By Softcup

 

Using a Menstrual Cup for the First Time
In a feminine hygiene market dominated by tampons and pads, trying a menstrual cup may seem intimidating at first. Menstrual cups have been around as long as tampons but are less familiar to some women. Whether you’re dealing with unpredictable periods, experience a heavy flow or want to enjoy an active lifestyle, using a menstrual cup may help you better manage your period. It’s important to know your options when it comes to feminine protection.

 

How to Use a Menstrual Cup
There are two kinds of menstrual cups: the first is a soft, flexible cup that is worn internally, in the natural space under the cervix and behind the pubic bone where it conforms to your body. When inserted properly, it can’t be felt. You can wear it for about 12 hours at a time, after which it is disposed and a new one is inserted. It is also the only feminine hygiene product that can be worn during intercourse.

Other menstrual cups are bell-shaped and inserted internally to form a suction seal once inside the vagina. These are emptied, cleaned and re-inserted. The same one is used for each menstrual cycle.

Both types of menstrual cups are designed to collect your menstrual flow rather than absorb it. Just like the first time you used a tampon, it may take a few times inserting a menstrual cup to get it right. READ MORE… »

No Comments | Leave a Comment - We'd love to hear from you!

As Earth Day approaches many of us start to think about becoming more “green.” But what does “green” mean? (and we’re not talking color!) Definition of GREEN (per Merriam-Webster): a: relating to or being an environmentalist political movement b : concerned with or supporting environmentalism c : tending to preserve environmental quality (as by being recyclable, biodegradable, or nonpolluting) 5 ways to make your period greenThat said, where does this leave you? There are so many ways to be “green” or “eco friendly.” You can buy organic produce (free from chemicals & pesticides), you can use cloth shopping bags instead of paper or plastic, you can choose to ride a bike or walk instead of taking the car, and the list goes on…But have you thought about making your periods “green?” Why not? Did you know the average woman uses an estimated 16,000 menstrual products in her lifetime? Think of the amount of waste that creates. Now times that by like… EVERY WOMAN on the PLANET! Disgusting! And it gets worse, most traditional pads and panty liners are made from 90% plastic. How long do you think that will take to decompose? Horrifying! You may be wondering, “How on earth do you make your period green?” We don’t want to bombard you with a lengthy list so here’s a few ideas you might try. It includes both disposable and reusable options. READ MORE… »

2 Comments | Leave a Comment - We'd love to hear from you!

I first heard about the Diva Cup a couple of years ago and I immediately judged it. The idea of inserting a bizarre-looking contraption I’d never heard of in my vagina wasn’t very appealing to me, especially since using tampons and pads were the mainstream (and what I thought where the only) options for dealing with your period. I quickly dismissed the menstrual cup, thinking only hippie/granola/environmentally-conscious women were using it.

Michelle_Beland_Diva CupEight months ago, at 24 years old, I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer.  Since then, I’ve been focusing a lot on my health and embracing a healthier, cleaner, greener lifestyle. I am very conscious of what I put in and on my body, from everyday food to cosmetics which contain chemical ingredients and potential carcinogens. I had been thinking about switching to the menstrual cup because it seemed a more natural way of dealing with my period, but was afraid to do so. I wasn’t sure how it worked, how to insert it and if it would hurt. I kept asking my BFF to try it before me to see if it was worth it or not!

Last week I started my period and went to the pharmacy to buy my “period supplies”, where I saw the Diva Cup among all the tampons and pads. “Enough is enough” I thought to myself, “time to face the “beast” and get this over with”. So I bought a Diva Cup and left my usual supplies behind.

READ MORE… »

No Comments | Leave a Comment - We'd love to hear from you!

By Heather Schweich

I honestly can’t remember a time after I started my period when I wasn’t aware on some level of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).

My mom was not a tampon user; they made her nauseated and feel horrible when she tried them in high school/college, so when I started menstruating she got me pads, just like her. Well, lower absorbency, but you get the idea.

The problem was that I was a ballet dancer. #1 Pads = not cool. #2 They would never stay in place. So I asked her to let me get some tampons.

She did, and I’m not sure if it was the box insert, a news story, or word of mouth but TSS was a huge concern for her. I didn’t really get the seriousness of it, but I knew enough that I was willing to go along with her guidelines: use natural fiber (cotton) tampons – don’t use a higher absorbency than I needed – use pads at night.

READ MORE… »

4 Comments | Leave a Comment - We'd love to hear from you!

“This story/review came to us at such a great time. As we approach Earth Day, we’d love to hear what challenges you may take on to become more eco-friendly. Will trying an organic or reusable menstrual product make the list?” – The Be Prepared Period Team

My LunaPads story actually started with a challenge a friend gave me around Easter 2011.  She told me to go garbage free (or only be allowed to use 1 bag of garbage from then until Christmas Eve.  I was doing great until that time of the month came about, I got out my Always pads and said “Oh crap…um what do I do with 8 months of pads if I can’t use garbage?”  So I began going online and looking for options. I found LunaPads.  I liked the idea that they had the replaceable center.  I ordered 6 pad centers and 1 of the pad. I got the cutest design ever, some flowers that looked like the 60s! (my favorite era)  I excused myself for that week of garbage since they hadn’t arrived yet, and threw out the bag. (with actual guilt!) When my products arrived, I was so excited, even though I didn’t have my period I wore them for a week! I just wanted to see how they were. READ MORE… »

1 Comment | Leave a Comment - We'd love to hear from you!

I bet when you think about the words Feminine Hygiene you don’t think “Moldy Tampons.”

