Menstruations vs. bike

[Irulan]

welcome to perimenopause! I just use super plus tampons and keep riding. A lot of the women here use an internal "cup" device to capture flow. Look in the Tips and Tricks thread under "embarassing questions".

irulan

[KSH]

My solution... I get the depo shot... and I don't have a period at all. Mind you, I get some spotting here and there, mostly at the end of the shot (get it every 3 months), but it is very slight.

It's so very nice.

NOTE: I am 32, and I use to have a period twice a month myself, I got checked out for all possible issues, and the Dr. told me that is just the way it was going to be. So, I went for the depo shot and problem solved.


Now, if you don't want that, go for the super-plus size, and try to carry an extra so you can change during the ride if you need to.

[AutumnBreez]

www.divacup.com
Here it is, your search is over....
you can see many testimonies here on the forum (as already told), and also on the site.

I am on my second month, getting hang of it. Good luck- ABCL

[Grog]

My solution... I get the depo shot... and I don't have a period at all. Mind you, I get some spotting here and there, mostly at the end of the shot (get it every 3 months), but it is very slight.

Instead of DepoProvera, which is usually a shot worth 3-6 months of contraception, I'd strongly suggest discussing with your doctor about taking your pill continuously for 3 months, and then stopping for a week.

I don't think it is accepted in the Canadian guidelines but I'm fairly sure it is in the American ones, and I've heard of a couple of ob-gyn residents that do it for themselves (in Canada), and many doctors will discuss it with you freely.

Although the depo shot does work for many women, great numbers have heavy problems (depression, weight gain, nausea, and more...) with it. The problem is, once it's taken, it's there for months, and so are many of the side effects, while you could just stop taking the pill (Provera exists as regular pills) and stop them as needed.

Other ideas such as the Diva cup or using nothing but your chamois (especially if it is not light-coloured!) if your flow is light have indeed been discussed under the 'embarassing question' thread...

Good luck!

[RoadRaven]

I'm with Grog on this. I know several women who had considerable negative reactions to DEPO. Travel down that path with caution.

[roughingit]

Because I cannot swallow pills and am a shot-weinie, I use the Nuvo-ring for birth control. Since I have heavy-painful periods, the doc told me I can just leave it in all month instead of three weeks on and one week off (it has enough hormone in it for the whole month). Now I hardly ever get a period and it doesn't seem to have any noticable side effects.

If I wasn't using the ring, I would totally try the diva cup, but since I need bc as well and the not having much of a period thing is really nice, I think I'll be sticking with this for a while!

[smurfalicious]

I have an IUD and my periods have gotten super light! Oh sure, I go through pregnancy tests like corn through a goose now seeing as how I used to have super plus periods. Paranoia aside it is nice though, and lasts 5 years. My insurance covered it, but even still the $350 price tag beats monthly birth control. When I got it put in, I was super cramped up for the next day and a half, but it was partially my fault because I forgot to take the 800mg Ibuprofen before hand. Ooops.

Anyway, I've tried that whole cup business, but I just couldn't master it. I've heard sea sponges rock, and they're reusable. Can be cleaned with tea tree oil. I just haven't found any every time I go into wild oats. GRRR!!!!

love and cookies
-smurf

[Irulan]

I"ve heard the new IUDs are much better than the ones' from 20 years ago. You don't hear much about them now. Pharmacetucial companies must make a lot more from marketing ongoing programs vs. a one time deal.

~I

[AutumnBreez]

Because I cannot swallow pills and am a shot-weinie, I use the Nuvo-ring for birth control. Since I have heavy-painful periods, the doc told me I can just leave it in all month instead of three weeks on and one week off (it has enough hormone in it for the whole month). Now I hardly ever get a period and it doesn't seem to have any noticable side effects.

If I wasn't using the ring, I would totally try the diva cup, but since I need bc as well and the not having much of a period thing is really nice, I think I'll be sticking with this for a while!

The cup is placed closer to the entrance, it is not placed high like a tampon, and would not interrupt your ring for birth control. If you can have sex with the ring, you can use a cup for the week of your period. If you use tampons with the ring in, you will not be interrupting the ring with cup. Q & A on the website is very informative, and you could also contact them with your question if you can not find the question concerning your method. They could use your question it to benefit other persons looking on site.

[roughingit]

The cup is placed closer to the entrance, it is not placed high like a tampon, and would not interrupt your ring for birth control. If you can have sex with the ring, you can use a cup for the week of your period. If you use tampons with the ring in, you will not be interrupting the ring with cup. Q & A on the website is very informative, and you could also contact them with your question if you can not find the question concerning your method. They could use your question it to benefit other persons looking on site.

Ooh, thankies! Right now I'm down to a trickle twice a month. I had been on the patch which worked great at first, but then I started bleeding *all* the time (depo did the same thing, except it also gave me wild mood swings and I dreaded going in for the shot). If that starts happening with the ring, I'll definately give the diva a try! I did look on the website, but didn't see anything there about it. As long as it sits lower all should be well though, the ring is up as high as it can go.

[Susan126]

My solution... I get the depo shot... and I don't have a period at all. Mind you, I get some spotting here and there, mostly at the end of the shot (get it every 3 months), but it is very slight.

It's so very nice.

NOTE: I am 32, and I use to have a period twice a month myself, I got checked out for all possible issues, and the Dr. told me that is just the way it was going to be. So, I went for the depo shot and problem solved.


Now, if you don't want that, go for the super-plus size, and try to carry an extra so you can change during the ride if you need to.

Not to scare you but you should discuss the depo shot with your doctor as it causes severe bone loss.

[KSH]

Not to scare you but you should discuss the depo shot with your doctor as it causes severe bone loss.

This is why I take calcium daily, eat yogurt, cheese... and I exercise. I also strength train, etc.

True, my body might still have some *issues* later in life, but I am probably still better off that most women who eat unhealthy and don't exercise.