I got my first period when I was 13, and I remember feeling the dread when I’d realised it had finally happened. I felt like I had been condemned to a lifetime of hoping I wasn’t visibly leaking, and that my pad hadn’t shifted while I was sleeping.
Having dealt with extremely erratic and irregular periods—where my flow would be very heavy one minute, then disappear, and then come back days later with no warning—my relationship with my period, as a young teenager, was very dramatic and filled with bitterness and dread.
With age came a greater understanding of my period, and my experience over time allowed me to better understand my symptoms and manage pain, and everything that came with it.
Despite that, I wasn’t able to shake the anxiety of leaking, and I constantly felt like I had to check to make sure things weren’t stained, especially because of how erratic my flow could get.
Switching to the Asan cup has relieved me of one of my biggest period anxieties and now I feel much better and more confident about and on my period.
my experience using the Asan cup for the first time
I was a little anxious about inserting the cup for the first time but I knew it would take time before I got it right. So, I made sure I wasn’t in a hurry and tried to relax.
My experience of inserting it for the first time really wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. I had used tampons before, so it wasn’t an entirely unfamiliar feeling.
I knew that just as when I first started using tampons, inserting would require time and getting used to before it became quick, easy and just a part of everyday life.
I wasn’t concerned about pain per se, but I did not know what to expect as the Asan cup felt more solid, and was far larger than the average tampon. But the material was very smooth and flexible, and I experienced no kind of pain or severe discomfort.
There are different factors that I think helped with my experience.
Firstly, I made sure I wasn’t in a hurry when I tried it. I knew that it would take time and multiple attempts, because I wanted to experiment with different folds and positions before I figured out what worked best for me.
For me personally, I found that after trying both the C-fold and the punch-down fold, the latter made insertion easier as the shape was more slim at the point of insertion.
In terms of my position, I first tried putting one leg up on the toilet but I found that the squatting position worked best for me.
All this took me a couple of hours and multiple attempts before I was successful.
Some things to remember that definitely helped me was to stay relaxed, because tensing up would actually make it harder to insert.
I was also worried about it not unfolding inside me once I had inserted it, but I found that it opened up on its own once it had been correctly placed.
Removing the cup was a little more unfamiliar. I hadn’t tried any other menstrual cups before Asan, but I was very grateful for the ring, because it made finding and removing the cup so much easier.
The ring meant that there was something to grip onto, and maintain a hold of whilst
removing the cup. However it still took some time, and whilst removing it, it did feel a little strange the first time.
I then just rinsed it out in the sink and reinserted it (with clean hands of course!).
some things I noticed after switching to the Asan cup
I noticed just how many disposable products I’d go through every week, and the actual extent of waste that I generated from using pads and tampons every month.
So much of this waste came from having to change pads or tampons frequently, especially on days where my flow was heavier.
However, with the Asan cup, I inserted it once in the morning and it lasted me all day, with no leakage.
The other thing I noticed was that I was actually far more aware of the patterns of my period flow. With other period products like pads and tampons which are designed to absorb flow, I always had to gauge how heavily I was bleeding.
With the Asan cup, I had a much better idea of how much I’d bleed throughout the day, and comparing that across days in my period made me feel so much more aware of my own menstruation patterns.
I also, at no point had an experience where the cup was excessively full or overflowing, which made me feel very relaxed and secure. As I mentioned before, it truly resolved one of my biggest period related anxieties.
frequently asked questions
Can you use a menstrual cup during your first period?
Yes, absolutely! There is no “minimum age” for using a menstrual cup. The Asan cup is designed to be used by anyone with a period, and some of our users are as young as 14 years old.
Read Kaashvi’s blog to hear from one such user herself!
How do I choose the size of my menstrual cup?
The Asan cup sizing depends on your period flow. It comes in two sizes—Light/Medium Flow and Heavy Flow. The best way to decide is by looking at how often you tend to change your pads or tampons on the heaviest day of your period.
Take a look at our sizing guide for more information on how to choose your size.
What is the best menstrual cup for beginners?
There are a few things you should keep in mind while choosing a menstrual cup for the first time—quality, safety and design of the cup.
The Asan cup is made from Class 6 medical grade silicone which is soft, flexible, and super safe for your body.
Additionally, we design and manufacture the cup ourselves, which means we own the rights to our design and are in complete control of its high quality.
The Asan cup also comes with an in-depth illustrated user guide that is specifically designed for beginners.
Read this blog about picking the best menstrual cup for beginners before making your decision.
How do you clean a menstrual cup?
It’s very easy to clean and maintain your Asan cup. Before and after every period, make sure you sanitise the cup for 10 minutes in boiling water.
However, during your period, all you have to do is rinse the cup thoroughly with tap water and reinsert it with clean hands.
See this detailed step-by-step guide about cleaning your menstrual cup.
