{"id":11070,"date":"2016-10-18T08:02:53","date_gmt":"2016-10-18T06:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=11070"},"modified":"2022-02-24T14:49:10","modified_gmt":"2022-02-24T13:49:10","slug":"how-to-ask-menstrual-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Want to ask a parent for a menstrual cup? Here\u2019s how!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Making the switch from conventional period protection<\/a> to menstrual cups<\/a> is a big (and awesome!) step towards a better period and improved overall intimate health. Cups are one of the greatest things to happen to women\u2019s periods since, well, forever.<\/p>\n

However, they\u2019re new to a lot of people, so it makes sense that some think they\u2019re a little strange. After all, cups weren\u2019t even around when some of our moms were teenagers! So when you\u2019re talking to your parents about cups, the number one thing to keep in mind is that they just want you to be healthy.<\/p>\n

You can reassure them with facts about how healthy menstrual cups are, but also give them your own reasons for wanting to try one and why they would be better for you specifically. Here are some things to remember when having that menstrual cup convo.<\/p>\n

First things first!<\/h2>\n

Menstruation is a completely normal and healthy part of being a woman, and being able to talk about it without feeling gross or embarrassed is good for all of us. However, we know sometimes it can be weird talking about that stuff at first. If it\u2019s your mom or sister you want to talk to, remember that she knows exactly what dealing with a period is like.<\/p>\n

So be open and upfront about your period and why you want to use a cup. She might not be convinced at first, but being comfortable talking to her is the first step on the way to getting your first cup and joining the menstrual cup revolution!<\/p>\n

What do I say?<\/h2>\n

You might have an idea of what you want to say, but just like making a presentation at school, it helps to organize your thoughts. If you have to, bring notes! Showing that you\u2019re prepared to have a serious conversation will show them that you have thought this through and have done your research.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Explain what a menstrual cup is and how it works.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When you do so, make sure you\u2019re using the proper words for a women\u2019s anatomy \u2013 nothing ruins an adult conversation like the word \u201cwho-haa\u201d! If you have trouble explaining it, you can prepare a little research to look at together. Check out the links below for the basics to get you started.<\/p>\n

    ><\/span><\/strong> Our \u201cHow does a menstrual cup work<\/a>\u201d article has both pictures and <\/em>a great video that can help explain how cups work.<\/p>\n

    >\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>If your mom is completely unfamiliar with cups, you can always tell her a bit about the history<\/a> and show her this quick-start guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    >\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Oh and one more thing: make sure you know (and can explain) how to look after your cup<\/a> to make sure it stays clean and healthy. That way she knows that cups are completely safe to reuse, and that you\u2019re responsible enough to keep it clean every time you use it.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n

      Talk about the benefits of menstrual cups <\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Why do you want to switch<\/a> to a cup? The most important thing to say is that menstrual cups are healthier for you. You can explain that the best ones are made of medical-grade silicone, which means that unlike tampons they don\u2019t have weird chemicals or gross fibers.<\/p>\n

      Plus, it means they\u2019re easier to insert, more comfortable and don\u2019t dry you out or cause irritation like other menstrual products. Even better, you can safely wear them for up to 8 hours. Because they\u2019re reusable, they save money (no need to buy boxes and boxes of tampons!) and <\/em>the environment, because there\u2019s no waste.<\/p>\n

      It\u2019s a win-win-win! Check out more reasons to switch to a cup here<\/a>, and our comparison between tampons and pads<\/a>.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n

        Explain why they\u2019re the best choice \u2013 for you. <\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Think about why you really want to use cups \u2013 what are your main reasons? It\u2019s good to show your parents the specific positive impact that a cup could have on your life. Are you at school for long hours because you play sports after classes or have a lot of other things going on? Do you find tampons uncomfortable or weird?<\/p>\n

        Do pads make you feel really self-conscious? Why do you think menstrual cups will make it easier for you to handle your period? These will be different for every girl and woman, so make sure you can answer this question for yourself.<\/p>\n

        But how<\/em> do I say it?<\/h2>\n

        You can start the conversation by saying something like \u201cMom (or Dad, or Grandma \u2013 whoever you feel comfortable asking!), I\u2019d like to talk to you about something personal. Can we go somewhere private?\u201d Make sure you have some time to chat without interruptions, so that both of you can focus.<\/p>\n

        When you have their attention, calmly state that you\u2019d like to try a cup, and would like to talk to them about why. Present your case in a mature, organized way, just like you would with a presentation at school. If possible, have your list of articles and websites ready for the two of you to look at together.<\/p>\n

        Let them ask questions, and if they need to, give them time to think about it. If they say \u201cno\u201d at first, ask why and make sure you listen to the reasons \u2013 maybe you can give a counter-argument. But make sure you don\u2019t whine. If you act like an adult, they\u2019ll treat you like one. And if they say no, you can always come back to the discussion later, or ask your doctor to help by talking to them with you.<\/p>\n

        How else can I prepare?<\/h2>\n

        Now that you know what you\u2019re going to say, and how to say it, it\u2019ll also help you to be prepared for what they are likely to say to you. That way, you can be ready with a response.<\/p>\n

        Age and Size<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        Some parents might be concerned that menstrual cups aren\u2019t right for growing girls. There are a lot of cups out there, designed for different types of users. The best cups for teenagers tend to be smaller and made out of super soft, flexible silicone so they\u2019re more comfortable for your body. But every woman\u2019s body is different, so it\u2019s mostly about finding the cup that works best for you.<\/p>\n

