cups-a-plenty!

[just-julie.livejournal.com]

Hey all! I'm thinking about getting a menstrual cup, mostly because I'm tired of throwing so much crap away every time I get my period. I'm just curious to see which kind is the favorite among you ladies and why. I've seen the gum rubber version (the Keeper) and the silicone version (the Diva Cup) and I was just looking for user opinions and personal experiences for each kind, and any other kinds I may have missed. Thanks in advance!

Comments

[lizdefiance.livejournal.com]

i've had a keeper for a couple years and i love it. lost of people prefer the divacup because it can be boiled, while the keeper can't. personally, i've never had any situation come up where i would have wanted to boil the keeper. the divacup has a longer span on its return policy - 1 year as opposed to 3 months. i think they're all really good products, so no matter which way you go, it's a good choice!

[nelsolidarida.livejournal.com]

I've been doing fine with the Mooncup (http://www.mooncup.co.uk). Although admittedly i only bought it because it was what the shop i went in had a big display of, so i don't know whether the others would be better. Also i don't know how practical it is to buy outside the UK.

(it does, however, make an entertaining musical instrument in addition to its main function. don't ask unless you want to know.)

[balmofgilead.livejournal.com]

actually, now you've made me curious (though i can't speak for anyone else): i think i do want to know

[nelsolidarida.livejournal.com]

No mystery. You just blow in the suction holes (little holes just under the rim). Make sure its clean tho.

[ourika.livejournal.com]

You may want to check out the_keeper community here at LJ. It’s a great community, and the archives have a lot of information comparing the various cups. I had a Keeper and now I use a DivaCup. I did the switch because I lost the Keeper and wanted to try something new. After some initial mishaps, I like it better. I don’t care about boiling, but DivaCup’s got some “ridges” at the bottom of the cup and on the stem that make grasping it easier. It’s a softer material (so many people say it’s harder… not mine!), and smoother so you really need those ridges. There are measure lines on the inside, too. Just in case you want to check, heh :-)

The DivaCup is silicone, so it can be boiled. I boiled it when I got it, but I don’t plan to boil it regularly. It’s really not important as long as you keep it clean. It’s going to really be a matter of preference. They’ve both got return policies. 3 months for Keeper and 1 year for DivaCup. One thing – you can’t return the DivaCup if you haven’t followed instructions. The main thing about this is that means you can’t have trimmed your stem more than 1/4” I don’t know about the Keeper. DivaCup’s cheaper, too (not by a lot). I had to order both my Keeper and my DivaCup from Canada, so wait time was about the same. Some cloth pad companies also offer “kits” where you can get a couple of pads with a Keeper. That’s a neat combo thing. I use a backup all the time, but a lot of women don’t. But you’ll want to use a backup the first few times while you get used to it. With cloth pads, you can use a backup and not put more garbage into the world! (And oddly enough, cloth pads are softer and more comfortable – I had expected them to be “diaper-like” but they’re not. I think that lunapads http://www.lunapads.com has a keeper/pad combo deal.

Good luck with whatever you choose! You’re making an AWESOME choice for your body and the earth!

Oh, you didn’t mention Instead disposable cups. They work entirely differently than the reusables, so being good with one won’t mean you’ll like another. But I keep a few of those on hand for if I want to have any kind of intercourse (hands, penis, toys, fingers, etc.) because you can’t have anything inserted while wearing a Keeper or DivaCup. (*grins* S’okay for any kind of external play, though!)
I talk too much.

[dichotomise.livejournal.com]

I have the DivaCup, and after giving it a second chance (I was thoroughly frustrated with the insertion process) it was going more smoothly and I grew to like it. My last period was the first time using it. I am almost looking forward to next period... the DivaCup is novel, and it's cool to be able to monitor the flow. I think it's neat, anyway.

[silvertipwings.livejournal.com]

have you looked at Insteads at all? they're disposable, but you can wear them like twice as long as tampons and they're not huge wads of stuff. they're these cups with a firmish plastic rim and the rest is very thin plastic, like nonsticky, crinkly saran wrap almost. CVS carries them, you might wanna go thru a box before buying a permanent one.