What do you think about tampons and pads?
A necessary evil? Kind of uncomfortable? Or just inevitable, so what are you going to do about it?
But what if there are alternatives?
This week I’ve been talking about getting to know our bodies better, and I thought it was time to talk about the way we handle our periods.
Femallay is an awesome company that’s decided to partner with me, and they approached me to talk to you all about some of their products that make sex easier and more fun–like their flavoured vaginal suppositories that help with lubrication. But when I took a look around their website, I was actually really excited about their menstrual products, too, and I thought that I’d talk about those, even before we talk about lubrication (which is a good thing, too!)
So let me tell you about my journey with reusable menstrual products.
It all started in 2007 when we were getting ready to head over to Kenya again as a family, to visit the Mulli Children’s Family. This is an awesome Kenyan-run children’s home, where about 800 minors live full-time (and the home also supports hundreds of graduates, giving tuition to higher education, jobs, and more). Anyway, one of their big problems was menstrual products. They cost the same in Kenya as they do here, even though the average wage is so much lower. So you can imagine how much money they’d have to shell out every month to keep hundreds of girls and female staff members supplied with menstrual products!
So I got a group of women together and we started making reusable cloth pads. They’re super easy–flannel on top, fleece on the bottom, towelling or other material on the inside (you can even use old raincoats cut up!). We had a couple of big sewing parties at my house, and took about a thousand over with us next time we went.
We had an assembly line going at my house with people cutting (that’s actually Rebecca when she was about 13):
And sewing (here’s my mother-in-law!):
Until we had a bunch done.
Then we took them to Kenya with us with tons of material so they could make them, too:
It honestly was one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.
Reusable Cloth Pads Make Your Period More Fun
But while I was doing that, I started to notice: when you can use your own flannel, they’re kind of cute. And they’re soft. And I hated that “plastic” feel of regular pads. So I thought, what if I could wear them, too?
(Here’s where this post may start getting in to the Too Much Information category. Sorry! 🙂 ).
So I started using some of my own, but then I had great fun shopping online for ones with different patterns and with different construction (we just made rectangles, and some with wings. But you can buy them with inserts and all kinds of fun things!).
And I started wearing them, and let me tell you–I would never, EVER, EVER go back. When we’re in the RV I tend to use disposables again, and I HATE it. I get rashes. It feels scratchy. But these always feel soft. And they’re not that hard to clean, either. I just stick them in a big plastic container with a lid with cold water (and I throw in some baking soda and essential oils sometimes, too, but not always), and then you just dump the water and throw them in the washing machine, and they come out great. It really is very easy.
Disposable pads can have harsh chemicals in them, and bleaches, and like we were talking about on Monday with women who have recurrent yeast infections–often these products are the cause. But you can get organic cotton material or microfibre or all kinds of great natural fabrics in cloth pads that won’t irritate you at all.
Femallay has such cute pads, too!
And when you have cute ones that look pretty, somehow your period doesn’t seem so dreaded anymore.
And you can make such a cute little kit for a little girl who is just getting her first period, too! She could have disposables for school if she really wanted, but comfy, cute ones for home! Check them out at Femallay.
But that’s not all the reusable menstrual products you can use, either. Menstrual cups are great, too! For reasons that would seriously be TMI I’m not going to tell you why I don’t use them, but Rebecca, my oldest daughter, swears by them. So I’m going to let her explain them.
Here’s Becca:
Menstrual Cups
What are they?

Image from Femallay.com
A menstrual cup is a reusable silicone product that goes inside your vagina and collects all your menstrual fluids. You simply remove the cup, dump the contents in the toilet, clean it off, and then re-insert it and you’re good to go.
The menstrual cups (pictured to the right) are inserted so that the opening is facing up–the little knob on the bottom will be near the opening of the vagina so that it’s easier for you to remove the cup. You insert it by folding the cup, inserting it like a tampon, and then allowing it to open up either by wiggling it or turning it until it’s in place.
There are pros and cons to the menstrual cup like with any other kind of product.
Here are some of the things to consider:
- Con: These can be psychologically uncomfortable for some women. If you’re squeamish about putting your fingers “up there,” this may take a while to get used to, or else maybe use Femallay’s reusable pads instead, as they don’t require insertion. For those of you who aren’t as uncomfortable with the idea, though, these are an amazing product.
- Con: There can be leaking. However, if there is leaking that simply means it’s been inserted incorrectly. When you’ve gotten the hang of it, the leaking stops. If you haven’t inserted your cup correctly, causing it to not open fully, some blood can leak out the side. The simple solution is to wear a panty-liner or a pad for the first few months along with your menstrual cup until you have fully learned how to insert it so it properly opens up, creating the seal that doesn’t allow any fluid to escape!
- Pro: These are super cheap! You only need one menstrual cup, and they can last for years! (It’s recommended to replace them every 3 years). That’s only $10 a year! That’s like the cost for one period for many women when you’re using disposable products.
- Pro: It makes you feel like you’re wearing nothing at all. Although the insertion aspect may make some women uncomfortable, the silicone completely moulds to your body and it feels like you don’t have anything down there at all! I’ve always hated wearing pads or tampons because I didn’t like how bulky pads were, or the little string of tampons. I found it uncomfortable. Having a cup is amazing, because I don’t feel like there’s anything down there I need to be careful about.