        Virginity and the Hymen<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        This is another concern that some parents have, but menstrual cups do not affect virginity<\/a>. Many people think that losing your virginity means that the hymen, the tissue at the entrance to your vagina, has been broken. In reality, this is wrong \u2013 there is a myth that the hymen completely covers the entrance to the vagina, but this isn\u2019t true.<\/p>\n

        The hymen has always had an opening or two in it to let vaginal fluid and discharge out of your body (or a penis in), and as you get older, it changes in size and shape. It\u2019s through this hole that you insert a menstrual cup. (You can learn more about the hymen here). So don\u2019t worry! The only way you can lose your virginity is by having sex. Menstrual cups have nothing to do with it.<\/p>\n

        There you have it \u2013 all you need to nail that cup conversation with a parent. Oh, one last thing: remember that talking about menstrual cups and periods doesn\u2019t have to be uncomfortable! Periods are perfectly natural, so it\u2019s important to be able to talk to your parents, friends and especially your doctor about this stuff.<\/p>\n

        Talking to a parent about period protection is a good way to get comfortable with your own period and how you deal with it. You know cups will make your life easier, so now you just have to convince your mom it will too! And who knows \u2013 maybe you\u2019ll even convince her to switch to a cup as well.<\/p>\n

        \"Lily<\/a><\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Please note that advice offered by Intimina may not be relevant to your individual case. For specific concerns regarding your health, always consult your physician or other licensed medical practitioners.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Making the switch from conventional period protection to menstrual cups is a big (and awesome!) step towards a better period and improved overall intimate health. Cups are one of the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":18885,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[3,53,201,215,331,332],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Clever Girl\u2019s Guide to Asking for a Menstrual Cup<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"With these tips and tricks, you\u2019ll be so convincing that you might even persuade your Mom to switch to a cup. And your sister. And your aunt\u2026\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"INTIMINA\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"INTIMINA\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f50537a97d16dabefc697e8585013e87\"},\"headline\":\"Want to ask a parent for a menstrual cup? Here\u2019s how!\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-10-18T06:02:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-02-24T13:49:10+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/\"},\"wordCount\":1364,\"commentCount\":20,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"Lily cup\",\"menstrual cups\",\"teenager\",\"menstrual cup benefits\",\"hymen\",\"virginity\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Menstruation\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/\",\"name\":\"The Clever Girl\u2019s Guide to Asking for a Menstrual Cup\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2016-10-18T06:02:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-02-24T13:49:10+00:00\",\"description\":\"With these tips and tricks, you\u2019ll be so convincing that you might even persuade your Mom to switch to a cup. And your sister. And your aunt\u2026\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Intimina\",\"description\":\"A Health and Wellness Resource for Women\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Intimina\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":543,\"caption\":\"Intimina\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intimina\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intimina\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/intimina\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/intimina\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCR_3_GPO6pkhDiFU9TZRdYA\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f50537a97d16dabefc697e8585013e87\",\"name\":\"INTIMINA\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d41ce57083541d7ecfdc50159a46958f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d41ce57083541d7ecfdc50159a46958f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"INTIMINA\"},\"description\":\"A collective group of \\\"lady experts\\\" at Intimina who love sharing our personal experiences, even when they are a little\u00a0too\u00a0personal. We believe it's time to start breaking down the taboos around menstruation, motherhood, and menopause, and start owning our female health.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/author\/intimina\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Clever Girl\u2019s Guide to Asking for a Menstrual Cup","description":"With these tips and tricks, you\u2019ll be so convincing that you might even persuade your Mom to switch to a cup. And your sister. And your aunt\u2026","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"INTIMINA","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/"},"author":{"name":"INTIMINA","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f50537a97d16dabefc697e8585013e87"},"headline":"Want to ask a parent for a menstrual cup? Here\u2019s how!","datePublished":"2016-10-18T06:02:53+00:00","dateModified":"2022-02-24T13:49:10+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/"},"wordCount":1364,"commentCount":20,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization"},"keywords":["Lily cup","menstrual cups","teenager","menstrual cup benefits","hymen","virginity"],"articleSection":["Menstruation"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/","name":"The Clever Girl\u2019s Guide to Asking for a Menstrual Cup","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2016-10-18T06:02:53+00:00","dateModified":"2022-02-24T13:49:10+00:00","description":"With these tips and tricks, you\u2019ll be so convincing that you might even persuade your Mom to switch to a cup. And your sister. And your aunt\u2026","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-menstrual-cup\/"]}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/","name":"Intimina","description":"A Health and Wellness Resource for Women","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Intimina","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png","width":1000,"height":543,"caption":"Intimina"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intimina","https:\/\/twitter.com\/intimina","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/intimina\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/intimina\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCR_3_GPO6pkhDiFU9TZRdYA"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f50537a97d16dabefc697e8585013e87","name":"INTIMINA","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d41ce57083541d7ecfdc50159a46958f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d41ce57083541d7ecfdc50159a46958f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"INTIMINA"},"description":"A collective group of \"lady experts\" at Intimina who love sharing our personal experiences, even when they are a little\u00a0too\u00a0personal. We believe it's time to start breaking down the taboos around menstruation, motherhood, and menopause, and start owning our female health.","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/author\/intimina\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11070"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11070"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20913,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11070\/revisions\/20913"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}