sadly the one thing i refuse to give up for the environment are TAMPONS...with plastic applicators.

2/16/2008 1:21:27 PM

Yeah, but can I shin kick people in the face repeatedly with one of these things in? Pads FTW.

2/16/2008 2:26:11 PM

Quote :

"If anyone wants to try it out without having to buy the $25 one, there are disposable ones available under the brand Instead. I picked some up yesterday (at CVS, not sure if all drugstores have them) and like them, but it seems like it will take a little getting used to. It was $8 for a pack of 14 that each last for 12 hours."

I have heard that the Instead cups are more likely to leak than the diva, because they are shaped differently and sit in a different place.

I've also heard that it's a good idea to use a pad as a backup for the first couple months in case you don't place the cup right and get some leakage.

2/16/2008 2:31:44 PM

Quote :

"Pads FTW."

eww. tampons ftw

2/16/2008 4:14:25 PM

corks would be cheaper and disposable

2/16/2008 4:17:53 PM

Bought one today. So far going very well.

Anybody try reusable pads/pantyliners? http://www.lunapads.com

2/16/2008 8:59:30 PM

The cup I can handle - I'll even consider using it myself. But reusable pantyliners and pads? oh, hell no.

2/16/2008 9:21:20 PM

I'm a little weirded out as well, but we've all had leaks and washed the underwear...

I would be most interested in wearing a reusable pantyliner with the cup as a precaution.

2/16/2008 10:01:53 PM

I wear crappy Fruit of the Loom briefs from Target when I'm on my period, and that way, if leaks happen, I can throw the panties away and not feel guilty that I ruined a really nice, very cute pair. Maybe that makes me a prude or something, I dunno. But I'm minorly freaked out by cloth diapers, so I may not be the best source.

2/16/2008 10:43:17 PM

Quote :

"The cup I can handle - I'll even consider using it myself. But reusable pantyliners and pads? oh, hell no."

I gotta agree. medical grade silicone is one thing, buy carrying around a used cotton pad in your purse?

Also, I think I am not using a laundromat ever again now that I realize what's probably been in those machines.

2/16/2008 11:00:04 PM

Yeah... I'm pretty sure the washable pad doesn't bother me, especially since I would be using it as a back up method.

If this cup thing works out, I'll go ahead and order that too. Apparently, I have a higher tolerance for nasty.

2/16/2008 11:03:44 PM

okay, using it as backup is not bad.

I have been on other forums where the women talked about using just the pads, and by the end of the day they had 4 or 5 used pads in their backpack/purse.

If you can sew at all, I'd suggest trying to make some. They look super easy to make, and pretty expensive for what they are.

2/16/2008 11:23:01 PM

As long as I had some way of sealing the pads up, like a special airtight case or something, I wouldn't be too grossed out by caring the used pads around.

I am notoriously uncrafty, but Lunapads has two liners for $6. That doesn't seem to bad for me. Not sure what shipping would be though.

2/16/2008 11:31:58 PM

yeah, that doesn't sound too bad but they are in Canada so you might want to find a distributor in the US for more reasonable shipping.

2/16/2008 11:48:25 PM

these sound cool. I might try one.

2/17/2008 12:27:14 AM

^^Further research yields that standard US shipping is $3.50.

2/17/2008 3:29:46 AM

I smell a drinking game...who's up for shots?

2/17/2008 5:39:13 AM

This odes not sound like something good to me. I mean, if you work out or do yoga or whatever, the blood in the cup may splash back into you. Plus the thought of having to dump your vaginal lining and blood into the toilet and then wash it, and then put it back in just sounds disgusting. With a tampon, you just put it in to where you can't feel it; pull it out later, and flush it. No handling necessary. I would imagine that it would be pretty uncomfortable until you got used to it, especially since as mentioned before, it sits so far down in your vagina, its right there at the opening.

Quote :

"You guys drip bloody water???? "

I have never, ever had this problem. However, I have forgotten that I had a pantyliner on when getting into a pool or ocean... you quickly realize it when it feels like you are sitting on a squishy stick!


