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Menstrual cup in backcountry - TMI question
in Green Living
I'm going on a longish wilderness backpacking trip starting this weekend and i'm not sure what methods are best for dealing with the cup on the trip. My plan is as follows: Dig small cathole. Clean hands with alcohol wipe. Remove cup, empty into hole. Clean cup with 2nd alcohol wipe (1x/day). Reinsert cup. Clean hands with 1st wipe. Deposit wipes into wastes bag (w/ TP), cover hole with soil.
Do you see any flaws in my plan? Any other methods you'd suggest that allow for low-waste and appropriate hand and feminine hygiene?
Thanks!
EDD 9/24/13
Best sound ever: baby's heartbeat! (Heard @ 10w1d)
Best sound ever: baby's heartbeat! (Heard @ 10w1d)
Re: Menstrual cup in backcountry - TMI question
I'd worry that alcohol residue left on the cup would be too harsh... can you rinse it off with a bit of bottled water before reinserting it?
eta: the Divacup website also says that alcohol will damage the silicon
I would skip the alcohol on the cup. You'll just have to rinse with water (bottled or otherwise safe to drink). If you can, bring a cup/container slightly larger than the diva to rinse it in.
And plan to do it twice a day - you're not really supposed to leave it 24 hours.
I don't really think that's a problem if it's buried. Bears aren't sharks.
Thanks for the ideas. Keep 'em coming! Is anyone able to comment from experience?
- I can't leave it in 12 hours, let alone 24 (too much flow most days), so i'll empty it 2-4 times a day. I was just saying i would do so without rinsing/cleaning it most of those times, doing so only 1x/day.
- Bears aren't more attracted to blood than other smells (except polar bears), but they are attracted to nearly all smells, so yes, this could be an issue. As such, i'll have to do it along the trail and away from camping areas. However, this is no different than using tampons (which can't be buried), as those then have to be packed out, and hung on a bear line or stored in a bear canister overnight.
- I figured the alcohol wouldn't be great for the cup (it's a solvent), but i've used the cup for years and if it damages it i'm not too upset about replacing it... i just need a way to really clean the cup on trail (backcountry yeast infection, anyone?). Doing so with water means i have to clean my hands twice (after removing and after reinserting the cup), which means more waste, and means i have to use my water, which will be limited since i'll be filtering and have to carry what i filter.
Best sound ever: baby's heartbeat! (Heard @ 10w1d)
Too much shark week for me!
and reading about Bear attacks in/around Yellowstone.
not sure if you already read the FAQ, but here are some relevant q/a from their site.
http://www.divacup.com/en/home/faqs/
Q. What are the "Leave No Trace" wilderness guidelines when using The DivaCup in the back country?A.Please use standard ?cathole? practices. Also, observe the practice of containing the flow in a sealed plastic bag and hanging in a ?bear bag? with other trash away from other animals.Cathole: Catholes should be dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, trails, and drainages. Bring a trowel to dig the hole, and disguise it well after use.*
Bear Bag: In bear country, hang ?smellables? from tree limbs 12 feet off the ground, 6 feet from the tree?s trunk, and 6 feet below the supporting limb, or store it in specially designed bear-resistant canisters or on-site lockers.*
* Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
Q. Can I use The DivaCup in developing countries? What about potable water?A.The most important thing is to use potable water. Using bottled water is good, but the quality of the bottled water does make a difference. Should the bottled water you use be less than clean (which can happen) it could cause a problem, so we ask you to be careful about the quality of the bottled water.You must use potable water to clean The DivaCup to avoid infection. You must boil the water and clean The DivaCup, as well as the outside vulval area, with the cooled down, boiled water and a little mild soap (such as The DivaWash). Then rinse the cup again, and air dry. As always, please remember to wash your hands before this process and before using The DivaCup. When not in use, store your cup in a cotton bag (as provided). This will allow air flow.
Important Note: Do not store boiled water for long periods - undesirable organisms will eventually grow, especially in warm/hot environments; repeated access to the stored water will also introduce unwanted organisms.
Q. What would be the easiest cleaning method while camping?A.The DivaCup can be wiped out with tissue, washed and rinsed later. Please remember to wash your hands before inserting or removing The DivaCup.
Q. Is water that has been chemically sanitized for drinking OK for use to clean The DivaCup or does the water need to be boiled instead?A. Treated drinking water could be fine, but that is dependent on the reliability of the treatment. We suggest reviewing our FAQ for cleaning the cup in developing countries.
graham - i didn't see that last time i looked at the FAQ. Thanks a bunch
As great as the method they suggest for cleaning is, it's rather impractical. Best practices, i guess.
New plan: i'm just going to use TP+unscented, alc-free baby wipes. I can use them on my hands and the cup, without damaging skin or silicon. That seems to be the most convenient way to balance waste/time/convenience/mess/cleanliness.
That would be totally convenient, but the trip is too long (10 days) and my thermometer doesn't have much power over my ovariesThanks for all the ideas and info, ladies!
Best sound ever: baby's heartbeat! (Heard @ 10w1d)
She's saying she doesn't use hormonal birth control.
Turns out, though, that our new route (much of our old one is on trails closed due to the Rainbow Bridge forest fire) has lots of pit toilets, so it could potentially be a bit less complicated. I'll let you know how it goes!
Best sound ever: baby's heartbeat! (Heard @ 10w1d)