[ADULT] Menstrual Cups!

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Mine actually has leaked. It leaks if I don't get the seal right (which hardly ever happens any more cause I've become baller at this), and it leaks if it overflows. One time, when I was studying abroad in England, I woke up in the middle of the night to soaked pajamas, soaked sheets, soaked everything (luckily there was a mattress protector, otherwise it would have soaked down into the mattress too). When I went to the bathroom and took out the cup, it was full. And when I emptied it and got everything cleaned up (as best I could)... it had filled up again by the next morning.

I am surprised actually... at night I almost never leak. It is as if it just gathers inside, until I get up. Usually I don't use anything, or a small tampon, and in the morning I walk around a bit and go to the bathroom to change it and then it will be full (if I change it before walking around for a bit, it will be completely empty).

Do those of you who normally bleed heavily also get bad cramps? It was interesting to me that I usually don't bleed anywhere near that much, but I usually have killer cramps. But when I was bleeding like I was about to die (that's what it seemed like ), I had none.

Doesn't seem to have any relation with me. Although when I am really REALLY in pain, taking the tampon out does help.

Originally Posted by James81

You ever notice how *normal* everybody pretends a discussion like this? This is like sitting around discussing how to best wipe the crap from your ass, except like five times as vile and disgusting.

(I really haven't read much of this thread, btw. Just making a point.)

I don't pretend. This IS normal.

[Angelique]

I need a button that reps a whole thread.

Thank you for all the detailed info, ladies!

I've been reluctant to try this, ick factor and all. Now it sounds much more convenient and hygienic than what I'm used to.

[aelle]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Mine actually has leaked. It leaks if I don't get the seal right (which hardly ever happens any more cause I've become baller at this), and it leaks if it overflows. One time, when I was studying abroad in England, I woke up in the middle of the night to soaked pajamas, soaked sheets, soaked everything (luckily there was a mattress protector, otherwise it would have soaked down into the mattress too). When I went to the bathroom and took out the cup, it was full. And when I emptied it and got everything cleaned up (as best I could)... it had filled up again by the next morning.

Do those of you who normally bleed heavily also get bad cramps? It was interesting to me that I usually don't bleed anywhere near that much, but I usually have killer cramps. But when I was bleeding like I was about to die (that's what it seemed like ), I had none.

Oh, and ibuprofen can actually reduce the bleeding.

And russianrocket... no sympathy.

Mine never leaked pre-IUD, but now it does on occasion. Maybe it's the strings that don't allow it to get a proper seal (my strings are still long)? I know of several other women who had the same experience.

I haven't noticed any incidence of the cup on cramps (the IUD, yes, now I get nasty ol' cervix cramps that kill me). I do think it tends to make my period shorter. I don't know how that makes sense, but it seems pretty consistent.

+1 on ibuprofen for cramp and bleeding management.

Originally Posted by James81

Its just gross that you publicly discuss it.

Oh, I'm so sorry that our lack of shame and disgust around our bodies makes you uncomfortable. Now deal with it.
(This is the health and fitness section. People do discuss bowel movements, sweat, neti pots and other bodily issues).

[ohTen]

I used the DivaCup and Lunapads for about a year before switching back to disposables. Lunapads were more comfortable to wear than disposables, but leaked like crazy. Divacup was great in a lot of ways once I got the hang of it (though it took a while, during which it also leaked like crazy), but I ditched it mainly because cleaning it was a hassle and next to impossible in a public restroom, wasn't as reliable re:leaking as a tampon (especially at night), and also because it started giving me persistent yeast infections at the end of every period.

now it's back to ob tampons for me!

[aelle]

I have to say that turning my shower into a Dexter-like murder scene is quite fun

What surprised me most was the consistency of late-period blood. When I was still using pads it annoyed me to no ends that I kept having to use pads for 4~5 days even though I had no more frank bleeding. Turns out it's plasma. I shed uterus lining and blood for 3~4 days, and plasma with a teeny bit of spotting for another 4 days. The cup is really the best way to deal with that.

