Period cups

You realize that multiple women here have said that they think it's gross, right? The nonsense about "the patriarchy" doesn't make any sense. Lose the tinfoil hat.

Yeah, periods are gross for some. I don't like it, and I would never be able to use a cup because I think it's gross. More power to those who use it though, since anything to ease that time of month is a good thing.

I use the diva cup and like it

At-large views on periods tend to be societal, and many societies have been and still are largely male-oriented. This can and has effected the opinions of the women in those societies even on subjects like menstruation. Whether or not the view of periods being disgusting is entirely driven by patriarchy could be debated, but I wouldn't call it a "tinfoil hat" theory. Besides, how many women have been made to feel bad about something concerning their bodies because of the popular male opinion?

I used to hate my period, too, and thought is was uncomfortable and gross. My switch to a cup, and my research into menstruation in general, caused a complete 180 in my thinking. I like my period now, and no longer feel burdened.

Not to say you need to make any changes to your own routine (though the health and cost benefits of reusable menstrual items over disposables might be worth considering), I'd never do that. I'm just providing some food for thought.

It can happen that the cup travels higher than you can reach and makes removal difficult (though keep in mind that your cervix closes off the vagina, so a cup can't truly get "lost"), but there's ways to avoid this.

1) There's many different brands of cup. Knowing your own body and examining different designs (I found this blog to be quite helpful) can help you make an informed decision about the size and style of menstrual cup that's right for you. The better a cup fits, the easier it'll be to work with.

2) Always try to relax when inserting or removing a cup. If your tense, your muscles will tighten and make things harder for you. Never panic.

3) Try different positions for removal. Squatting shortens your vaginal canal, and will force the cup closer to the entrance. You can also try pushing (as if you were trying to have a bowel movement) and moving the cup to the entrance that way.

4) Don't yank the cup out by the stem. The stem is there to help you locate the cup and gently pull it closer so that the base is within reach. Proper removal requires that the seal be broken, which usually means pinching the base of the cup and carefully working it out using side-to-side movements. Alternatively, once you find the base of the cup, you can simply slide a finger up inside you and press down on the side, which breaks the seal and allows the cup to be pulled straight out (this is what I do).

5) If removal feels too rough, trying getting some (water-based!) lubricant and sliding it around the sides of the cup. If the problem is that it's too slick to grip, dry your hands and try again, or use some toilet paper to grab the base once it's within reach.

Here's to hoping you have smooth sailing if you decide to try a cup for yourself. I've never had any real trouble with removal myself (though I do need to push a bit to get to the base of my cup), but I collected this advice here from several sources during my research into cups. Keep it in mind if you run into any trouble.

(L OL)

This post is made of win!

I LOVE mine. I will never go back to tampons or pads after buying mine.

While it's advisable to wash it every time if possible, in a public restroom just wiping it down or rinsing it right in the stall is fine. You can use a damp paper towel, wet wipe, or bring a bottle of water along (I use a peri bottle myself so the spray's easy to control). Also keep in mind that in most cases a cup can be worn for up to twelve hours, so unless you'll be out longer than that you can always time it so you'll be home when it comes time to empty it.

Honestly I'm a little surprised how often folks worry about the public restroom thing. Relax everyone, it's easier than it sounds.