J Strath wrote:
I don't understand how those things can possibly be sanitary. Even after washing. At least with a tampon, you can use a brand new, sterile one every time. But that's just my opinion. Before trying something new like this, always research the good AND the bad, and then weigh your options.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raW3aX_Le88

I've found mold on my unused/unwrapped pads before and I've read stories of people finding hidden mold in tampons and that scared me because the plastic applicators hide any mold that may or may not be present. And mold scares me.

Her horror story is very interesting and... embarrassing.
If it doesn't work, I could always try a combo of cloth pads and tampons.

P I X I E wrote:
Diva Cup.

They actually are more sanitary than tampons, since the blood never touches your insides when it's in the cup. Unless you are filthy or have an infection, no need to worry about that. The vagina is not sterile. Wash your hands before and after insertion, clean each time you empty it out, and boil it for 20 minutes after your week. The Diva Cup is made of medical-grade silicone, it's not cheaply made.

In the end, it's WAY cheaper than buying tampons and pads all the time. My cup cost me a big whooping $30, and lasts for a year. I can tell you tampons and pads cost WAY more than that. Plus, not a fan of bleached cotton, I'll gladly use a cup instead.

Thanks!

udor wrote:
Here are all kinds of descriptions you might find useful:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_cup

Thanks!

Koryn wrote:
I could never get them to fit properly, and they were always uncomfortable. The moon cup was big, bulky and ...poked my insides. The exception was Insteads, which I tried in maybe 2001, but I'm not sure if you can get those anymore. I liked those the best, but overall, cups just seemed superfluous, and unnecessary. I bleed so little in general, and my periods are so short, that those things aren't even worth it. It takes me 3 or 4 months to go through a single box of tampons, so there's not even much fluid to...catch. I think they might be more worth it if you have heavier cycles or something, though I'm not sure what's normal for most women, or if something that seems superfluous to me only seems that way to me.

I'm kind of 'small', and the Diva Cup never bothered me (I was a bit intimidated at first, but insertion was actually pretty easy). I have a heavy-medium flow though, so I really like not having to change tampons every 3-4 hours. I change my cup every 12 hours, and that's it. Amazing.

J Jessica wrote:

Thanks!

You're welcome.

P I X I E wrote:

I'm kind of 'small', and the Diva Cup never bothered me (I was a bit intimidated at first, but insertion was actually pretty easy). I have a heavy-medium flow though, so I really like not having to change tampons every 3-4 hours. I change my cup every 12 hours, and that's it. Amazing.

Yeah, I really suspect the nature of your "flow" influences who likes cups and who doesn't care for them. My "heavy" day is literally three hours, on the third morning of my period when I *might* need to change a tampon once. Then, it's pretty much totally over after that, and I can typically go to bed that night with no pad/tampon or anything, and not bleed anymore. I realize that's probably exceptionally rare - so most people probably need a lot more secure, convenient hygiene items than I do, and maybe cups are more geared toward those people.

Koryn wrote:

Yeah, I really suspect the nature of your "flow" influences who likes cups and who doesn't care for them. My "heavy" day is literally three hours, on the third morning of my period when I *might* need to change a tampon once. Then, it's pretty much totally over after that, and I can typically go to bed that night with no pad/tampon or anything, and not bleed anymore. I realize that's probably exceptionally rare - so most people probably need a lot more secure, convenient hygiene items than I do, and maybe cups are more geared toward those people.

Yeah, man, if I had such a light flow, I definitely wouldn't care about the cup. But alas, my periods tend to be long (7 days) and a bit heavier than normal, now that I'm off hormonal birth control.

J Jessica wrote:
I've found mold on my unused/unwrapped pads before and I've read stories of people finding hidden mold in tampons and that scared me because the plastic applicators hide any mold that may or may not be present. And mold scares me.

Her horror story is very interesting and... embarrassing.
If it doesn't work, I could always try a combo of cloth pads and tampons.

Yikes, I've never had that problem before. Apparently, storing them under the bathroom sink is a popular thing to do, but I have a feeling the dark, damp place would be the cause. I don't store mine in the bathroom at all. Not for fears of mold, but if that's a possibility, then I'm glad I keep them in my bedroom.

Alabaster Crowley wrote:
Surprised more men aren't trying to answer.

I'm amazed there aren't already 3 pages of answers posted by men.

Koryn wrote:
I'm amazed there aren't already 3 pages of answers posted by men.

Well obviously, you should use what they use, and a young model friend told them about what could happen if you don't, and that is all the proof you need.

(That didn't make nearly as much sense once I re-read it)

Koryn wrote:

I'm amazed there aren't already 3 pages of answers posted by men.

