A question about tampons - sorry guys

arkonite_babe

How heavy do you need to be to use a cup?I have very light periods and I get so fed up using liners every month but I'm not heavy enough to use tampons.

Willowx

arkonite_babe wrote: »

How heavy do you need to be to use a cup?I have very light periods and I get so fed up using liners every month but I'm not heavy enough to use tampons.

You don't really need to meet a certain minimum rate, they are not like tampons in that they don't dry you out by sucking up whatever is there, so they are much safer to leave in for longer lengths of time/or at low bleed beginning/end of periods and at the opposite end of the scale they are just as easy to take out full as empty.

In summary what I am saying is that despite a low flow you should be fine using a cup, but if you go for one have a read up on the different brands first.

flissh

Mooncups are great. I have one and I was a bit squeemish before about using menstral cups till I gave it a go.

It can be a bit messy emptying it but I just tip it in the loo then wash it out or wipe it and replace.

If I'm out and in a cubicle with no basin inside I wipe it and put bck and have a small pack of wet wipes for my hands till I get out to the communal basins.

I know some people carry a small bottle of water for this purpose too.

hethmar

I cant believe youngsters want to use these - my goodness I must be getting old, but it makes me feel queasy.

Ladyhawk

My mooncup is great... though having said that I only used it for 3 months before getting the coil fitted so no more periods for me. I used to have moderate to heavyish periods and using a mooncup I was really surprised how little blood there actually was! I thought it would be full after a days wearing - it hardly had any in it.

What's so icky about a mooncup? why is it any worse than a tampon?

hethmar

I guess with a towel or tampon you can just dispose of it with a lot less bother.

brook2jack

My menstrual cups have been lifesavers (on second one in 7 years).

Have very heavy periods where tampon soaks straight through even when doubled up. Cup holds alot more and gave me freedom back.

Plus when travelling abroad in quite remote regions didn't have to try to find sanitary supplies or worry about effect on local sanitation when disposing of sanitary supplies.

I've saved a load of money as the first cup lasted 6 years before I replaced it and the environment with no more use of tampons etc.

I use miltons tablets in between times and water whilst in use to clean.

No one has ever had toxic shock with a cup and you are not drying out the "locale" so less likely to get thrush. Also you are far more aware of what your actual flow is in millilitres so when there's a problem the doctor has a far better idea if you are normal or something should be done re heavy periods.

AppleCore

Thanks for all the helpful advice on this.

I'd like to try a menstrual cup but I'm confused by how many there are on the market. I've got no idea which one to choose...any tips???

thistledome

AppleCore wrote: »

Thanks for all the helpful advice on this.

I'd like to try a menstrual cup but I'm confused by how many there are on the market. I've got no idea which one to choose...any tips???

Plenty of information available here:

http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups

Read the FAQ's on the right hand side. There is a size chart on there somewhere showing how much each cup holds etc.

The Lunette cups from Finland are a good brand, but there are so many variables from person to person that I found it was best to read as much as possible on live journal to find the right cup.

thistledome

Fang wrote: »

Why?! WHY ARE MOONCUPS USED? I can see the attraction if you like home made black puddings, but other than that, no. Just bung up a roll of triple velvet if you must, but don't start filling a little cup as if you're the ketchup dispenser at McDonald's.

Menstrual cups are used because they're cheaper, healthier, more convenient and less polluting than disposables.

A better question would be Why are Disposables used? They cost a fortune, carry the risk of TSS, clog up toilets and sewers and dry out the vagina's natural moisture.

The reason they are so widely used is most young women don't know about menstrual cups or are misinformed about their ease of use. I wish I'd found them 30 years ago. They're fantastic :T