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Menstrual cups: Yay or Nay?

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Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
I recently ran into menstrual cups or bell cups. I had seen instead soft cups but never tried them. I would like to try a menstrual cup soon after I give birth and heal. Since there are so many I would like to get a feel for what women use most.

Please select whether or not you use a menstual retention device. In the comments please list your choice(s). Please feel free to include links to comparisons and where I can find certain ones.

Thanks in advance!
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
Yes, I do.
29  (31%)
No, I do not.
9  (10%)
I have tried one before.
10  (11%)
I have never tried one.
44  (47%)
Other.
2  (2%)
Total votes: 94
Poll is closed
01/06/2012
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Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
Also how do you choose the correct sizes? Forgive me if I. Sound clueless..I am!
01/06/2012
Contributor: Katelyn Katelyn
I haven't tried one and I don't think I will. What if I forgot? lol eww
01/06/2012
Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
Quote:
Originally posted by Katelyn
I haven't tried one and I don't think I will. What if I forgot? lol eww
I'm not so much concerned with forgetting since most have stems that hang low like tampon strings. I don't think I could forget since I know my period is 5 days. I really wanna try one cuz you can keep some 10 years. No money for tampons for 10 years=more shoes! ;-)
01/06/2012
Contributor: deltalima deltalima
Quote:
Originally posted by levellc09
I recently ran into menstrual cups or bell cups. I had seen instead soft cups but never tried them. I would like to try a menstrual cup soon after I give birth and heal. Since there are so many I would like to get a feel for what women use ... more
I'm not keen on trying. I'm scared of LEAKAGE!
01/07/2012
Contributor: MamaDivine MamaDivine
Never tried them and only recently found out anything about them. Something about a pool of blood floating around inside me, just seems kinda icky. Sorry to be so graphic lol. I choose the IUD after my daughter was born, and before I had it inserted, I just stuck with the good ol stand by "Condoms". Then again, theres always that wonderful saying we love hearing "Wait the full 6 weeks"..Psh, yeah right lol!
01/07/2012
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
Quote:
Originally posted by levellc09
Also how do you choose the correct sizes? Forgive me if I. Sound clueless..I am!
I use a DivaCup, and absolutely LOVE it! You couldn't pay me to go back to tampons and/or pads. There are many different cups on the market, some come in different sizes (like the Diva, if you are over 30 and/or have had a baby you get one size, under 30 and no baby, you get another) so that you can find the right size for your body.

I did a forum search, since this topic comes up regularly. You might find many of your questions answered in these older threads. Many of us here are die hard menstrual cup users - it really is an amazing freedom! It allows me to actually forget that I'm on my period!

Search Results for "menstrual cups"
01/07/2012
Contributor: Ghost Ghost
I hardly have a period at all, but I will be going off birth control for a while to see if my libido comes back (now that my husband has a vasectomy). I hate pads and tampons are really messing me up recently, so we bought a Diva Cup. I haven't tried it yet, but I will try it within the month.
01/07/2012
Contributor: SMichelle SMichelle
I prefer tampons, but I have tried the soft cups as well. The softcups were very comfortable for me, but I kept worrying about leaking.
01/07/2012
Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
Quote:
Originally posted by deltalima
I'm not keen on trying. I'm scared of LEAKAGE!
I was too but I leak with tampons so I won't miss anything if it doesn't work out.
01/07/2012
Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
Quote:
Originally posted by MamaDivine
Never tried them and only recently found out anything about them. Something about a pool of blood floating around inside me, just seems kinda icky. Sorry to be so graphic lol. I choose the IUD after my daughter was born, and before I had it inserted, ... more
LOL I thought the same thing at first but a bleached piece of cotton on a string soaking it up is gross too. Plus they don't hold much liquid and are expensive. I refuse to wear pads they feel like diapers. Eeck!
01/07/2012
Contributor: toxie m toxie m
Quote:
Originally posted by indiglo
I use a DivaCup, and absolutely LOVE it! You couldn't pay me to go back to tampons and/or pads. There are many different cups on the market, some come in different sizes (like the Diva, if you are over 30 and/or have had a baby you get one ... more
Me toooo. I use the DivaCup, and it's made me such a menstrual cup convert. Never going back to tampons/pads. I've never had any issues with leakage, and I leave the DivaCup in there at least twice as long as they recommend. I'm kinda lazy about it, haha. But, I love that it's 100% silicone so I totally can be lazy about it if I want. I used to leave tampons in too long and felt super shifty about the health risks.
01/07/2012
Contributor: LilLostLenore LilLostLenore
what the hell is a menstral cup? is it like a pad?
01/07/2012
Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
Quote:
Originally posted by indiglo
I use a DivaCup, and absolutely LOVE it! You couldn't pay me to go back to tampons and/or pads. There are many different cups on the market, some come in different sizes (like the Diva, if you are over 30 and/or have had a baby you get one ... more
Once I realized how common they were I did a search hehee. I looked at diva cups but they don't look very comfortable to me. I like the look of fleurcup and lunette so far since they are smooth for the most part.
01/07/2012
Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
Quote:
Originally posted by Ghost
I hardly have a period at all, but I will be going off birth control for a while to see if my libido comes back (now that my husband has a vasectomy). I hate pads and tampons are really messing me up recently, so we bought a Diva Cup. I haven't ... more
Please update us on how you like it.
01/07/2012
Contributor: idunshire idunshire
I chose 'yes I do' even though I don't think I will for awhile, but I have in the past and would love to again. I got an IUD a couple months ago and even thought I LOVE my cup, it's not worth a $500 accidental string pull. I'm no ace at breaking the suction before removing either, so I am not taking any chances.
01/07/2012
Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
Quote:
Originally posted by LilLostLenore
what the hell is a menstral cup? is it like a pad?
Its a silicone bell shaped cup the retains menstrual flow instead of soaking it up. It is reuseable and can last up to 10 years. I'm wondering why I haven't gotten one before. Ugh!
01/07/2012
Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
Quote:
Originally posted by toxie m
Me toooo. I use the DivaCup, and it's made me such a menstrual cup convert. Never going back to tampons/pads. I've never had any issues with leakage, and I leave the DivaCup in there at least twice as long as they recommend. I'm kinda ... more
So far DivaCups are winning. I do like that if you forget it you won't get sick like with tampons and its medical grade and inert.
01/07/2012
Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
Quote:
Originally posted by idunshire
I chose 'yes I do' even though I don't think I will for awhile, but I have in the past and would love to again. I got an IUD a couple months ago and even thought I LOVE my cup, it's not worth a $500 accidental string pull. I'm no ... more
I wouldn't risk that either. Did you ask your Dr. if there was a way to work around it? It sucks you can't enjoy it.
01/07/2012
Contributor: Melissa Smith Melissa Smith
I would love to try one!
01/07/2012
Contributor: GonetoLovehoney GonetoLovehoney
I'd never try one. I don't have a period (haven't for 3 years) but whenever it comes back from getting off the depo, I think I'll stick with my pads. I could never have something like that inside me.

