The New Intimacy

Rant and rave about menstrual cups

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Contributor: Saraid Saraid
I really wished I had purchased a menstrual cup earlier. I've been using the Diva Cup (and Luna Pads panty liners for backup on really heavy days) for about 7 cycles now and I really wish more women knew about these. It has reduced my cramps considerably compared to tampons, is more comfortable because there is no string and it is made of silicone and also only has to be changed every 12 hours on regular days.

I figured a thread on menstrual cups would maybe get more women interested and those of us that use them (I can't be the only one) could answer questions.
12/12/2009
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Contributor: LikeSunshineDust LikeSunshineDust
Quote:
Originally posted by Saraid
I really wished I had purchased a menstrual cup earlier. I've been using the Diva Cup (and Luna Pads panty liners for backup on really heavy days) for about 7 cycles now and I really wish more women knew about these. It has reduced my cramps ... more
Here is one that was started a while ago. link
12/12/2009
Contributor: J's Alley J's Alley
Quote:
Originally posted by Saraid
I really wished I had purchased a menstrual cup earlier. I've been using the Diva Cup (and Luna Pads panty liners for backup on really heavy days) for about 7 cycles now and I really wish more women knew about these. It has reduced my cramps ... more
I use Instead right now...I am getting the Diva Cup as soon as I can. I love the instead, so I am sure I will love these. I have always hated tampons and I get the worst cramps when I use them, so I decided one day to try Instead...sweet relief! The I learned about Diva Cups...hell yes I want one.
12/12/2009
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
Quote:
Originally posted by J's Alley
I use Instead right now...I am getting the Diva Cup as soon as I can. I love the instead, so I am sure I will love these. I have always hated tampons and I get the worst cramps when I use them, so I decided one day to try Instead...sweet relief! ... more
I use Instead as well. I love them compared to tampons, although I find them a bit messier to use on bad days. I'm thinking about the Diva cup, but haven't gotten one yet.
12/12/2009
Contributor: J's Alley J's Alley
Quote:
Originally posted by Sammi
I use Instead as well. I love them compared to tampons, although I find them a bit messier to use on bad days. I'm thinking about the Diva cup, but haven't gotten one yet.
I do think they can be a bit messy, but still WAY better than tampons any day! The only reason I haven't gotten the Cup yet is because of cost...I hate to spend $35 then not like it. I am super cheap. Although, I guess I could boil it and offer it to someone else if I absolutely had to.
12/12/2009
Contributor: Saraid Saraid
Quote:
Originally posted by J's Alley
I do think they can be a bit messy, but still WAY better than tampons any day! The only reason I haven't gotten the Cup yet is because of cost...I hate to spend $35 then not like it. I am super cheap. Although, I guess I could boil it and ... more
Yeah, I get you about the cost, but considering they last for years it's cheap as hell. Worth a shot at least.
12/12/2009
Contributor: sarahbear sarahbear
I've had a Diva Cup for a few years now and I love it. Sometimes it does give me cramps like tampons did, but most days it's fine. The only trouble with it is that you kind of have to make sure it's suctioned well or you're going to leak everywhere once you start moving around. I'm still in the bathroom emptying it pretty frequently (3-4 hours) on my heavy days.

I bought my sister one for Christmas one year and she loves hers too.