- Pro: You only need to change it twice a day! Seriously, this is one of my favourite parts. I change it in the morning, when I wake up, and then in the evening before I go to bed. And that’s it! When I use tampons, to reduce risk of leaking I had to change ever 3-4 hours.
- Pro: No toxic shock syndrome. With tampons you have the risk of bacterial infection, but not with these guys! Knowing girls who have forgotten about a tampon overnight and needed to go to the hospital, this is a major plus for me. This also means you can sleep with these in!
- Pro: No having to awkwardly dispose of a tampon at a friend’s house. Or have friends accidentally see tampons or pads in your garbage can. It’s easy to simply empty your cup before you leave the house and then you don’t need to worry about it for hours!
- Pro: Easy to clean. All you have to do is rinse them whenever you empty the contents, and then after your period simply wash it with a mild, unscented soap and periodically boil it when there is any discoloration. Then just store it in a cotton bag so it has plenty of air circulation. That’s seriously it!
You can see them at Femallay!
Sea Sponge Tampons
There are also sea sponge tampons that you can use, that are also reusable, and super easy to use (wet to soften, insert, then take out, rinse, and use again!). And they come in different sizes, too, so virgins or teens can try them as well.
Again, Femallay offers a variety of sizes.
You Don’t Have to Be a Hostage to the Drug Store for Your Period
There really are alternatives that aren’t plastic and that aren’t harsh and that aren’t scratchy. And they’re so much cheaper in the long run, too!
Everyone I know who uses a cup says they would never, ever go back. I can attest that I would never go back to regular pads again, and I wish I had found them twenty years earlier.
So let’s talk in the comments: anyone else use reusable menstrual products? What are your favourites?
I’ve been using a Diva Cup for a couple years now and I *LOVE* it! I can’t imagine using anything else. The only problem I have is in my new house, I have to be aware of when I need to change it because my master bathroom’s toilet is 10 feet away from the sink, so I have to use a different bathroom and make sure it’s clean (it’s technically our mud room/my husband’s sink for washing car parts.) Other than that, I really like how it works, and hope I can teach my daughter when she’s old enough.
That’s actually a good question–when is a teen old enough? My girls got comfortable pretty young because they both worked as swim teachers and life guards and simply had to use tampons early, which makes everything else easier, too. But I was super squeamish when I was a teen, and wouldn’t have been able to handle it. I guess it depends on your teen!
I have reusable products, and without my cup I wouldn’t have known that I have weakness and prolapse after my second baby. Now I just need to get it fixed so I can get back to using my cup!
Wow! That’s scary. I hope they can fix it soon!
Had anyone with a cervix that angles back (posterior) tried these? I tried using the instead cups but they don’t get a good seal for the angle of my cervix.
I’m afraid to make an investment on these!
Great question! I hope someone will get back to you.
Me! Mine tilts so much it’s darn near impossible to find. I use a Super Jennie. It’s quite a bit softer than most reusable cups so it conforms to my body easily. It is a but trickier to get it to pop open but Red Herring has a great YouTube video with tips just for this.
I have a tilted cervix too. I started using the cup over a year ago….it took me a long time to get confident with it. I do have light leaking, but the cup catches the majority, so I wear a light pad. I really like the cup even though it leaks with my tilted cervix.
I have a retroverted uterus and use the diva cup and I much prefer it to tampons. However, it does leak when my flow is heavy and it gets full so I always have to empty it multiple times during heavy days and wear a back up pad.
Despite that I don’t want to go back to tampons. Having tried to the alternative, I’m really disturbed by howl dried out tampons make you feel. Now I only use tampons only for swimming since I sometimes leak. Plus, you can insert the cup before you even get your period if it’s near that time and it’s like nothing is there and you don’t have to wear a pad. I’m on my second cup.
One con I’d add to the list, though, is you should boil the cup in water every once in awhile. I do it at the end of most of my cycles before storing it.
Me! I have a tilted cervix, and I couldn’t use the Instead Cups either! I haven’t had a problem with the Femallay cups (I have used the Easy-Empty and Simplicity…and pretty much always go back to the Simplicity one, because my flow is very thick and I have a lot of clotting). I have no problems, despite having a tilted cervix, but it took a few tries in the beginning to learn how to make sure the cup sealed properly. I can feel if it’s properly placed now (it’s a bit uncomfortable if it’s off to the side of the cervix rather than around it). If it is off, I just insert a finger, feel for the cervix, and nudge the cup over until it’s covering the cervix. Takes a second! You’ll know it’s not properly positioned if it leaks or feel uncomfortable. Otherwise, you can’t feel it at all.
Me too !:( I got a good seal once and I can’t get it again. So bummed cause that one day was so awesome. My cervix is very tipped and the cups are a bit more money if they just won’t work.
I’ve tried both. I made my own cloth pads several years ago, and loved them– the laundry was a bit annoying, but I get pretty nasty cramps and I swear they weren’t as bad while I was using them! I did end up tossing them just before I got married because they had gotten pretty smelly, despite my best efforts to get rid of that. But I have a new batch cut out and I would love to go back to them. (After nearly 2 years of using cloth diapers, I think my husband will be less squeamish about it now!)
