reusable menstrual cups (diva cup)
 

I just bought a reusable menstrual cup to give to a friend for her birthday, and it occurred to me to check if any ladies here at the TFP had heard of them. I did a search but only found the one thread where I had mentioned them myself.

I've been using a reusable menstrual cup for about two years now. I started with the Keeper, which is a natural gum rubber kind, and then when I heard about the Divacup (about a year later), I switched to that to give it a try (there was nothing wrong with my Keeper). Both are great. I can say without hesitation that switching to a cup was a good decision all around. You can read the websites about them for official information, but here's a little summary of why they rock:

1) You can leave them in for up to 12 hours (depending on how heavy your flow is) with no fear of TSS because they aren't full of chemicals the way tampons are.

2) They don't mess with your natural chemistry by sucking up all your moisture the way tampons do because they don't absorb - they just catch.

3) They save you lots of $ money $ because they cost about $35 each (I think the Divacup is slightly cheaper than the Keeper) and are reusable for up to 10 years. I imagine the Keeper might need to be replaced slightly more often than the Divacup because of color/odor changes since it's natural rubber, but the one I've had for two years is still in pretty much the same condition.

4) They're eco-friendly because you never throw anything away. You just flush your blood away and rinse the cup out with soapy water - that doesn't take any longer than washing your hands, and I've never had to clean mine out in a public restroom because it stays in up to 12 hours. Imagine how many pads and tampons you can prevent from going into landfills every month.

5) You don't have to carry stuff around with you the whole time you have your period and you never have to borrow supplies from friends and strangers. Once it's in you, you already have it and you never have to experience the embarrassment of asking your boss' wife for a tampon at that fancy business dinner ever again.

6) You don't even have to take them out and clean them every time you use the bathroom; you only take them one when it's time to empty. They're also very comfortable - I pretty much forget I have mine in during the hours between emptying it.

I can't really emphasize enough how much my life has changed since I started using one. So has anybody here used one before? Any questions?

how do they stay in? and do they catch EVERYTHING? I've never been able to figure that out.

I could have sworn we had a similar topic here, but i'll be darned if i can't find it...

One of the bonuses with these things is that you can have sex witht hem in..

From what I've seen of them, they look like diaphrams...

Interesting. Tell us more:)

You can have sex with them in??? :thumbsup: DEFINITELY tell us more!

Do they ever come unattached when least expected, with a corresponding mess?

I've never put a diaphragm in, so I haven't the least idea of how to insert one of these things properly.

Mal, the thread you're thinking of is the one about Instead menstrual cups. Those are a different kind; those are disposable so and work a different way. The Keeper and the Divacup are much bigger (they hold about an ounce of fluid and the top is about 1"-1.5" in diameter) and they sit at the base of your vagina instead of up over your cervix. You sort of fold it in half over itself to make it more the size of a tampon to slip it in, and then it just pops open and sits there. So it catches everything and it never accidentally pops out. (I even tried once and could only get it partly out, but it didn't fall out or leak.) The only time I've ever had leaks were when I left them in for WAY too long on my heavy days. If there's more than an ounce or so and you wiggle around too much, they can sort of slide up in your stuff and leak a little. But even then, I've never leaked enough to soak all the way through my panties AND my pants. It's usually just like spotting when that happens. I didn't have a leak for the first year and a half of using one. I only started having leaks recently because I became careless about emptying the cup since I trust it so much... I really do forget I have my period once it's in there!

The important thing to remember about all of these menstrual cups is that they are not meant to be used for contraception. None of them are. But I guess one downside to the reusable kind is that you can't have them in at all while you're having sex (that would probably hurt a lot since their hard rubbery things), so they're like tampons and pads in that respect - you have to take them out and deal with all the blood if you want to have sex. I don't really know much about Instead, but that other thread says that you can at least leave it in if not trust it as contraception. Either way, I find that to be a very minor downside. I used to have to run to the bathroom before sex to throw away my pad or tampon anyway. I just take the cup out, rinse it and wrap it in toilet paper or tissue until it's time to put it back in.

As for inserting it, it did take me about 3 months to become really comfortable with the process. It's kind of like learning to use a tampon all over again. (Except without your mom/sister/best friend sitting on the other side of the door giving you tips while you cry in the bathroom. It's a little easier than that.) Still, in my opinion, totally worth the effort.

I've never used the Divacup or the Keeper, but I have used the Instead cup and had sex with it in. On the website, it talks about how sex and the Instead cup work. It didn't feel any different to me and dirtyrascal7 couldn't tell I had anything inside me either. I like them, they are a lot more comfortable and convenient than tampons or pads.

That's really interesting information, Supple Cow. I hate using tampons because, for some reason, they seem to make my cramps worse (I already suffer from agonzing cramps, even on bc) and I have really heavy periods. Do the reusable cups still work well with heavy flow? If you do have cramps, do they make any difference as to the intensity? I'd be interested to find out.

