TMI Menstruation and What to Do About it! :)

[fannishliss]

This is my TMI Post about Alternative Menstrual Products:  the Diva Cup.

We are trained to be modest and still are about this one thing.  But this is too awesome not to share!

Read on, oh my wondrous women!

I realized today, as I sat in an Important Business Meeting in my Beige Pants, waiting for my heavy flow to suddenly burst upon me, as it always does, that my adoption of the Diva Cup has changed my life to such an extent that I can no longer keep silent!

I read a magazine called "Bitch: A Feminist Response to Pop Culture"  -- it is a really great independent magazine, and the ads in it are chosen responsibly by the editors.  So for all this time they've been advertising this company called lunapads that is based in Canada.  They market alternative resuable menstrual products.

Finally I had HAD IT with the Always Pads -- irritating my skin and not working well enough (tampons were too uncomfortable for me because of overdrying). So I decided to take a chance and order the diva cup and a little set of cloth panty liners (since I spot for 7 -8 days total). (note:  I did cloth diapers for three years with my boy, so I was not afraid to try cloth pantyliners.  They also turn out to be so nice. They are flannel!)

I assured myself that it would be hard to learn to use the cup, and I promised myself that I would tolerate a learning curve.  Once I understood how to insert the cup it worked like a charm. It is a silicon, non-reactive cup that you insert, and it catches your flow.  You then empty it into the toilet, wash it, and put it back in.  On the heaviest day, you might empty it every three or four  hours (like at night, I would wake up once to empty it), but on most days you can go 8 - 10 or even 12 hours.

  It took me the first period to understand it, and from then on, it has been terrific.  I got it as a birthday present to myself (I turned 40 last June), and I AM SO, SO HAPPY.

Plus, for some reason, IT ALLEVIATES CRAMPING.  This is anecdotally true for many users, even though no one understands why!  If it is properly inserted, you can't feel it in there, but maybe you are doing little unconscious Kegel exercises on it, or something.  I don't even care, tho!  It totally works.

At 40, after bearing my child at age 32, I was so sick of always making a mess every month no matter what.  And I haven't made even one mess since I adopted the cup.  It is like my period is so clean and easy to deal with that I am almost not even having it.  My husband, with whom I am extremely intimate, often can't tell anymore where I am in my period.  I have to actually tell him.  There's nothing in the trash can!!! 

I tried this as a feminist and an environmentalist, but I am so glad for so many reasons.  Not just that I'll never buy another feminine product ever again in life!  but that I am finally secure enough to go out  in Beige Pants and not even worry.  Also, my cramps have been very much alleviated.

You can find out more by googling diva cup.  Or, you can order from lunapads.com.  They also sell the awesome flannel pantyliners, which so rock.

Mwah! to all my wonderful women flisters.  Hope this testimonial makes you think!  Let me know your reactions!

Comments

[tnhand1022.livejournal.com]

That's a helluva testimonial! I used The Keeper many years ago and loved it. I don't really remember why I stopped using it... But it looks like I need to give the diva cup a chance. Thanks for the tip!

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

I know! Every month I am surprised and happy all over again! Something New after what, twenty-seven years!!!!

cheers!! :)

[roguebitch.livejournal.com]

I'm on The Shot, so I don't get my period, but I have been thinking about other options than giving my money to disposable methods of taking care of my menstrual process. Perhaps when I decide to start having my period again, I'll try them!

I tried The Keeper when it first came out, but it was too big or something...maybe I was too short? But it didn't work for me. But that was a long time ago.

Congrats on finding a great method that works for you! ;->

[tnhand1022.livejournal.com]

I remember having that problem with The Keeper. I had to trim the little handle thingie. The stem? Can't quite recall.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

the little stem on the divacup is not very long. they warn you you might want to trim it.... but I found it reasonably short. Um, I also had to order the large size, since, childbirth, because of flow volume, even though I had a c section..... MOAR WITH THE TMI!! blushes! Castiel is watching!

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

Depo was way too strong for me -- it made me feel really tense and messed with my head. I was on Norplant for five years tho.... I don't know if they do it anymore, but it was awesome.

I hope this doesn't seem presumptuous, but I am surprised you don't get your period ... it seemed to me like we were on a similar moon cycle with emotional ups and downs..... Also we are Icon Twinsies.

The diva cup costs about $35 up front, but then it should last several years. The keeper I think was made of Latex? (I prefer silicon.) It did take me a while to figure out how to position it just right, but now it is a Dream.

[roguebitch.livejournal.com]

Heehee, your icon!