I know what my wife used before she hit menopause, but I don't think you care.

J Strath wrote:
I don't understand how those things can possibly be sanitary. Even after washing. At least with a tampon, you can use a brand new, sterile one every time. But that's just my opinion. Before trying something new like this, always research the good AND the bad, and then weigh your options.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raW3aX_Le88

so basically you dont understand how soap works?

tampons aren't sterile


OP: you're probably going to wind up trying a few - all vaginas are different and all that stuff, just like pads/tampons you're going to find something that you prefer over others.

My advice is that whenever you decide to try one, either do it on a day when you can be at home (but make yourself plenty active) or to wear a pad with it, just in case you put it in wrong.

J Strath
No gender

Interesting.

Alabaster Crowley wrote:
Surprised more men aren't trying to answer.

I was debating. After all, what do I know about having a menstrual cycle? I guess what I will say to the ladies is, "my hat is off to you for the things you have to deal with." I am very happy to have been born a boy child.

Alabaster Crowley wrote:

Interesting.

Lol I'm listed that way because I feel it's irrelevant to my job as a retoucher. ;D I assumed my posts would give me away though.

J Strath wrote:

Lol I'm listed that way because I feel it's irrelevant to my job as a retoucher. ;D I assumed my posts would give me away though.

I actually have no idea. Haven't seen that many posts of yours.

Laura UnBound wrote:

so basically you dont understand how soap works?

tampons aren't sterile


OP: you're probably going to wind up trying a few - all vaginas are different and all that stuff, just like pads/tampons you're going to find something that you prefer over others.

My advice is that whenever you decide to try one, either do it on a day when you can be at home (but make yourself plenty active) or to wear a pad with it, just in case you put it in wrong.

Yeah I just realized they weren't sterile after my post, I was under the assumption they were. However, it's not like this is your favorite shirt or something casual like that, which can be washed with simple soap and water and it be good for years. This is something that's used in a very delicate area that can easily become imbalanced from varying PH balances and bacteria. The point of my post was to help the OP be aware of possible downsides. I'm sure most women who try this have no problems, but it's always good to research all aspects.

Also, it's worth considering, it's recommended that these be replaced after a year. And while you can supposedly wear them for up to 8 hours, there's things to consider of what happens if you're out in public, how comfortable is this to change and wash in a setting like a public restroom? If those aren't problems, then yay! But like I said, they're things worth considering.

Alabaster Crowley wrote:

I actually have no idea. Haven't seen that many posts of yours.

I think I will keep it a mystery! Yeah I don't post too much, I happen to just be having a slow weekend.

J Strath wrote:
Yeah I just realized they weren't sterile after my post, I was under the assumption they were. However, it's not like this is your favorite shirt or something casual like that, which can be washed with simple soap and water and it be good for years. This is something that's used in a very delicate area that can easily become imbalanced from varying PH balances and bacteria. The point of my post was to help the OP be aware of possible downsides. I'm sure most women who try this have no problems, but it's always good to research all aspects.

Also, it's worth considering, it's recommended that these be replaced after a year. And while you can supposedly wear them for up to 8 hours, there's things to consider of what happens if you're out in public, how comfortable is this to change and wash in a setting like a public restroom? If those aren't problems, then yay! But like I said, they're things worth considering.

if you're out in public you take it out, empty it, either wash it and other women in the women's restroom just deal with the fact that you're a woman too and are menstruating…or you put it back in without washing it and you take care of it when you get home. It doesnt have to be disinfected to go back in. (Its your blood, if you're wearing a pad some of it sits inside your vagina for hours and hours and hours before leaking out, and then it sits in the pad pressed up against your vag for hours and hours. Old blood won't kill you.) And then you wipe your hands off and go wash them.

its no more dangerous to leave in for 8 or more hours than a tampon is, pads and even non-cotton underwear throw off your pH and can be cause for bad bacteria.  at worst you get an infection but most of the time it corrects itself with little to no discomfort and unless you're deeply acquainted with your insides every day (which many women are not) you dont even know anything happened. TSS is incredibly rare (and can be caught by anyone, vaginas or not)

Its perhaps an awkward transition from pads or tampons, but theres nothing inherently safer or less safe about it. people are more likely to screw their ph up with some cheap lube

Laura UnBound wrote:
if you're out in public you take it out, empty it, either wash it and other women in the women's restroom just deal with the fact that you're a woman too and are menstruating…or you put it back in without washing it and you take care of it when you get home.

I've heard some women carry water bottles in their purses to rinse it out in the stall.

I'd probably just bring that bitch with me to the sink and be like YEP I HAVE A UTERUS.

