Menstrual Cup Trial: Day 3

Third time is a charm, right?

Well it was fine through the night, no leaks or anything. But today I guess I didn't quite get the seal right because I was experiencing some leakage. It wasn't anything a panty liner couldn't handle and overall I'm still impressed with it.

As well today was the first heavy day of my period so this was the first time where taking the cup out was... messy. So it was... interesting and admittedly a little gross. I mean, I was expecting it so it wasn't really all that much of a surprise. But it was different from using a tampon. Not too different from using a pad though in terms of mess.

All in all I am impressed with this little cup. I don't feel it at all and it works pretty well.

I was talking to a friend today about it and she thought it sounded really gross, which I can understand. Admittedly I thought it was too when I first heard of it, but I'm really glad I gave it a try.

I think it's worth it as far as cost-effectiveness, efficacy and comfort. It's a wonder that it took so long to become more mainstream! They were patented in 1932!

Menstrual Cup Recap of last night and Day 2

This is my Aunt Flow's first go around with the menstrual cup. 

My overall impression of the cup was great, until I tried to take it out. 

Unlike a tampon it doesn't just slide out easy peasy. Last night when I went to empty the cup I learned two things: my fingers are incredibly short and if something is suctioned to your vagina you panic and wonder if it's possible to flip it inside out. 

I struggled on my own for a good five minutes before grabbing my phone and looking for a youtube video about how to get the damn thing out. 

I feel like I owe this lady my life. Or my vagina. Maybe I'll just send her a Diva Cup bouquet. 

Thank you beautiful stranger!

She calls it doing the "poop flex" but basically what it is that you have to do is engage your kegels to push the cup out far enough to grab it and break the suction so you can pull it out. I tried it and though it was still an awkward struggle I managed and managed to do it again this morning. 

I'm sure with some practice I'll get the hang of this, but so far I'm dreading revisiting this in 12 hours. But hey, 12 hours is a long time and plenty worth it. 

Menstruation Cup Trial: Day 1

Between my last period and this one I saw a youtube video that said that tampons and pads take a ridiculously long time to decompose. I just tried looking for like half an hour and I can't seem to find the video now, if I find it I will post it. Anyways! It struck a chord with me.

I had been considering trying a menstrual cup for almost a year now and I kept talking myself out of it for various reasons.

It seemed expensive.
I didn't know if I would like it.
I read when I was researching my IUD (still best decision ever, by the way) that one girl had hers sucked out by her IUD (terrifying)

But once it dawned on me that I'd also be helping curb my impact on the environment I decided to take the plunge. Literally. It's like a tiny plunger.

The Diva Cup runs for about $40 here and to me that seemed a bit much for trying something out. So I poked around on Amazon and found another brand for $20 here. It delivered within the week and I began waiting for my next period to try it out.

So the day has come! Albeit, it's 5 days earlier than I or my period tracking app were expecting, but what can you do? I had a feeling though, since my skin has been breaking out and TED Talks videos were making me weepy yesterday. Clear signs, ladies!

I had to wait until after I got home from work to start, but now here I am, tampon free and so far so good... let's recap.

Inserting It

So this was the part I was initially most worried about (in retrospect maybe it should have been the removal, but I guess I worry about one problem at a time). Without reading the instructions because I know a few people who've used it I had an idea of how it works, I folded the little sucker in half and wedged it up in there. It feels like it fits snugly and at the same time it feels like nothing at all. So now I've had it in for about an hour and I don't mind it.

Only after did I read the instructions and let me tell you, some of them made me chuckle.

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You can wear the cup when you go to the bathroom, but after defecating check if the cup is still in position. 

Just wasn't expecting it and it made me chuckle. Definitely will check after pooping now. Actually I'll probably remove it if I'm pooping to be honest... the idea of fishing it out of the toilet is more disturbing than the idea of taking it out for a bit. 

The cup is not a contraceptive and does not protect against sexual transmissible diseases. Don't wear during sexual intercourse. 

Okay, so who thought it would be a good idea to fuck with one of these things in? I, for one, don't feel like there's room.

Keep away from children and animals, specially rodents.

I get the wanting to keep it away from kids and pets... but why specifically rodents? Please cup creators, if you read this one day, fill me in. What does the cup do to Mickey and Jerry?

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I plan to empty it out before bed tonight and use it through the night. So I'll pop back here in the morning to update you (whoever you are you sexy mystery person interested in period cups) on how it all went.

In the meantime here are some videos I found while trying to find the video about the environmental impact of pads and tampons.

Stuff Mom Never Told You

Buzzfeed: Women Try Menstrual Cups

Also the app I've been using to track my period is called Clue and I highly recommend it. This is the first time it's been off and it has a lot of other great tracking features to help you monitor your sleeping habits, your mood and a bunch of other stuff.

Tata until the morning lovies!