Real embarrassing question

[RoadRaven]

So... haven't investigated these in local shops yet...have been reading this thread with interest since I arrived at TE... and have another question - are they reusable or not? If not, how wasteful are they in terms of world resources - are they more non-biodegrable stuff we fill our landfills with?

I really must go and have a look to suss these out properly...

[maryellen]

how timely . . . I just got my new diva cup in the mail yesterday. I tried putting it in a few times but couldn't seem to manage the "rotation" part. Did anyone else have trouble getting the knack of this?

As it turns out, it seems as if I won't have my period during the empire state aids ride anyhow, so there is less pressure to master the technique!

[Dianyla]

So... haven't investigated these in local shops yet...have been reading this thread with interest since I arrived at TE... and have another question - are they reusable or not? If not, how wasteful are they in terms of world resources - are they more non-biodegrable stuff we fill our landfills with?

It's unlikely you'll find them in local shops, everyone I know has bought theirs online.

The Instead cups are not a durable device meant to last, I know some women who can reuse it several times but they rarely last more than a full period if they get that far. The Diva/Moon/Keeper cups will easily last several years, they are warranted for 10 but I can imagine with care and not doing things like leaving it in a car on a hot day it would probably last indefinately.

Also, the Instead's don't hold as much capacity, and some people experience discomfort with them because of the way they ride right against the cervix (as opposed to the other menstrual cups which ride lower in the canal and do not touch the cervix). One of the big advertising points of the Instead is being able to engage in intercourse without, erm, offending Mr. P, which I disagree with on so many levels.** Not to mention, Instead is an expensive disposable product which is not biodegradable since it is made of plastic.

**This kind of advertising just sends the message that menstrual flow is "dirty" and must be hidden from our sexual partners. My opinion is that if he can't handle a little construction dust then he should either stay off the worksite or wear a hardhat.

[CorsairMac]

So... haven't investigated these in local shops yet...have been reading this thread with interest since I arrived at TE... and have another question - are they reusable or not? If not, how wasteful are they in terms of world resources - are they more non-biodegrable stuff we fill our landfills with?

I really must go and have a look to suss these out properly...

The diva cup and/or the keeper are both reusable for up to something amazing like 10 yrs. I bought the Instead since I'm almost done and didn't want to pay for something that I won't use too much longer. The Instead pamphlet states you should throw away every change but since it's basically the same material as the keeper, I just rinse well and reinsert. I do throw it away at the end of my cycle but now it's 1 cup once every few months (which is about how often I need one anymore) instead of multiple tampons.

[mtnmunch]

Question for the ladies using the Diva/Moon/Keeper cups.

I work in a corporate office building, so our bathrooms are several stalls and open sinks. Is it a big deal emptying the cup while at work? also do you wash everytime you empty it?

last question, when I actually do get in my 64oz of water a day, I'm making many runs to the bathroom, do you empty the cup everytime you go?

thanks!
diana

[doc]

How often you empty the diva depends on your flow. You definitely DON'T have to take it out everytime you go to the bathroom. On regular days I take it out in the shower in the morning, and before I go to bed. That's it. The shower is the best, no mess. On heavy flow days, I take it out only once more in the middle of the day.
The only downside is if you change it in a public restroom without a sink in the stall, you can have a bit of a mess on your hands (literally). The trick I learned here on TE (I think the credit goes to MightyM) is if you are in a public restroom without a sink in the stall, take it out and pee on it to wash the blood off it and your fingers. Then put it back. Remember, urine is sterile unless you are sick. (In certain african countries they bathe babies in cow urine because it's far cleaner than their water. But I digress.)
So one of the many great things about it is you change it quite infrequently. Much less often than tampons.
You're going to love it.

There is a big Q & A section on the diva website www.divacup.com It has a lot of good info. I disagree with only one thing. They say to wipe it off with toilet paper if you're in a public stall. Ick. It sticks and makes a mess. You're better off just emptying it and reinserting it as is. You will spot a little if you do that so be ready.

[Irulan]

It's unlikely you'll find them in local shops, everyone I know has bought theirs online.

The Instead cups are not a durable device meant to last, I know some women who can reuse it several times but they rarely last more than a full period if they get that far. The Diva/Moon/Keeper cups will easily last several years, they are warranted for 10 but I can imagine with care and not doing things like leaving it in a car on a hot day it would probably last indefinately.

