If you've ever thought about trying cloth pads

[Blueberry]

I've been toying with the idea of trying a reusable cup instead of tampons, but haven't been able to get up the nerve yet. They just seem so...big.

You fold them up to insert them.....when they pop open inside, you honestly don't really feel it.

I thought they looked big too

[Jolt]

You fold them up to insert them.....when they pop open inside, you honestly don't really feel it.

I thought they looked big too

Hmm...it would be nice to not have to worry about running out of "products" and to avoid generating all that trash. Maybe I should just get one and give it a go--I did try those "Instead" disposable cups once and liked using them but didn't like that they were so much plastic...seemed like a big step backwards from the non-applicator tampons I normally use, so I didn't buy them again. How does the reusable cup compare to the "instead"?

[Blueberry]

Hmm...I've never tried the disposable ones. They look like they're more flexible than a diva cup - so I expect the diva cup might be a bit harder to insert until you're used to it. I posted a link earlier in the thread - but if you liked the disposable ones, you might want to try the ones that are designed for an entire period - still some waste, but way, way better than conventional products IMO.

[Miranda]

Thanks for posting this! I think I'm gonna try it. And send the link to a couple gfs.

The thing I hate the most about pads that are disposable with the wings is the glue. It quickly becomes rather irritating when it sticks to things it's not suppose to (if ya know what I mean).

Also, that goes along with the sizing issues. If you can't get the flippin glue wings to fit your underware right then it's like a stiff couch cusion. Not a happy place.

I believe I read somewhere that average pads were made for ladies underware size 6. And if you were to look at different types and sizes of underware, the amount of fabric in the crotch does vary. I think that is what the makers of PIMP is getting at.

I saw that PIMP does off a "snap extenter" for more widely, or looser, securing your pad. Curious if that would make it more comfortable... and if you can easily feel the snap, or not?

Oh, smiliar subject being discussed here, though not PIMP, is the Diva Cup. I did try the OTC Instead cup from the drug store and it didn't work out sadly enough. I have had some surgies for pelvic prolapse, and still have some, and the gyno doc said something about the cervix, or uterus touching the cup in an odd way caused the cramping I had. It was awful. Which made me sad because I really wanted that thing to work out!

[VeganBikeChick]

I love my Diva Cup. Best thing I ever did. It was really hard for me to get past the "ick" factor at first, but once I did I was so glad. It does have a bit of a learning curve, but once you figure it out, it's wonderful. I did cut the stem off of mine because it tended to poke me, and it still works great.

The mooncup is supposed to be softer than the Diva cup, and for those who can't use/don't like the Diva, a lot like the mooncup.

[Tri Girl]

The mooncup is supposed to be softer than the Diva cup, and for those who can't use/don't like the Diva, a lot like the mooncup.

I might try the moon cup. I can feel the Diva inside me and it's very uncomfortable (it's not the stem, it's that it is just uncomfortable when inserted. Does that make sense? I've tried SO many different insertion folds and twists and turns and whatnot. Just not comfy. I may try the moon and see if it's any softer (and I will get the smaller one, even tho I got the bigger Diva because it told me that was the right size since I was over 35). I don't want to give up on it. I much prefer this method to traditional tampons any day. I only know one other friend who has tried this, and she was unsuccessful with it. I might have others, but it's not like my friends and I talk about periods. Sex, yes, but not periods (is that weird?).
I'm 39, so perimenopause surely has to be somewhere around the corner soon anyway, right??

Thanks for all the feedback, ladies. Good to know I'm not alone.

TsPoet- that is HILARIOUS about the b***pads for the dog. You should seriously tell PIMP about that. They might have found a new marketing angle.

[zoom-zoom]

I might try the moon cup. I can feel the Diva inside me and it's very uncomfortable (it's not the stem, it's that it is just uncomfortable when inserted. Does that make sense? I've tried SO many different insertion folds and twists and turns and whatnot. Just not comfy.

I tried the Diva Cup and also found it to be uncomfortable...it was too big. So then I tried the US Mooncup--it was comfy, but it leaked all around. After blowing $80 I gave up experimenting with the cups.

I do use the disposable Instead cups if it's TOM when I have a long ride or race (since I don't have issues with those, other than the trash factor), but stick with tampons or pantyliners, otherwise. The washable ones have been on my radar for a while. I should really give them a try. Pantyliners are really $$$ over time.

[Melalvai]

Okay. So is cotton or flannel better?

I don't know. I have not observed that one is more or less absorbent than the other. I guess the flannel is softer. I have both.

[badger]

Diva cup all the way, and I doubt I'd ever use reusable pads since I never used the disposable kind.

Question I have for other Diva cup users (this will be TMI): mine gets stained quite a bit, even if I use soap and a soft bristle toothbrush. I know they say in time it will get stained, but is there a way to minimize this? not that I show it to anyone, but I would be mortified if anyone did.

[Norse]

Diva cup all the way, and I doubt I'd ever use reusable pads since I never used the disposable kind.

Question I have for other Diva cup users (this will be TMI): mine gets stained quite a bit, even if I use soap and a soft bristle toothbrush. I know they say in time it will get stained, but is there a way to minimize this? not that I show it to anyone, but I would be mortified if anyone did.

Same here. What I did was mixed a solution of about 1 part bleach to 10 parts hot water and soaked Diva in there (I think it was for about an hour or 2). Looks good as new! I occasionally put Diva in the top rack of the dishwasher too.

[tinyhelmets]

I use cloth but there are some with snaps that are....er... irritating while biking. The cup might be my next attempt but I'm still nursing my wee one and haven't had to worry about it yet.

[badgercat]

I've used cloth for a couple years now, both pads and liners. I'm not 100% faithful about it, eg when traveling, when flow is heavy enough that I might have to do multiple "changes" at work, or when wearing tight pants (the pads are layers of fabric--can't blend in with the scenery as much as a tampon ) but I try to use them when I can. They get rinsed (soaked if necessary) and thrown into the washing machine in a lingerie bag--not a big deal, and it becomes pretty routine pretty quickly.

Mine were made by a couple different sellers on Etsy.com, and were a bit less expensive than the "major" (relatively speaking) brands. One shop is no longer operational, but here's the other: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CarolinesCreations09 . She has a full range of shapes and sizes with lots of customization options. I've had a lot of irregular spotting thanks to some BCP changes and the little flannel liners have been an environmentally-guilt-free godsend.

[tbl35]

I'm a bit perplexed as to why they think plus sized women need plus sized pads - but otherwise, it looks like a really cool concept.

I guess this forum is not a place where you'll find a lot of us plus sized ladies...but I can help out here. Big panties have wider crotches, so you need something to cover the extra real estate. Note that those are cut a lot wider & longer than the other ones.