Menstrual cup at a muddy 7 days festival - O.Z.O.R.A.

This is a little article about MY experience with a menstrual cup at a festival, Ozora 2018. I would like to share my experience, knowledge and wisdom. As you can see ... it was a beautifullly muddy year!

Yes, my dear children, it is possible to use menstrual cup at a festival and be 100% comfortable, clean and worry free as you dance! As a Matter of fact, it's been the easiest period to deal with at a festival/party for me( had a couple of festivals during my period - 2 Ozoras and few raves under my belt).

Let's not forget that this is soooo much cleaner and better for the environment, 0 waste, especially considering the fact the toilets at O.Z.O.R.A. are Compost Toilets that gathers all our poopies and waste and use it as fertilizer for the corn fields surrounding our beautiful festival. Back to mother earth! This is what makes this festival great! We party and do our best for the environment. #poop4love 

karol in the corn maze 2016

Now ladies, if you use the usual tampons or pads, those things are made of non-degradable material and it will stay there in the ground, adding absolutely no good to our earth and we would be contributing to unnecessary waste. 

You go to a festival that is allll about love, and you want to do your best to contribute and to give love back to the valley.


So I've made a list of what I think would be the best way to tackle this. This worked for me, of course it's not for everyone however I just wanted to give food for thought ' it's possible and you can tweak and make it as good for you as possible.

1. Become friends with the cup BEFORE the festival

I used the menstrual cup one cycle before my Festival cycle. This is the most important point that will make the biggest difference = MAKE SURE YOU USE IT ONCE BEFORE USING IT AT A FESTIVAL!
I purchased mine from the shop and we bonded straight away! It's made of medical grade silicone, It was soft, easy to fold and had very clear instructions. Once inserted as per instructions I had no leakage at all and I couldn't feel it. It was like nothing!
I even learned to "feel" when its correctly inserted and weirdly I could even hear it being correctly inserted(makes a suction sound when unfolds). I loved it!
You will hear women say the best thing about this menstrual cup is that you get to actually see your own flow and the amount. You will not believe the connection it will build with your own body. You see and work with the blood and I think that's such a powerful thing to do! This cup has made me realise what I never have before with pads or tampons when you just get rid of them without any further consideration. You learn to understand how long it takes for it to fill, how often you need to change it and in my case it was first day every 4-5 hours and it was longer each day for 6 days. We are all different and our flows are different! The best thing about this is that it will catch all kind of blood clots and heavy bits - I felt that wasn't the case with Tampons and to be honest...who wants to wear a pad in a muddy crazy festival?! You don't want to miss out on all the fun!!!

Ozora 2018!  Imagine missing out due to wearing a pad?!

2. Understand the festival Toilet facility

like I said, O.Z.O.R.A festival has compost toilets, so all becomes fertilizer for the corn fields. Other festivals might have toy-toys(pot-a-loos).  The toilets are frequently cleaned and I find them very clean considering over 20K people are using them! There are no bins in the toilets so any rubbish you have that isn't compostable needs to go out with you and disposed of in a proper matter. I find the toilets are clean and I have no complaints at all.
The cleaners jet spray and clean the toilets frequently, leave new toilet rolls and in the mornings the toilets are always great you could eat your meal of them( eww, don't!)

First thing I do is I give myself enough time to get to the toilets, I don't last minute panic and run to the toilet...eye on the prize - we have a mission ahead in the toilet! Consider your state and time it takes you from the dancefloor or tent to the toilet and to be honest..the closest is close enough without any issue!

Find a toilet that is clean enough as per my standard that I can just give it a wipe and actually sit down on it. a drop of pee doesn't scare me, come on just wipe it off!
This year Ozora have been the muddiest I've ever experienced. we were muddy and happy...and I would shower every evening so I wasn't bothered about wet wiping the seat or myself...it's a festival.
I would try to avoid looking down the hole in the toilet seat - as it's a nightmare for some people - I'm not easily turned off so I don't mind it. It's shit and piss( and blood) - -- I do all of that so does you and you and you! You just need to make peace with it in your mind( it's all in the mind).
The toilet blocks are built on top of a big hole where all the waste gathers so it's not the most beautiful image.

You don't want to miss out on fire brigade due to your period! dump the Pads, go menstrual cup! That's me in the left corner chasing Rainbows hihi! 

3. Understand the tools you will need
I made a conscious decision while packing to the festival to not pack any backup! no "just in case" tampons or pads, I did not want to give myself any easy way out, however I promise once you get the grip of this...THIS IS THE EASY WAY = Menstrual cup!

Obviously if you aren't sure, bring backup but PLEASE get rid of it in an environmentally friendly and Ozorian friendly way - we don't need to see your used tampons in the showers, ladies!

What I always had with me every toilet visit when I wanted to unplug/Plug:
- A bottle of water
- Tissue roll ( you can just take one from the toilet cleaners)
- wet wipes(If you can bother - I don't to be honest)

Remember it's one week of letting yourself go and give yourself a break!! stop overthinking, the whole thing doesn't take more than a minute.

Find a clean enough toilet for your standard, with your menstrual cup inside of you(or in your hand) with your bottle of water and tissues...you are ready!!



4. "unplug" and "plug" like a pro!
So you are seated, you have used that cup before and you know when it's inserted correctly. The biggest warning is DON'T DROP THE CUP!!
NOT dropping it is 99% of your success.

If you just got your period  and you are just going to plug yourself, it's simple actually you don't even need the water
1. Find clean enough toilet, Wet wipe it if you want
2. Sit as back as you can, give yourself some gap at the front to complete the mission
3. Fold the cup and plug yourself( insert your cup)
4. Wash your hands
5. Continue the party!

If you are already plugged and need to unplug and empty...you need to be patient and calm.
Again: IF YOU DROP IT THEN GAME OVER!
1. Find clean enough toilet, wet wipe it if you want
2.Sit as back as you can, give yourself some gap at the front to complete the mission
2. Open your bottle and keep it on the floor opened
3. Reach down and make sure you are holding the cup properly
4. Pull it out to unplug
4. Keep it upside down for few seconds to empty it as much as you can - take your time, no hesitant movements, you don't want to drop it.
5. Grab the water of bottle with your other hand and rinse the cup, hold your cup properly
6. Take the opportunity with the water to Fresh up your lady parts- why not...nice cold water :D
7. Put the bottle on the floor again to focus fully on the cup
8. Fold the cup and plug yourself ( insert your cup)
9. Wash,wipe..whatever your routine is for celebrating the success!
10. Wash your hands 
11. Continue to party!

My Crazy Psy Family

On a side note: I also tell you to use it before the festival to make sure you are comfortable because those comes in different sizes and caters for different flows. When I came back from Ozora I couldn't find my cup and bought another one from a different brand and it was NOT soft at all...it was so difficult to fold, which means it would unfold before its in the right position and that was so painful! I rode it out, I was hoping it would get softer and its true, after the cycle I boiled it and now its soft and we get on very well! Imagine though if I had to go through that trial and error in the festival...It would be a nightmare. Bring something tested and approved by you in advance!
Let me know if you want to know which brands I used.


I hope this gives you some idea of what scenario you are up against during the festival. I really encourage every woman to give this a chance it will change your perspective on your own body, mother earth will thank you and you will feel cleaner and fresher than ever!! You won't get dried out like with a Tampon and you won't feel soggy and unfresh like with a pad!

Keep dancing!