I did attempt a cup after I got rid of the pads, but I honestly couldn’t even insert it at all, despite multiple painful attempts. Stupid vaginismus. So I think pads are definitely better for that sort of issue.
I do find that the cramps aren’t as bad, either. I hear you about the vaginismus. I’m sorry, Becky. I know you’ve had a rough road with it.
I struggle with this issue, too — I just cannot use anything that I have to insert. I thought after having 4 babies it would get better, but it hasn’t. So I have resigned myself to using pads and I’m ok with that. I have never tried a reusable pad — my periods are pretty heavy — do they really soak up a lot? How often a day do you usually have to change them? Is it more then with disposable?
Hi Christina! When I was super heavy–like abnormally, something seriously wrong with me heavy–I would change the cloth pads every two hours. I found that they were much better than disposables. They can just be bigger and wider and you don’t worry so much. And I get you about inserting things!
I LOVE the reusable cup! It is so much more comfortable and I love that I don’t have to change it every few hours. Plus NO waste!
I really wonder what all these women using cups now are doing to some of the pad & tampon companies’ bottom line. I know so many people who have switched over in the last few years. It must be really starting to have an impact!
Thank you so much for posting this!! We do cloth diapers for our daughter but it never occurred to me I could use reusable pads. Might try the cup too although since I get HORRIBLE cramps when I use tampons I’m guessing the cup will do that as well. Why did this never occur to me before??
Hey Becca–actually I found that although tampons gave me bad cramps, too, the cup didn’t! (And I mean BAD cramp–I still get a lot of pain every month, but less of the burning pain that I got with tampons.)
I think that (NOT a medical opinion, just anecdotal) the chemicals in the tampons (like bleach and a myriad of others they use) were irritating me “in there” and when I switched to a more natural product it helped me a ton 🙂 Plus, because I have so much pain, it’s nice not to have to take it out every 3 hours!
My cramps decreased in intensity when I started using the cup! I agree with Rebecca’s response below… I really do think it has something to do with the chemicals. At the very least, chemicals can’t be helping anything.
Actually, I’ve found that I can often feel cramps coming on the moment I insert my cup. I think it has to do with the pressure. I don’t mind it so much, because it let’s me know it’s going to be a cramp-prone day, so I take a Tylenol before the worst of it hits me.
Not sure if you have enough cup users here but I’ll give my question a shot. I’ve been using a moon cup (knock off diva cup) since my second daughter was born and loved it, until after my third daughter was born when suddenly it felt like the cup was putting pressure on my bladder or urethra (internally), giving me the same kind of irritating twinge you get when you are first coming down with a UTI. It also made my cramps CRAZY painful. So clearly something changed after that birth because I didn’t have any issues before. Is a cup like you mentioned here “softer” or more flexible that maybe I wouldn’t have that problem? Anyone else have any recommendations for cups that are less firm than the moon/diva cup? Or anyone else experience this?
Most other cup brands are softer than the Diva! I have a Super Jennie. It’s definitely on the soft side. Do you have a bladder prolapse? What you describe sounds very similar to how other cup users have described their cup experience with a prolapse.
I guess I don’t know! I just googled it and I do not have any of the symptoms, and I had a full physical just two weeks ago and my OB didn’t say anything, so if I do it is very minor. But I’m having a “duh” moment because both my mom and her mom have had a prolapse bad enough to require surgery. Unfortunately they botched my mom’s (the kind with the mesh net) and nicked the tube that connects her kidneys to her bladder and it took her years and multiple surgeries to correct, so I’m not too eager to go that route. I am pregnant again with my last (hopefully) so I will continue to watch for a potential prolapse and will ask about that during postpartum visits.
For now it just feels like the cup is too hard. Would an inability to keep the cup in be a sign of a prolapse? I have to take the cup out to go #2 or else I will be finishing it out of the bowl! (TMI?) I thought that was maybe from too strong of PCs down there, since all three of my babies came out in one or two pushes. (Apparently I mean business when it comes to pushing. HA!) Even then I wonder if a softer cup would be better so it could bend more with the changing shape of my muscles instead of being forced out because it’s too hard. Does that make sense? Or would that mean my muscles are too weak?
This is just my personal experience, but I first used a Diva Cup (the one for women without children), and it was just uncomfortable due to the size. It was too long/tall, too wide, everything. For all the times people have said you won’t feel a menstrual cup, I definitely felt it!
I switched to the MeLuna Shorty, and haven’t had issues. This website (http://theecofriendlyfamily.com/2012/04/what-menstrual-cup-is-right-for-you/) has a size chart, and shows some options for softer cups. In general, women with strong pelvic floor muscles benefit from a firmer cup, because otherwise their strong muscles could bully the cup and cause it to bend or pucker. I don’t know for sure, but I would guess a softer cup would be better for you, as maybe you’re still regaining strength and your current cup’s firmness may be bullying you. A shorter cup may help too, because you can insert the cup maybe 3/4 the way up so it won’t put as much pressure near your cervix. If you go too small, though, you’ll have to empty it 3-4x per day instead of 2x. I wish I could be more helpful, but I hope that gives you something to chew on. Good luck to you, and congratulations on baby #3!
