It’s time for another one of those posts that will make people I know in real life avoid eye contact for a little bit, so if you’re a bit squeamish about normal female bodily functions this might be time for you to click away too. But I think it’s important to discuss these somewhat taboo topics, especially since it’s something that involves about one week every month for about 50% of the population for 3-5 decades.
It’s reusable menstrual product discussion time.
I’ve been using tampons (with cardboard applicators) and pantyliners for most of my life, but after hearing about the benefits of reusable menstrual products a few years back I decided to give them a go. Now that I’ve been through quite a few cycles with them, I feel like I can give a decent-ish review.
Why reusable menstrual products?
There are lots of benefits that come with reusable menstrual products:
Less waste
One of the major benefits of plastic is how waterproof it is – unfortunately most biodegradable materials aren’t great liquid barriers. Disposable pads and pantyliners have a plastic backing, and often come wrapped in plastic as well.
While my applicator tampons are plastic-free, they’re still made of waxed cardboard and cotton. Cotton, while natural, is one of the most resource-intensive crops, so throwing out a t-shirt’s worth of single use cotton every month isn’t that great.
Lower cost
Disposable menstrual products aren’t that expensive in Australia, but reusable products are a significant saving since they can last for years.
Convenience
There are a bunch of benefits to reusable products when it comes to convenience too. You won’t unexpectedly run out at the worst possible moment, and many of the products hold a greater volume so they don’t require changing as frequently. This also means less leaks!
Menstrual Cups
The first reusable product I tried was a menstrual cup. These are little chalice-like soft plastic cups that seal over your cervix and catch any blood coming out. You take them out, empty the contents into the toilet, give them a quick rinse and put them back in. They have a larger capacity than tampons, and if used correctly they’re more leak-proof as well.
Menstrual cups have near universal acclaim online, with hordes of women ready to tell you about how life-changing they are. Unfortunately, it seems like my anatomy is weird and doesn’t play well with them, and there are very few negative reviews online, so I wanted to document my experience so that other people might feel less alone. But keep in mind that I’m an anomaly, so you are almost definitely going to have better luck than me! (I’m planning to give it another go at some point – maybe when my body forgets the horrors of my last few attempts a few years ago.)
The First Fail
I stupidly bought my first menstrual cup off iHerb in 2014 while bored out of my mind in Switzerland without reading up on them at all. DO NOT DO THIS. There are so many comprehensive guides and videos about menstrual cups on the internet now that it’s just negligent (Put A Cup In It for example).
The cup I bought was firm, slippery smooth with a frictionless stem, and way too long for my body. It suctioned itself to my cervix, and I couldn’t get it out. Eventually I wrestled it out of my body after two hours of mad panic and desperate crying. Luckily I didn’t have to pay exorbitant emergency fees! Score.
The Second Fail
After a few short months, I went back in to try again. (Stupidity or bravery? You decide.)
This time, armed with hours of reading, I decided to go for a Lunette Model 1 cup. This cup was made of a softer silicone, making it easier to break the seal. The stem also had ridges for better grip, and was narrower and shorter so it would hopefully fit my body better.
After enlarging the holes at the top with a dermal punch, I started using it – and yes, it was actually pretty awesome! But there were some dealbreakers that made me switch back to tampons after a year of trying really hard to make it work. I think most of these problems stem from the fact I’m small (155 cm), have a very strong core, a sensitive cervix and am very prone to UTIs, which turns into a perfect storm of cup failure.
Forming a seal
You fold the cup to insert it, then it opens inside you to form a seal. Despite trying a whole bunch of different ways of folding the cup, I couldn’t get it to consistently open up inside me. I’d go back and forth to the bathroom and dig around trying to get it to open, only to have it thump me from the inside half an hour later – or even worse, never form a seal so it would just leak constantly. One way of solving this problem is to buy a firmer cup which opens up more easily inside you. Unfortunately, I also have problems with…
Discomfort
Most people don’t feel much discomfort with menstrual cups, and can even forget that it’s there. Unfortunately I’m not one of them.
Inserting and removing the cup felt much more uncomfortable than a smooth tampon applicator – it felt like I was battering my insides (I also find applicator-free tampons incredibly uncomfortable). I get pretty bad cramps during my period, and the cup made it feel much worse, even though most people say that cups make them feel less pain. I could also feel the bottom of the cup pushing on my urinary tract, making it feel like I had to pee constantly and I had a UTI coming.
