The Shame Dilemma: Why Are People Still Embarrassed About Menstrual Cups?

She Cup
3 min readAug 1, 2022

Menstrual cups- Most people would start shrieking at the name of these basic sanitary products. Using a menstrual cup doesn’t just help to save the environment; it also aids in saving the environment. So, why is everyone ashamed of this tiny menstrual hygiene product?

While some women are concerned about inserting a menstrual cup for beginners, others are worried about the size of the menstrual cup. Irrespective of what your concern is, let’s investigate why women and, of course generally people are scared or ashamed of menstrual cups.

The Long Standing Period Stigma

How often have you seen Indians talking about periods? Apart from the sanitary pad ads that circulate on television and, of course, the posts on social media, how often have you heard a man talking about periods openly? Just like breathing or sweating, periods are a normal physiological phenomenon. However, they are still stigmatized.

Why? Because people think they are impure. Even women who menstruate consider periods impure. The only thing most women know about menstrual cups is they are eco-friendly. Undoubtedly, they are; but period cups are so much more than that. But, the stigma attached to cups makes women ashamed of cups, instead of making them explore more about these ubiquitous sanitary products.

Inserting Cups Is a Sin

Most women live with the notion that their hymen is sacred. The idea of inserting a cup into the vagina seems like a transgression from the conventional norms. Women can use absorbable periods management methods like sanitary pads and tampons, but when it comes to using cups, they think it’s fallen from grace. Menstrual cups are thought to be a misdemeanor as they might interfere with the hymen.

Do you know some women still use clothes and ashes in place of any proper sanitary hygiene products? Many girls drop out of school due to the lack of sanitary care products.

The Inconvenience Syndrome

Another reason why women are ashamed of menstrual cups is because of the inconvenience syndrome. Most women think they can’t use menstrual cups because they won’t be comfortable using them. Most women use tampons as their weapon against leakage because inserting or removing a menstrual cup isn’t a cakewalk (as per most women).

But, in the face of the impending environmental doom, we would like to say that women should re-think their choices. Why recklessly abandon white jeans or your favorite light-colored pants when you can use a menstrual cup and prevent leakages like a pro?

The Bottom Line

There is no denying the fact that periods are no walk in the park. If you can deal with terrible cramps, and tolerate the daunting mood swings, inserting a menstrual cup for beginners should be no Goliath’s task. Cups have become a popular alternative to pads and tampons because of their eco-friendly nature. Remember that when it comes to the size of menstrual cups, you can pick a free size. So, did you buy one yet?

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SHECUP is a Social Enterprise working in the healthcare space.