Thank you! That “baby” is now almost three, so the cup feeling weird has been an issue for a while. I could use it on days three through seven no problem, but it’s all too irritable during my crampy days. (Am pregnant again so not using it right now.)
Would the cup falling out during a bowl movement be a sign of strong or weak muscles down there? I assumed strong, because I’ve pushed all my babies out in one or two pushes. It made sense too me that “effective” pushing and a firm cup would be a bad combo because it can’t accommodate the muscle movement so I thought even then a softer cup would stay in better so it could just bend when I push instead of being pushed out! Or is that actually backward logic and weak muscles are the reason I can’t hold it in?
I’m part of a large Facebook group of cup users. Most people can’t keep their cup in during a bowl movement. The only way I’ve had success with it is to sort of hold it in place with my finger.
It sounds more like you have strong pelvic floor muscles. It sounds like your body has changed enough that you might need a different brand of cup. I’d probably go for something a bit softer.
I would go to YouTube and search for “how to choose a menstrual cup” or something like that. I could give the name of a good channel here if Sheila would allow. That type of video helped me make a good choice.
Good idea! Thank you!
I use a Super Jennie cup and love it! I will say, if you continually have leaking with your cup you might need a different size or brand. There are so many shapes and sizes that not every cup will work for every person. The Diva is the most readily available in the US but is definitely not for everyone. It’s one of the longer cups and is quite firm. I’d suggest doing some research before buying a cup. There are a few very informative YouTube channels – Red Herring and Precious Stars Pads for example. The biggest piece of advice I can give is to ignore the cup manufacturer’s size guides. Measure your cervix height while on your cycle and use that as your guide for how long of a cup to get.
I switched to a Diva Cup about a year ago, and without exaggeration, I can say that it has changed my life!
Now there’s no more of that feeling that’s so hard to describe, though every woman knows what I’m talking about: that uncomfortable sitting position you adopt to keep everything in place, that oozy gush you feel once you stand up, that clumpy waterfall you experience when you sneeze. With the menstrual cup, I don’t feel any of that; it keeps all the fluids from traveling down far enough to even feel it. I can sit cross legged on the floor with my kids, can sleep all night without carefully keeping my knees together or sleeping on my side as still as possible, and I can even go swimming without that constant worry of attracting sharks (maybe that’s just me?).
Suddenly, “that time of the month” is no longer something to dread and to plan my days around. When I know my period is about to begin, I insert the cup and can go about my day exactly as normal. I will never go back to painful tampons or crunchy pads again!
A couple of other things to note about cups – not all users are able to go the full 12 hours before emptying. Many women find their cup is full (usually discovered by leaking) after only a few hours.
Also, many cups have a lifespan of up to 10 years, not the 3 years mentioned in the post.
True–some women have to change it every 5-6 hours, I’ve heard.
And yeah, they can have a crazy long life-span! I’ve read though, that not all cups are created equal so it’s important to make sure you’re replacing your cup if it’s showing signs of serious discolouration or it becomes very difficult to get fully clean. 🙂
I’ve never heard to replace it due to discoloration, only for signs of wear. You can soak your cup in peroxide overnight to help with staining or after cleanng it, set it out in the sun for a few hours.
And yes, not all cups are created equal! You can get cheap $3 knockoffs from China but the quality of the silicon can’t be confirmed. And not all cups are made of silicon. So there are options out there for anyone who can’t use silicon. I believe the other commonly used material is TPE, but I could be wrong.
Very true about the flow! And one thing I REALLY want women to know: My flow started getting heavy slowly, over a period of years, so slowly that I didn’t realize that it was abnormal. Kind of like a frog in the boiling water; they don’t hop out because it gets hot gradually.
So I went from heavy periods to having to wear super big tampons and super super super huge cloth pads at night, and I’d STILL leak. I was sleeping on towels, for pity’s sake! And one day I was laughing about this with a family doctor friend of mine, thinking that this just happened to ALL women as they got into their mid-40s, and she said, definitely not okay. I should get it checked out. I was also seriously anemic.
So I had an ablation procedure and life is SO MUCH BETTER. I just didn’t realize there was something wrong (I had fibroids; that’s why I bled so much). So all that to say: If your flow is super heavy, and you think to yourself, “You know, it wasn’t like this five years ago,” then maybe it is time to see a doctor. I’m not saying that everyone with a heavy flow necessarily has a problem. We’re all different. It’s just that we don’t talk about this stuff and I honestly thought I was normal. I couldn’t leave the house for more than 2 hours at a time on my heavy days because I would leak! And I still didn’t know there was a problem.
I will say a cup was helpful to me for that very reason because I could literally “measure” my blood flow. I already suspected I had low progesterone (which can cause heavier bleeding) and that was further confirmed when I went through my cup (almost 30 ml) in about two hours several times for those first few days, whereas most women on average bleed 80ml their ENTIRE period, so 90ml in 6-8 hours isn’t good. I started a bio identical progesterone cream and within 3 cycles my bleeding was back to normal.
