Questions about alternative menstrual products!

[somethinguseful.livejournal.com]

I have been thinking of making the gradual move to using a more environmentally friendly menstrual product but I have some hesitation with a few.

I was thinking about using the pads that you can use over, wash, etc. but I live in the dorms most of the year with a roommate and since I have a very, very, VERY busy schedule (20+ hours of work + 20 credit hours + club meetings, scholars, etc.) I will never get around to cleaning them out until the end of the week.

I also gave the Diva a thought. Now don't get all Diva-praising on me, I know it is a great product, but not for everyone. I have reservations about ANYTHING inside me. I can't even use tampons. I don't particularly care for sex (but that could be because I can't orgasm from anything either heh). None of it feels very natural. I walk funny with tampons in me and I constantly have to check and pull them out and put a new one in out of paranoia. And as much as I love my body, I have a huge fear of germs, so I don't care much for touching myself even in a bathroom setting.

Any suggestions? Anything that should make me reconsider those two options? Or should I stick with conventional disposable pads, etc?

Comments

[malantha.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything about reusable pads so I cant help you there.. but....

If you're really squeamish about touching yourself, I probably wouldn't recommend a cup. Sometimes you reallly gotta dig in there (haha) and it can get pretty messy.

If you're feeling adventurous though, you might want to start out with Insteads. It's true that they are worn a lot differently (Insteads are higher up than a Keeper/Divacup, etc) but the general idea is the same. You won't be making such a big purchase to try it out, and if you just can't deal with it it's not such a loss.

....Then again, there *is* a moneyback guarantee on the Divacup so you could return it... So maybe that doesn't matter much anyway. :)

[somethinguseful.livejournal.com]

Eep...higher up?
I'm tempted to give the Diva a try considering its guarantee. And I'm willing to work at it a bit, I just wonder how its ease of use would fit my busy lifestyle. I don't have a whole lot of time to work with it, but I'd do my best.
I feel so high-maintenance XD

[megan0905.livejournal.com]

Once you get used to it, I think it would fit your busy schedule. That's the thing that I love most about my DivaCup - I only have to change it once during the day (and also when I wake up and go to sleep). It's very convenient for me.

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

honestly, i find its better for a busy lifestyle, cause i can stick it in there and not worry about it for 12 hours, as opposed to pads or a tampon, which i need to pay attention to sooner. i also have painful periods cramp-wise, and the tampons exacerbated that, and made life easier.

[mangofandango.livejournal.com]

Remember that the Diva Cup is 100% refundable if you don't like it/can't use it, and you have a year to decide. So given that, there's not much risk in giving it a shot.

As for the pads, you could always give them a brief rinse as you finish with them and then keep them in a bag or something until the end of the week, when you could run them all through the wash. (Giving them a brief rinse should only take 30 seconds, and that should take care of the majority of the blood and stuff.)

If nothing else, you could always switch to organic cotton pads and/or tampons, because they are better for the environment and healthier for you, even if they are disposable. It's a step up, right? :)

[somethinguseful.livejournal.com]

I could try the rinse deal. I just want my dirty clothes and especially dirty pads out of the way because she likes things neat. It's just out of common courtesy, I suppose.
Once I get a job, I might just order me a Diva. I liked diva because it was made out of silicone, rather than rubber and for some reason, that just appealed to me.

[flexagon]

The Mooncup is made of silicone too.

http://www.mooncup.co.uk

The dollar is weak against the pound right now though, unfortunately, which makes it more expensive than you might wish if you live in the US. :/

[dial-zero.livejournal.com]

I second this... some people get hung up on the idea of soaking them, thinking they can't use reusables because their roommate/family will get grossed out by a bucket of pads. Soaking is only necessary if you're concerned about stains, which I'm not. What I do is give them a good rinse, and let them dry out on the edge of my hamper (which is in my closet). When they're dry I throw them in the hamper and they get washed with my towels next time I do a wash. Even without the soaking they don't stain much, which is kind of neat.

[supervillainess.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I've been rinsing and soaking my Lunapads in a bucket, and inevitably forget to wash them until about a week later. Not fun + smells badly. Last couple cycles I've gotten so busy I've skipped the rinse/soak process and just left them piled up *on* the bucket. They dry out and come just as clean after I give them a rinse and put them through the wash.

Reusables - the soak process = super convenient + comfortable.

[overtaking.livejournal.com]

still not much help, because it's still INSIDE you, but i'd say try sea sponges before you tried a cup. if that doesn't bother you, then try to work your way to soft cups or even a diva cup. i've used sea sponges before and i don't like tampons AT ALL and they worked. i still had to wear a light pad so they wouldn't leak, but they were the most natural feeling thing. of course, i haven't used a diva cup, so i can't compare it to that.

[somethinguseful.livejournal.com]

I had read about those and it seemed like a good idea, but the downside is that they break up and sometimes inside you. I guess I'd rather have sea sponge bits inside of me rather than chemical soaked tampon bits.

[ellettra.livejournal.com]

i really love my sponges, but if you are squeamish, they are not for you. you have to squeeze them out, after all. but i will say this about them: i'll never go back to tampons for sure and i can NEVER feel them once i've got one in.