So, okay, the grossest (yet interesting!) consideration with regards to menstrual cups is probably this one: Menstrual Cups - Divacup, Mooncup, Instead, Lunette, Miacup - Evil, Evil Semen and My Sweet Diva Cup
(involves discussions of smells). For those of you who have sex with men and without condoms, how do you deal with that? Do you put the cup back in and deal with funky old semen, or wait and deal with bloody wet spots?

As a side note, I heard that some women use their cup outside of periods when trying to conceive. You put it in just after sex, to keep the semen swirling around your cervix a bit longer. I don't know if that's actually effective, but I thought it was an interesting idea!

[elucidate]

p.s I love my moon cup...except when it gets stuck and I can't pull it out, and then I curse at it!

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by elucidate

p.s I love my moon cup...except when it gets stuck and I can't pull it out, and then I curse at it!

Bahahahaa, luci, I love you.

[Beingist]

The Menstrual Cups thread!! YAY!!

Sorry. Carry on.

[Cado]

Originally Posted by Beingist

The Menstrual Cups thread!! YAY!!

Sorry. Carry on.

*Takes one of the cups and pours menstrual blood all over myself in sexy slo-mo* What was that?

[Cado]

Also: this is unrelated but irresistible.

Shoot Your Love All Over Me

[Mariana Trench]

Originally Posted by Cado

*Takes one of the cups and pours menstrual blood all over myself in sexy slo-mo* What was that?

I am a lucky, lucky woman.

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by Cado

*Takes one of the cups and pours menstrual blood all over myself in sexy slo-mo* What was that?

I think you just took "surfing the crimson tide" to a whole new level.

Oh, and sadly, I cannot claim credit for the "vampire rodeo" phrase... that one was courtesy of one of my friends. I have really awesome friends.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by Cado

Now that I am no longer in the running, I am not grateful for the lack of competition. Get your asses in gear, guys. You've got to earn your dick.

In Australia there is a terribly crude and utterly 'bogan' saying (bogans are like our version of rednecks over your way.)...they say "F**king oath", which means "yes, I agree", but with a bit more enthusiasm.

In this case I will change it to "Bloody oath" to fit in with the subject at hand.

You still won't get it as you really have to see and hear the way it is said, but anyway...

Bloody oath... and guys need to start earning their 'treats'.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by Cado

*Takes one of the cups and pours menstrual blood all over myself in sexy slo-mo* What was that?

I did know one fellow who was willing to go down on me while I was bleeding...but he was an ex satanist who was a born-again christian.

[Mariana Trench]

On a serious note, cups are the best of anything I've tried. I can't even use tampons, though. The one issue I've run into is that it can be hard (and painful) breaking the seal, anyone run into that issue or know how to fix it?

As far as the normalcy of periods, half the population spends about a quarter of their fertile life bleeding while living their lives. Ways to cope with that are kind of important, capiche? The kind of thing, that, in areas where there aren't ways to deal with it, keeps women out of work and school.

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by Mariana Trench

On a serious note, cups are the best of anything I've tried. I can't even use tampons, though. The one issue I've run into is that it can be hard (and painful) breaking the seal, anyone run into that issue or know how to fix it?

How do you do it? I pinch the bottom before pulling it out.

[Cado]

Originally Posted by Mariana Trench

On a serious note, cups are the best of anything I've tried. I can't even use tampons, though. The one issue I've run into is that it can be hard (and painful) breaking the seal, anyone run into that issue or know how to fix it?

As far as the normalcy of periods, half the population spends about a quarter of their fertile life bleeding while living their lives. Ways to cope with that are kind of important, capiche? The kind of thing, that, in areas where there aren't ways to deal with it, keeps women out of work and school.

I like it when she bleeds on me.

What does that say about me?

[Mariana Trench]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

How do you do it? I pinch the bottom before pulling it out.

