Menstrual cups: do you think they're dirtier or cleaner than pads or tampons?

Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
Wow, lot of menstrual cup threads lately.

I find it kind of interesting that a very common knee-jerk reaction to menstrual cups (or any reusable menstrual product, for that matter) is that they're "dirty" or "gross." Inversely, many women who use cups or have used them in the past swear by them.

So here's a simple question: do you feel that menstrual cups are cleaner or dirtier than disposable pads and tampons? Why do you feel this way?
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
I use(d) cups, and feel they are cleaner.
16
I use(d) cups, and feel they are dirtier.
2
I use(d) cups, and don't really think there's a difference.
1
I have never used menstrual cups, but don't think they're dirty or gross.
16
I have never used menstrual cups, and think they're dirty or gross.
1
I have never used menstrual cups, but I don't have an opinion on them either way.
6
NARWHAL!! ("other" option)
5
Total votes: 47 (43 voters)
Poll is closed
10/15/2012
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Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
I personally never felt completely clean during my period until I tried the Diva Cup. There's something oddly satisfying about seeing the blood collected neatly in the bottom of a cup instead of mashed into a piece of fraying cotton.
10/15/2012
Contributor: sexxxkitten sexxxkitten
I have never used them, but I am interested because I've heard a lot of good things about them. I don't think they are dirty or gross.
10/15/2012
Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
I've always thought tampons were gross - even more so with pads. I feel much cleaner with the cups, though cleaning them out does ick me out a bit.
10/15/2012
Contributor: Beautiful-Disaster Beautiful-Disaster
I've never used them...I don't really have an opinion since I have noooo clue on how they're used.
10/15/2012
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
I think the appropriate word should be "messy" rather than dirty.
10/15/2012
Contributor: marshmallow marshmallow
I've never used them but I don't think they're dirty.
10/15/2012
Contributor: Khanner Khanner
I'd say they're cleaner than a tampon which drips constantly out of the string. I don't usually need a pantyliner when I wear a cup. Also, there seems to be no smell with cups as opposed to pads or tampons. Then again, I don't really mind getting a little blood on my hands, which happens from time to time.
10/15/2012
Contributor: AliMc AliMc
I've never used a cup before but I bought one a few weeks ago, haven't had the chance to try it out yet.
10/15/2012
Contributor: TheirPet TheirPet
I couldn't live without my Diva Cup.
10/15/2012
Contributor: Apirka Apirka
I've never used a menstrual cup, but I would really like to because I think they'd be cleaner than pads/tampons.
10/15/2012
Contributor: Kitka Kitka
I've never used one but have seriously considered it. Just haven't gotten around to purchasing one to be honest, but I think they're cleaner than tampons/pads.
10/15/2012
Contributor: unfulfilled unfulfilled
I haven't tried one persoanlly, but I think they'd be a worthy investment.
10/15/2012
Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
Quote:
Originally posted by Rossie
I think the appropriate word should be "messy" rather than dirty.
Good call. Was trying to think of a better term, but for some reason "messy" never crossed my mind.
10/15/2012
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
I'm like you, Rin. I feel so much LESS messy when I wear my cup. With pads, I feel like I'm wearing a diaper, and menstrual fluid just gets everywhere. With tampons there was always the fear they'd leak (and mine did often, due to my flow). That felt very messy to me.

But with my cup, I'd honestly never know I was on my period! (Except maybe for some cramping, tiredness, etc.) I feel so much LESS messy, there is no menstrual fluid leaking out, and everything is kept all clean and tidy in my cup. I also really like knowing how much I'm bleeding - that information has come in handy for me more than once. I had NO idea before, but now I'm so in tune with my body.