I have to change mine about 4x a day for two days. But then my period is pretty much done. But yeah, I was annoyed at first because 2x a day sounded great! I use the Diva and I will never go back to tampons. And sometimes I’m in a tough place to change it when I need to (Target bathroom anyone?!) but I’ll still never go back!
I would love to try the menstrual cup but I’m not sure, I’m a virgin and I usually use tampons (the smaller ones) and I’m afraid that I won’t be able to insert it
Maybe watch a few videos from Precious Stars Pads on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/zcYK5wz4eu0
It is a little weird at first, just because it is more “hands on” than a tampon with an applicator. But if you’re comfortable with yourself, I’d encourage you to try it! Cups come in all different sizes, softness, and even colors, so there’s a good chance you’ll find a good fit for you. I would look into a MeLuna Shorty in size Small, which is 1.38 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. It’s one of the smallest cups on the market. For comparison, the popular Diva Cup is 2.25″ long and 1.69″ wide.
As far as actual insertion goes, this website (http://rubycup.com/start/faq/) has answers to almost any question you might have. Folding the cup different ways can make the cup smaller for insertion too, so it might be worth googling different folding methods. I hope you find something that works for you–who cares if it’s a tampon or cup! 🙂
They do come in a variety of sizes! My youngest daughter is in the same boat as you and is looking into them, too. (If you’re reading this, Katie, look, your mother revealed something embarrassing again).
Femmycycle​ makes cups in a few different sizes/shapes, including a smaller one they market for teens. Their cups are very comfortable, easy to insert and remove, have a folding rim that stops leaks, and are made in the US. I’ve used the teen size and the regular size, and they’re great.
I alternate between instead cups, disposable pads, and cloth pads. Due to the nature of my internal self, tampons don’t work. Menstrual cups don’t fit right and leak on heavy days, so I end up wearing a pad “just in case” anyway. Cloth pads don’t always keep up with my flow, and despite following washing instructions I find they stink after a while and actually hurt to wear.
But, I have always been an odd duck. So, what’s good for the goose and gander isn’t always good for this odd ducky.
I am done having children and wish I could just turn my ovaries and uterus off.
I love my cloth pads! I make my own, and my daughter’s, and some for friends. They are wonderful! There are Facebook pages dedicated to cloth pads (though some women like to use inappropriate patterned fabric, fyi).
Okay, now you’ve got me curious. Is “inappropriate patterned fabric” inappropriate because it’s not all-natural? Or is inappropriate because there are really funny things on it (like guy’s heads or something?) Enquiring minds want to know. 🙂
I tried the Diva cup and I hated it. I’m fine with putting my fingers up there, it doesnt make me squeamish. I’m 35 and have had 3 babies so I got the appropriate one and it never was comfortable and it seemed like it was too long. According to youtube videos, i was inserting it the correct way. It just never felt right. I could feel it and it hurt. I do have a very low sitting cervix while on my period so that must be why. So I’m on the hunt for a smaller one but I don’t want to have to buy them, test them out, and if they don’t work, be stuck with it and waste the $30-40 every time. I say all of that to say, I’m definitely now interested in reusable pads, especially for when I am at home. I’ve also looked into those period panties.
Thanks for this post!
The Diva Cup is actually one of the least user-friendly cups, I’ve heard–it’s one of the longer and more firm ones out there. So if you were experiencing pain, maybe instead of shelling out 30-40 dollars try one of the disposable menstrual cup options to see if it’s a problem with menstrual cups or just the sizing/firmness issue? Then, if you figure out what the problem is, it might make that $30 worth it to buy one that won’t cause you pain!!
Otherwise, reusable pads also work very well–especially if you’re working from home! 🙂
I’ve had great luck with Lunette cups. They have awesome customer service (I know that sounds weird). But when I was struggling to get the hand of it, they helped me troubleshoot via email. 3+ years and never going back!
there’s a youtube channel called Precious Stars Pads. i definitely recommend watching some videos. She has tons of informations. Meluna makes shorty cups, if the average cup is too large for you, and you could also try using a smaller sized cup. the Lena cup actually has a money back guarantee if you get their cup and it doesn’t work for you. 🙂
If you have a low cervix, the Diva Cup is not for you. I have a low to medium cervix, and I’m very happy with my Lunette cup.
Did you try inverting it? Press in from the bottom and flip the cup inside out. The stem will be on the inside, causing the cup to be shorter. I hated my Diva Cup at first, and after doing that its been great. Been using it about 8 years now. Once I knew I was going to use it inside out, I cut the stem off since its kinda just in the way there inside the cup.
That is awesome what you did for those women in Kenya!
I think for cups, it really depends on how your body is shaped. I tried a cup for one cycle and honestly hated it. I had to put it really far back inside to get it to catch everything, and then it was nearly impossible to get out. I’ll stick with my tampons for now (although since I start the pill last year, I have had very light or no periods).
With the cup, even though you have to only empty it twice a day, it’s super awkward in public bathrooms where there are private stalls and then public sinks.