I think that this is much grosser than tampons or pads.

2/17/2008 11:50:40 AM

Quote :

""Pads FTW." eww. tampons ftw"

Menopause ftw.

2/17/2008 12:04:42 PM

Not quite.

Quote :

"With a tampon, you just put it in to where you can't feel it; pull it out later, and flush it"

Uh.

Don't flush tampons

2/17/2008 12:08:26 PM

why not?

2/17/2008 12:15:47 PM

Flush abortions, not tampons. Only natural things in the septic tank.

2/17/2008 12:18:44 PM

1) If you're not on municipal water: tampons and septic tanks don't mix
2) If you're on a municipal water source: Apparently you can, in theory, as long as the plumbing in the house can handle it (this I didn't know until I googled for a nice link to give you)

Why the hell would you flush a tampon? The risk of a clog is just too high; note how many places have to specify to not flush tampons.

Basically, to me, it's rude to flush a tampon anywhere but your own home, and at home is the place you most want to avoid catastrophic clogs like that (i.e., where you have to pay for it)

2/17/2008 12:18:53 PM

Yeah, I don't flush tampons regularly anymore. I was just comparing the ease of dealing with it because I know that so many people do still flush them. I will flush them if it is flooding and gross. Otherwise, I just toss it in the little tampon bin. Both are easy, but you can bet that if its a nasty one, its getting flushed.

[Edited on February 17, 2008 at 12:25 PM. Reason : ]

2/17/2008 12:24:31 PM

Quote :

"I mean, if you work out or do yoga or whatever, the blood in the cup may splash back into you."

What's so wrong about that? It was in you to begin with.

2/17/2008 12:35:26 PM

Most people have an aversion to knowing their bodily processes, functions, and contents.

[Edited on February 17, 2008 at 12:38 PM. Reason : a]

2/17/2008 12:37:48 PM

I mean, I guess it's a little like spitting and then putting the spit back in your mouth ... it seems nasty, but there's really no reason it should gross us out as much as it does. As I said before, anything to do with removing blood leaking out of your girly parts is going to be gross.

2/17/2008 12:39:32 PM

Some girls claim they have never expelled gasses or had a bowel movement before. Such things, along with blood, are not clean and lady like.

2/17/2008 12:41:26 PM

Heh, a girl I know said a guy asked her once if she really pooped, because other girls always said they didn't. Stupid retarded social stigmas.

2/17/2008 12:42:53 PM

i don't think i will ever use the cup. i'm sorry, i just don't think i can do it. i am curious about it though. in reference to the yoga "splashing" quote somewhere above...i wouldn't be scared of the splashing back in me, but just the thought that it could splash anywhere at all sketches me out. i don't want to walk around with period dripping down my leg.

on top of that (this is a legit question, because i AM curious), how do you know the cup is full? or do you just change it on a schedule...like a pad or tampon. and if you are changing it on a schedule, what exactly do you do if you are somewhere besides your own home. i mean, when you take it out and dump it out (so to speak, ew) don't you want to wash it out before putting it back in? so how does this work in a public restroom...or even an office restroom.

i just don't really get the appeal. if it is because tampons/pads are wasteful, then i'd probably go with the reusable pad before the cup. however, being atheltic sorof precludes me from wearing pads in general. they are not comfortable at all to me, but especially for activity. even running. but i swim a lot, so pads are definitely a no go. i guess i quasi understand the waste argument but, at the same time, this is just one of those things i cannot budge on.

if the cup is appealing because tampons are sketchy with their bleach and plastic applicators, they make organic tampons now. i think they probably even have biodegradable applicators. and the cotton or whatev is all natural and not bleached.

pads are just a no go, and a cup seems sort of risky to me (especially when doing high energy activites). and if you have to wear a pad with the cup for extra protection, i just don't even see the point. thats just (for me) wearing two horribly uncomfortable things instead of one (granted i have never tried said cup, but that is why i'm curious).

2/17/2008 2:46:47 PM

Quote :

"but just the thought that it could splash anywhere at all sketches me out. i don't want to walk around with period dripping down my leg"

Wouldn't happen.