Mess
In theory, emptying out the cup should be simple and mess-free. In practice, there are bloody fingers involved, and if your body isn’t coping with insertion and removal well, and you’re a bit unco (e.g. me), there might be some spillage.
Since I had so much trouble getting the cup to open, there was also a lot of leakage. I had to keep changing pantyliners which actually generated much more plastic waste than tampons did.
Despite all this, I’m still planning to give menstrual cups another go – perhaps a narrower, shorter and firmer cup might work better.
Period Underwear
Period underwear (period panties) have an absorbent layer in the crotch, with a waterproof backing.
There are quite a few brands of period underwear, like Thinx and ModiBodi. I’ve only tried Love Luna, a more budget-friendly brand that’s easily available in Australian supermarkets.
There are 3 different designs of Love Luna underwear – there’s a Full Brief, which are basically giant granny panties, plus there are smaller Midi and Bikini Brief options. The absorbent layer is made of cotton, and is only 3 millimetres thick.
How well does period underwear work?
I’ve been mostly using Love Luna underwear to replace the pantyliners I used to use as a backup when you’re using a tampon or menstrual cup – which is great because if you’re like me, you have to throw out a lot of barely-soiled pantyliners.
Since I like to stretch the limits of things I’m testing, I’ve tried the Full Briefs overnight without any other products. Surprisingly, they do pretty well as long as you’re not having a really heavy flow day! Love Luna say that the Full Briefs can hold 15-20 mL of liquid, and the Midi and Bikini Briefs can hold 10-15 mL – I’ve only had leaks when a lot of liquid comes out at once.
Comfort
I was also very impressed by how comfortable they felt. I expected the leakproof nature to mean they’d be tight around the leg holes and sweaty, but they actually feel a lot like regular underwear, and they’re much more breathable than a pad. They’re also less bulky and aren’t scratchy at all.
They don’t feel damp for long either – liquid soaks through the top part that touches your body very quickly, and feels dry again after a few moments.
Cleaning
I was a bit worried about cleaning period underwear at first, but it turns out it’s really simple. I wash them in the shower with cold water and soap, then once the water runs clear I let them dry, then chuck them into the washing machine. I haven’t had any problems with lingering smells so far, and I haven’t had to throw any out (I’ve been using the oldest pair for about 1.5 years).
Have you tried reusable menstrual products? Which ones worked for you and which ones didn’t?
Love Luna underwear was originally provided as a PR sample, although I have bought many pairs since; these are still my honest opinions of the products. This post also contains affiliate links – if you decide to click through and purchase any product, you’ll be supporting Lab Muffin financially (at no extra cost to you), thank you! For more information, see Disclosure Policy
I don’t care for any insertable menstrual product and recently have been using reusable menstrual pads! The ones I buy (from I Heart Felt USA) have stood up to a pretty heavy flow. They’re not as thin as regular pads but they are comfortable especially without the adhesive that always managed to find my skin. Very happy with my decision.
My daughter loves the DIVA cup. Best thing ever for her as her flow is huge and the diva cup holds a lot more than super plus tampons. I use KNIX underwear as back up to tampons. Very comfy and easy cleaning.
I love my Juju cup, it’s been a total game changer and I wish I’d discovered it earlier than I did! That said, the first couple of times I tried it were complete fails too..actually, the first time I honestly thought I would have to go to ED as it was stuck and my rookie fingers couldn’t break the seal ?
Persist with it if you can, it does get easier the more you use it ?
I’m on my 4th period using organicup mini. I like it so far, but I have to admit that I have the same problem with you with regards to cup not opening properly inside. It seems like my cervix is too narrow for it to be opened fully? I don’t know. But I’m still trying ?
Thank you, Michelle !
I thought I might be the only one out there having those problems with the cup, and I put it to the fact that I gave up trying far to quick…
Well, I‘m just 3cm taller than you, with a strong core and prone to UTI – so there might be a pattern? Anyway, I had that problem with the suction too, ach that was really awful (what a panic !).
Honestly, I couldn‘t convince myself to get back trying…
Melinda
Interesting re: the menstrual cup. Just one question: how do you rinse it out if you’re in a bathroom stall, and the sinks are on the other side of the door?
