The New Intimacy

what kind of supplies do you use during menstruation?

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Contributor: BluePixi BluePixi
Idle curiosity at its best what do you use and why? I have seen a poll for this but it only included "traditional" supplies. Personally I just switched to a menstrual cup and cloth pads after ten years of disposables. I find this an all too fascinating subject and one that I ignored for years. I wonder how many other women are out there that just avoid thinking about it just using what can be bought at wall-mart because they have been taught to give as little thought to the subject of menstruation as possible. I only recently discovered alternatives to disposables so if I missed anything let me know. Please only choose free bleeding if you never use any form of protection. the poll is private


as a bonus question I would be interested to know; Is anyone else more grossed out by a plastic bag of dried out disposable pads and tampon tubes than rinsed out cloth pads in the laundry hamper?
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
Disposable Pads only
40  (16%)
Disposable Tampons only
57  (23%)
Reusable Pads
3  (1%)
Reusable Tampons
2  (1%)
Disposable pads and Tampons
92  (37%)
Disposable Tampons and Reusable Pads
1  (0%)
Reusable Pads and Tampons
Reusable Tampons and Disposable Pads
Reusable Menstrual Cup
33  (13%)
Disposable Menstrual Cup
4  (2%)
Reusable Menstrual Cup and cloth pads
5  (2%)
Reusable Menstrual Cup and disposable pads
4  (2%)
Disposable Menstrual Cup and Reusable pads
Disposable Menstrual Cup and Disposable pads
3  (1%)
Free Bleeding
something else
5  (2%)
Total votes: 249
Poll is closed
01/06/2011
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Contributor: gone77 gone77
I'm a disposable tampon kind of girl. lol
01/06/2011
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Pads girl. I'm still afraid of tampons..
01/06/2011
Contributor: I'll Miss You EF :( I'll Miss You EF :(
Since I miscarried a few years back I haven't been able to use pads without having like a traumatic flash back, so strictly tampons.
01/06/2011
Contributor: Emma (Girl With Fire) Emma (Girl With Fire)
WTF, there are reusable tampons now?!?!
01/06/2011
Contributor: ZenaidaMacroura ZenaidaMacroura
Quote:
Originally posted by Emma (Girl With Fire)
WTF, there are reusable tampons now?!?!
Haha. Seriously. I didn't know that.
01/06/2011
Contributor: leela leela
Quote:
Originally posted by ZenaidaMacroura
Haha. Seriously. I didn't know that.
I believe some people use a type of natural sea sponge that's designed as a reusable tampon.
01/06/2011
Contributor: Misfit Momma Misfit Momma
Quote:
Originally posted by leela
I believe some people use a type of natural sea sponge that's designed as a reusable tampon.
I've seen them knitted too! You might find some on Etsy... I don't think I would personally use them though!
01/06/2011
Contributor: Misfit Momma Misfit Momma
I use cloth pads. If I happen to have a chance to go swimming during my period I will use a tampon, but that is rare.

Yes, disposable pads grossed me out big time but I hardly give a second thought to rinsing my cloth before putting it in the bag with my daughters cloth diapers.
01/06/2011
Contributor: leela leela
Quote:
Originally posted by Misfit Momma
I've seen them knitted too! You might find some on Etsy... I don't think I would personally use them though!
haha, I never thought about knitted ones, but I'm not surprised that they're on etsy.
01/06/2011
Contributor: Lucidity Lucidity
Instead disposable cups. I want a Diva Cup, but I'm getting an IUD and I don't know if it'll pull it out.
01/06/2011
Contributor: ZenaidaMacroura ZenaidaMacroura
I just use disposable tampons unless I'm going to bed, in which case I use a pad or pantiliner. I generally can't stand pads.
01/06/2011
Contributor: Persephone Nightmare Persephone Nightmare
Quote:
Originally posted by Lucidity
Instead disposable cups. I want a Diva Cup, but I'm getting an IUD and I don't know if it'll pull it out.
Well, I'm definitely not an expert on either Diva Cups nor IUDs, since I use neither (though have looked into possibly getting a Diva Cup)

But here's what the Diva Cup site FAQ says about it:

Please use caution when using any internal feminine hygiene product with an IUD as there is a rare possibility of dislodging it. We recommend that you become familiar with your particular IUD risks (such as body expelling IUD, etc.). As with any gynaecological concerns, please consult your physician prior to using a menstrual cup.

I hope that helped you out
01/07/2011
Contributor: Darling Jen Darling Jen
Now that I'm actually get periods again (thank god I'm kicking PCOS ass!), I actually have light enough periods that I can spend a day or two "free bleeding" with no stains at all in my underwear! I get rid of some of it on toilet paper when I wipe and it'll take hours for another small drop for form and it never reaches my underwear. Pretty dern nifty.