Reusable is the way to go, if just economically speaking! In response to your work in Africa, there is a fabulous organization called Days for Girls that is volunteer based and produces very high quality cloth pads. They make up these great kits with enough supplies to last a girl 3 years (enough to finish school) and then any organization doing mission or medical work can take the kits to distribute and provide hygeine teaching. I love participating in the Sew-a-thons our local chapter holds (there are jobs for no -sewers too!), its definitely worth looking in to.
We have groups who sew for Africa here, too! And I’ve found a charity in Uganda where you can adopt a whole school and give them cloth pads. I’m thinking of doing that as a challenge on the blog soon–where we can help grade 7 & 8 girls get pads, because your period is the number one reason girls don’t go to school!
I loved the quiz from putacupinit.com It’s a great resource getting recommendations for cup brands. I love my lunette!
I took their quiz after I had already started using a Super Jennie. I love my cup and have no problems with it. I don’t remember what it suggested but Super Jennie wasn’t it! ?
Sheila, could you please do a post about how as a mom, I should help my daughters through initiation to menstruation? Maybe your daughters could chime in too and say what helped or made it more embarrassing or what things you did that made it more positive for them? I’m thinking after this post that going reusable would be a good investment for our family in the future, but maybe disposable at first and then switch over as the girls become more comfortable & confident? Also any books or resources you recommend for this subject? Thank you!
ACTUALLY, I have something even better than that! As we speak, my girls and I are creating a course to help girls navigate puberty. It will be in two parts: ages 9-12 and 13-15. The girls are doing about 25 short videos explaining everything to the daughters, and I’ll be talking to the moms. But it likely won’t be ready until September! I’m sorry.
Oh, but you can sign up to my newsletter list (if you’re not signed up already), and then you’ll be notified when the course is out!
This is fantastic! My daughter is 6 and I am already kind of freaking out about this kind of talk — Lol. I have been lucky because I have 3 boys that are older then her so my husband gets to have all the “fun” talks with them — haha. Looking forward to this resource!
Awesome, Christina!
The Care and Keeping of You is a great book about all things related to the female body. I got it for my 8 year old and found it very informative without being too scary or overwhelming. There are two versions, one for older girls and one for younger.
Happy Lunette cup user here! One thing we all think about when considering whether or not to try a cup is the public bathroom thing. But if you’re not totally gushing so much that you would need to change your cup more often than 12 hours, you can just empty it in the morning at home, and at night at home. I do carry a wipe in my purse when my cup is in just in case it starts leaking and I need to make an adjustment at the mall or something. Then I can walk to the sink with no one the wiser. But honestly, I haven’t even had to do that. I’ve had a fairly easy time of it.
Something I’ve heard is that some cup users have lighter periods eventually after switching to cups or cloth pads. I think it’s from getting rid of the chemicals they put in the “regular” kinds.
I left this in a comment to another commenter above, but it’s worth mentioning here. Research before buying a cup. Know if you need long or short, soft or firm, etc. and there are YouTube videos that talk about the different cups and what they are like. Precious Stars Pads is a great channel for this.
I have had lighter and less painful periods after switching to the cup 3+ years ago. Never going back!
I have a question….I tried a cup a couple of years ago after hearing a friend rave on and on about how she loved it! I don’t know what I did or didn’t do but I couldn’t get a hold of it. It was leaking, so obviously it wasn’t in correctly but I started panicking and freaking out worried that I would have to go to the doctor and have them remove it. Finally after working and crying and practically hurting myself, I finally managed to get it out and swore I’d never try one again! But since reading this post and many of the comments, I identify with so many of the cons of tampons and store bought pads! I have the recurring yeast problems, hemmeroids a lot and I think that’s simply bc of the itching and horrible feeling that takes a week and a half to go away after my period is over, and just plain horrible periods with lots of pain! So, my question is, how do I learn to insert these silicone cups correctly? More to the point, how do get it back out?! I really would love to try it but I’ll have to work hard to not freak out! Lol thanks in advance!!
One way to help get it out is to push like you’re giving birth, or pooping, it helps push the cup down. Then you should be able to use two fingers (pointer and thumb for me) to give it a little squeeze to release the suction and out she comes. I use the diva cup and love it, call it my girlfriend. I haven’t tried any others so I can’t speak for removing them but I think it would be similar.
There are a ton of YouTube videos on different folds for insertion, it really does make a difference. Red Herring (just search her name on YouTube and you’ll find her channel) even has a video showing insertion using a clear water bottle. I found it very helpful. As for removal, I prefer to remove in the shower. Then I don’t have to worry about any potential mess. I squat down, bear down (as if trying to have a bowel movement) and then I’m able to slide my thumb and pointer finger up to the base of my cup. I punch the base to release the suction (otherwise you’re pulling your cervix down and that HURTS) and I’m able to pull the cup right out. If was super uncomfortable the first time. I was super sore and couldn’t wear it the second day but after that it got easier each time. I’ve used mine for about 6 months and now I can change it faster than a tampon.
Another tip is to practice insertion and removal when you’re not on your period. You’ll likely feel less stress and there’s no harm in wearing it for a while. Just know that your cervix can change position depending on where you’re at in your cycle so it might be a bit different when actually menstruating.
You can sort of fold your cup back up to make it smaller again for pulling it out. That helps some people.