Thanks for this post! I feel real guilt using tampons and pantyliners as well. Last year I gave the menstrual cup a try as well. I head a terrible time with it. I could almost always feel the stem, yes I had a few bad leaks, and getting it in or out felt like I was mangling my poor lady parts. Plus my already bad cramps were worse. I kept trying to make it work, but after the second cycle I used it I got a giant bartholin cyst. Just happens that those glands are right where the stem was rubbing. One of the more painful and disgusting ordeals of my adult life. I have eyeballed the period panties, but they are quite expensive! I’ll see if your brand is available in the US! Thanks ?
I’ve tried the Mooncup for a few months about 7 years ago and it was okay but…I had a few spills when taking the cup out which has been horrifying, especially when I wasn’t actually in my own bathroom at home 🙁 That plus the messy nature of it all, needing to have a sink nearby (not always possible in public bathrooms) and having to disinfect it by boiling it just put me off and I switched back to pads and tampons. It’s great to see other honest reviews that aren’t always 100% glowing and positive.
Since taking my IUS out last year my periods have become slightly lighter and since hearing about period pants I’ve bought a pack of three from Cheeky Wipes (UK based) and I LOVE THEM! I actually wear them on top of my usual underwear that will have my pad on and it gives me so much peace of mind. I’m highly prone to leaks because I move a lot in my sleep and I’m still getting used to what my usual flow is again. I highly recommend period pants for peace of mind if nothing else.
I’ve been using a menstrual cup for 2.5 years.
I love it.
I had been a tampon user almost exclusively for the previous 10 years.
I also haven’t figured out how rinse it out in public bathroom. On days I know it has to go for longer than 12 h, I use a tampon for the first few hour, then swap in the cup when it’s full. (I still working my way through my store of tampons, at a rate of two a mont it’s going to take a while).
For me the 12h use vs 4-8h for tampons was the selling point.
I can get a little messy though. I don’t mind it that much, but I’ve never gotten through a whole cycle without my hand looking like I’ve disembowelled someone. I have no idea what planet people who say there’s no mess are living on.
My fist one was relatively cheap (10€) from Carrefour, I was ok but a little hard, also the stem was flat, instead of round and if it wasn’t in the exact right orientation I could feel it.
My second one was from Boots in the UK (I can’t remember the name of the brand) which is softer, has 8 holes along the top, instead of the usual two and a round hem.
That tampon + cup trick is brilliant!
I almost exclusively use a menstrual cup now, too. If I need to change it out in a public bathroom, sometimes I bring a water bottle into the stall to rinse my cup out over the toilet, and in a real pinch, you technically don’t have to rinse it out each time (I haven’t been able to put it in without rinsing yet, though).
I make my own reusable pads out of cotton flannel! They are soooo soft and comfortable. Mine have inserts, so you can adjust the absorbency by inserting more or less inserts. My menses have been fairly light my whole (menstruating) life, so tampons have always been uncomfortably dry for me. I felt guilty using disposable pads, so I made the switch over two years ago. After use, I just soak them in a bit of diluted hydrogen peroxide, rinse them, and then wash them with my towels in the laundry. I will never go back, but I have been wanting to try period underwear. The cups, however, never appealed to me as I imagine they would be almost as uncomfortable for me as a tampon. Also, if you don’t sew, there are so many different pad options online.
Thank you for the post and for bringing up this topic! I learned a lot today 🙂
I wish period underwear had been available to me before I started using pills. I would have used them in the same way that Michelle described above: on top of the usual underwear with a pad. I used to have very, very heavy periods, and mentally I was not ready for tampons, so a second layer of protection would have been welcomed, especially during my prom when I had a white dress 😀
I wish it’d been available in high school too! So grateful for the “jumper around the waist” trick…
I don’t use the cup because they were all too big for me and the suction drove me CRAZY, and I agree there’s weirdly effusive praise online that doesn’t match with my cup experiences! I just wanted to add one more voice to the two “NOPE!” voices here already and say it’s a bad choice for me. So bad in fact, I never stuck with it long enough to find a solution, and I started taking the pill continuously which rendered the entire struggle with my period moot some time ago. (That is a choice that worked out really well for me in the end!)
I’m jealous of your pill experience! I used to use a low dose COC but I never managed to avoid breakthrough bleeds for the whole 6 years I took it.
