Women, menstrual cups -?

I've been considering cups, but they're not quite convenient when you have a communal bathroom and kitchen in a dorm. Hopefully I can start using them in grad school...

I've changed mine in public restrooms, before. You don't have to wash them with soap every time -- most women actually say it's a bad thing to do that -- since only 1 cup is made of rubber, the rest are medical grade silcone and can simply be boiled at the end.

I've heard of them but don't use them. My period is so light it doesn't pay to use anything more than a pantyliner. But I've always had super super short arms and fingers so I wonder if I even could use something like this

I tried the Diva Cup, I made sure there was a seal, had perfect placement and yet it leaked. If you have a heavy flow it's not recommended. I bleed very heavily- I can thank that to PCOS, endo, and exuberant endometrial hyperplasia and the Diva just didn't meet my needs. I bleed quick too, there are periods where I go through one overnight pad every 45 mins (this is NOT normal, I've been told on more than one occasion I should be glad I'm not anemic).. and I just couldn't get to a place where I could comfortably and safely empty out the cup. I stick with pads, it's what I know and Walmart brand are cheap. I don't care if they're not eco-friendly but it saves me the personal embarrassment of walking around at my job with blood stained pants.

I love cups! I've been using them since last spring. I have a light-"regular" flow and if the cups have ever leaked, it's not been enough to actually leak out, I just notice when I wipe. I totally agree that they're not for everyone, but I'm personally glad that there's something for me besides a pad (which grosses me out on my heavier days) or a dry wad of cotton. I use the disposable ones though...definitely not eco-friendly :-/ I wanted to get the feel of them first before I went for a reusable one.

I love my Diva cup. I've had menorrhagia (heavy, near continuous bleeding) for about five months now and don't worry about leaking or spending a lot of money to keep up with the flow. I just insert it and forget about it. I've found that checking it every 12 hours usually suffices for me. When I'm bleeding heavily, I check it more frequently. I do suggest that you buy the Diva Wash when you purchase your cup. It's easier to keep it looking good than it is to remove discoloration that occurs over time.

I'm a se worker and I've been using and recommending the Instead softcups to people for years now. While they're not exactly re-usable (some people do re-use them), they do allow you to have intercourse while on your period. Depending on how heavy the flow is, most times their is no leakage at all. They're amazing...and readily available at many drugstores.

I honesty only need a pantyliner during my (super short) periods because of my IUD, but when I get it taken out (probably not for three years) I will definitely consider using the cup.

When I first learned of it, my reaction was a resounding "EWWWlink." I am a clutz by nature, and I know I would end up dropping the thing at least a couple times. I think it's something that would take time getting used to, but honestly I hate tampons and pads so it sounds like a good option (I'll be honest, I hate periods and everything associated with the process...it's not just the tampons and pads that I hate).

I am especially intrigued now that cups have gotten thumbs up from so many people...if not totally convinced, you've at least peaked my interest to the point where I'm willing to give it a try.

Oh, crap, I forgot to respond to everyone else. >< You'll pardon me, I was just excited to see someone say they're interested.

I did the same thing, LikeSunshineDust. You'd be surprised to note that the Instead cups were around 10 years ago. Back then, they were made of thicker, stronger materials and had a softer, more flexible rim. Since then, they seem to have reformulated their design so the cup part was thinner and the ring part is stiffer. The old style cups were really comfortable and quite *hardy*, I used to wash and resuse 1 per cycle. Again, I was just being a cheap bastard. Nothing ever happened to me. I had such great success with it, I progressed to a 'real' cup (nondisposable). But, for at least five years, I kept a box of Insteads in my truck, juuust in case. The same box. I used a few over time, but I never really quite returned.

Snappy, I have a Diva! I just boil mine, and occasionally wipe it with rubbing alcohol when I feel like making it look like new. Discoloration just happens, I figure. I don't really sweat it.

At the moment, I own 3 cups. Weird, I know. I own my original cup, which is made of natural gum rubber. It's a small sized Keeper. I've owned it for 10 years, and it's fine, in perfectly good condition with no visual or olfactory changes. I also own a small sized Diva cup, which is a 'back up' cup I bought because I kept losing my damn cup. And recently, I sprang for an orange colored Ladycup. I just figured, after 10 years, a little whimsical purchasing couldn't hurt me none. I haven't used it yet, but unfortunately, I'll be using it soon. -_-; I'm actually a little excited to try it, which I can't stop feeling *odd* about. Hah.

[LikeSunshineDust] Actually, I haven't used the Ladycup yet. I only got it about a week or two ago, but I'm going to use it on this cycle. Coincidentally, someone on the livejournal community asked me to review it when I was done, and compare it to the Divacup. The Divacup is the most popular brand in North America, since it's so widely available and cheap. I'll make sure to share the review with you guys when its done.

[Devilbluedress] It's fascinating stuff to read about, even if you elect not to use it. I was so creeped out when I first found them (like you, Bulma), but at the same time, ridiculously fascinated. I spent hours reading up on it (link ) and learned a lot about the history of menstruation. It's just not something I was prone to thinking about.... still isn't. But I'm a reasearchy sort, I get my kicks from learning, so when I discovered I had a squick... I just had to *poke* at it.

[Bulma] I noticed the weird www thing. I bet what caused it was the period at the end of www, let's try. www.

