bodies and so discouraged from exploring them that we don’t even know what we’ve got going on down there! Understanding your own anatomy (and getting educated on your partner’s anatomy) can boost pleasure 1000x!! So take a mirror, use your hands, and get comfy exploring! 🪞🕵🏽‍♀️ And if you really want to get informed (and inspired 😉), head to our website for our basics on pleasure and anatomy. What do you think? Could YOU correctly label a diagram of what lies beneath?

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