I started using a Lunette cup a few years ago and haven’t looked back. It took a couple of periods to figure out how to fold it with no leaks, and have been fine since. I usually empty in the shower- no mess! My favourite thing about the cup is how clean it is. Pads and tampons can really stink. Then they stink out your garbage bins. It felt like a big initial investment at the time (maybe $60) but it has paid off massively.
Yes, I forgot how nice it was not to have smelly trash! My house currently has an ant infestation and it turns out… ants love blood. So. Gross.
I use the Lunette Model 2 which should be bigger and a bit firmer than Model 1, which works reasonably well for me. After having tried so many times to prevent leaks and failed, I simply accepted that there will always be leaks for the first 3 days. So I will back it up with reusable cotton pads. I’ve been using this cup+pad system for a long time now and am considering trying the period undies as the back up component.
Hi, Sandra. I used to have that problem. Have you felt around the cup after inserting to make sure the cervix is inside the cup? It feels like a small, soft finger(or mini-penis).
I have been using a cup for about 3-4 years now and find it more comfortable than tampons. I love the fact that I can put it in a day before my period starts and remove it as often as I want- no more painfully pulling half-dry tampons out and risking TSS. The only downside is that it’s a bit small so I might buy a bigger one soon and it needs to be boiled for 10 minutes after the period(I cheat and just pour boiled water over it in a coffee cup). I also experienced leakage in the beginning before I found out what my cervix felt like(like a small, soft finger) and could tell when the cup had missed it’s mark and was lying next to it instead of cupping it. Also, if you have problems getting the cup out, try pinching the bottom of the cup instead of pulling at the stem. This way you break the vacuum/suction. I just cut the stem off after a couple days as it wasn’t needed. To avoid spilling on the way out, wiggle it carefully from side to side and keep it upright. The pain didn’t change for me. I also used to use the tampons with a smooth cardboard “inserter” before the cup so the transition to cup was awkward but I did eventually get used to how it feels to insert and remove it and find it normal now.
I’d really like to try the underwear. I have some reusable pads but they are thick and uncomfortable, they have buttons on them that chafe against my thighs and they keep moving around and flips upside-down when I go to the loo. So I mostly use cheap panty-liners now.
I did actually use the pinching the bottom method with the two hour cup – but the seal just refused to break! Pinching worked great with the Lunette cup though.
Thanks for the advice with the cervix-groping! ? Hopefully some people here will find this useful.
It’s reassuring to hear that inserting the cup might eventually feel better!
Thanks so much for this. I struggled so much to make menstrual cups work for me and the whole things was a months-long messy and painful affair. I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one! I’ve been thinking of underwear but feared it’s too messy. I might give them a try!
Hey! I used to use a Ruby cup and had some of the problems you had! Mine wouldn’t ever form a proper suction once inserted, so I always (always) had spillage. But the simple convenience of only changing it once a day made me stick with it. I’m so glad to hear someone else had the same experience! Online I only saw amazed and overwhelmingly positive reviews. Now I have a Mirena IUD I barely use anything (a panty liner usually suffices, even on the first day of my period), but I’m definitely definitely going to try the period underwear!
I guess I’m an anomaly but after my first menstrual Cup experience (bought without much research) I was an instant convert. I think I’m also lucky with my anatomy (high cervix, moderately strong pelvic floor) which plays well with a few different cup types. I’m currently rotating between the Claricup size 1, Lily Cup size A, and Enna Cup size 1, which have all worked out great for me ?
I’m incredibly jealous! One day I’ll work it out… one day.
I’m kind of afraid to use the menstrual cup, because even tampons are super uncomfortable for me, so I was using mostly pads so far. But last year I came across to period underwear and I have to say that I regret not knowing about it earlier! I bought two of htem from UK company WUKA – which had the biggest capacity I have found so far and they work amazingly! I was leaking a lot during night on the first days of my period, because I have very strong flow (changing big pads 3 times during my night sleep is quite normal), so this have been a real life saver. I have some leaks, but comparing to before it’s almost like nothing for me. I’m really glad that period underwear are nowadays getting the attention too 🙂
Whoa that’s definitely heavy flow! I’m really impressed that the undies can handle it.
Some nights they don’t handle everything, but it’s usualy just at those times when I forget to go to toilet once in every 4 hours. Which is still big improvement for me on the first days 😀
How does the period underwear handle blood clots? Do they just sit on the surface?