[robynchick.livejournal.com]

Well as far as fear of Germs goes, you should know that tampons are by no means sanitized, nor are pads...
I think your best bet for something clean is the divacup or mooncup which are silicone and can be boiled to remove ANY possible contaminant. Doesn't get much cleaner than that.

Also unlike tampons the cup can be left in for a long time, allowing you and your busy life to forget about it. I think the benefit of the cup outweighs the internal wearing drawback...

[somethinguseful.livejournal.com]

Heh, even if the wear is longer, I still will check it all throughout the day. I figure giving it a go won't hurt my 'gina nor my pocket.

[catchstars.livejournal.com]

I can feel tampons inside too, and I was surprised when I switched to the Diva cup, and couldn't feel it in there. I think the drying effect of tampons is what makes them so uncomfortable. The Diva cup just kind of "rests" inside, whereas tampons felt kind of poky for me.

As for the pads, I highly suggest getting the reusuable ones, even if just for overnight wear. Sleeping with a nice piece of flannel is so much more comfortable than the plasticky disposable ones. You could rinse it out the next morning in the shower, wring it out, and throw it in a pail until you can do laundry.

[ashley331.livejournal.com]

Ohh ohh! Yes, I whole heartedly agree on the sleeping on bits of flannel part! I was waiting for my lunapads to come in from Amazon.com and I got my period early. I found an old pair of Eeyore pj's that were flannel and so I cut them up and fashioned a pad for bed and OMG! Sooooo soft and sooooo comfy. I was so happy. (and it was damn cute too, cuz I love eeyore! hehe) Just throwing my 2 cents in. =D

[rachelish.livejournal.com]

tampons never worked for me either. they always felt like they weren't in far enough, even though i pushed them in as far as i could. this doesn't happen with my mooncup. like others have said, you can get one and try it out and if it completely grosses you out or it just doesn't work, then send it back and nothing is lost.

[annis39.livejournal.com]

from what you've said, i'd recommend getting reusable pads. it's not a problem if you can't wash them out til the end of the week; i usually just drop the used ones in a large-size plastic food tub (rubbermaid or something), then about an hour before i'm going to wash them, fill the tub with cold water and let them soak to get all the fluids soft again so i can scrub them off a bit before dropping them in the washing machine. if you think you might be able to get used to the Diva, though, go for it-- it's much less of a hassle.

[shishiza.livejournal.com]

If you're interested in reusable pads you could always get a little pot like this (http://www.birthwithsol.com/padpots.html) to let them soak in with some peroxide or soap until you can give them a proper wash. They could chill out there and your roommate wouldn't even know it's there if you wanted to be discrete. You can find some pretty cheap pads on ebay if you don't feel like making them.

Personally, I'm switching to a Diva cup, but everyone's already told you about the wonderful things about it ^_^

[lost-almost.livejournal.com]

I totally understand your reservations towards any insertable stuff - I am the same way. I got one reusable pad from Whole Foods (about $9) and some of the Natracare disposable pads and used them in the second half of my period. Both are a significant improvement in comfort over regular disposables. I liked the reusable one better, the Natracare pads get a little bunched up and caused some staining. I suggest you take it a little slow and not stretch things beyond your comfort threshold in your very first attempt.

[dollunderglass.livejournal.com]

If you have a fear of germs you should know that a human's vagina is cleaner than her mouth.

[brieboo.livejournal.com]

If you go with Lunapads, I recommend getting the extra long kind, because the regular size always leaks for me. I usually end up using a washrag or a sock instead.

[bajka.livejournal.com]

I would REALLY reconsider the Diva cup.
For one, you can leave it in for so long (all day, safely) that you would rarely ever have to empty it in a public washroom.

[ameforstars.livejournal.com]

and in regards to the "messiness" of the diva cup... i've learned how to push my vag muscles so the cup sticks out a little when i want to empty it/take it out... (think how your lower pelvis feels when you take a good poo)

this stickes the cup out some, then you can usually grab the bottom, pinch, twist and pull out (usually with little to no mess)

if you are really concerned, you can find a private bathroom/stall with a sink and just wash up after you do this (to avoid the weird stares when you come out of your stall with bloody fingers:)

good luck!

[jeun.livejournal.com]

Offtopic, but I wonder who the individual is that has to deal with all the returned Divacups. :P

[leave-it-be.livejournal.com]

yea i can't imagine that'd be too pleasant :S but still better than working at the lost luggage desk in the airport... i'd rather deal with used menstrual cups any day...

[shrewlaura.livejournal.com]

You could always stash a couple latex gloves in your purse. That way you can just whip one out when you're in the bathroom and toss it out when you're done. Clean hands all the way.

[leave-it-be.livejournal.com]

although i do love my Diva, i don't think it'd would be very good for you. you get a little messy the first few times you use it and that's hard sometimes when you're in a public restroom. you also have to touch yourself a bit to get it in the right spot. and if tampons are uncomfortable for you, i can't imagine a silicon cup that's a little smaller than a shot glass will be very comfortable.

but you can always give it a shot and return it if you need to!