I’ve been a menstrual cup user for three years now. I started using it during the start of the pandemic, when there wasn’t a lot of certainly about getting tampons and pads from supermarkets with supply issues. Since then I’ve never looked back. Menstrual cups are simply superior to pads in every way - well, not counting the learning curve one needs to go through to properly place it inside the vagina. But once that’s sorted out, it’s a lot, lot less shitty dealing with menstruation as a woman.

Recently though I’ve gotten on the menstrual disc train and it is even better than menstrual cups. Here’s a quick comparison, and why I ultimately decided that a disc is better for me!

Five days ago, Rep. Arlene D. Brosas from Gabriela Women’s Party filed House Bill No. 7758. It’s an act that seeks to grant all women a maximum of two fully paid menstrual leaves a month. This proposed law is not new; the late Miriam Defensor Santiago actually also filed something like this in August 2004, with the law requiring a one day leave with 50% pay every month. Just last January of this year, Rep. Ma. Alana Samantha Talino Santos filed for a law that grants women two paid menstrual leaves a month, with 50% renumeration per day.

Yes, it’s true - menstrual cups are now available in Mercury Drug! When I saw the news I was amazed that what seemed like a pipe dream before is now a reality for us MC users. If you’re a menstrual cup user or even just mildly curious about it, I’m sure you’ve found out how hard it is to get access to different brands here in the Philippines. We are still firmly conservative in many ways, but I’m happy to share that this is one front where the market is becoming more open!