They do and they dry out a bit, much like they do on a regular pad.
THANK YOU for the menstrual cup review. I’ve been struggling myself. I may have the opposite problem of a high cervix (or just small hands…) so it feels like I can’t reach it to get it out. And I panic!
Its nice to know I’m not the only one who tried and it didn’t work for me. I’ll give a different type a go eventually.
Great post!
I use MeLuna cup for a while and I must say I am very satisfied. At first was a little bit awkward to put it in, but with time gets better. Sometimes it stays folded inside, but then I feel discomfort and I put it out and then back again. I have bought the reusable pads and I use those in case of leaking. This combination works the best for me and I don’t have to buy any pads nor tampons anymore.
MeLuna is the brand I’m looking to try next! I’m glad to hear it works for you.
Hi Lab Muffin,
Have been a fan of your blog for some time, although many products you review aren’t available here in the US.
I wanted to weigh in on Menstrual Cups. I’ve been a user for almost 30 years; yeah, pioneer since the first one, The Keeper (latex). It’s really important that you note that we are all shaped differently, and unfortunately, it’s kind of both a steep learning curve AND somewhat hit-or-miss. So in the beginning it is hard to know if leaks are user error or improper fit. IMHO, it’s both, but leaning more towards user error. The reason why I think this is The latex Keeper is a much stiffer material, so there was never a problem of caving sides. Once you inserted, it was easy to create a seal, and it was pretty foolproof. All the women I knew (it was grassroots and through a women’s network – no internet when I was in college!) found it difficult to insert it but once they did, no one had any leaks. Many of us had to cut off and file/round off the pull handle, esp. if you were ‘shorter’ in length. Like tampons, if you can insert it properly, you can barely feel it. Our lady parts are extremely flexible so I think all the variations you get nowadays are just product variations – so many out there, making it so difficult to make a choice! Hope it is not TMI, and noone uses this as a selling point, but I can even ahem, have relations while wearing one(freshly emptied), which is not something you can do with tampons.
I have had at least 5 kinds of cups, all of them silicone since the first one, including the silicone Keeper, and have had issues with each of them leaking because the softer material will move with you, deform with you and … leak. But when Menstrual Cups do work, they are such a better option for the planet and feel better too.
Thanks so much for your comment! That makes me feel like I should be aiming for a stiffer cup next then – my core is ridiculously strong (10 years of pole dancing classes will do that to you) so I think going firmer would be best. I agree, one of the advantages of a menstrual cup I found was that I wasn’t dried out after it was removed!
I have a coil, which means that my periods are very weak, and I switched to using only period underwear/ reusable pantyliners about a year ago. With my little flow one lasts me the whole day and I just wash it afterwards and let it dry.
No leakage, no smells and no dampness either, so perfect for me.
Hi Lab Muffin!
My first experience with the cup was a horror show, but now I couldn’t imagine using anything else. I have the Lena cup in the small size. The firmness is in the middle, its shorter, and has 4 holes on the rim. The first cycle using it was super painful for me. Eventually I got used to it but was still have occasional really painful cramps from it and I was still getting leaks – insertion success was really inconsistent so I had to keep using panty liners. What finally worked for me was the “7 fold” and inserting it while squatting, like you would on squatty potty. Since I started doing that I’ve had no more pain and 0 leaks.
As far as the emptying of it, Lunette sells wipies just for the cup, so if you’re not able to find a private restrooms, they’re your best bet. I do have to warn you though, one time I tried to do this in my colleges restroom and the cup slipped/popped out of my hand and spilled onto the floor. I had to wait until the restroom was empty and I couldn’t hear anymore horrified gasps. Needless to say I went straight home after that. Definitely stick to private restrooms if you can!
I’ve wanted to try the period underwear for a while now to supplement. After reading this article I think I might bite the bullet.
Thank you!
So I’ve had a largely mixed experience with menstrual cups, however, I think I have finally found “the cup for me” last year. I first bought a menstrual cup in 2015. I currently own five cups – lunette in 2015, rebel kate 2 sizes in 2017, and hellocup around the end of last year.
For context, I’ve only tried using tampons once, one with a plastic applicator. If I remember correctly, it was some time early last year and it was so bad I swore to never try again.