Oh, and J's Alley I got mine for about $17 on herballife.com. Right now they sell it for about $20. There's a community on live journal called menstrual_cups or something like that and people are always posting coupon codes or willing to trade or sell a cup for cheap that didn't work out for them. Not to mention, there are several different types of menstrual cups (the Keeper, Lunette, Miacup and Mooncup) so you can do some comparisons on the features you like from each cup before buying.
12/12/2009
Contributor: sarahbear sarahbear
er betterlife.com I don't know why I thought it was the other site.
12/12/2009
Contributor: Saraid Saraid
Quote:
Originally posted by sarahbear
I've had a Diva Cup for a few years now and I love it. Sometimes it does give me cramps like tampons did, but most days it's fine. The only trouble with it is that you kind of have to make sure it's suctioned well or you're going to ... more
What fold do you use? When I was using the punch-down and the 7 fold I leaked, but not with the C fold.
12/12/2009
Contributor: sarahbear sarahbear
Quote:
Originally posted by Saraid
What fold do you use? When I was using the punch-down and the 7 fold I leaked, but not with the C fold.
The punch-down usually. I always thought the C fold was a little wide to insert. I might try it out my next period. =)
12/12/2009
Contributor: Saraid Saraid
Quote:
Originally posted by sarahbear
The punch-down usually. I always thought the C fold was a little wide to insert. I might try it out my next period. =)
Yeah me too, then I decided just to use a dot of lube. Not only does it make it easier, but you also get better suction even when you don't insert it quite right. I just use some crappy lube I ended up not liking.
12/12/2009
Contributor: ArmyWife Kira ArmyWife Kira
I am so happy this thread popped up. I actually just bought a Diva Cup and have yet to use it. I think I will like it. I also made myself a bunch of cotton pads because I was so over the itching from the disposable ones. I've heard good things about the Diva Cup so I am excited to try it out.
12/12/2009
Contributor: removedacnt removedacnt
I have the Instead's and they don't fit me right. It doesn't stay put up there and it tips forward causing a mess every time I've tried it.
12/12/2009
Contributor: LikeSunshineDust LikeSunshineDust
I started out using Insteads but switched to the Diva Cup. I love it. I can't imagine my period without it.
12/12/2009
Contributor: Saraid Saraid
Quote:
Originally posted by ArmyWife Kira
I am so happy this thread popped up. I actually just bought a Diva Cup and have yet to use it. I think I will like it. I also made myself a bunch of cotton pads because I was so over the itching from the disposable ones. I've heard good things ... more
Just a piece of advice if you freak out and can't figure out how to get it out:

- Bear down with your vaginal muscles
- Grab and pinch the base, not the stem (little thing that pokes out), that will release the suction which you want to do

I was so confused the first time I used mine that my boyfriend pulled it out for me. He's nice like that.
12/12/2009
Contributor: MuffysPinguLove MuffysPinguLove
I've never used a menstrual cup before, but after reading this thread I'm thinking about buying one. Any suggestions for a first time user?
12/13/2009
Contributor: sarahbear sarahbear
Quote:
Originally posted by MuffysPinguLove
I've never used a menstrual cup before, but after reading this thread I'm thinking about buying one. Any suggestions for a first time user?
Go check out the menstrual cups community on Live Journal. They have a photo on their user page of all the different cups lined up next to the OB no applicator tampons to help give you an idea of the size. The talk about the materials they're made of, allergies, cost, and other things that might interest you. Diva cups just seem to be the most popular, but you may like another.
12/13/2009
Contributor: Saraid Saraid
Quote:
Originally posted by MuffysPinguLove
I've never used a menstrual cup before, but after reading this thread I'm thinking about buying one. Any suggestions for a first time user?
I would suggest the Diva Cup. It's the most widely available and I love mine. Plus, it's silicone, which is great.
12/13/2009
Contributor: ArmyWife Kira ArmyWife Kira
How do you all feel about the little stem on the Diva Cup? I have been using a diaphragm for my birth control for awhile now and it kind weirds me out the way this is inserted. How far in do you all insert it? I tried mine out and if I squatted down the stem would stick out...am I not putting it in deep enough?
12/13/2009
Contributor: LikeSunshineDust LikeSunshineDust
Quote:
Originally posted by MuffysPinguLove
I've never used a menstrual cup before, but after reading this thread I'm thinking about buying one. Any suggestions for a first time user?
My advice is don't give up the first time. There's a little bit of a learning curve, but if you can get the hang of how to put it in correctly, you'll never go back to pads and tampons and you'll be among the happiest chicks alive. Along those lines, if the cup feels uncomfortable inside you, you didn't put it in right. Take a deep breath, take it out, and try again.
12/13/2009
Contributor: MuffysPinguLove MuffysPinguLove
Thanks for all the advice! I'm going to go check out the menstrual cup community on livejournal. I looked up some information on it myself, and I seem to be leaning towards the Diva Cup.
12/13/2009
Contributor: Saraid Saraid
Quote:
Originally posted by ArmyWife Kira
How do you all feel about the little stem on the Diva Cup? I have been using a diaphragm for my birth control for awhile now and it kind weirds me out the way this is inserted. How far in do you all insert it? I tried mine out and if I squatted down ... more
If the stem is a problem for you, you can always cut it off. It's really pretty useless.