The cup feels much more natural to me, and I love not having to worry about overnight leaks too. That used to be panic inducing, especially if I was traveling during my period. Now, if I'm on my period out of town, or if I'm going to start my period while I'm out of town, I just toss my cup into my bag - no huge bags of tampons or pads to pack. I love it! It's so simple!
10/15/2012
Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
Quote:
Originally posted by indiglo
I'm like you, Rin. I feel so much LESS messy when I wear my cup. With pads, I feel like I'm wearing a diaper, and menstrual fluid just gets everywhere. With tampons there was always the fear they'd leak (and mine did often, due to my ... more
Ugh, I always hated carrying a big bag of pads with me. Tampons made me feel so dry and I couldn't stand walking around with them, so pads were the choice for the daylight hours. On the other hand, pads always leaked at night, so I wore tampons to sleep (which you're not supposed to do). Never mind how sleeping with a pad led to blood rubbing all over and making me itchy. Did you ever wake up with menstrual blood under your nails from scratching in your sleep? I did, and it was such a pain to get up in the middle of the night just to wash my hands.

Now it's just one little cup that goes in my bag when the time comes nearer, and I can lay down to sleep without any worries.
10/15/2012
Contributor: Deeder Deeder
I use the disposable cups (Insteads), and I've found that I feel much cleaner. At least until I go to take it out. I don't think I've managed to remove it once without getting blood all over my hands.
10/15/2012
Contributor: EdenUser EdenUser
I have never used one.
10/15/2012
Contributor: jc123 jc123
I think disposable pads are messiest, then sponge tampons, then disposable tampons, then cups, with cloth pads being the least messy option. In my experience.
10/15/2012
Contributor: potstickers potstickers
Reusable is cleanest because you don't throw away pounds of bloody tissue into landfills each month.
10/16/2012
Contributor: Intrepid Niddering Intrepid Niddering
I've never used a menstrual cup. The idea is neat. It's reuseable. You aren't constantly buying pads and tampons (pads leak, tampons leak, so I use both). From what I've heard, the menstrual cup isn't messy. But how I do things? It's not messy, either. I kind of want to try the menstrual cup. It's just.. whilst I -hear- that it's not messy, I'm still not certain it won't be messy for me. Also. The idea of washing it and everything grosses me out. Sooo gross.
10/16/2012
Contributor: JennSenn JennSenn
I find the idea of washing it gross, but otherwise I'm interested. I'm just trying to reserve judgement until I actually use one.
10/22/2012
Contributor: damnbul12 damnbul12
Quote:
Originally posted by Rin (aka Nire)
Wow, lot of menstrual cup threads lately.

I find it kind of interesting that a very common knee-jerk reaction to menstrual cups (or any reusable menstrual product, for that matter) is that they're "dirty" or "gross." ... more
I use cups, and feel they are cleaner.
10/22/2012
Contributor: heather-mooney heather-mooney
Quote:
Originally posted by Rin (aka Nire)
Wow, lot of menstrual cup threads lately.

I find it kind of interesting that a very common knee-jerk reaction to menstrual cups (or any reusable menstrual product, for that matter) is that they're "dirty" or "gross." ... more
i am open to trying them!
10/23/2012
Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
Quote:
Originally posted by JennSenn
I find the idea of washing it gross, but otherwise I'm interested. I'm just trying to reserve judgement until I actually use one.
I suppose a lot of it depends on how comfortable one is with touching their own menstrual blood. To me, the blood is only gross when it gets where I don't want it to be (all over my legs, for example), while getting a little on my fingers during regular changes doesn't bug me in the least since I'm going to be washing the cup and my hands anyway.
10/23/2012
Contributor: Gone (LD29) Gone (LD29)
I think cups have the potential to be much cleaner than the alternatives. I just need to figure out when to change or clean out a cup on a heavy flow day, without overflowing first.
10/24/2012
Contributor: wwwww wwwww
I think they're all pretty clean. I like the idea of the cup though. It's medical grade silicone. A lot safer than the chemicals used on tampons.
10/24/2012
Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
Quote:
Originally posted by Gone (LD29)
I think cups have the potential to be much cleaner than the alternatives. I just need to figure out when to change or clean out a cup on a heavy flow day, without overflowing first.
When in doubt, check every hour or every other hour until you have an idea of how fast it fills up, then work from there.
10/24/2012