The first couple of tries with the menstrual were pretty traumatising for me as well, as it hurt going in and out. I had to ask my friend to help me buy some water based lubricant, which helped, however, it was messy, annoying, and took a long time.
Furthermore, internally, it was really annoying, as it constantly pressed on my urethra/l sponge and made me feel like I constantly needed to urinate. It also made defecating feel strange and uncomfortable. The stem also stuck out and irritated my labia. All over a bad experience
I made several tries throughout the past five years, and tried various techniques (trimming the stem), as well as trying the Rebel Kate cups (major point of contention again was the pressure on my urethra/l sponge and the constant need to urinate.
Last year I bought the HelloCup, which is a New Zealand based brand that makes menstrual cups made of TPE. They had a promotion on at the time, so I bought the “teen” size cup, and the “small” sized cup. It actually ended up working really well for me, however, I’ve only used it once.
The things I like about the HelloCup 1) it’s small and 2) because it’s made of TPE, after awhile it warms up due to body heat (I think?) and “moulds” it’s shape, meaning that after awhile, the constant pressure on my urethral sponge is no longer there 3) the stem and the “rim” are extremely smooth and relatively easy to remove.
It depends on your flow obviously, but even the “teen” sized menstrual cup was able to handle my heavy flow day with me only needing to insert in the morning and remove at in the evening when I got home from work. Unfortunately, because I’ve never used tampons, the whole “number of tampons a menstrual cup can hold” metric doesn’t work for me…
Removal (with a dab of water based lubricant) was relatively easy – I squatted in the shower, poked around and eased it out. It was a little painful (comparable to inserting a vaginal toy with slightly inadequate warm-up or lubricant). Surprised myself by not spilling anything so I just tossed the blood down the toilet and flushed it away. Rinsed the cup and then reinserted it.
Also – I’d be really interested in reading a review of the MicroScooter, if you’re willing to write one up. Ever since I saw it on your story, I’ve been thinking about getting one. My workplace is about 6 km from where I live, so it’s unfortunately way cheaper and faster for me to drive over than it is to take public transit, even on a concession pass. However, I have a feeling oil prices will rise soon, and in any case, driving is bad for the environment and I don’t earn enough to even think (only dream) about owning an electric or hybrid car.
I use cups and i love them but i def get why some people wouldnt like it. Every once and a while ill put it in wrong and itll leak or shift around and its the worst thing to deal with when im not expecting it. Reusable pads are great though! Ive been debating trying period underwear too because reusable pads can sift around a bit and it would be nice to not worry about it.
I’m even smaller than you, under 150cm, and I always get people insisting that cups will ~work for everyone~
No they will not and that’s okay.
I bought my first menstrual cup 5 years ago, it was a Diva cup. At the time there were only 2 sizes and the way to choose between the two was whether or not you’d had a child. I had so I bought what was the larger size. (On later reflection I wondered if o should have bought the smaller size as I actually had a c-section, so I don’t have any pelvic floor issues.)
Anyway, I have never been able to get the cup to work for me. I’ve struggled to insert it properly, to get it to open, I have had it “thump me” as you put it, I’ve had the same panic and tears about the damn thing being stuck or lost in there. It’s never ever felt comfortable, it feels like a cramp. Later on, I received a generic branded cup as a gift with purchase of something else. It was a different shape to the Diva cup, but roughly the same size. I had the same problems.
I still want to try another brand of menstrual cup but not sure which one. There is a new one on the market called Nixit. It’s supposed to be suction free, and has gotten great reviews, but is AUD$73!!
In terms of period underwear, I use Loveluna and I think they are fantastic. I have all three types. I have a very heavy first day where I need to pair the full brief with a tampon but otherwise they are great for the rest of the time. A friend uses Loveluna and Thinx and she said that Loveluna are just as good, if not better! I’ll be buying more I think!
I too have not been able to make the cup work for me. I don’t have a heavy flow by any means but I would always get leakage. I read up on this extensively, watched every YouTube video to no avail. I’ve concluded that the reason I could not make it work is because I have a tilted uterus and my cervix so far to the side that the cup could never sit directly underneath.
Best thing I’ve tried were reusable pads, the ones with wings that have a clip that clips around your underpants. These have changed my life! Sometimes I go to the bathroom and the pad is so dry that I second guess whether I’m even bleeding! But then when I go to wash them soooo much blood comes out!