For those that do, and enjoy it, what do you do about it when you want to have sex or use silicone lube?
01/07/2012
Contributor: bayosgirl bayosgirl
I had one, loved it at first, but then it started leaking....and developed a smell, in spite of regular cleaning. So, back to pads it was, and is.
01/07/2012
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
Quote:
Originally posted by levellc09
Once I realized how common they were I did a search hehee. I looked at diva cups but they don't look very comfortable to me. I like the look of fleurcup and lunette so far since they are smooth for the most part.
Yeah, that's the fantastic thing - there are so many designs and styles, and the materials vary in hardness and flexibility that you can usually find just the right one to work with your body.

I was lucky - the DivaCup just fit and was comfortable. It did take some practice inserting it and creating a seal. I would recommend to do a trial run for about a week or so before your actual period starts so you can get comfy with using it, and learn how to create the suction/seal to keep it from looking.

Most importantly, if one doesn't work for you, remember it doesn't mean another style won't.
01/07/2012
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
Quote:
Originally posted by GonetoLovehoney
I'd never try one. I don't have a period (haven't for 3 years) but whenever it comes back from getting off the depo, I think I'll stick with my pads. I could never have something like that inside me.

For those that do, and ... more
Instead cups can be worn during intercourse, but the DivaCup cannot. (That's the one I use.) I just take it out, rinse it off and put it on the dresser. Afterwards, I wash up and reinsert the cup. Easy as pie!
01/07/2012
Contributor: CoffeeCup CoffeeCup
I used the DivaCup for awhile. I eventually had to stop because I would get bad cramps towards the end of my period, when I was using it.
01/07/2012
Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
Quote:
Originally posted by GonetoLovehoney
I'd never try one. I don't have a period (haven't for 3 years) but whenever it comes back from getting off the depo, I think I'll stick with my pads. I could never have something like that inside me.

For those that do, and ... more
I will never take depo. My sister got huge from it and no periods would freak me out. Most birth controls don't work for me tho. But I'm excited to try the cup. Pads never worked for me I think I was 11 when I last wore one. Tampons just dry me out.
01/07/2012
Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
Quote:
Originally posted by indiglo
Yeah, that's the fantastic thing - there are so many designs and styles, and the materials vary in hardness and flexibility that you can usually find just the right one to work with your body.

I was lucky - the DivaCup just fit and was ... more
I think I'm gonna get the two I mentilned above and pray they both fit well. Getting the learning curve out of the way will be the hard part. I have a few months to research since I won't have a cycle for a while.
01/07/2012
Contributor: Anjulie Anjulie
Quote:
Originally posted by deltalima
I'm not keen on trying. I'm scared of LEAKAGE!
Same here
01/07/2012
Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
Quote:
Originally posted by Anjulie
Same here
Been up all day watching youtube videos and reading blogs. I think I want to get the Lunette. I keep hearing they will leak the first few times you use them until you get placemment down. A friend of mine has had anemia for years from her super heavy periods and she can use Lenette. Wish she would have told me about it before the baby lol.
01/07/2012
Contributor: toxie m toxie m
Quote:
Originally posted by GonetoLovehoney
I'd never try one. I don't have a period (haven't for 3 years) but whenever it comes back from getting off the depo, I think I'll stick with my pads. I could never have something like that inside me.

For those that do, and ... more
If you want to have sex, you just take it out. (Or, if you're me and you're drunk, you forget about it completely and have sex with it in. Oops! The funny part is that neither of us noticed at all, and then when I realized afterwards we were pretty alarmed.)

As far as silicone lube goes, I haven't actually thought about that. I don't really have sexy times during that time of the month, so it's never come up. I'll patch-test my DivaCup with some different lubes for you to see if it would matter
01/07/2012