The History of Menstrual Cups

Did you know, women allegedly used cut in half, hollowed out citrus fruits as Menstrual Cups, before the modern Medical Grade Silicone version came about?

Women have had periods since the beginning of time. But women have not always had access to effective, safe and environmentally friendly menstrual products, which is why we have made this our mission. If you’re new to the whole ‘menstrual cup thing’ we’re here to run you through a brief history of the new most popular menstrual product and explain to you why we think you need to give it a go.

Before we get into why we love Period Cups, we first need to consider the alternative - tampons. Tampons were said to have been invented in 1929 in Ancient Egypt, allowing the women of Egypt to go through their menstrual cycle undisturbed, compared to their Roman counterparts who were busy using wool, paper and grass to try and restrain their flow. As explored in a study published in American Studies, the invention of the tampon gave women freedom. Freedom to maintain their daily activities despite their periods.

But as we learn more about technologies and conduct more research, it turns out that tampons aren’t all that great. An average US woman uses an estimated 16,000 tampons in her life, used by 70 percent of women, costing a total of nearly $2,000 in her lifetime. Tampons are made from plastic and chemicals that remain in the environment for over 500 years. That’s a lot of waste being produced and money being spent. Surely there’s a better option?

Menstrual Cups are the safer, more environmentally friendly and equally as effective, alternative to tampons. They are made from silicone or rubber and act in a similar way to tampons, but take the form of a small, flexible cup that catches blood flow. After inserting into your vagina, the cup will expand to create a seal to collect blood to prevent leaks.

It is believed that Menstrual Cups have been around for years, but due to the silencing of women - they were not marketed to the general public. In fact, according to Wikipedia, the first menstrual cup was created in 1937. But menstrual cups never really took off until recent years, arguably due to better marketing, a society in which women’s voices are better heard and an increased awareness of the environment. Now you can get Menstrual Cups with ring stems and Menstrual Cups with ring handles to make them easier to use than ever.

As Menstrual Cups are reusable, they have a significantly lesser impact on the environment. When they were first patented in the 1930s, this was an appealing trait, with women favoring products they could dispose of. However as more and more people become environmentally savvy, this mass waste becomes equally as unappealing - pushing more women towards menstrual cups.

According to Tree Hugger, once women use a Menstrual Cup, they are hooked for life, which is why 90 percent of women continue to use them. A study by The Lancet that was conducted on Menstrual Cups found that they result in fewer leaks and greater peace of mind for women during their periods; as well as resulting in less water, less money spent, less bathroom time changing pads or tampons and less waste produced.

Our Peachlife Menstrual Cup is for women who want easier periods - less leaks, money, time and less environmental impact. Let’s spread the news that there’s another option for us.