When traveling, especially in countries where tap water is not safe to drink, maintaining your Cup can become a real logistical issue. Can it be rinsed with chemically treated water (Micropur, Aquatabs...)? Is boiled water enough? Should you favor mineral water? And above all, is there a risk to the vaginal flora?
At Luneale, we like to answer in detail to give you clear and complete information. So here is a practical guide to safely maintaining your Cup while traveling!
Article Summary
1- The impact of chemical disinfectants on the vaginal flora
Tablets like Micropur, Aquatabs, or other chemical water purifiers generally contain:
- Silver ions (Ag⁺): used to inhibit bacterial proliferation in stored water.
- Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC): a chlorine agent that eliminates viruses and bacteria.
However, the vaginal flora is composed of good bacteria (lactobacilli) that maintain its balance. The bactericidal substances present in these tablets do not distinguish between good and bad bacteria, and could therefore disrupt this balance if they come into contact with the vagina.
However, the medical silicone of La Cup is non-porous, meaning it retains very little water on its surface. If the Cup is dried completely after rinsing, the amount of chemical residue will be greatly reduced.
2- What are the best solutions to rinse your Cup while traveling?
The choice of rinsing method depends on the available water. Here are the different options ranked by safety:
✅ Option 1: Mineral water
If you have access to bottled mineral water, this is the simplest and safest solution. Use this water to rinse your Cup.
✅ Option 2: Boiled and cooled water
If the tap water is not safe to drink but does not contain too many chemical pollutants, you can boil it for at least one minute and let it cool before rinsing your Cup.
✅ Option 3: Non-chemical filter bottle (LifeStraw, Katadyn BeFree...)
These bottles use mechanical filtration that blocks bacteria and parasites. If you have one, the filtered water can be used to rinse the Cup.
⚠️ Option 4: Chemically treated water (Micropur, Aquatabs...)
If no other option is available, you can use chemically disinfected water provided you dry the Cup thoroughly after rinsing. This reduces the amount of potential residues that could come into contact with your vaginal flora.
❌ Last resort: do not use the Cup
If you do not have access to any of the options above (no mineral water, no way to boil it, no filter bottle, no water sterilization tablets), then it is better not to use La Cup for this cycle and opt for another period product.
3- Infographic: how to choose the best option?
To make things easier for you, here is a quick visual guide that will help you choose the best method based on your access to water:
Conclusion
Traveling with your Cup in a country where the water is not safe to drink is entirely possible, provided you adopt good hygiene practices. The main thing is to avoid any direct contact with substances that could disrupt the vaginal flora.
If you have any doubts about the water quality, favor mineral water, boiled and cooled water, or filtered water with a non-chemical bottle. And if you must use chemically treated water, dry your Cup thoroughly before reinsertion.
One last piece of advice: remember to plan ahead before your departure by checking the sanitary conditions of the country and equipping yourself if necessary!
If you have any experiences or tips on the subject, share them in the comments, it could help other travelers. 🌍✨
Safe travels!
