Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
placeholder article
placeholder article

3 Ways to Control Your Flow

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Toronto MU chapter.

The Questions Nobody Wants to Ask

Let’s face it: nobody wants to talk about period supplies. But, when Mother Nature visits your doorstep, finding the right products can make that time of the month, a lot more manageable.  Here’s our collegiate guide to help find the product that’s right for you.

A fairly recent addition to feminine hygiene products has been the menstrual cup. If you’ve been dying to give the Diva Cup a try, be sure to read to the bottom to find out how you can win one for yourself!

MENSTRUAL CUPS:

Pros:

1.     Reusable and cost friendly, can last for years with proper cleaning and storage

2.     Offers long-lasting protection and reduces bathroom trips

3.     Minimum chance of leakage, lasts up to 12 hours on average

4.     Prevents unpleasant odors

5.     No need to carry extra supplies to the bathroom

 

Cons:

1.     Less discrete cleaning process if in public bathroom

2.     Might be uncomfortable to use due to larger size

3.     Long cleaning process, can’t just dump it out

4.     Prone to more infections if not cleaned properly

5.     Tends to get messy if not used to it 

TAMPONS:

Pros:

1.     Able to stay active without the fear of anything moving out of place

2.     Discrete enough to store inside a pocket when going to the washroom

3.     Water resistant, able to take part in aquatic activities

4.     Less time consuming, can easily be tossed into the toilet

5.     Free to wear whatever you want without the danger of potential leakage

 

Cons

1.     Can be uncomfortable to use for some women

2.     Higher risk of TSS (toxic shock syndrome) if left in too long

3.     Harder to tell the right time length to leave it in for and replace

4.     Might have to wear a panty liner for extra precaution

5.     Non-biodegradable, not eco-friendly

PADS:

Pros:

1.     Simple and easy to use

2.     Safe to use with no risk of TSS

3.     More convenient for girls starting out

4.     More protection for over-night use, can leave it on all night

5.     No form of pain, completely external application 

 

Cons:

1.     Often tend to move out of place when engaging in physical activity

2.     Tendency to have an odor if not changed every few hours

3.     Not water resistant, cannot take a bath or go swimming

4.     May show through tight clothes like leggings or dresses

5.     Messy to discard, need to wrap it in toilet paper and dispose in trashcan 

 

So how can you win a Diva Cup of your own (and lots of other sweet stuff?!)Just follow us on instagram @hercampusryerson and send us your best campus snapshot by November 1, 2015. We’ll announce our winner the 2nd!Easy peasy! We can’t wait to see your shots and give away some great prizes!

Noella Ovid

Toronto MU '18

Noella was the News/Current Events editor at Her Campus Ryerson. She graduated Ryerson’s School of Journalism in 2018.
Ben Samuels

Toronto MU '16

Benjamin is a reluctant third-year English major at Ryerson University and the newly minted Editor-in-Chief of Her Campus Ryerson.You can reach Benjamin on twitter and instagram @iamsashagay, and by email at benjaminkent@hercampus.com