I have a question about menstrual cups?!


Question: I have a question about menstrual cups?
I know it's gross but I need advice. I am going on vacation this summer (8 hour plane ride) and I know how to use tampons but they only last 1-2 hours on my heavier days. Then, on my light days, I can't wear them because my period is not heavy enough and it hurts to take them out. And pads make me feel icky :/ So I was thinking about using those cups, apparently they last 12 hours? Are they easy to use? Do they cost a lot? I know they are not disposable, so how would I clean them? Are they good to take on vacation? Or are they a hassle to clean? Do they give you bladder infections? If you don't like them, do you have any other suggestions? I just don't want to feel dirty and disgusting.

Answers:

Yes menstrual cups can be left in for 12 hours.
With any flow, before your period, overnight and during swimming. It depends on your own flow but generally speaking you can go twice as long as you would be able to with tampons, you can feel when a cup is full and even if you don't empty straight away any leaking is minimal rather than the sudden gush you get when tampons leak. Getting a larger capacity cup will help, this page gives information on capacity - http://community.livejournal.com/menstru…

Are they easy to use?
Yes, I find them easier than tampons/pads as fewer precautions, no changing them all the time or dealing with leaks, and insertion is easier as they're smooth, it becomes second nature. It can take time to learn anything new, but knowing your body and getting the best brand for you helps, also there's plenty of support on Menstrual Cup Support Community - http://www.menstrualcups.org

Do they cost a lot?
Not at all, they are the cheapest sanitary product available - the cheapest brand is MeLuna costing just $17.66 - if you shop around you can get different brands at better deals too, check out eBay for example. Bear in mind that menstrual cups last for 10 years so that's a major saving!

How would I clean them?
Soap and water - that's it, no more difficult than washing your hands after using the bathroom and less hassle as no need to worry about disposal, some women also sterilise or use other cleaning methods at the end of their cycle, but it's not needed. You rarely have to empty in public but if you do, and don't fancy washing in public sinks, then just wipe with toilet paper, wipes or wash-out with bottled water, it's still more hygienic than tampons.

Are they good to take on vacation?
Yup, very. As well as generally more convenient, better for swimming due to less leaking and nothing showing outside your body, overnight to avoid mess on hotel sheets, it also means no carrying spare tampons/pads or buying from other countries where manufacturing standards may be poor. They are recommended on many holiday/travelling web sites these days.

Do they give you bladder infections?
No, not at all. Tampons are linked to TSS, commonly cause vaginal infections and increased menstrual cramps. Commercial pads commonly cause vaginal infections and urinary tract/bladder infections. Both tampons and commercial pads may pose long-term risks due to toxic byproducts from manufacturing. Menstrual cups have NO HEALTH RISKS at all.

If you don't like them, do you have any other suggestions?
I do love them, my flow is heavier than yours so I can safely say that they are the best for heavy flow, they are more convenient, reliable, healthier/safer, cleaner, greener, cheaper, more comfortable, they can even lessen flow and cramps. Try softcups http://www.softcup.com not as reliable as menstrual cups, and can be more difficult and messy, but they are another option.

If worried about leaking on the plane you can use back-up such as period panties like Sexy Period http://sexyperiod.com or try cloth pads like Lunapads http://www.lunapads.com which are a lot more comfortable and more hygienic than disposable pads - they allow air flow so don't make you feel sweaty or wet, basically not as icky.



Unfortunately menstrual cups do have a slight learning curve, so they take awhile to learn to use and get used to before you're totally comfortable with them. I bought one in December and I still haven't quite got the hang of it entirely.

Lasting 12 hours: this all depends on your personal factors. If you're a heavy bleeder, maybe less.
Easy to use: see above.
Cost: A Diva Cup is what, $30? Depending on brand. You need to research several brands before you decide which one is best for you, and you may need to try more than one. They're not all the same size or material.
To clean them in public, you dump it in the toilet and wipe it out with toilet paper or disposable wipes. They're not hard to clean. Most are rubber or silicone so it's easy.
As long as your hands are clean, they won't give you an infection because they're made of medical-grade materials.



Learning curve is a good way to describe it. Expect it to take a few periods to get the trick of inserting it correctly each time, and taking it out easily. That is really the only drawback to cups, and personally that's a small price to pay for all the benefits of one. They're expensive initially, but it's going to pay for itself in a few months, and be well worth the money in 10 years when you finally need a new one. Over time they're much cheaper and create virtually no waste compared to pads and tampons.

The aren't absorbent, so easy to insert and remove no matter your flow level, and they are made of easy to clean materials. Most have small holes at the top that can be tricky to clean, an old toothbrush works great for that. During your period you just wash them with soap, and if you get stuck somewhere with no soap water alone will be fine. After your period, some people boil theirs, some use sanitizing washes, personally I just wash the hell out of mine, and stick it back in its cloth bag. All cups are made of either latex rubber, silicone, or thermoplastic elastomer, and all three of those things are used in medical settings, but some people are allergic to latex.

The best thing is that you can leave it alone up to 12 hours, even with a heavier flow, so there's almost no chance you won't have a private bathroom with sink and soap by the time you need one. Even if you did, you could just wipe out the cup with toilet paper and reinsert it if you really had to. Not absorbent, so not dangerous to go a little longer before washing it. And no, they wouldn't give you any type of infection. They're less likely to cause any type of problem than a tampon, there's basically no risk of TSS with cups. Maybe that's the actual best thing. Or perhaps the comfort, you don't ever really feel it since it's soft and moves with you. There's too many good things about cups, you can't really say what's best about them.




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