Many brands make them now but I got a generic brand off eBay and they’ve been fine. Definitely recommend.
I’m so very late to this discussion but just had to throw a word in for menstrual cup steamers. I was hesitant to use my cup because boiling was just so inconvenient, but I’m prone to UTIs and found I couldn’t use my cup for days at a time without sterilizing. Enter the steamer, a gadget you fill with a tiny amount of water, place your rinsed cup on top, place the lid, and press a button to create steam. The steaming process takes 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the amount of water used. I own two of my favorite cup and simply swap them every time I empty, additionally I like to rinse the steamer. As an added bonus, steaming removed quite a bit of cup staining that had never come out with the boiling method. Unfortunately a steamer probably isn’t practical for the office, unless you can convince your coworkers it’s a personal humidifier.
I have been using the lunette cup for the last 7-8 years and I like it. Usually I only change it in the shower in the morning and evening and over time I have learnt to change it in restrooms if they have wash basin inside without spilling.
I did not notice any difference in pain. Sometimes, I do feel some pain momentarily when I insert the cup and there are days I can feel the stem. I usually adjust the cup when that happens.
I like the fact that I can avoid leaks with the cup. Even if it leaks, I would feel the wetness immediately and can do something about it. I used to use pads and I used to have so many leaks when I was sleeping. This was before we had period underwear.
I use a menstrual cup with a ball stem and so far so good – I don’t like tampons esp feeling the string hanging out and getting wet when I pee. I do sometimes have trouble getting the cup in on the second and third day. They sell little collapsible cups that you can fill up in the sink and bring into the stall for rinsing the cup. Period underwear and reusable cotton pads work nicely for me too 🙂
For me, the question is often framed almost incorrectly. The correct one is why anyone wouldn’t use these products. There are just so many advantages to them!
OMG! Sensitive cervix is a THING??!!! I ( and my doctor) thought I was just insanely neurotic! You are my new hero!
For the UTI thing, which I also get so maybe SC and UTI are related, try drinking copious amount of mineral water. Even in your tea or coffee. I’m lucky enough to have Houston’s Mineral Springs nearby and its one bubble off from miraculous. Gerolsteiner is the bottled water that works best for me. Hope it helps you, too.
You are equal parts hilarious and brilliant!
I’ve been using menstrual cups for 12 years. I adore them! And I cannot imagine ever, ever going back to tampons. I’m on my 4th cup. The first two (Diva cups each) were found and mangled by my cat. The third was a Keeper Mooncup — I had this one the longest, maybe 7 years? I now use Saalt (because I wanted a change after seeing how much the market had broadened). I like it! It has a larger capacity, so I never have to worry about overflow.
My first few years with Diva cup there were some leaks caused by the cup not fully opening (too soft of silicone), but that didn’t deter me (I think my particular anatomy gives me benefit when it comes to leaks though). The Diva cup and Mooncup both occasionally got suctioned to my cervix and hurt to remove, but that was worked around. I’ll also say that I have vulvodynia, so insertion is painful.. but so is anything!
I used to have cramps so bad they would stop me dead in my tracks and felt like I was literally expelling a silver dollar or something from my cervix. I don’t really understand why, but I haven’t had cramps like that since using a menstrual cup.. just occasional low back and uterine aches.
I love menstrual cups, I hope more folks are able to find one which works for them. It’s worth looking into the history of menstrual cups too, it’s a little interesting.
Woop for cups!! Been using reusable internal products for probably a dozen years now, and I cant imagine the inconvenience of having to buy disposables, or the possible issues around dryness and irritation from plastics.
I would add to the ‘which cup ‘ debate that consider menstrual discs. These look a bit like an old fashioned diaphragm (contraception popular in the 70’s) and fit over your cervix at an angle.
I’ve found them to be less uncomfortable to insert and use, although maybe slightly more messy to remove.
Flex is a disposable brand as is Softcup. Reuseables are Nixit, Ziggy and Lumma. I’ve just ordered 2 Lumma as they come in 2 sizes and have a removal ‘string’ which I think will make it quicker and easier.
Also- you have have penetrative sex with them in. A major plus that you dont have to ‘sort yourself out’.
I also like that you can put a reusable inside incase you may come on, and you wont muck up your internal levels.of lubrication or the acid balance.
But whatever works for us, isnt it excellent how many options we now have….