Looked at all the websites, and just ordered the little $2.99 sample kit of Instead. The reusable cups looked really cool too, but I want to see how the sex goes first with these giant donut thingies. Will report back in... 3 weeks. :)

Snowy, it's pretty possible that your cramps are worse with tampons because of all that absorbing and the chemicals. My cramps aren't any worse with the Divacup or Keeper, but I guess sometimes taking it out and putting it back in is less pleasant if I'm already having really bad cramps. Then again, I never even thought about it until you asked; I'd say that kind of discomfort is negligible. If anything, my periods have gotten more pleasant in general since I've started using a reusable cup.

Instead sounds like a good thing to use for period sex... maybe I'll try that when I start having sex again. They're expensive, but that's pretty much offset by the fact that I already use the Divacup for when I'm not having sex. Thanks for the tip, greeneyes.

I think maybe in a couple years I would be comfortable enough to use these...But they definitely sound like a nice idea...12 hours, and they last for 10 years. Good point about saving land fills. That's really nice.
I've actually seen one, I believe, and they look almost like mesh? Maybe that was a diaphram. :p
Hmm, I'll have to ask my mom what she's heard about them. I'm sure she's got a lot of patients that would like that, and she works across from a high school.

I ordered some of these a while back, but I can't bring myself to use them. they look really really intimidating straight out of the package. I keep hearing only positive things about them tho, so maybe someday.

:hmm: what the hell...?

never even heard of them...they look scary...that HUGE thing inside me all day? I can't stand even tampons, only for swimming...nope, don't think I'll be trying them! :eek:

also, don't they leak? and sex with them in? sounds like a recipe for disaster...

I can't stand the sight of my own blood... I can't imagine collecting it for 12 hours or so....

In my experience, there really hasn't been that much blood in there, even on my heavy days.

I know they look huge, but they are really flexible. To insert, you just squeeze the sides together and it slims down to the size of small tampon. On the inside, it conforms to your shape so it's never just the huge circle inside of you.

Thanks for all the interesting info! I had NO idea that tampons contributed to the dryness, etc. And I really don't mind the idea of having to remove the reusable one before the booty - I've been with Quadro so damned long, he's willing to wait a couple minutes. :) I've never even heard of them - and before this new birth control I'm on, I would never have imagined using them!!
I'm on the Nuva Ring - just started a week ago. Thoughts? It's a flexible ring that you leave internally, never feel it, for 3 weeks at a time, and you're off the 4th week to get your cycle.

I've been thinking about getting a reusable catcher, but I didn't know which to get.

Supple_Cow, you reccomend the Diva Cup over the Keeper, right? Does anyone think otherwise?

Another question - where the heck do you get them????

Yup, I recommend the Diva Cup over the Keeper... mostly because it's a couple of bucks cheaper and you don't have to trim down the little nub that helps you pull it out - it's usable the way it comes. Also, the Keeper sort of has a smell because it's natural gum rubber. It's not necessarily bad, but the Diva Cup is mostly odorless. You can get them online from the sites I linked in my first post, but I also think that www.keeper.com has links to both the Diva Cup and Keeper websites. If you want to get them at a store, there's a locater on the websites as well.

Yay for progressive menstrual contraptions! :)

IIRC, there's also one called the moon cup.

I have never heard of these. Might be something worth looking into. Of course, I'd rather just not get my period at all, but that won't happen for quite some time.

Thanks flamingpeach, I didn't know about the Mooncup. I just looked it up and it looks a lot like the Divacup (same material) but with the longer stem that needs to be trimmed down (like the Keeper). It's also in the UK (the Divacup and Keeper are both in Canada and the US), so that's probably a better choice for women closer to the UK than the US/Canada. I'm not up on my exchange rates so I don't know how much 17.99 (18.99 for outside the UK) pounds compares to the ~35 USD.

Oh. my. God. Supple Cow (and TFP, too, since I'm a newbie!), you have just totally made my day with this information. I *have* to try these products. How come I've never heard of these before??? I must be totally out of it... My period is going to start any time now. I'll have to go to their websites to see if they can FedEx delivery! ;)

YAY! You didn't already know about them because they are still too icky for the mainstream. My older sisters just make a "yuck" face and call me a tree hugger when I suggest they get a Divacup. *sigh*

Anyway, more reason for me to spread the gospel through every channel available...

Well, SC, per my other thread about my climbing trip, my climbing trip was cancelled today but I did go get a diva cup and yup, I love it! Little bit wierd figuring it out, but I've had no problems inserting it and taking it out. I think it's just about the best thing ever- tho when I pulled it out the first time I was kinda like "yuk!" but hey, blood is blood. Martel said that I make better faces putting the Diva Cup in than I do putting in a tampon! Thanks for pointing me to this great thing! :)

ps- I loved the fact you got a lapel pin with your purchase!

WOOHOO!!!! Another certified Diva with a lapel pin to prove it. :D

Supple Cow, I PM'd you with a question about the Divacup. Reply when you have a chance! Thanks!

Toxic shock syndrome is not caused by chemicals in tampons.
Toxic shock syndrome is caused by Staphylococcus bacteria (TSS).

