first week with a menstrual cup!

xstarx05x

Don't read this if you're already grossed out haha

I posted a while ago asking what people thought about m-cups, and I finally decided I'd give Lunette a try. It arrived the day before my period (how exciting haha) so I got to test it straight away!

Like people said in my last post, it takes some getting used to in terms of figuring out how to adjust it so there's no leakage. I was having severe issues yesterday at work and at the gym, gahhh! I was wearing a pantyliner so no disasters occurred. Decided to play it safer and wear a pad today (felt like I was in middle school) but didn't have as much trouble as yesterday.

Once I get the hang of this, I think it will be sooo much better than tampons. I already like the fact that I don't have to spend like $100/year on them and have half of them explode in my purse!

pinklepop

I was thinking about trying these. What are the benefits over tampons?

 Also, you mentioned you had issues with leakage. Is that because you didn't put it in correctly? 

xstarx05x

In my opinion, it's better because you only have to check it 2-3 times. I check it in the morning, after about 12 hours, and before bed. I put it in the night before I was expecting my period cuz mine usually surprises me during the night, which is nice cuz then you don't get a mess in the morning (I don't have much luck with pads) and you can't do that with tampons! It's also convenient that you don't need to carry anything around, like with tampons you always have to make sure you have more with you. It's definitely more "green" and there's also the financial side I already mentioned!

Yes, the leakage issue was that I didn't put it in correctly. You have to fold it to put it in but it didn't open up (I don't think it was in far enough) so it didn't seal. 

SuperGreen

shinycat:

I was thinking about trying these. What are the benefits over tampons?

 Also, you mentioned you had issues with leakage. Is that because you didn't put it in correctly? 

I use the Diva cup (at least i did before I got PG), and I LOVE IT.  Some reasons why it's better than tampons.

1. Tampons are made from heavily bleached cotton, and cotton is already one of the most sprayed crops on earth.  Even before I knew about the Diva, I was getting uncomfortable with the idea of putting something so toxic inside my body.  Plus there's the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) with tampons.  Ever read the TSS warning pamphlet in a box of tampons?  It's scary.
2. It's green.  Tampons generate a TON of waste.  There's the box, plus the plastic wrap and tube for every.single.tampon.  Tampons also clog sewers nationwide, you're not supposed to flush them, but everybody does.
3. You only have to check the cup 2-3 times per day, like PP said.  I checked mine when I woke up, and when I went to bed.  No more worrying about "OMG has it been 8 hours?!?! I need to change my tampon!"
4. Once I got the hang of insertion and removal, I had zero leaks.  Zero.  I went swimming, gardening, did yoga, and no leaks.  After the first month I didn't even use panty liners anymore.
5. It's more comfortable that tampons, at least for me anyway.  I could usually feel tampons in me.  They would turn sideways and poke me, and I always dreaded that super-dry, rasping, terrible first insert and last removal.  Once I cut the Diva's stem off (a lot of women do that), I never felt it.

Let me know if you have any other questions about menstrual cups, I'd be happy to answer them.  Beyond being greener, the cups just work better.

xstarx05x

SuperGreen:

 Tampons are made from heavily bleached cotton, and cotton is already one of the most sprayed crops on earth.  Even before I knew about the Diva, I was getting uncomfortable with the idea of putting something so toxic inside my body.  Plus there's the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) with tampons.  Ever read the TSS warning pamphlet in a box of tampons?  It's scary.

oh thanks, forgot that one! You can even feel its effect on you. I don't know if it's just the cotton, just the bleach, if the bleach increases the effects or what, but I could definitely feel that tampons made me dry and itchy. M-cups don't interfere with your natural lubrication, so you're nice and comfortable

VitaLuna

shinycat:

I was thinking about trying these. What are the benefits over tampons?

 Also, you mentioned you had issues with leakage. Is that because you didn't put it in correctly? 

Even if you're not super green (i.e. don't care as much about chlorine, re-usability, etc).... I love my diva cup just for the sheer convenience of not having to change it all the time, ESPECIALLY when I go pee! (I don't know about everyone else, but I hated having to change my tampon everytime I peed or else it would leak). Also, it's also a lot better for sewers/septic systems. Tampons had clogged our septic pipe before. Gross.

KyleandAndrea

I have never heard of this.  What exactly is it?

jmillerhorskins

Where do you get one? One size fits all?

xstarx05x

kyleandandrea - It's for menstruation instead of a tampon or pad. You keep it in your vagina throughout your period and only have to empty it 2-3 times per day. It's reusable so saves a lot of money, waste and hassle! see lunette.com for more info

 

jmillerhorskins -  It comes in 2 sizes. In general, the smaller one is suggested for women who haven't given vaginal birth and the the larger one is suggested for women who have given vaginal birth or have a particularly heavy flow. I got mine online, but there are certain stores that carry them. You check the website to find out where (whether Diva, Lunette, or another brand)

CDMay2006

SuperGreen:

I use the Diva cup (at least i did before I got PG), and I LOVE IT.  Some reasons why it's better than tampons.

1. Tampons are made from heavily bleached cotton, and cotton is already one of the most sprayed crops on earth.  Even before I knew about the Diva, I was getting uncomfortable with the idea of putting something so toxic inside my body.  Plus there's the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) with tampons.  Ever read the TSS warning pamphlet in a box of tampons?  It's scary.
2. It's green.  Tampons generate a TON of waste.  There's the box, plus the plastic wrap and tube for every.single.tampon.  Tampons also clog sewers nationwide, you're not supposed to flush them, but everybody does.
3. You only have to check the cup 2-3 times per day, like PP said.  I checked mine when I woke up, and when I went to bed.  No more worrying about "OMG has it been 8 hours?!?! I need to change my tampon!"
4. Once I got the hang of insertion and removal, I had zero leaks.  Zero.  I went swimming, gardening, did yoga, and no leaks.  After the first month I didn't even use panty liners anymore.
5. It's more comfortable that tampons, at least for me anyway.  I could usually feel tampons in me.  They would turn sideways and poke me, and I always dreaded that super-dry, rasping, terrible first insert and last removal.  Once I cut the Diva's stem off (a lot of women do that), I never felt it.

Let me know if you have any other questions about menstrual cups, I'd be happy to answer them.  Beyond being greener, the cups just work better.

All of this.  It's so great not to have to worry about running out -- really convenient when travelling, b/c you don't have to try to guess how many pads/tampons you need to pack, or track down the right brand/type/etc. on your trip.  This is especially true when backpacking b/c you don't have to carry a bunch of extras, and you don't have to carry around used pads/tampons.  And in the long run, it costs less, too!

DianneRiehle

Thank you for sharing such useful ideas regarding various menstrual cups.