Well, neither did Danielle over at Parr For The Course. But to her surprise, that is exactly what she found when opening a new box of Kotex Tampons!! We’re not talking about an “emergency tampon” that has been buried in the bottom of your purse for who knows how long, this came “straight out of the box, in it’s sealed little packaging.”

Moldy Kotex TamponAs a public service announcement we thought we should share this story. You ought to be aware of the things you may be potentially putting in your body. Not only are you at risk of TSS with conventional tampons, but now you may need to be on the look out for MOLD! (Judging by Kotex’s comments this not an isolated incident.) So go ahead and pop over to Danielle’s blog to read her story along with Kotex’s reply.

As women, we have many “feminine hygiene” options. More options than most realize. We have the traditional products we are all familiar with “pads & tampons.” But today, we are fortunate to have additional options like organic/natural tampons and pads (products free of plastic and bleach) from great companies like Natracare & Maxim Hygiene, as well as menstrual cups like Softcup and DivaCup  and cloth pads like Lunapads. There are lots of options, both disposable and reusable.

READ MORE… »

31 Comments | Leave a Comment - We'd love to hear from you!

By Jennifer, from Indiana (Age 32, 2 children) I used the Diva Cup for the first time a week ago and was very pleased. There was a learning curve in getting it placed properly and I had to trim the stem.  If it was not positioned just right, I felt quite a bit of rectal pressure similar to the pressure I felt in the latter part of my pregnancy. Also, a few times it seemed to work its way down a little where I could feel it. Some adjusting remedied both of those. I did feel this after wearing it overnight but it was time to take out anyway. I am not sure if this is a common issue with DC users. Of course, it may just be the shape of my body. Since having my first child, tampons are extremely uncomfortable with similar problems. I still have to get used to the emptying and cleaning. But my flow is light enough that I only need to empty 2x per day, even on my heaviest day. One of these times can be in the shower. So this is a plus! READ MORE… »

1 Comment | Leave a Comment - We'd love to hear from you!

Last week we gave away 5 Lunette Cups with our friends at You ARE Loved.org. In conjunction with the giveaway we asked women, “What is your #1 reason for wanting to try Lunette?” These are a few of their answers:

1. “I have already tried the Lunette, and it is amazing!! I would LOVE the opportunity to win one to give to my best friend for Mother’s Day!”

2. “I want to use Lunette because I want to use a reusable menstrual cup instead of pads and tampons.”

3. “I want to explore ALL my options now that I am having green periods”

4. “I want to try Lunette because I am interested in seeing if it’s a better fit for me (in terms of leaks) than the Diva Cup I’ve been using since the fall of 2010. Plus, they’re available in pretty colors!”

5. “I’ve heard great things about the lunette and I’d love to give it a try because I hate disposable products” READ MORE… »

2 Comments | Leave a Comment - We'd love to hear from you!

Camping with a menstrual cup, scary or sensible?

Expecting to start my period the day we were scheduled to leave for our camping trip I was “prepared” and decided to bring my DivaCup with me. I’ve never enjoyed the inconvenience my period has caused during a camping trip, the extra concern of being somewhere I could change my tampon or the early morning wake up calls from aunt flo. There’s nothing like waking up with that startling feeling of needing to rush to the bathroom, to be challenged with crawling out of the sleeping bag, bundling up in warm clothes, climbing out of the tent, to only have to walk who knows how far to the nearest bathroom in fear of a LEAK!

READ MORE… »

No Comments | Leave a Comment - We'd love to hear from you!

I am 54 years old but I have two twenty something daughters who get their periods and an 11 year old granddaughter who is definitely hitting puberty. Oh the attitude on that child!

Nowadays everyone is trying to be as green friendly as they can by using recyclable and sustainable products. I started to fool around with the idea of creating cloth menstrual pads and panty liners and used my daughters as guinea pigs! Let me tell you, they hated the idea and thought it was absolutely gross and disgusting. Some of their initial comments were “I’ll never wear that” and “How do I wash these things?”

Well, one day my younger daughter was out of disposable pads and it was too late to run out to the store. She was is dire need and she asked me if I had anything available. Of course I did!

She reluctantly used the pad and fell asleep. When she work up I asked her how the pad held up and she said and I quote ” That was the best night’s sleep I had while on my period. The pad was super soft and nothing leaked through!”

READ MORE… »

No Comments | Leave a Comment - We'd love to hear from you!