I just thought I'd mention that. Although no-one has yet contracted TSS from menstrual cups, realize that TSS in itself is very rare, and the menstrual cup is used by a far lesser extent than tampon users. There have been studies done that show because of the silicone & latex used, there is far less staphyloccus growth than with a tampon.
Although the risk is far less than with tampon use, I don't want anyone thinking this product is completely safe. If you develop TSS symptoms, please seek medical help immediatley.
And once again, don't fret, TSS is extremely rare.

On a further note, I've been doing research on these products, and I'm pondering getting one myself.

ho boy, am I EVER a convert to this thing! I LOVE it!

*you WILL go get one!*

I cant do that Im super heavy and I cant see myself going any longer than I do with tampons.

and I hate blood...... Id faint.

but they sound sooooooooooo good for those of you that can use them. Im jealous.

You can take it out and clean it any time you want. Plus, it's just normal blood- not "holy cow I've sliced off my arm" blood. I like the way it makes me more in tune with what my body is doing- I can see what's coming out of me. It's kinda gross, but I like knowing what it's supposed to look like and how much I normally bleed.

I normally use pads because tampons give me cramps. When I first read this I just kind of went "blech" and disregarded the idea. I'm a little set in my ways I guess, and after 20+ years of using pads, I've developed an aversion to the idea of keeping menstrual blood blocked up inside me rather than letting it flow out. But now that I read the whole thread, I'm thinking it might be worth trying out. The pads make me irritated from chafing and after about three days I'm usually pretty uncomfortable. Do the cups keep the blood away from your cervix and out of contact with your body? My flow is generally pretty light.

Wow....this sounds rather interesting. Might have to go pick me up some and give it a try!

I can only Kotex tampons, my body pushes all the rest out. Why this happens, I have no clue. Does this happen with the Diva? I'd be interested in trying it.

I can relate with you Squishor... I feel the same about pads and I do find them uncomfortable after a couple of days.. this thread is great! I am certainly going to keep my eye out and investigate the cups :)

the idea of the keeper/dive cup is awesome in so many ways! a few friends of mine have advocated it for a while now, and tell everyone to make the switch. it's not so much the idea of tampons that i personally dislike...for me its the shameless promotion of the tampon companies out there, who solicite the idea that to be a strong lady with independance and free will, she must buy tampax at 15 bucks a box each month in order to feel that. the only reason why i haven't invested yet is the convenience of already having a huge stock of tampons and pads at home, but i on getting one soon enough. apparently it creates a vacuum seal 'up there', and if directions are followed, it is quite easy to remove afterward. yay for the period underdog!

I never knew anything like this existed. I am very interested to learn more. I so HATE using tampons. For me, the dry me out so badly that when I remove it, its like running your fingernails down a chalkboard. My mouth goes dry, I cringe and... its just a bad experience. I dont like using pads because of how messy they are. For me anyways. I have very light flows, and it never really absorbs into the pad much.

So needless to say, I am quite tempted to try this.

But I do have a few questions and concerns. From the way they are shaped, it looks like there is a little stem on the end that you pull on the remove it. Do you ever have a problem gettinga grip on it, if it were moist or too far in? How do you know how far to put it in, or does it just do it naturally? If you can have sex with it in, how does it work so that your partner doesnt feel the stem?

I just tried the Divacup, after reading about it in Supple Cow's posts. I am really, really excited about it, although I was having a little difficulty. I was fine with inserting it, but I wasn't able to get it to pop open completely. I got some tips from Supple Cow (which I haven't acted on yet), so I *know* I can get it after some more practice.

Since I didn't have it in correctly, I had some discomfort (it was pressing against me in a noticeable way, making me feel like I had to pee, and I also could feel the stem). But the cup caught my blood--I was incredibly thrilled about this and grinning from ear to ear (I am so sick of pads, never used tampons)! Woo hoo!!

Pulling it out wasn't bad at all. Getting a hold of the bottom of the cup and the tip was pretty easy--just make sure your fingers are clean and dry. The suction and vaginal muscle power are strong, but it helps to just relax before pulling. I could sense how to guide the cup as I was pulling it out. After removing it, you just empty it, wash/rinse it with warm water and soap, then re-insert it or pat it dry and put it away. It really only takes a couple of minutes!

I know I will get the Divacup to work with some fiddling and practice, and I'm just so excited about this thing. I wholeheartedly encourage you guys to give it a try! :thumbsup:

tiger4053--the Divacup shouldn't be used during intercourse. Yep, that stem will get in the way! There's one or more other products that are OK to use during sex (Instead Softcup is one, I think?).

Putting it in and taking it out was a little challenging at first, but this last period I had it nailed and didn't feel it or have any issues. If you aren't 100% comfortable with it the first period you use it, try it again the next month. Your fingers may get a little blood on them when you re-insert it after taking it out, but that's no biggie. I LOVE my Diva cup and STRONGLY suggest it to anyone who is fed up with tampons and/or pads.

Kinda like the cup called insted, huh? I have used insted,the ring is really big though putting it in made me feel like I was going to be loose afterwards. Reusable menstrual cups Yuckkkkkkkk
Just the name makes my skin feel funny.
It would save you money though, but kinda gross.