No, it's not presumptuous, but the whole point of the Shot is to not get your period. I got it for about 4 months until the hormones normalized, and I haven't had it for a couple of months. Since my insurance covers it, it's actually very cost effective for me, and I didn't like the out of control way PMS and everything made me feel. I'm much happier not having my period ATM. If I ever get to a point where I'm with someone and want to try to get pregnant, I'll deal with it again.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

now your pretty tattoo-like icon looks like a uterus to me!! a very decorative one!

I find that hormones give me bad insomnia once a month. I hope that is not the case with you. Or rather, I hope you find a way to defeat your insomnia, as I have had NO LUCK. I just decided I would just Wake all the way up and read fanfic for a couple of hours till the surge fades. I can usually deal unless it happens too many nights in a row.

After I had my one Depo, it took me about a year to get pregnant. ... But it is great when insurance actually pays for something!! :)

[roguebitch.livejournal.com]

My insomnia is related to the trauma connected to being sexually abused as a child -- I wake up in the middle of the night and take a couple of hours to go back to sleep because I'm used to my stepfather coming into my room. Even 30 years later I'm hardwired to wake up at this one time of the night. So I'm dedicated user of sleep aids. *shrug* Nothing else has ever worked. I've never been "good at" sleeping.

Ahaha...that icon is actually a tribal palindrome version of my name. *grins*

When I was on Depo, I got pregnant within about 6 months of being off it.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

rats. I'm sorry that your insomnia hangs on. It is very hard for me to function optimally after sleep debt begins to accumulate.

That's awesome that your name looks so pretty as a palindrome!!

[tnhand1022.livejournal.com]

Have you seen a GYN about that? Abnormal vaginal/cervical pain can be a sign of other issues. Sorry to barge in to your business, but I had a similar problem last year.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

I love how open everyone can be!! hugs all

I have a little cyst on my vaginal wall -- it has been investigated and is totally benign -- but it sometimes fills with fluid and is bigger than other times -- and it can make insertion difficult. Maybe you've developed something like that?


I'm glad it worked for you for two years at least! and hope it will work again!

[pkoceres.livejournal.com]

Hmm, sounds promising! I tried those instead cups a few years back and was really unhappy with them. And they're also non-biodegradable, which ends up creating more landfill problems than the paper based stuff. Frustration! I kind of want to give these a try now. *is curious*

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

it has worked out really well for me!:)

that is the most AMAZING icon!!! please explain it!!

it's like Sailor Menses!!

lolz

Castiel is SO puzzled by your icon!! :)

[pkoceres.livejournal.com]

Haha, I don't know where it's from originally, but it's hilarious.
I don't get many opportunities to use it, so yay for monthly issues thread!
There's a wallpaper sized version (http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr136/pkoceres/1159811373765.jpg) if you want a copy.

Castiel is jealous because he doesn't have evil pads. \o/

[bowtrunckle.livejournal.com]

I've used Lunapad's products before! Just the cloth/flannel pads when I was doing extended traveling/trekking in Asia and didn't want to be concerned with hauling around loads of sanitary supplies (also, I didn't want to pack used items out as there really weren't good places to "throw them away"). They worked well and were pretty comfortable. :)

I've never tried a cup, but it sounds like it could eliminate those "oopsies" and save me the hassle of running to the bathroom every HOUR to check the state of things on those ultra-heavy days. Thanks for the recommendation.

Also, I've been meaning to e-mail you. OMG! I got your letter in the mail! *flail* :D I'm so impressed!!!!!! More later.... *hugs*

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

you never cease to amaze! THIS TIME with your TREKKING AROUND IN ASIA!!!

you must tell more!

yes, the cup would be ideal for that, if it works for you!

I'm so glad you liked the valentines!!

[bowtrunckle.livejournal.com]

I LOVED your valentines! *jumps around*

I was in Asia in 2002-ish as a post-grad. present to myself. Actually the trip was pretty schizophrenic being that A and I sampled bits and pieces of just the countries we were interested in at the time instead of doing a comprehensive tour around close-proximity countries (which would've made much more sense but we were all about our whims and doing whatever we damn well pleased at that point *yay, mid-20's selfishness*). The Lunapads products were useful when we were trekking around the Annapurna circuit in central Nepal.

If you're interested, there are some pictures along with some other travel pictures (OMG, look at how cool our hiking outfits were after weeks of trudging around *snortlaugh*) here: http://bowtrunckle.livejournal.com/28151.html#cutid1

I'm sure that entry is flocked but you're included in that filter. If you can't see that entry, let me know.