Quote :

"how do you know the cup is full? or do you just change it on a schedule...like a pad or tampon."

It's never "full" after 12 hours or so. You just dump it, rinse it and pop it back in. The amount you generally lose during your period is less than 40 mL of blood. The reason you think it looks like so much is mostly because when it comes out into water or into a pad/tampon, it diffuses through the material.

Quote :

"what exactly do you do if you are somewhere besides your own home. i mean, when you take it out and dump it out (so to speak, ew) don't you want to wash it out before putting it back in? so how does this work in a public restroom...or even an office restroom."

I don't know why you'd be out of your house for 12 hours straight. Seriously. If I had to do it in a restroom, I'd probably wet some paper towels, go into the stall and dump it, then rinse it out with the paper towels (as well as clean my hands when I leave) and reinsert it.

In any case, it doesn't tip over and randomly spill while inside you. I'd wager people wear pads as backups in case they spill on themselves when taking the cup out, not for basic daily wear. Even so, why do women who wear tampons bother wearing pantyliners for extra protection? It's just a precaution, not an indicator that something's wrong with the tampon.

And I'd wager the appeal is mostly to avoid using so many pads/tampons needlessly and wastefully.

[Edited on February 17, 2008 at 3:15 PM. Reason : .]

2/17/2008 3:10:06 PM

Quote :

"You seem really ignorant about the cup in general. It doesn't tip over and randomly spill while inside you."

i wasn't referring to it spilling over inside you. i was referring to the discussion throughout this thread which made it seem that the cup was more prone to leakage. from the way people discussed it (and trust me i'm not the only one in this thread that would be apprehensive about using it) that leakage was more of a concern, especially when first starting to use it. that is why i questioned whether it is good for people that exercise regularly etc, i was hoping someone that does a lot of physical activity would be able to attest to whether or not the cup was safe (i don't mean medically safe, safe as in leak-free) to use during exercise, or whether they used an alternative method when working out. just from reading the entire thread and from my own limited knowledge, it just seems that a cup (with rims) sitting inside you would seem more likely to leak than a tampon which is absorbant. i know that may not be true at all. and yes, i realize tampons leak. someone above stated that the cup was placed lower down in the vagina than a tampon. i know that it isn't going to fill up and spill, but what about exercise...i just didn't know if it was more/less likely to protect well against leaks.

and i guess i'm more curious as to the reasons for using it than the actual technicalities of it, as is included in my post above. i guess i get the waste argument (as stated above) but i just did not know if the cup is something that is appropriate for all women (waste or no waste). if you swim or run a lot, it doesn't seem like the cup is a viable option. maybe it is...i don't know. that is why i asked.

[Edited on February 17, 2008 at 3:22 PM. Reason : .]

2/17/2008 3:21:05 PM

up until this thread, i was really enjoying the fish sandwich i'm eating for lunch

2/17/2008 3:23:39 PM

I don't think there's anything wrong about being ignorant to the cup. It's not a common thing and she did say she was curious. Ask away! It's the only way to become more comfortable with something that is foreign to you. No need to criticize someone for that.

As far as I can tell, but I've only been wearing mine for two days, there's no way to tell if the cup is full. If that, or leaks is something that concerns you, I would say just wear a pantyliner. The more I use the cup, I may be able to pick up on subtle clues that it needs to be emptied but right now I'm not sure what those are. A decade ago, I didn't know how to tell when a tampon needs to be changed, but now I can definitely feel it. It may just take some experience.

The chances of it splashing out are minimal. The cup can accommodate a lot of liquid. Also, if inserted properly, the cup forms a seal inside your vagina to prevent leaks. I would assume that the worst that could happen, again if inserted correctly, is that an overfull cup would make a mess being removed.

When removing it in an office or public restroom, just wipe it out with a toilet paper or a damp towel. You really don't need to wash it thoroughly each time you take it out. I mean, it's just going right back up there for more!

Personally, the appeal for me is partly the argument about wastefulness and environmental protection. The other part involves some of my personal feminist and anti-capitalist beliefs. Without getting too theoretical, I can just say that it pisses me off to pay $8 for a box of waded up cotton.