P I X I E wrote:
In the end, it's WAY cheaper than buying tampons and pads all the time. My cup cost me a big whooping $30, and lasts for a year. I can tell you tampons and pads cost WAY more than that. Plus, not a fan of bleached cotton, I'll gladly use a cup instead.

I hear that they are also multipurpose.

In "off-season" (the rest of the month) they can double as emergency drinking cups, e.g. when the little paper-cups at the water-cooler in your office are gone. You can wear them as a little funny party hats and even as a clown nose at kid's birthday parties.

They are basically the Swiss Army knife of female hygiene and survival! 

Indeed... a great investment!!! 

Laura UnBound wrote:

if you're out in public you take it out, empty it, either wash it and other women in the women's restroom just deal with the fact that you're a woman too and are menstruating…or you put it back in without washing it and you take care of it when you get home. It doesnt have to be disinfected to go back in. (Its your blood, if you're wearing a pad some of it sits inside your vagina for hours and hours and hours before leaking out, and then it sits in the pad pressed up against your vag for hours and hours. Old blood won't kill you.) And then you wipe your hands off and go wash them.

its no more dangerous to leave in for 8 or more hours than a tampon is, pads and even non-cotton underwear throw off your pH and can be cause for bad bacteria.  at worst you get an infection but most of the time it corrects itself with little to no discomfort and unless you're deeply acquainted with your insides every day (which many women are not) you dont even know anything happened. TSS is incredibly rare (and can be caught by anyone, vaginas or not)

Its perhaps an awkward transition from pads or tampons, but theres nothing inherently safer or less safe about it. people are more likely to screw their ph up with some cheap lube

Like I said, they're just things to consider. These are just my reasons why I enjoy the convenience of a tampon despite what others would consider disadvantages.

udor wrote:

I hear that they are also multipurpose.

In "off-season" (the rest of the month) they can double as emergency drinking cups, e.g. when the little paper-cups at the water-cooler in your office are gone. You can wear them as a little funny party hats and even as a clown nose at kid's birthday parties.

They are basically the Swiss Army knife of female hygiene and survival! 

Indeed... a great investment!!! 

You can also attach a ball to it by a string to keep yourself occupied with hours of fun!

udor wrote:
I hear that they are also multipurpose.

In "off-season" (the rest of the month) they can double as emergency drinking cups, e.g. when the little paper-cups at the water-cooler in your office are gone. You can wear them as a little funny party hats and even as a clown nose at kid's birthday parties.

They are basically the Swiss Army knife of female hygiene and survival! 

Indeed... a great investment!!! 

J Strath wrote:
You can also attach a ball to it by a string to keep yourself occupied with hours of fun!

See! It's an ingenious device... practical fun for a year for only $30.00!!!

Alabaster Crowley wrote:

I've heard some women carry water bottles in their purses to rinse it out in the stall.

I'd probably just bring that bitch with me to the sink and be like YEP I HAVE A UTERUS.

yeah. i really just couldn't give a fuck. I'm in the womens bathroom. I'm doing woman things. around people i probably dont know and will probably never see again so what the fuck ever with what they think of my woman things I'm doing

Laura UnBound wrote:

yeah. i really just couldn't give a fuck. I'm in the womens bathroom. I'm doing woman things. around people i probably dont know and will probably never see again so what the fuck ever with what they think of my woman things I'm doing

That's why we love you.

P I X I E wrote:
Diva Cup.

They actually are more sanitary than tampons, since the blood never touches your insides when it's in the cup. Unless you are filthy or have an infection, no need to worry about that. The vagina is not sterile. Wash your hands before and after insertion, clean each time you empty it out, and boil it for 20 minutes after your week. The Diva Cup is made of medical-grade silicone, it's not cheaply made.

In the end, it's WAY cheaper than buying tampons and pads all the time. My cup cost me a big whooping $30, and lasts for a year. I can tell you tampons and pads cost WAY more than that. Plus, not a fan of bleached cotton, I'll gladly use a cup instead.

+1! what my mom uses.

I cant bring myself to, im a puss:/ but it definitely is the smarter option

fluffycakes wrote:
I cant bring myself to, im a puss:/ but it definitely is the smarter option

... but... but... but isn't exactly that what those funny lil' hats are for???      

udor wrote:

... but... but... but isn't exactly that what those funny lil' hats are for???      

ohhhoho you're so funny!

fluffycakes wrote:

ohhhoho you're so funny!

Thank you... thank you!

I am gonna be here all week!

Laura UnBound wrote:

yeah. i really just couldn't give a fuck. I'm in the womens bathroom. I'm doing woman things. around people i probably dont know and will probably never see again so what the fuck ever with what they think of my woman things I'm doing

Where's a trophy? You win the internet today.