Thank you so much!! I just ordered a batch of stuff and I’m so excited! I even called hubby and cried! I’ve had these issues for so long now and they’ve made sex a not very fun thing to do, so I’m super super excited to give them a try! Thanks again!!
A friend posted a link about cloth pads about 6 months ago – I looked into it and ordered both a cup and cloth pads as back up. And I would never go back! So much less pain – hasn’t really affected the actual period pain for me, but disposable pads & tampons make me extremely tender for days and cloth has totally fixed that. I ended up going with a Ruby cup – for every one you buy, they donate one to a school girl in Africa! (Plus they have an awesome little silicone container to boil it in the microwave at the end of your period.) Only took me a little while to get the hang of it and I’ve found it so much easier for work and life in general. No more having to go get my handbag every time I have to go to the toilet!
And for those who are worried about having to take it out in a public restroom, you don’t actually have to traipse out to the sink and rinse it. I have heavy flow and have to empty it at lunchtime for the first couple of days so I rinse mine properly morning and night and simply use a bit of toilet paper to wipe it out when at work. Easier and much less embarrassing!
I’ve been using reusable menstrual products for over 10 years and I’ll NEVER go back. I mostly use my Diva Cup but I also have an assortment of cloth pads. Right after childbirth, I use a folded cotton prefold diaper, switching to pads after a day or two.
My daughter has only used cloth. Hopefully she’ll never experience the wretchedness of disposable products.
My first cloth pads I bought off etsy. They were made by an eco conscious woman who bought flannel pajamas at thrift stores and re-purposed them into cloth pads and cloth diapers. For the crafty woman (not me!) the thrift store could be a cheap source of cotton flannel.
I never buy pads with PUL or other leakproof lining. There’s no need.
Thinx period underwear is my next purchase! I’m so excited to try them!
Slightly off topic, because they’re not reusable, but just thought I’d put it out there that you can have sex with the Instead menstrual cups in and you won’t have a mess. (Well you’ll have the usual mess, just not a bloody mess)
I know everyone is different-some women would have zero interest in sex during their period, but other women may find themselves MORE in the mood during their period and this could be helpful for them.
I love my cloth pads. I even made extra big ones for postpartum. I have found my bleeding has been reduced by about 50% including postpartum bleeding. And they are soooo comfortable. Disposable pads always made me feel like I wanted to climb the walls by the end of my period – no more craziness. 🙂
I’ve been using a Caya diaphragm for birth control. It’s also made of medicinal grade silicon, it’s super soft and comfy and I like it a lot.
I’m interested in getting a cup. Store bought pads don’t really bother me, but they are kind of wasteful. But I’ve been put off/ intimidated with all the different kinds and everything. How are you supposed to pick? How are you supposed to know how high/ low your cervix is? I know how to locate it, since you have to check to make sure you diaphragm covers it. But it’s not like I stick my fingers in other women’s vaginas on a regular basis. So how are you supposed to know what is considered high/ low/ forward/ tilted/ whatever?
When you stick your pointer finger in if it can’t touch your cervix, your cervix is high. Only to the first knuckle or so, and your cervix is quite low. I think past 2 knuckles is the normal range? There are really good videos explaining this if I’m not making sense.
Hi alchemist, I was interested in getting the Caya diaphragm too…I’m getting married this summer. I’m going to the doctor soon to get fitted for a diaphragm, how did you go about getting Caya in particular?
I literally told my OBGYN that I wanted it. I showed her the video and the site and everything. She didn’t know they were an option since they were only approved by the FDA in 2015. (I got married December of 2015).
So I asked for it by name. She gave me a prescription and the nurse dialed in a prescription to Walmart. I think they were the only ones that carried it at the time. Got is 2-3 days later. No problem. 100% covered by my insurance (Aetna).
The Caya is soft and flexible. So you don’t actually *need* to be fitted for it. It fits 80% of women. So unless you need to very small or very, very large diaphragm is should fit you (I forget the exact measurements).
I did practice inserting it before my wedding night. Glad I did, it’s a wee bit tricky the first few times. Lubrication helps. It’s pretty easy once you get used to it. My main challenge now is remembering to take it out in the morning 🙂
You’ve probably already seen it, but I would recommend getting the ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or lactic acid based gels (if you are using it with spermicide gels) and not the nonoxynol-9 (surfactant) based ones.
Congratulations! Hope everything is going well with your planning.
So I got a Luna cup. I got the larger size based on a quiz I took and the company recommendation. I think I could have gone for the smaller size. I’m really not that heavy. But once I cut the stem off it was fine. I’ve used it for about 3 months now and it’s great. It’s roughly 1000 times more comfortable than reusable pads. And you don’t feel sticky and uncomfortable and smelly like with pads.
It’s a bit tricky, but there are lots of different folds and once you get the hang of it, it’s marvelous.
Thank you for this post. I am pleased that reusable menstrual products are being promoted!
I use the Femmycycle cup and I love it! I feel dirty and uncomfortable when I use disposable pads but menstrual cups help me feel human and clean AND less stinky.
I used to think reusable pads were gross until I started using cloth nappies on my baby and I realised that cleaning cloth products is easy and it makes me feel good because I’m producing less waste and saving money. Also the thought of my dirty pad sitting in landfill for hundreds of years is a disgusting thought.