But otherwise, I use disposible pads and tampons, depending on my mood and my day's circumstances.
01/07/2011
Contributor: BluePixi BluePixi
Quote:
Originally posted by Emma (Girl With Fire)
WTF, there are reusable tampons now?!?!
yep I found three types of reusable tampons, sea sponge, knitted/crochet or cloth. Personally I cant imagine getting the sponges or a stuffed tampon clean enough to use again but I might try a piece of rolled up cloth if I get desperate.
01/07/2011
Contributor: Miss Morphine Miss Morphine
I alternate the diva cup with disposable pads depending on my mood.
01/07/2011
Contributor: Shellz31 Shellz31
Quote:
Originally posted by Darling Jen
Now that I'm actually get periods again (thank god I'm kicking PCOS ass!), I actually have light enough periods that I can spend a day or two "free bleeding" with no stains at all in my underwear! I get rid of some of it on toilet ... more
Awwwww awesome. I'm jealous!


I use a Diva Cup.
01/07/2011
Contributor: Shellz31 Shellz31
Quote:
Originally posted by BluePixi
yep I found three types of reusable tampons, sea sponge, knitted/crochet or cloth. Personally I cant imagine getting the sponges or a stuffed tampon clean enough to use again but I might try a piece of rolled up cloth if I get desperate.
I am curious about these natural sea sponge thingies. I'd never heard of those before.
I need to check them out.
01/07/2011
Contributor: lamira lamira
I only use disposable pads since I do not bleed that much.
01/07/2011
Contributor: Airekah Airekah
I use disposable tampons, but have lately been interested in the menstrual cups. My boyfriend freaks out about them, but I really would like to try them.
01/07/2011
Contributor: Envy Envy
Disposable pads for me. I bleed a lot, and to have a tampon I'd have to change it too soon too much.
01/07/2011
Contributor: Emma (Girl With Fire) Emma (Girl With Fire)
Quote:
Originally posted by BluePixi
yep I found three types of reusable tampons, sea sponge, knitted/crochet or cloth. Personally I cant imagine getting the sponges or a stuffed tampon clean enough to use again but I might try a piece of rolled up cloth if I get desperate.
Yeah I imagine the outer bits would get cleaned up nicely but the inner bits? *Shudder*. I would also be concerned about what cleaning products would be remaining in the tampon after washing. I don't like the idea of people absorbing laundry detergent and fabric softener through their coochie lining.
01/07/2011
Contributor: leela leela
Quote:
Originally posted by Airekah
I use disposable tampons, but have lately been interested in the menstrual cups. My boyfriend freaks out about them, but I really would like to try them.
Well, good thing he's not the one menstruating then.

If you're curious, you should go for it. I really like my Diva Cup. There's really no reason to be freaked out. Since they're silicone, you can sterilize them. The only downside is that insertion and removal can take a little while to get the hang of, but once you get it down you'll wonder why you stuck with tampons for so long!
01/07/2011
Contributor: Tuesday Tuesday
Quote:
Originally posted by leela
I believe some people use a type of natural sea sponge that's designed as a reusable tampon.
I used to use that. I loved it.
01/07/2011
Contributor: BluePixi BluePixi
Quote:
Originally posted by Airekah
I use disposable tampons, but have lately been interested in the menstrual cups. My boyfriend freaks out about them, but I really would like to try them.
I really like my lunacup, after just one month I really really really don't want to go back to tampons.
01/07/2011
Contributor: Xomandypantsxo Xomandypantsxo
disposable tampons are just so easy.
01/07/2011
Contributor: popples popples
I use disposable tampons, sometimes with a panty liner.
01/07/2011
Contributor: LavenderSkies LavenderSkies
Quote:
Originally posted by BluePixi
Idle curiosity at its best what do you use and why? I have seen a poll for this but it only included "traditional" supplies. Personally I just switched to a menstrual cup and cloth pads after ten years of disposables. I find this an all too ... more
Disposable pads and Tampons.
01/08/2011
Contributor: Eliza Eliza
Right now I use disposable pads and tampons, but I am really interested in getting reusable tampons or Diva cups.
01/08/2011
Contributor: Gallowraven Gallowraven
Quote:
Originally posted by BluePixi
Idle curiosity at its best what do you use and why? I have seen a poll for this but it only included "traditional" supplies. Personally I just switched to a menstrual cup and cloth pads after ten years of disposables. I find this an all too ... more
It isn't very Eco friendly, but I use disposable tampons only. I prefer to throw the used item away, than to have to worry about the extra time it would take to clean a reusable supply.
01/11/2011