what kind of supplies do you use during menstruation?

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? less

I used to do pads and tampons when I was younger, but I hated pads. They are bulky. And I started wearing thongs and g-strings early (as I found them more comfortable and less visible under clothes.), so pads weren't really ideal. I eventually switched to tampons only. Last year, I had a few free pad samples. I warmed up to them a little. Maybe they've improved in the last decade? So I occasionally wear them at home during the beginning of my period and in combination with tampons.

I have heard of menstrual cups for a long while. I kind of don't think they would be practical when I'm going out (I'm clumsy, don't want the possibility of a mess and so on.). But I really hate the idea of my tampons and pads existing in some fashion after I've used them. I hate writing that out, it's disgusting. But because it is disgusting and would like to cut down on waste a little, I might try one some day.

I haven't liked the look of other reusable I've seen. I suppose I could make my own pads as I'm crafty like that, but I'd rather not wash them. I hate doing laundry! less

The Diva Cup is not supposed to leave a mess. You're supposed to fold it, insert it, and kind of twist it a bit to create a seal. It's also supposed to last up to 12 hours depending on how heavy your cycle is, so if you inserted it right before you left, you'd probably manage your whole outing without worrying about it. AND... unlike tampons, when you pee, the Cup won't expand, so you wouldn't need to change it when you use the bathroom. WHY haven't I bought one of these yet??? less

I use pads and tampons but I'm seriously considering a cup. Actually, I've wanted a cup for a long while. Not for eco reasons or anything, just simply I have a harsh, long period that I hate. It's so heavy that I was wearing a huge pad, a super+ tampon, and within an hour I had soaked both and leaked. At least with a cup, it forms a seal and you're less likely to leak. Plus when I wear a tampon the clots build up and make me cramp. Not an issue with the cup. Even if I had to change a cup every hour or so, it would be much better than wearing tampons and pads. And as a SAHM, I don't really have to worry about the hassle of cleaning a cup because I can always dump in the toilet and clean it in the tub real quick before reinserting it. I wouldn't have to worry about being somewhere public usually.

Damn, I just resold myself!

Oh and for those wondering about using one with an IUD, if you're using a Diva Cup or Luna Cup... these cups are placed in the same place as tampons, in the vagina, not near the cervix. You should always double check with your doctor in case your vagina is too short, but overall it shouldn't be a problem. If you're looking into Instead brand of disposable cups, that might be more of an issue since it is positioned at your cervix (although you're supposed to be able to still have sex while wearing one of them). less

In response to the questions about IUDs, the problem isn't the position of the cup, it's the suction it creates when you remove it. It varies by brand, but some menstrual cup manufacturers specifically suggest that women with an IUD shouldn't use their cup because of the increased risk of expulsion. It's worth doing some research, if you have an IUD and are considering getting a cup.

The livejournal menstrual cup community is a great resource. Here's a link to the posts they have on IUDs: link less