However, it shouldn't be sticking out. I would move it up a little higher. Also, it should kind of naturally migrate to where it wants to sit once you have it in for a few minutes.
12/13/2009
Contributor: LikeSunshineDust LikeSunshineDust
Quote:
Originally posted by Saraid
If the stem is a problem for you, you can always cut it off. It's really pretty useless.

However, it shouldn't be sticking out. I would move it up a little higher. Also, it should kind of naturally migrate to where it wants to sit ... more
I just turn mine inside out, which works out pretty well.
12/13/2009
Contributor: gone77 gone77
I've heard a lot about menstrual cups and while I'm curious, I hear so much about problems with mess that I don't think I'd want to deal with them. Using them at home might be fine, but I start a job in January and the last thing I want is a mess problem. I know not everyone does, but I'd rather not spend my money at that rate on something that might be too messy for my liking. I'll stick with my tampons for now.
12/13/2009
Contributor: ArmyWife Kira ArmyWife Kira
Quote:
Originally posted by Saraid
If the stem is a problem for you, you can always cut it off. It's really pretty useless.

However, it shouldn't be sticking out. I would move it up a little higher. Also, it should kind of naturally migrate to where it wants to sit ... more
Ok, i'll put it further in next time I try it. I think I may cut the stem a little shorter too. Thanks!!
12/13/2009
Contributor: MuffysPinguLove MuffysPinguLove
So, I went and checked out the menstrual cup livejournal, which was so informative thanks sarahbear! After an hour or so of research I decided to try out the Divacup, and ordered one off amazon. Should be here next week!
12/13/2009
Contributor: LikeSunshineDust LikeSunshineDust
I'm lamenting because I can't use my Divacup... I have this weird irritation of my labia and I don't feel much like sticking anything inside me, so it's rags for me today
12/14/2009
Contributor: FAM4LIFE FAM4LIFE
I have a diva cup, and love it when I need to use it. But, honestly I don't like having anything inside me when I'm bleeding (unless there's a pleasurable purpose). I use all natural, cloth flannel pads. They're machine washable and I have used the same ones for five years! I am so gad to hear so many ladies use an alternative to bleached tampons and pads!
12/31/2009
Contributor: Cecilyk Cecilyk
I wish I'd gotten my Diva cup years ago. I love it. It's decreased my cramps significantly, and the convenience is unbeatable! I'm getting older, so on my heavy days I just dump morning and night, and the last day or two I can leave it in 24 hrs without dumping. I never leak. EVER. It's awesome.
01/11/2010
Contributor: Saraid Saraid
Quote:
Originally posted by FAM4LIFE
I have a diva cup, and love it when I need to use it. But, honestly I don't like having anything inside me when I'm bleeding (unless there's a pleasurable purpose). I use all natural, cloth flannel pads. They're machine washable and I ... more
I use Lunapads pantyliners as backup on ultra-heavy days or before my period in case of surprises, but I can't stand the feel of sitting in blood. I think I used pads for about a month when I start my period (10 years old) and promptly switched to tampons.
01/11/2010