Founder’s story

 

In January of 2015, while scrolling through my Facebook feed, this article from The Huffington Post caught my eye. That article directed me to read another from Al Jazeera. These articles spoke about the extra hurdle homeless women face when they get their period. Both articles specifically talked about homeless women in New York City, my current home.

These articles emphasized how hard it is for homeless women to have access to both feminine hygiene products and clean bathrooms, which are especially important during menstruation. It was something I had never thought about before. In all of the bags and boxes I had donated of food, clothing, and even sometimes hygiene products like toothbrushes and toothpaste, I had never thought about donating pads and/or tampons.

I thought about myself, my own body, my period each month, and wondered how I could start to tackle this problem. Then I realized that almost two years ago, I had changed my life, and my perception of menstruation dramatically by switching from pads and tampons to reusables, specifically a menstrual cup. I personally made the switch because I planned travel and live outside of the US, and I didn’t want to worry about finding “my brand” abroad. 

Since then, my cup has given me freedom, and made me feel more connected with my body. I travel lighter, save money, and leave less of a mark on the environment. I want to ease periods – for all women. 

Click here to read Diandra’s Medium post.