As far as the high energy stuff goes, I'm going to the gym later so I'll let you know.

2/17/2008 3:24:19 PM

Quote :

"someone above stated that the cup was placed lower down in the vagina than a tampon. i know that it isn't going to fill up and spill, but what about exercise...i just didn't know if it was more/less likely to protect well against leaks."

I've never had it "leak." That's why I don't understand your question at all. It is placed lower down than a tampon, but that doesn't mean it's halfway hanging out and going spill everywhere. A tampon needs to be placed higher so that it can absorb and expand with blood more readily. The cup fits itself against the walls of your vagina without needing to do that, there's no need for it to be up against your cervix.

I don't see why exercise or swimming would be a worry with regards to the cup. The discussion on getting used to using it was about spilling upon removal, not while it's in you. There's very little chance of it leaking while it's in there. It's just a little awkward to get used to at first, but it's very hard to put it in so wrong that it leaks (because of the natural seal the cup makes).

[Edited on February 17, 2008 at 3:42 PM. Reason : ,]

2/17/2008 3:37:56 PM

The cup was originally suggested to me by women that bicycle, some very long distances (100+ miles) without a problem. Between that and the mention of the women's rugby team I'm thinking it'll be far less likely to leak than a tampon. I'll know for sure in a few months.

2/17/2008 5:04:44 PM

oh yeah, the less likely to leak, less changing, and not as horribly overpriced aspects are all important to me. Plus I plan on buying a house in the next year or two that hopefully won't be on city sewer/water so not having to mess with ewwy used tampons is good too.

2/17/2008 5:15:49 PM

khcadwal, are you worried about feeling it during working out? Or just that it will spill or something along those lines?

2/17/2008 6:46:28 PM

Never heard of them before but might be worth trying. I'm surprised there haven't been reports of toxic shock syndrome from using this.

2/18/2008 12:48:54 AM

Diva Cups on sale at Earth Fare - $3 off.

Also, anyone with a Nuvaring, please PM me. Thanks.

3/17/2008 7:49:24 PM

I wear reusable pads that I sewed myself a few years back. They're made with 3 or 4 layers, with a flannel top, a wicking layer, and a suedish material backing. I started wearing them because of getting yeast infections around my ragtime.


I use 2 snaps on the wings, and generally they've held up pretty well, except the ones that met the end of their fate from dog chewing.

I do yoga, bike commute, run, and walk the dogs on my rag, only a few times have I bled through. You have to pay attention and know what your heaviest day is going to be to wear the thickest pad, which comes with knowing your body.

3/17/2008 9:38:35 PM

Quote :

"this I didn't know until I googled"

WOW WHO WOULDA THOUGHT??!?!1 you bitched at someone for something they did without even knowing if it was bad?

hahaha you're hilarious and smart

3/17/2008 9:45:56 PM

no boys allowed!!!

3/17/2008 10:53:11 PM

Question answered, thanks ladies.

3/18/2008 5:36:21 PM

is this the kind of thing you can buy used, like underwear at the thrift store?

3/18/2008 6:59:26 PM

I'll sell you the half box of disposables that I won't be using.

3/18/2008 7:10:14 PM

Ditto.

I've got nearly a full box of tampons and some pads that will never grace my vag again. After two cycles with the cup/reusable pantyliner backups, I'm in love with it.

I've been thinking about seeing if any of the domestic violence or homeless shelters in town take donations.

3/19/2008 11:16:30 AM

I've also got a bunch of tampons, so please, post what you find out, in that regard.

3/19/2008 1:06:41 PM

I bought pads from lunapads.com years ago (must have been at least 3) and i still love them. I even got my sister hooked on them.

I don't use a cup cause I have an IUD

3/19/2008 1:12:49 PM

Quote :

"I've been thinking about seeing if any of the domestic violence or homeless shelters in town take donations."

they do - though most likely they will want a sealed box of them, rather than one that has already been opened

3/19/2008 1:33:05 PM