Both my friend and my mother have tried cups, I have not. But I know that both of them had major leakage issues. I am too paranoid to try them, and at the present time, cannot bend enough to get them in :-( back surgery. argh.
I would go ahead and try them most likely if it wasn't for the spinal fusion. I would love to save some money, and I have read that they are really comfortable.

I have a few questions.

Are these similar to diaphrams that are used for birth control?

Can they be used during intercourse? And will that keep the blood back while having sex?

Are these sold in stores like Walgreens or only online?

Thanks!

I've tried the Diva cup, perhaps I did something wrong but it hurt really bad when I tried to put it in / take it out. I didn't try again. I use cloth pads.

I would love to make the switch to either a cup or sea sponge with cloth backup... But A. I cant afford it atm...and B. Im afraid of grossing out the BF lol... although hes pretty cool about the period thing ^_^ Makes me happy that he is actually will to have sex during my menses, I have known guys in the past that it just totally squiks them out, I digress...

For those who use cloth pads... How many do you keep, how do you launder them, and who long before you usually buy new ones?


Rose

I have never tried the Diva Cup, the Moon Cup, the Keeper or any other variation of this, but I have tried the Instead Softcup, which is disposable so if you're looking into cups for environmental reasons, these aren't the cups for you, but they can be used two to three times instead of one time if you are really careful when cleaning. However, maybe it's just my shape or something, but I have found the Instead Softcup to never find its place in me and keep it. I have leaked when using it and never found it to be entirely comfortable and even though the word "soft" is in the name of them, I found them to be a little hard. I do want to try the Diva Cup, though, because it looks smaller than Instead and it also looks softer, which looks promising to me.

Even though this is a different conversation all together, I use reusable cotton/fleece menstrual pads which suit my needs very well. I bleed very heavily for a good 5 days and found that postpartum pads, which reusable menstrual pad companies also make, fit my needs especially for bedtime, so if you're not big into tampons or cups, you should try them. I use Lunapads and Gladrags, both amazing, woman-owned companies.

I found out about them nearly 10 years ago, and have since been telling anyone who menstruates how wonderful they are. It's fantastic not having to go through disposable tampons and pads every month, and no leaking like I used to have with tampons!

PROs -- when you know your period is about to start, you can just go ahead and put it in and forget about it. When your period is ending and your flow is light, no more horrible painful removable of a dry tampon, and leaving bits of cotton inside you.

I find mine extremely comfortable -- I can never feel it. Being able to insert and remove comfortably takes just a little getting used to, but if you do it while you're in the shower, everything being wet makes it easier, and you can just empty and clean the cup at the same time.

No Cons that I can think of!

At first I couldn't find them in the US so I use a Mooncup from the UK. Since then, it seems that Mooncups can be bought here that are made here, not in the UK. You can find Mooncups and Divacups on Amazon and I think in Whole Foods stores too.

Word of warning: when boiling to sterilize between uses -- set a timer and DO pay attention to it ... I've boiled two dry!

I've just started using the small Lunette Selene. Absolutely loving it.

I have a pretty low cervix, so most other cups were too deep for me. The smaller Lunette is one of the softest menstrual cups around, so taking it out is no problem, and despite its softness I find it pops open quite easily upon insertion.

I've always been lazy about tampons, often wearing them until they leak. I got my Lunette to avoid toxic shock syndrome and be able to wear it longer than a tampon - not to mention saving money, cotton, string, packaging, and applicators!

I've been using a Diva Cup for a little over 3 years now. Once I didn't have it with me when my period started and I had to use a tampon. It was horrible and I will never forget it again. I can't stand them after using a cup.

I swear it speed up my period by around a dayish too, which is nothing to complain about.

I use a mooncup and I love it! Although sometimes I think it makes my cramps worse and there's a learning curve in regards to how to use it! but it's so much better than pads or tampons.. my favorite thing about it is if I didn't have the cramps that came with having my period, I wouldn't even know I was on my period.. AND I really love that it doesn't absorb my own natural fluids so everything feels pretty normal down there and not irritated like with pads or tampons. I just love it.

I bought a Divacup a few years ago and it was seriously painful. I wasn't particularly tight, but I could feel the suction pulling on my cervix and I had problems putting it in. I'm pretty scared to ever attempt one again but I want to use them because pads and tampons just suck. T.T

I agree about using them in public. I actually find it faster and less messy than tampons, even when I leave my Lunette in too long and it overflows (which has been getting rarer and rarer as I get used to how often it needs to be changed on which days).

Okay, this is so interesting. How did I not know that these existed? This kinda sounds perfect for me too, because I have the same complaints: tampons are drying, changing pad constantly, complain frequently about the price of products.
I think I'm gonna have to try this, thanks for posting about it!

My period is starting tomorrow and I have a slight irritation on my labia on one side... Not really looking forward to Diva Cup-age :-/

I have the keeper. I don't use it very often any more since I'm on continuous birth control but I'll get the occasional heavy break through day. I've had to cut the stem down a lot but I find it very comfortable. Since I don't bleed that heavily I can leave it in 8+ hours.

When the time comes to replace it I think I'll definitely try one of the silicone cups because they seem easier to clean.

Just giving this a bump for some of the newer members.

I am a man, but had heard of these before, and I have no idea where. I do know that a friend of mine uses them and when she told me about it, I think her jaw hit the desk she was so surprised. It seems like I was one of the first men she had talked to that already knew what it was, and evidently several of the women don't know either. Why is this such a big secret ladies? We had sex ed class in high school and there was a lady that came in and talked about TSS from tampons, but the alternative suggested was just to always use maxis; she didn't even mention cups.

I don't know why menstrual cups don't have the exposure that tampons do, but maybe that's changing, since even in the last few years I've seen a couple of new brands. I was really surprised when I switched to a new gynecologist for a checkup, and SHE had never heard of them. How is that possible??

I heard about these from a female friend. She suggested I tell my wife and teen daughter about them, which I did...well I told the wife. She wanted nothing to do with them...her comment was something like "ew, i don't want to touch it when it is full" *shrugs shoulders*

As a man, I see the benefits, as described by my friend and believe every woman should look into these!