I had kinda hoped that it would have that effect. *nods* My experience has been so positive, even though there is a rather tough learning curve. I'd just love for people to get curious and decide, rather than simply be ignorant of the option, you know?

I should share a few more links.

link -- this is the museum of menstrual health. It's run by a lovely man who loved his mother. He's not creep at all, he doesn't come off that way anyways, and his entire site is just really ... I keep using the word... fascinating. It's like, all this stuff I've never heard of, seen, or even thought of. Cool.

link -- the Keeper natural rubber cup. This was the cup I bought 10 years ago. Please don't view this link as a 100% endorsement of their current product. I like it, and all, but I think I'll hold my opinions back about it until I write my Ladycup review. I'm linking it because I want the casual observer to know what I'm talking about.

link -- the Diva cup. This cup is enormously popular, because it is the cheapest and most abundant cup on the market in North America. It's made of medical grade silicone, and you guys all know what that means. Again, not an endorsement, holding my opinion back until I write my Ladycup review, just want you to know what I'm talking about. It is a very good cup, imho, however.

link -- the Ladycup. This company is fairly new. It recently came out with several COLORS (kickass). I have not used it yet, and therefor do not have an opinion of it yet. I've heard really good things, though, and it is currently the softest cup on the market. It's currently available on the company website, reseller websites, and ebay. You can get it very cheaply on ebay.



And, just in case someone out there has made up their mind to get a Divacup, you can get one at iherb for about $15 within the USA (shipped), buy using this code: POL105 I think it's a referral code, but still, it gets you $5 off, and someone kind passed it on to me from livejournal recently. It *may* also be a 'first time customer' code.

link


And suddenly! I feel like cup pusher. Always did want to be one.

I still prefer just not having a period. Much, much easier.

I'm almost done with my first use of the Lady cup. I gotta say, this thing's impressed the hell out of me. I think it's become my favorite cup ever.

I did learn something (not) really surprising about myself this week. When I say "my flow is heavy", I'm not actually imagining it. It's almost a thrill to find out I'm not just crazy. The average woman's period is about 60ml of fluid. I've lost almost 100ml of fluid so far, and I'm not done yet. So, all the weakness, dizziness when I stand, exhaustion, 12-18 hours of sleep, and etc? I'm not being melodramatic, I really am taking a huge hit.

This isn't my review, but I thought I'd drop a note or two about the Lady cup and then wander off.

Obviously, I gave it a good sound work out. It never leaked, was extraordinarily comfortable... and never dislodged as a result of a full bladder or bowel. Frankly, I'm thrilled to bits with it. It's not without its problems, as it can be quite hard to open sometimes, and I honestly suspect that someone who has never used a cup before could handle that specific issue.

Anyways, I'm going to write up a really long, boring, essay about the three cups later this week. If there's anything you'd like me to note specifically, do tell. I'll try and include it.


My newest assignment arrived on the exact day my period started. >< It looks like a really fun toy?

Do any of you ever get yeast infections when you use cups? I just finished my period and I used one Instead and made sure to wash it really well every 12 hours. And now my vagina is REEAALLY pissed about something, but I can't figure out what I did to make her so upset.

I talked to my roommate and she said that if I didn't rinse the soap off well enough, it could have raised my pH, which would let beasties grow. I feel like that makes sense, but has this happened to anyone else?

I have a Diva Cup and I adore it. I'm really tempted by the Ladycup, though, mostly because of the colors. Also, I had no idea you could wear Instead Softcups during sex! That's great! But yeah, I really can't recommend the Diva Cup enough.

Sorry about my silence, I've been having a bit of a hard crack at life. I'm sure you understand.

I looove my Ladycup, toygirl2. My Divacup may never see use again. For the first time, I'm able to remove my cup without spilling, and I can use it without leaking 100% of the time. With the Diva, I had been convinced that some of the leaks were normal... not huge splurgy weird leaks, but mild leaks that I was told came from the walls of the vagina, and not the cervix. Since I've switched to the Ladycup, I don't get seepage at all, unless I have totally filled the cup.

I've seen criticism for people like me, who own more than one cup. :/ All I can tell you, is I can lose something I had in my left hand simply by switching it to my right. I can lose anything. In fact, I've lost my first Divacup and I have *no* idea where it is. I needed a backup cup, because I would often lose one and find the other.

How I wound up with four cups? oO I bought the Lunette on impulse (haven't used it yet), and I bought the Ladycup at the same time I bought a Divacup.... it was an accident, I swear. Let's just say, never again shall I drink Jack Daniels and shop online at the same time! (who am I kidding, I think I did that yesterday)

re: Instead Softcups; I heard the man often doesn't feel a thing, too. I even read one lady claim, she didn't tell her man she was menstruating and just let it happen naturally. How strange! I had always figured it was physically possible, I just didn't think it wasn't noticable.

I got my Divacup for Christmas and have used it for the past 3 days, and I love it! Day 1, it leaked a little but it wasn't blood, it was residual stuff that was probably on my vaginal walls. Day 2, I did a little, um "chimney sweep" in the shower before I put the cup in and didn't have any leakage. Both days it felt a little weird, it wasn't uncomfortable but I could feel it in there. Today I turned it inside out to see if that would help, and it did and still no leaks. I'm very, very happy with my Divacup, and I probably wouldn't have decided to get one if it weren't for this thread.