I was disappointed my cycle returned after 9 months postpartum but I’m excited I get to try cloth pads next month. Thank you again for this post, I hope it encourages others to try reusable.
My daughter and I changed to Diva cups and love them. Here’s my take on it…. http://srkindredspirits.blogspot.com/2015/11/run-dont-walk-and-go-buy-diva-cup.html?m=1
Anyone tried the Thinx underwear yet? I’m so curious to try this…but I’m pregnant right now so can’t test out anything for a while (but am anticipating things being different post-baby). I’ve looked at reusable stuff so often and am always worried to make the investment if I don’t like it.
Thanks for the post, Sheila. I am one of those who “icky” easily, and I hadn’t given reusable pads or caps much thought. Until your posts! What I am trying to figure out though; do the pads have inserts which are disposable or you re-use the whole thing. Or perhaps I just missed something.
On reusable pads in Kenya, I am glad they are working for so many girls. One of the concerns I’ve heard though is they can become a health concern in areas where there is no adequate water supply (like the arid areas), as girls don’t have water to clean them properly.
But I love the idea and I see how it works for so many.
Hi Ngina! Yes, the water supply is definitely a problem. That’s why the children’s home doesn’t use them there; they just give them out to all graduating girls and to the staff to use at their homes. It’s amazing what women all over the world have to deal with!
You can have some pads with inserts and some that are all in one. I’ve made the all in one kind, but lots of people like the insert kind. I think it’s just a preference thing!
I’ve been using a Diva Cup since September. At the time, I was the only person I knew who used one. But now, I found so many others! I had no idea there was so many different kinds of menstrual cups. I found the diva cup quite stiff so it’s good to know that there are different options.
One question that I have is that the Diva Cup instructions say that it should be washed with oil-free soap. I have a really hard time finding scent-free, oil-free soap. Is that an issue? Has anyone else found soaps that work really well with their menstrual cup?
I would avoid soda entirely! You can just rinse the cup really well during your cycle (make sure the holes at the top don’t have anything stuck in them if the Diva has holes) and then sanitize at the end of your cycle. Many people boil their cups or soak in peroxide overnight.
That was supposed to say soap, not soda! ? Also, Diva makes a wash specifically for cleaning their cups. You could look into that.
I switched to a cup last year and I will never go back. It took me a bit of time to get the hang of using it but once I did, it was great.
I bought mine because my husband and I deep woods camp and your only choice for disposables are to burn them (no, I don’t hate the environment, it is standard backwoods procedure for any burnable garbage) or pack it out. Call me crazy but no matter how well wrapped, I am not sending used hygiene products up a tree with my food in the bear bag just to lug it back many km to the nearest garbage can.
I have become an evangelist for these type of products I didn’t think I would ever use. It is great to see so many of us trying to turn the tides (pun intended).
Love the pun. 🙂 Own it.
I used a menstrual cup in the 90s, which I loved. But in the end I had to stop using it because it caused vestibulitis. Perhaps the newer versions are gentler on the lady parts. But if you start getting pain during intercourse, you might try not using it for a bit.
I’ve been using the sponge for about a year now and my favorite thing about it is that you can actually have sex during your period with it! And there is no mess *at all*. I had done some research into it and I guess early prostitutes used to use these so they could still work during their period week. My husband says he can feel the sponge a little in the beginning but once it gets pushed up he doesn’t feel it!
LOVE LOVE LOVE reusable menstrual products, especially Diva Cups.
I’ve been using a sckoon cup for about a year and a half. I won’t ever go back. Best thing ever. I don’t like to wear it overnight, though, so I have some GladRags reusable pads. My daughter uses and loves the pads too. We bought some fabric to make our own this time, tho, as the gladrags are a little pricey.
I love my sea sponges!! I’ve tried several cups but I have a low cervix during my period and they were just uncomfortable. Sponges were the answer. So soft and comfy I don’t feel them and I’ve saved tons of money. I even use them during sex on my period so there’s no mess. The sponge absorbs the seminal fluid too so no awkward rush to the bathroom immediately after.
So glad you commented on this. I am a bathroom mad dasher…within a minute usually and that totally decreases the after sex snuggle factor. What brand of sponge do you use?
Awesome! I love that you brought materials to Kenya to make them there. Reusable menstrual products have the potential to change the world for so many people in underdeveloped countries. Periods without having to spend money on menstrual products is kind of amazing.
Reading this post opened my mind of how preferable it is to use sustainable menstrual products. The products presented above aren’t just beneficial for people who menstruate but also to the earth. Thank you so much for this post. Cheers!
So glad!
I LOVE my mentrual cup. I went straight from pads to the cup (never used tampons), and it was only awkward for the first couple days. Now it’s great and I never want to go back to disposable pads.
I would like to mention that there IS a very slight risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome when using menstrual cups. It’s a very tiny risk (I think only two people confirmed so far), especially compared to tampons, but I would hate for someone to think that it’s just not possible and get sick as a result.
Basically don’t leave mentrual cups in for longer than 12 hours, clean them well, and you’ll be fine.