a couple of menstrual cup ?s

abby8279 · November 2014

So I am going to get personal for a moment. I use exclusively cloth pads for my periods. I have an entire stash of PIMPs and love them. I have enough for about 90% of my cycle. The part I don't like is those last few days where my period tapers off. First I have to wash my pads to have enough. And then I feel like it's a waste because most the time I change them without anything on them and have to wash them all again. Just for those last little trickles of stuff. So I was wondering about switching to a cup for those last few days. Would a cup be useful for that time? Thoughts?

Also I know there are many places where you can find comparisons of the different cups. Some are softer whereas some are more rigid. And some have longer or shorter stems. If you have never used one, how do you know what your preferences are? I could see if you have one and there were things about it you didn't like about it. I am just trying to prevent having to buy several before I find the right one.

mrshudson618 · November 2014

I think a cup would be good for those times. That was once of the best parts for me- I HATE pads, so used tampons as much as possible, and of course those times were too light for a tampon. So the cup eliminated pads then for me since you don't have to worry about TSS and drying out and all that.

I don't know about choosing a cup. I just went with the Diva because it was the most popular and cheaper.

Kelly11235 · November 2014

Don't let the length of the stem influence your decision too much. It's super simple to trim a too long stem.

As for brand, the only one I'd stay away from is Skoon. I've heard really bad things about their cups and their company.

I have a DivaCup and really like it. I'd probably have bought a Lunette if it was available back when I got one.

Brandiewine11 · November 2014

I have a lunette and love it. I use it for the whole time - I will never go back to pads or tampons if I can help it. There was little learning curve but after that its so easy. I also liked that when I was traveling for work, etc it would last most of the day without having to deal with it.

I just picked one that had good reviews, and I'm happy with my decision.

abby8279 · November 2014

Kelly11235 said:

Don't let the length of the stem influence your decision too much. It's super simple to trim a too long stem.
As for brand, the only one I'd stay away from is Skoon. I've heard really bad things about their cups and their company.
I have a DivaCup and really like it. I'd probably have bought a Lunette if it was available back when I got one.

Why?

flummadiddle85 · November 2014

Kelly11235 said:

Don't let the length of the stem influence your decision too much. It's super simple to trim a too long stem.
As for brand, the only one I'd stay away from is Skoon. I've heard really bad things about their cups and their company.
I have a DivaCup and really like it. I'd probably have bought a Lunette if it was available back when I got one.

The length of the cup is more important than the length of the stem. The Diva is one of the longer cups on the market, I think. It didn't work that great for me.... and fell like it was going to fall out half the time. I tried a Lunette too, and I still have to flip it inside out to try and shorten it a bit. I think the Lunette can also hold more than a Diva too.

https://menstrualcupinfo.wordpress.com/cup-stiffness-comparison-chart/

nauticalmama · November 2014

I like the Diva Cup. Easy to use, lots of videos on YouTube that can help you trouble shoot any problems. There are videos comparing several populat brands that could probably help you decide which one to try first. I'm mobile or else I would shoot some links your way.

Kelly11235 · November 2014

I'd have picked the Lunette because the cup is shorter.

But the Diva cup is fine too.

agm04 · November 2014

Another diva cup user/lover here.

Kelly11235 · November 2014

Oh...and I was one of those people that thought cloth pads and menstrual cups were icky and gross and swore I'd never use them.

But they're both pretty awesome, and now I can't see myself ever going back to disposables.

sschwege · November 2014

Kelly11235 said:

Don't let the length of the stem influence your decision too much. It's super simple to trim a too long stem.
As for brand, the only one I'd stay away from is Skoon. I've heard really bad things about their cups and their company.
I have a DivaCup and really like it. I'd probably have bought a Lunette if it was available back when I got one.

@Kelly11235 can you share what you've heard about Sckoon or provide a link? I've only used the Sckoon cup for one cycle, but really like it! Are we talking quality? Undesirable materials?

Kelly11235 · November 2014

Mostly what I've heard is from a video on youtube (link at the bottom).

But I've read that a lot of people have issues with the quality of the manufacturing, and when they contact the company to have them fix the problems, the company is really awful to deal with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRWZ_8REGhM

emilyp2013 · November 2014

Love Diva Cup. I've had mine since '08. Pretty easy to use. I use it full cycle. I get skin irritation from disposables. I am worried about postpartum, though, since I won't be able to use it. Will have to either bite an ouchy bullet and go cloth or be irritated. Though I wonder if I can just cover disposable pads with microfleece liners. Lol

jezica125 · November 2014

Another vote for diva cup which I got on amazon 3 yrs ago. I haven't had a menstrual related migraine since switching to it from tampons.

Kelly11235 · November 2014

emilyp2013 said:

Love Diva Cup. I've had mine since '08. Pretty easy to use. I use it full cycle. I get skin irritation from disposables. I am worried about postpartum, though, since I won't be able to use it. Will have to either bite an ouchy bullet and go cloth or be irritated. Though I wonder if I can just cover disposable pads with microfleece liners. Lol

I've seen that some people use infant prefolds as a cloth pad for the post-partum.