Also, the Instead's don't hold as much capacity, and some people experience discomfort with them because of the way they ride right against the cervix (as opposed to the other menstrual cups which ride lower in the canal and do not touch the cervix). One of the big advertising points of the Instead is being able to engage in intercourse without, erm, offending Mr. P, which I disagree with on so many levels.** Not to mention, Instead is an expensive disposable product which is not biodegradable since it is made of plastic.

**This kind of advertising just sends the message that menstrual flow is "dirty" and must be hidden from our sexual partners. My opinion is that if he can't handle a little construction dust then he should either stay off the worksite or wear a hardhat.

Just wondering if it occured to you that, um, bumping into something might be uncomfortable and possibly painful for the guy?

~I

[doc]

**This kind of advertising just sends the message that menstrual flow is "dirty" and must be hidden from our sexual partners. My opinion is that if he can't handle a little construction dust then he should either stay off the worksite or wear a hardhat.

Well put!! LOL!!

[alison_in_oh]

Just wondering if it occured to you that, um, bumping into something might be uncomfortable and possibly painful for the guy?

It shouldn't be a problem with Instead, if you look at their site (http://www.softcup.com/) they are very soft and pliable. Sex with the other softcups is NOT advised!

mtnmunch, no you don't have to empty it every time you pee. It gets a bit dislodged if you do anything that requires straining though, and leakage could result.

Emptying is no problem. I only have to do it in public on the first, heaviest day of my period. With only a minor amount of practice (I got the hang of it within the first day), removal is very clean. Everything stays in the cup, which you can then dump into the bowl. A quick swipe with some T.P. and it's ready to go back to work. Though I understand that pee is technically sterile, and public TP probably isn't, I'm more comfortable with this method than with putting my urine in my vagina -- call me squeamish! I haven't had any issues with this method.

[Dianyla]

Just wondering if it occured to you that, um, bumping into something might be uncomfortable and possibly painful for the guy?

As has already been stated the Instead's are thin and smooth. However, this did remind me of a funny story I heard from an online acquaintance. She claimed that her menstrual cup was so comfortable that she, erm, forgot that she was wearing it, and her DH got a very rude awakening!

I had heard about the urine-rinse trick before from long distance hikers and I've tried it, but frankly I don't care for it. When I take a potty stop I gotta go NOW and I'm not going to hold my stream to get the cup out, emptied, and ready for rinsing. I also find that the urine-rinsed cup is hard to reinsert because it has no slip. Also, while urine should theoretically be sterile it may not be if you're prone to UTIs, and I find the salt to be a little irritating.

The best procedure I've come to is to just take the cup out, pour the contents out, and stick it right back in all messy. Leaving fluid on the cup really helps with reinsertion because it lubricates well, and I have no qualms about putting menstrual fluid right back up there because it just came out of the same place. If I really feel the need I might wipe it off with TP but as mentioned previously that tends to stick and dry out.

I know some women online who carry a little squirty bottle with plain water in their purse and use it to hose down while in a public restroom. Not a bad idea, but I really relish the idea of not having to carry my purse to the restroom.

My public restroom procedure is really quite simple:
1) wash hands and enter stall
2) do any #1/#2 as needed and clean up
3) remove cup
4) pour cup contents out
5) reinsert cup immediately
6) wipe hands with toilet paper
7) wipe girly bits for any leftovers
8) dress and exit stall, wash hands again

[RoadRaven]

ahhh... let me get this straight...

are you all saying that you can have sex when wearing one of these things???

[Dianyla]

are you all saying that you can have sex when wearing one of these things???

The wannabe menstrual cup (Instead) is designed to allow this. The real menstrual cups (Diva, Keeper, Mooncup) do not allow visitors.

[alison_in_oh]

ahhh... let me get this straight...

are you all saying that you can have sex when wearing one of these things???

Hopefully the photo here will help: http://www.mum.org/KeeperInsteadpic.htm

The Instead cup is soft and flexible, supposedly unnoticed by your partner. The Keeper and Diva are firm and have long stems! Definitely not incognito!

[RoadRaven]

okay....

I don't think I would want something extra inside with something already in there...

But... interesting

Thanks for the enlightenment

[mtnmunch]

Sorry to be off topic, but what does "DH" stand for? I'm assuming something husband, but not sure.

Thanks ladies