That's what I try to do but it never break the seal that way, so it doesn't break til I just pull it out by brute force.

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by Mariana Trench

That's what I try to do but it never break the seal that way, so it doesn't break til I just pull it out by brute force.

God. Ow. Uterine prolapse.

Have you tried sliding a finger up alongside it and hooking your finger over the top?

[Mariana Trench]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

God. Ow. Uterine prolapse.

Have you tried sliding a finger up alongside it and hooking your finger over the top?

No I haven't! I will have to. Thanks.

[aelle]

Originally Posted by Mariana Trench

On a serious note, cups are the best of anything I've tried. I can't even use tampons, though. The one issue I've run into is that it can be hard (and painful) breaking the seal, anyone run into that issue or know how to fix it?

I used to run a finger up against the rim to break the seal, but I don't anymore because I am lazy. I just pinch the bottom of the cup and pull slowly ; squatting and bearing down (pushing with my pelvic floor muscles) makes it faster and less unpleasant. If I don't bear down, the suction on soft muscles is definitely unpleasant. Also, the idea of birthing my cup amuses me.

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by Mariana Trench

No I haven't! I will have to. Thanks.

Let me know if it works! I can't do it because my fingers aren't long enough.

[Beingist]

Okay, I just Googled these cups because I'd never heard of them before, and because my curiosity sometimes gets the best of me. That said, I do have some input, if I may.

I sure hope none of you ladies flush these things down the toilet, unless you like someone having to call a plumber.

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by Beingist

Okay, I just Googled these cups because I'd never heard of them before, and because my curiosity sometimes gets the best of me. That said, I do have some input, if I may.

I sure hope none of you ladies flush these things down the toilet, unless you like someone having to call a plumber.

They're not disposable... that's a large part of the point.

[aelle]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Let me know if it works! I can't do it because my fingers aren't long enough.

Can you do it halfway through pulling out the cup? You need both hands though, one for pulling/holding the cup and one for breaking the seal, so it may not work for all anatomies (like if you need to hold your labia out of the way).

I have that problem sometimes ; sexy times lengthens the vagina and makes my cup climb all the way up against my cervix, and it can be hard to get back. I find that squatting and pushing shortens the vagina again and makes things easier.

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by aelle

Can you do it halfway through pulling out the cup? You need both hands though, one for pulling/holding the cup and one for breaking the seal, so it may not work for all anatomies (like if you need to hold your labia out of the way).

I have that problem sometimes ; sexy times lengthens the vagina and makes my cup climb all the way up against my cervix, and it can be hard to get back. I find that squatting and pushing shortens the vagina again and makes things easier.

Well, I don't know. I guess I could try it tonight. Pinching the bottom works fine for me, though. I was just warning Mariana that I was telling her to do something that I've never actually managed successfully.

[Beingist]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

They're not disposable... that's a large part of the point.

Oh. Okay, well, Wiki says some are.

Just want to make sure y'all lovelies are well-informed, is all.

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by Beingist

Oh. Okay, well, Wiki says some are.

Just want to make sure y'all lovelies are well-informed, is all.

Oh... the Instead cups? Yeah. I've never tried those.

Thanks for the tip.

[ButterflyWoman]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

They're not disposable... that's a large part of the point.

Actually, there apparently are disposable ones. I can't really see the point of that, but they do make them.

Here's one example: Instead Softcup (UK) - a proven alternative to tampons and pads

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Plus, tracking these things can be really useful, for trying to conceive and for trying NOT to conceive, and for knowing when to expect your period, and even for understanding what's up with your moods. I have a basal thermometer and can tell exactly when I'm ovulating, and I know when to pop my cup in so I don't ruin any underwear. These things are massively practical and relevant to my life, and I wouldn't know about any of them if people didn't talk about it.

Where did you buy your basal thermometer? I usually can feel when I am ovulating...and the discharge is different.

I'd like to be as organized as that. Can I just find one at a pharmacy or something...?