Actually Divacup is Canadian and the reason it's SO POPULAR in the US is a mystery, other than they have great marketing and they also were the first silicone cup on the american market, so they still pretend like they're the only silicone menstrual cup ever. Mooncup (UK) was the first. Keeper was before that and is american. There are tons of places to buy cups from in the US, but mostly Wholefoods or online, and only FDA approved brands are allowed : Lunette, Sckoon, Mooncup and the 2 other northern american ones.
Why you don't see ads on TV ? there's been quite a few discussions about that before, check the tags. But in short, part of that is capitalism. Disposables make more profit by imposing a monthly tax on menstruators. Part of it is brainwash induced by decades of marketing : "EEEEWWW periods are sooo gross, touching your own blood and reusing THAAAT? You must be out of your mind. Let's hide it in a bleached white medical bandaid and throw it away asap". Just look at those commercials. And it's true, the first disposable "sanitary" protections were invented to provide a new market for bandages companies after WWI. Another reason is squimeashness of TV, which, as I hear, don't even show actual tampons out of their applicator on american TV. Go advertise for a cup! And you know, advertising on TV is like, way expensive. Back to the profit issue. Most companies simply can't afford it.
Cups aren't even THAT common here in Europe. In fact, my pharmacist had to look it up in her book and said they could perhaps order a Mooncup for me... and at what price. Thanks, but no thanks. You can sometimes find them in hippie health food stores in France though, and at Boots, which is the biggest pharmacy chain in the UK. But just one or 2 brands. However, new brands are being launched virtually every month it seems lately, so yes, definitely the market seems to be growing fast, and I think it's the future. But mentalities have to come a long way from all the sqeamishness. Besides the people I've converted, I only met 2 girls who told me they used a cup. One possible difference between here and the US though, is the fact that non-applicator tampons are a lot more common (and cheaper, considering Tampax has a near monopoly on applicator tampons, which... urgh, I'm so glad I'm not sponsoring them anymore!!).
...vast topic but that's all I can think of for now.
juliiie87-- pretty much the most awesome comment EVER!!! lol. :)
But to the OP I will say:
1. I think they are about equal in popularity in Europe vs. America, because I still get emails from LOTS of Europeans saying they have never heard of them.
2. Its true, cup companies are not on TV (yet) because they do not get as much "repeat business" as the disposables. Most of their money goes into making the product, not advertizing. TV commercials are ungodly expensive, lol. Also, cups have to be manufactured by hand in a sterile room. This requires more money and less "mass production". Whereas disposables are produced by large (and I think unsanitary) machines.
3. Mmmm... Don't think you're gonna find the European (or other nationality) brands being sold by American retailers any time soon (with the exception of Lunette). This is because American retailers are not allowed to sell a menstrual cup that is not cleared by the FDA. And 90% of cup companies are not. FDA approval is HORRIBLY expensive and lengthy. Its a major investment. Many cup companies just don't see the point, especially when Americans are allowed to purchase any brand of cup they want online and have it shipped to America for their own personal use (its just illegal for American sellers to sell them without FDA approval).
Now granted, I kinda roll my eyes and sigh "woop-dee-doo" when a company brags of their FDA approval. Quite frankly, I think the cups from other countries are every bit as excellent quality as the FDA approved ones, and even better in some cases! That's because I-- and many other individuals, along with law makers in other countries-- do not necessarily consider the FDA to have very high health standards. In fact, some other countries don't even consider FDA's approval valid. I certainly don't consider the FDA to be the home base of "safe products", seeing as how they will pretty much approve any company/item who is just willing to pay their big fees, and hasn't killed anyone (yet) lol. and of course some of the things they have approved turned out to be detrimental to our health. So I kinda think the FDA approval law is a downright silly one...
Maybe I just feel that way because I would truly looooooooove to carry every cup brand on this earth! lol. Or maybe it makes perfect sense that some laws are just useless. Or both.
But sadly, I do not rule the world... Hehehehe. I better stop now, I'm starting to sound narcissistic :D
Why you don't see ads on TV ? there's been quite a few discussions about that before, check the tags. But in short, part of that is capitalism. Disposables make more profit by imposing a monthly tax on menstruators. Part of it is brainwash induced by decades of marketing : "EEEEWWW periods are sooo gross, touching your own blood and reusing THAAAT? You must be out of your mind. Let's hide it in a bleached white medical bandaid and throw it away asap". Just look at those commercials. And it's true, the first disposable "sanitary" protections were invented to provide a new market for bandages companies after WWI. Another reason is squimeashness of TV, which, as I hear, don't even show actual tampons out of their applicator on american TV. Go advertise for a cup! And you know, advertising on TV is like, way expensive. Back to the profit issue. Most companies simply can't afford it.
Cups aren't even THAT common here in Europe. In fact, my pharmacist had to look it up in her book and said they could perhaps order a Mooncup for me... and at what price. Thanks, but no thanks. You can sometimes find them in hippie health food stores in France though, and at Boots, which is the biggest pharmacy chain in the UK. But just one or 2 brands. However, new brands are being launched virtually every month it seems lately, so yes, definitely the market seems to be growing fast, and I think it's the future. But mentalities have to come a long way from all the sqeamishness. Besides the people I've converted, I only met 2 girls who told me they used a cup. One possible difference between here and the US though, is the fact that non-applicator tampons are a lot more common (and cheaper, considering Tampax has a near monopoly on applicator tampons, which... urgh, I'm so glad I'm not sponsoring them anymore!!).
...vast topic but that's all I can think of for now.
Reply
But to the OP I will say:
1. I think they are about equal in popularity in Europe vs. America, because I still get emails from LOTS of Europeans saying they have never heard of them.
2. Its true, cup companies are not on TV (yet) because they do not get as much "repeat business" as the disposables. Most of their money goes into making the product, not advertizing. TV commercials are ungodly expensive, lol. Also, cups have to be manufactured by hand in a sterile room. This requires more money and less "mass production". Whereas disposables are produced by large (and I think unsanitary) machines.
3. Mmmm... Don't think you're gonna find the European (or other nationality) brands being sold by American retailers any time soon (with the exception of Lunette). This is because American retailers are not allowed to sell a menstrual cup that is not cleared by the FDA. And 90% of cup companies are not. FDA approval is HORRIBLY expensive and lengthy. Its a major investment. Many cup companies just don't see the point, especially when Americans are allowed to purchase any brand of cup they want online and have it shipped to America for their own personal use (its just illegal for American sellers to sell them without FDA approval).
Now granted, I kinda roll my eyes and sigh "woop-dee-doo" when a company brags of their FDA approval. Quite frankly, I think the cups from other countries are every bit as excellent quality as the FDA approved ones, and even better in some cases! That's because I-- and many other individuals, along with law makers in other countries-- do not necessarily consider the FDA to have very high health standards. In fact, some other countries don't even consider FDA's approval valid. I certainly don't consider the FDA to be the home base of "safe products", seeing as how they will pretty much approve any company/item who is just willing to pay their big fees, and hasn't killed anyone (yet) lol. and of course some of the things they have approved turned out to be detrimental to our health. So I kinda think the FDA approval law is a downright silly one...
Maybe I just feel that way because I would truly looooooooove to carry every cup brand on this earth! lol. Or maybe it makes perfect sense that some laws are just useless. Or both.
But sadly, I do not rule the world... Hehehehe. I better stop now, I'm starting to sound narcissistic :D
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment