have anyone used the menstrual cup

wyllaya

it's been 3 years for me and i will never never go back.............

lindsy721

I think I'm going to have to try this. I've never used a cup before, my periods are not very heavy or anything so thin pads have been all I've ever needed. But this seems worth a shot!

jo_dibs

I also have crazy headaches and there is a non-hormone IUD you can get. Ask about that. It's just copper which from some reason disables the "little swimmers".


ETA: This was in response to the girl who talked about her headaches...I apparently need to learn how to use the quote function.

Cella30

Here is an interesting way to use your moon blood: http://moonwisdom.blogspot.com/2008/02/menstrual-blood-art.html



Someone please, PLEASE tell me this is a joke.

180farm

Never heard of it. Just sounds weird..Lol! I'll have to google it ;-)

I just did and now I'm even more weirded out... haha

never heard of it either, now i'm scared to google it lol

I just googled it and found a handy dandy 14- step guide (with pictures). I'm a little scared too.

Bilbobradshaw

I use one (moon cup! My boyfriend got it for me for my birthday at my request. What a champ). I really like it--no spills or weird leaking, and less waste. You can sleep in it, swim in it and work out in it (as long as you don't do any inverted postures) completely without worry, unlike with tampons or pads. Aaaand it isn't messy at all (I thought removal would look like a massacre) as long as you pull it out slowly. However, it does feel kind of awkward to remove (there is this weird suction-cuppy feeling), and you DEFINITELY have to be ok with getting pretty fresh with yourself. If digging up into your junk freaks you out, then this isn't a product for you.

Over all, it's probably one of the better products to use, and I would recommend it to anyone who is comfortable enough with their bodies that they wont be too squeamish to pull an all out search-and-rescue for the cup at the end of the day.

Quasita

They also make disposable ones in case you don't want to rinse it out... You can wear them up to 12 hours because the blood doesn't dry and become bacterial cesspools. If you've ever had TSS you shouldn't use them though. The disposable ones usually come in 12 packs. You just use, then pull it out and wrap in TP for the trash.

As said by someone else, with yeast issues, if you have a chronic vaginal issue (not implying that the poster did, just sayin) then probably want to avoid it as well.

For me, I use them on heavy days, especially with cramps. I find the ring of the cup stretches things around my cervix just right so that it helps with the cramps and makes for less worry. You *can* use them not for birth control but if you want to have sex and don't want a mess, but you have to be careful... My ex was pretty big and he said it was the only time it hurt when we... ya know.

I personally find them more reliable than even a tampon, and generally more discreet. The only thing that can suck is if you have to change at work or something and find yourself propping legs up all weird in a tiny stall... but then again, that happens far more with tampons lol!

Dayna5K

Can you use it if you have an IUD?

Yep.

It should not be used with an IUD because when you take it out you can pull the string by accident and dislodge the IUD from the uterus.

mamatafari

ha ha don't be scared! I was using the diva cup and it was great. After 3 babies, I'm ready to buy the #2 size (for women who have had children). Tampons are scary because most of them have been bleached, and has anyone ever read the warnings for toxic shock syndrome? Yucky and scary!!
It takes practice, but in the long run you end up saving so much money, and nothing is going into the landfill.

Josie_lifting_cats

I know that The Feminist Breeder blogger rants and raves about the Diva Cup. I think she's even given them away on her blog a couple times. I have friends that use them and love them. I have Mirena and was one of the 20% that doesn't get periods with it in, but once I go back to periods I'm definitely picking up some sort of cup.

HelloSweetie4

I think I need to look into this. My husband and I want to try to walk the Appilachian (sp?) Trail next year, which tends to take about 3 weeks to do while backpacking, so not having to worry about pads and such would be a great help! (especially because i will most likely have to go to the bathroom in the woods most of the time)

kris10stew

I have used a diva cup with an IUD for 6 years, no problems at all. Most people I know who have IUDs use them.

Quasita

I also have crazy headaches and there is a non-hormone IUD you can get. Ask about that. It's just copper which from some reason disables the "little swimmers".


ETA: This was in response to the girl who talked about her headaches...I apparently need to learn how to use the quote function.

Just FYI, non-hormonal IUDs do not stop your period like a hormonal one eventually will. They work by blocking the sperm's entry to the fallopian tube, as well as "convincing" your body it's already pregnant and therefore not allowing a fertilized egg to implant.

_Wits_

Here is an interesting way to use your moon blood: http://moonwisdom.blogspot.com/2008/02/menstrual-blood-art.html



Someone please, PLEASE tell me this is a joke.

What.the.eff.


As glorious as the human body is and the way a woman's body works, menstruates, and grows a baby....this is probably the grosses most unsanitary thing I've ever seen. :noway:

CM9178

I've heard of the cup before but never in this much detail.. a lot of this information is very helpful.
I too am concerned about having to empty it in a public restroom. I understand that you should only have to change it every 12 hours, but what if it needs to be emptied and you are out in public? Carrying wipes is all fine and good, but what about the blood that might get on your hands? I'm assuming if you need to stick your fingers inside yourself, that they are going to get bloddy. I'm not sure exactly how I'd go about pulling my pants back up and walking out of the public stall to go wash my hands. Plus, then you have to spend money on wipes to carry with you all the time -seems kind of counter productive?

Also, just wanted to mention, if you have a tampon inserted properly, you shouldn't feel it at all. I usually forget that it is even in there, until it needs to be changed.

spiregrain

I used it a couple times, thought it was really good, but it made my cramps so much worse I stopped.

Really? Crazy -- mine just about stopped when I started using it. I guess everyone is different.

I have the Diva Cup. Another poster said they didn't like that one because it doesn't have a stem, but mine does, so maybe they updated it. I really love it. If you're bleeding heavy you just empty it more often and use a liner -- but in maybe 8 years I have only had that during the first period after I had my baby boy.

The thing I like about it is that for me, it made getting my period almost exactly like not getting my period. That's my dream come true.

Melanie_RS

I've heard of the cup before but never in this much detail.. a lot of this information is very helpful.
I too am concerned about having to empty it in a public restroom. I understand that you should only have to change it every 12 hours, but what if it needs to be emptied and you are out in public? Carrying wipes is all fine and good, but what about the blood that might get on your hands? I'm assuming if you need to stick your fingers inside yourself, that they are going to get bloddy. I'm not sure exactly how I'd go about pulling my pants back up and walking out of the public stall to go wash my hands. Plus, then you have to spend money on wipes to carry with you all the time -seems kind of counter productive?

Also, just wanted to mention, if you have a tampon inserted properly, you shouldn't feel it at all. I usually forget that it is even in there, until it needs to be changed.

I just googled it and it said that it needs to be taken out and washed 2-3 times a day. I'm sorry...but that sounds like more work than it's worth. ack.

lorettaasmith

I never heard of this before. Time to do some research!

lynn_marie68d

Looks Like I'll be ordering mine I have 2 weeks left.

Mhaney

I loved my diva cup when I was able to use it. I have since developed medical issues that prevent me from using it but it was amazing. I never worried about leaking and you don't have to worry about TSS with the cup at all, sleep in it, whatever.

I do suggest buying two if your toilet isn't close enough to the sink to rinse out the cup. otherwise you have to stand up at the sink to rinse it out. having two is better, keep the spare one clean on the toilet tank so it's ready to go when you take the other one out.

MaraDiaz

I can't believe I've never heard of these. Going to have to give it a try.

ilike2moveit

I swear by my menstrual cup! It doesn't hurt. And it's no more gross than a tampon.

Is it purchased over the counter or is it a prescription?

Shannota

They are over the counter...well, I ordered mine from amazon...I think. It has been awhile.

I have a Diva Cup and had trouble with not feeling like it was up there far enough. I read somewhere that some people have better luck if they flip it inside out and use it like that. I thought that sounded crazy, but I REALLY wanted this to work, so I tried it (thinking that it would forever be stuck up there and I would be asking for some embarrassing assistance). Amazingly, it worked SO much better for me and getting it back out was no trouble at all. I had already trimmed off the stem as that felt really weird to me.

Shannota

And I have to say I feel much more "normal" seeing how many other gals on here have used these. I just ran across them on the web one night and thought it was a neat idea, but I don't personally know anyone else who uses one. Thought maybe I was turning hippy

kayemme

Here is an interesting way to use your moon blood: http://moonwisdom.blogspot.com/2008/02/menstrual-blood-art.html



Someone please, PLEASE tell me this is a joke.

What.the.eff.


As glorious as the human body is and the way a woman's body works, menstruates, and grows a baby....this is probably the grosses most unsanitary thing I've ever seen. :noway:

probably no less sanitary than the exhaust of a car. just sayin'.

Shannota

Here is an interesting way to use your moon blood: http://moonwisdom.blogspot.com/2008/02/menstrual-blood-art.html



Someone please, PLEASE tell me this is a joke.

What.the.eff.


As glorious as the human body is and the way a woman's body works, menstruates, and grows a baby....this is probably the grosses most unsanitary thing I've ever seen. :noway:

probably no less sanitary than the exhaust of a car. just sayin'.

All I could think of was training I received for a summer job about "blood-born pathogens". I have to admit that reading that page made me a bit queazy and I don't know if I am up to eating my after-dinner snack tonight. I still will, since I need to meet my calorie goal, but I hope it stays down!

PegasusDeb

I've heard of the cup before but never in this much detail.. a lot of this information is very helpful.
I too am concerned about having to empty it in a public restroom. I understand that you should only have to change it every 12 hours, but what if it needs to be emptied and you are out in public? Carrying wipes is all fine and good, but what about the blood that might get on your hands? I'm assuming if you need to stick your fingers inside yourself, that they are going to get bloddy. I'm not sure exactly how I'd go about pulling my pants back up and walking out of the public stall to go wash my hands. Plus, then you have to spend money on wipes to carry with you all the time -seems kind of counter productive?

Also, just wanted to mention, if you have a tampon inserted properly, you shouldn't feel it at all. I usually forget that it is even in there, until it needs to be changed.

I kept a little baggy with a couple pair of latex gloves & wipes for this reason. I work in construction & changing 'pons was nothing I wanted to do at work!! Just a thought...

JessyJ03

I think I need to look into this. My husband and I want to try to walk the Appilachian (sp?) Trail next year, which tends to take about 3 weeks to do while backpacking, so not having to worry about pads and such would be a great help! (especially because i will most likely have to go to the bathroom in the woods most of the time)

Ummm the trail takes like 5 months to complete and that's going 20-30 miles on average. You'd never finish in 3 weeks unless you're only planning to do a portion of the trail.

samb330

How long do they last? 6mo a year? Just curious. I've never heard of this and this is something I may just look into.

DieVixen

how does it feel? does it hurt? is it gross to put in and take out?

I take shots out of it after a week