Though honestly, cloth pads are pretty nice too, and you could always use the PP pads as overnights?

Brandiewine11 · November 2014

emilyp2013 said:

Love Diva Cup. I've had mine since '08. Pretty easy to use. I use it full cycle. I get skin irritation from disposables. I am worried about postpartum, though, since I won't be able to use it. Will have to either bite an ouchy bullet and go cloth or be irritated. Though I wonder if I can just cover disposable pads with microfleece liners. Lol

I used 7th gen pads for PP. I get an awful rash from most pads but these were totally fine.

tinybugsmom · November 2014

So I am a cloth pad lover.... I am allergic to plastics so disposables are horrible for me. Tampons always gave me infections. So I did cloth pads for years.

I wish I would have tried a cup earlier. I use the Diva cup, just more readily available for me... I have 2 that I was rotating. I first bought it to use for a road trip, because I wouldn't be able to change a pad as often.... from the first time I used it I loved it.

I now mainly use the cup with a cloth panty liner. Even at night. It works great.

abby8279 · November 2014

Thanks ladies. Diva cup and Lunette are my front runners. Just can't decide which one. Decisions decisions!

Kelly11235 · November 2014

If you can afford to.... get both?

Two would make changes in a public restroom a lot easier.

musicalsilver · November 2014

I just wanted to chime in with another vote for Lunette. I bought it because it's a shorter cup and still has an impressive capacity. It is also a draw that it comes in such pretty colors! I have a blue size 1 from before LO and got a pink size 2 for my AF after LO. The size 1 still fits, and I do find it handy to have two to rotate between (or just use the size 1 for my lighter flow days).

12chachacha · November 2014

I love my diva cup! I haven't tried any others though, i got lucky with this one.

tjkdlhb · November 2014

I think it depends on your body type. I had a Diva cup and it really wasn't a good fit for me.

Love my lunette. I had to go with size 1 even though I am over 30 and have had a baby.

abby8279 · November 2014

tjkdlhb said:

I think it depends on your body type. I had a Diva cup and it really wasn't a good fit for me.

Love my lunette. I had to go with size 1 even though I am over 30 and have had a baby.

Soo funny you posted this b/c I just started another thread inquiring about Lunette cup sizes!

abby8279 · November 2014

@Kelly11235 I watched that Sckoon video on youtube and now I am strangely obsessed w/ Bree's videos. She has soo much knowledge on reusable menstrual products it's crazy! A teenager answering all my questions...what!? Love it.

Kelly11235 · November 2014

I know the feeling. I'm old enough to be her mother.

She has really awesome videos though.

Nikkipal82 · November 2014

I have the Lunette and I love it. It is nice that it can be worn for light days or heavy flow days. Honestly, OP, I think if you try a cup you wont want to use pads ever again (maybe cloth liners). Once you get over the learning curve, it's so great. With my flow, I only have to empty it every 12 hrs, and it's so nice to only have to mess with period things twice a day. Also, a good tip with public restroom changes is looking for handicap stalls that have the sink in the stall. Also, I cut the stem off (doesn't help with removal, you have to break the suction to get it out), so I wouldn't let stem length determine your choice. Prices are comparable on amazon. I don't remember why I got Lunette instead of Diva, I think it was based on online reviews.

bbyskittels · November 2014

@kelly11235, @tinybugsmom, @abby8279

where did you find these cloth liners and pads? Any particular place you like them? Most absorbent materials?

Right now I am so freaking happy I found this post-I would never have thought of a more eco friendly way to get rid of regular liners! I also read this for all the cup info. Yay-thanks guys!

painttheair14 · November 2014

I got the keeper cup because that's what my local store had!

It took one cycle to figure it out and I've loved it ever since! This is coming from someone who never even used tampons, so a cup was a huge step for me!

Kelly11235 · November 2014

I got mine from etsy and just looked for a seller with good reviews, and whose prints/styles I liked.

If you find a seller you like, it's sometimes worth doing a quick google search to see if they have a website or shop of their own, since they sometimes have better prices or more of a selection there.

abby8279 · December 2014

bbyskittels said:

@kelly11235, @tinybugsmom, @abby8279
where did you find these cloth liners and pads? Any particular place you like them? Most absorbent materials?

Right now I am so freaking happy I found this post-I would never have thought of a more eco friendly way to get rid of regular liners! I also read this for all the cup info. Yay-thanks guys!

As far as cloth pads- there are some bigger companies that sell them: Party in my Pants, Glad Rags, Luna Pads, etc. And there are many sellers on Etsy that are very popular: Pink Lemonade Shop, Yurtcraft, Terra Pads, etc. There are many choices in fabric, absorbent core, and backing. Also their shapes, lengths, and thicknesses differ a lot. There are a ton of reviews and comparisons on youtube. And tips on how to find the right pad for you and what you need to get started. Cloth pads are just like diapers in that everyone has different favorite brands/types.