Has anyone used menstrual cups? Good choice or bad choice?

Question

I am thinking about getting one because sometimes it hurts pushing the tampon in and pads... well they are just too messy... any experience with menstrual cups? What brand is better?

Answer 1

Best thing I've ever bought! I did make a post about problems. But it can take a while to get used to really.

They can be a bit messy if your periods a bit heavier than you expected. But they are fantastic.

If you are in public bathrooms, you can just wipe it down with the tissue and re-insert it. Menstrual cups have never been associated with TSS. They are much better for you than tampons (with the bleach and everything) so much easier, and theres no chance of you running short of them seeing as you only need one.

They can take a bit of getting used to, but they can be inserted when you aren't on your period so you can practise this.

I use a mooncup. I'd definitely reccomend one, go for it!

Answer 2

Good choice, I'm wearing one now! I have used the Divacup for over 2 years. It takes some getting used to, and you can leak pretty badly while you're getting used to it.

I would generally only recommend it for someone who uses tampons easily. But if the reason the tampon hurts is due to dryness, then the cup might be fine because it is wet (with water) when you put it in.

As to public restrooms: it does help to find a private one with it's own sink and a lock. Many handicapped restrooms are like this. Or the instructions say you can empty it then just wipe it off with TP and put it back in. It's a messy solution, but does work.

I like it for the cost savings (I needed to wear organic tampons, very expensive!), the environmental impact, the convenience of it always being available, and the fact that in a natural disaster I would always have protection! Cons involve the fact that it will still leak if it moves and gets crooked, and the difficulty in public restrooms.

Answer 3

History

Mooncup - A Little Bit of Her Story
Menstrual cups were developed in the 1930s and went on commercial sale at around the same time as the first tampon. In that early post-Victorian era it was not considered ‘proper’ for women to touch their vaginal area. The manufacturers of the tampon overcame this obstacle by providing those disposable applicators that can still be found floating in our toilet bowls today! Menstrual cups require a ‘hands on’ approach and were only purchased by the most liberal minded woman in those days.

Commercially, the tampon is a more viable product, as customers need to repurchase month after month In contrast menstrual cup manufacturers do not expect to make repeat sales to satisfied customers, only to their friends and relations! Sadly such intimate matters were not discussed in polite company back in the 1930s. Sales of tampons soared and massive advertising campaigns were launched. Disposable feminine hygiene products soon became established necessities in modern western society.

Menstrual cups and washable sanitary towels really began to gain popularity during the 1980s as women began searching for eco-friendly (and cheaper) alternatives to disposable products. Until the Mooncup became available menstrual cups were made from latex, which is derived from the sap of the gum tree.

Latex rubber is a known allergen. Reactions can vary from very mild irritation, itchiness and swelling to pins and needles and loss of sensation. Latex is also unsuitable for vegans as casein, a milk protein, is used in the curing process. The Mooncup is the world’s first menstrual cup to be manufactured from medical grade silicone, a safer, softer and more attractive material. Silicone is derived from silica, found in sandstone and quartz, one of the most abundant resources on our planet. The Mooncup is registered with the Vegan Society.

The motivation behind the Mooncup is the well being of our world. We are careful to ensure that our waste is reused where possible and recycled where reuse is inappropriate. All leaflets and packaging are produced from materials that are sourced with regard to their having the least impact upon our environment. The Mooncup storage pouch is manufactured from 100% organic cotton. Our bankers were selected on the basis of their ethical investment policies. In December 2004 the Ethical Company Organisation (publishers of the Good Shopping Guide) certified Mooncup Ltd an Ethical Company. This recognises a commitment to a people and animal friendly approach, efforts with regard to environmental issues, responsible marketing and general caring nature.

The Mooncup was voted Best New Product by a team of independent retailers at the Natural Trade Show in March 2003.

The Vegetarian Society approved the Mooncup in May 2004 and the Vegan Society members voted it the Best Environmentally Friendly Product in November 2004.

Answer 4

One of the best choices! Won't dry you out like tampons. If you're worried about rinsing in a public restroom, carry a small bottle of water with you and rinse that way, and everything will get flushed (except the cup of course).

How often you need to empty it will depend on how heavy your flow is

Answer 5

Best choice ever! You don't get that bunged-up feeling that you get with tampons (and my friend can verify this too). They are better for your fanjita,, you don't have to empty it as often as you have to change a tampon - you can go up to 12 hours with it in before you have to change it. PLUS you're saving money and the environment!

They take a few months to soften up and get used to, but after that, that sky's the limit! (or something)

I have a DivaCup, but the MoonCups are good too :-)

Answer 6

Hell yeah, I love cups. They make my period so much easier. Once you get the hang of it it's easy to insert, clean, and remove. I reccommend the silicone kinds. The silicone is smooth and easy to insert. You have your normal vaginal moisture when you use a cup. Tampons dry you out and give you scratches. You can pick up tiny spray bottles if you feel the need to rinse your cup off with water. You can also just whipe the cup with toilet paper and clean it with soap later. Bacteria is harder to grow on silicone.

Answer 7

Great choice.
They save you money.
They are good for the environment.
You only have to take them out to clean about every 12 hours so no need to worry when you are out or at work.
Downside is they take a little getting used to and take a few months of use to soften up.

Answer 8

I've only heard of them recently, and I know very little about them. From the little I know, you're supposed to rinse them with water when you empty them, and if you're away from home all day, I would see that as a problem - not many public restrooms have sinks in the toilet cubicles...
...I wouldn't be too thrilled at other women cleaning their cups at a sink I had to wash my hands at either...
Sorry, no help to you, but I'll be curious to see the answers.

Answer 9

Mooncup is fantastic but takes a few times to get use to it.