Green Your Period: Menstrual Cup Replaces Disposable Tampons

That's N-A-S-T-Y!!!!!!

so how do you know when it's...umm...full?

I may have to get one! I hate tampons. They are uncomfortable and sometimes smell. Plus I like going Green.

So glad I have gone through menopause!!!

I got mine in April, and its taken a while to get used to it... but its really good because once its in right, it doesnt leak, and I can usually leave it in longer than a tampon... on my lightest days i usually leave it in atleast 12 hours (or *gasp!* 24hours) i prefer changing it while im in the shower, its really not so bad, and i feel much better about being environmentally friendly :)

I have tried it. It was a couple years ago, i can't remember what brand name it was. I has issues with it staying in place. I couldn't trust it, so i stopped using it. Although if the newer ones work better, i'd be all for trying it again.

I can't imagine how all these posters think using a pad or tampon is more sanitary. no matter how you do it, you're gonna have to come in contact with a little blood at some point during your period. that's what soap and water are for.

Also, the argument that it gross because it traps the blood inside instead of letting it out is, quite frankly, absurd. Tampons trap the blood inside you. Pads hold the blood next to you. either way, your flow is going anywhere until you dispose of it.

Honestly, the fact that so many of you seem completely repulsed by your own menstral flow is shocking to me. I mean, really it's just a little blood.

I've been using one of these (a Diva Cup) for 3 years now and I wish I had been using one since I was a teenager. I have never had any leakage or accidents with one and you can monitor how much blood you lose during your period. For those of you who are squeamish about blood, I don't recommend them, you do have to empty them every 2-6 hours depending on how heavy your flow is, but it isn't messy and you can use toilet paper to clean them out when you are in a public rest room and because they don't leak there isn't a mess when you pull them out.

Right... I want to shove my hand up my bleeding vagina to remove a cup-- um what if Im in public?! So Im suppose to take my blood covered hand with my cup to the sink to rinse, in front of people... Holy unsanitary. Could you imagine a full public bathroom with women doing this. It seems so unsanitary and unhygienic!
What if my cup leaks all over my pants. This is disgusting and so ridiculous. The green movement has gone to the extreme now and its quite unnecessary and disturbing.

I have been using a menstrual cup for several months now. I started because I was curious about the HEALTH BENEFITS that were reported (no risk of TSS, and many claimed that cramps were reduced) and the environmental benefits. I noticed from forum posts and comments that almost everybody who tried menstrual cups loved them, and the people who were freaking out were those who said "Ew, not me, never" without even trying it. I decided to give it a shot and see for myself. If it worked, great. If it didn't, hey worth the experiment.

I LOVE my menstrual cup. I am NEVER going back to tampons. Here are the benefits I personally experienced:
- Even my mild lower back pains from using a tampon are GONE. Totally.
- It is really clean. I have never once gotten blood on my hands or my underwear (esp. since I can use it safely a day or two before my period, just in case, rather than panty liners).
- It is also really comfortable. I can't feel it at all. Pads on the other hand -- sitting in a diaper of blood. Ick. Tampons are also gross -- the string can get damp and really, this is kindof a gross concept. Its just that we're used to the idea.
- There is no such thing as an emergency trip to CVS: this is in my purse, and I will never use it up.
- I have had no problems in public situations. I use the toilet paper trick and voila. And, most of the time, I can go 12 hours fine (no, my periods are not light).
- It is also GREAT for travel. You don't have to carry much, don't have to buy anything ever, especially in countries where you can't rely on plumbing to flush your tampon and where garbage ends up not too far away from where you put it in the bin. I used this on a recent trip to India and thank my lucky stars I did.

I admit that it takes a little getting used to and practice, but hey, don't pads and tampons too in their different ways?

Also, for a great and funny video about using them, check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oddzu_Qf9gY

In sum, I am one happy menstrual cup customer. For those who are revolted, you might be surprised to find, as I did, that almost all women who have actually used them like them.

It's not so bad. Takes practice, just like using tampons did, at first. There are a number of websites dedicated to these. And it really has saved me money. Shrug... Don't knock it, unless you're willing to try it!

I've used mine for 2 months now and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! It's much cleaner than I imagined it would be. It's just a relief knowing that you can go pretty much all day without a single worry! It doesn't smell and I haven't had a leak yet. I'd really encourage more people to consider it. Just try to get over your preconceived notions and you may find that this is one of the best choices you've ever made. I really feel a sense of freedom now.

Right... I want to shove my hand up my bleeding vagina to remove a cup-- um what if Im in public?! So Im suppose to take my blood covered hand with my cup to the sink to rinse, in front of people... Holy unsanitary. Could you imagine a full public bathroom with women doing this. It seems so unsanitary and unhygienic!
What if my cup leaks all over my pants. This is disgusting and so ridiculous. The green movement has gone to the extreme now and its quite unnecessary and disturbing.

My parents and one other company actually started these, well ones just like these. They used to be called "Instead". I'm not sure what they're branded as now, but they actually started them years ago.... maybe 7-9 years ago. They were light pink. They work really well and anyone I know who has tried them, prefers them over any other. The ones we made, you could leave in for 24 hours, they weren't messy or anything. And yes you have to get used to it but it's pretty nice.

That's gross...I just want to throw up...not for Americans!

I have to agree HM. Hou. It doesn't look that comfortable either.

My Lord what next!!!--Ladies that is just grose and nasty. There is no way that i could put myself in your shoes. Stick with what you know.

NEVER,EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am defintely sold on trying this, tampons are gross too if you think about it, and pads, well I just can't handle that bacteria infested piece of cotton at anytime plus they smell. I am sold on this and I am gonna try it for my next cycle.

I tried a menstrual cup for three months, and it's simply not an option for someone who works in an office full time and has to use a public bathroom. If I was a student or something with a more flexible schedule and could be home to take care of the clean-up in private it might be doable, but not when you are in formal business environment wearing suits and using a shared bathroom.

I'll stick with my pesticide-ridden, chlorinated tampons, thanks.

I'm at work and can't view the video, but that doesn't matter b/c my response is 'ummm... no Thank You!'. I mean gross. My menstrual is extremely heavy and I can just see me trying to rinse this thing out in the sink at my place of employment! The H/R manager uses the same restroom that I do for goodness sakes. So definately NO to this disgusting thing.