Luna's, Diva's, Instead's. . .alternatives. . .

That's a good question, withit...why aren't these cups customized? I have never had a baby, and I don't want something that would be too large, or at least uncomfortable.

Why don't men get periods? Darn it...we'd have such great solutions to these menstrual problems then! LOL!

LOL They aren't uncomfortable at all. The cup is made of medical grade silicone, so it is soft, and pliable. MOST women have no problem with sizing. . .belive it or not no matter how big or small you are weight wise and heighth wise, most women have a very close in size vagina and cervix. Aren't you guys familiar with your own goodies? LOL Women who weigh 400lbs and women who barely weigh 100 can often wear the same size cup. Diaphrams are custom fitted b/c we are trying to prevent LEAKS INTO the cervix. . .they have to be tight. Cups do not. . .b/c they expand to the walls of the vagina, and even if there is leakage (which I've NEVER experienced with mine) it is minimal. But diaphrams, even a little leakeage can mean pregnancy.

They don't hurt. . .in fact you can't even feel the dang things. I had the problem with tampons that I could feel them for the first half hour or so. . .the Luna doesn't give me that problem at all, largely due to its construction.

Instead. . .which is a disposable cup is available on the market now at Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger, pretty much anywhere that sells tampons and pads. They run about $6 a box for 18. Not bad if you want to try. Because you can wear instead for 12 hours at a pop, they come out to be more economical than tampons.

If men had periods we as women would get paid leave from work every month for ours. Men are babies. . .cramps would be call for National Disaster Assistance.

I know most women are about the same size, but I've had different gynos tell me different things: Either I'm "tiny" or I'm "normal."

I don't feel tampons if I get them in far enough, but once in a while, I don't, and they can be quite painful in that instance.

Which brings me to another question. This one is kind of gross and weird, but I need to know, LOL! With a tampon, I can pee without changing it, if it doesn't need to be changed, but pooping pushes it a little, where it hurts me, so I have to remove it. (For the record, I have pain with intercourse, which no gyno has been able to solve, giving me all kinds of diagnoses, including the size ones previously mentioned, and there's a area inside that is rather sensitive to anything inside.) Do you think that would be a problem with the Instead cup?

You say you get 18 in a box? With the Diva and Luna Cups, I think you only get one. So, what, are Instead Cups disposable or something? Do you change them or wash them?

These are really looking promising for me, just on the wearing for 12 hours alone. I might get them for my next period.

Ok this is gonna be gross lol but I take them out too when I have a movement because of the string....ew. I would guess these alternatives would have better results in that area.

Good point; does it get pushed out when using the toilet?

life before the Diva Cup was expensive, leaky and crampy. why suffer when relief exists already? didn't know about Luna cup or Lunette versions. was aware of Keeper as the original of these methods. nice to have latex rubber, silicone and other materials as choices.

The collection method works wonderfully for many and is such a great alternative to absorption methods.

Although there are many good absorptions methods still avail. that are less landfill impacting than current disposable absorption products. Glad Rags has a plethora of diff. sized pads, undies and the like....many from organic cotton. There will be controversy over almost anything that deviates from the "norm" so we'll make passing mention of sea sponges (sterilized) as yet another option in the absorption arena.

money is tight right now so the convenience of the disposable INSTEAD® Softcup® will have to wait until finances allow such luxury conveniences. can't wait to try though for the times when convenience can be a choice over necessity.

le différence dans vie !

LOL Ok, I'd lost the thread.

B/c of how Instead fits inside your body, as well as the Luna (and I'd imagine the Diva and Moon and Keeper) they don't pop out, slide out, push out, or otherwise expel themselves from your body. The Instead sits against your pubic bone, which although your vag muscles *flex* during bowel expulsion, they bone never moves. The Luna (and other cups) work of a gentle suction principle, and I've NEVER had one move. I guess maybe if you're exceptionally full of impacted poop you MIGHT be able to pop it loose.

You ladies make me laugh!

I located a couple of stores that carry Instead, but after doing some research online, they're not for me. I need something with a handle or whatever to pull it out. I will get panicky if I have a hard time getting it out. Additionally, my interest is to reduce mess while sleeping (for as many as 12 hours), but from what I've read, removing the Instead cup is messy, as you have to grab the edge of the cup and pull it out. *Sigh!*

I'm on my period now. On the bright side, Tampax Pearl Lites finally are available in individual boxes.

What on earth makes you think Instead is messy? I just got done looking at the site, and I didn't see anything about it being messy. And you CAN wear Instead for 12 hours; says so on the site and on the side of the box.

I guess I look at it this way, you're going to have to pull something out, you know? Pull it out, wash your hands. Instead and my Luna isn't any messier than a tampon string.

I know you can wear it for 12 hours...I didn't say you couldn't. I didn't say I got the info from the site; I got it from a review. Specifically, this one at The Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health. Some of us research more than an advertiser's site, because advertisers want to sell us products, whereas, an honest review tells the good and the bad, and doesn't have the agenda of wanting us to buy a product.

My tampon strings don't usually get covered in blood. And I don't have to reach inside me to get the tampon out. I would have a panic attack if I had difficulty in getting the item out, even if I did get it out eventually. I need it to be easy.

I wash my hands every time after I use the bathroom, but I'm still grossed out and uncomfortable with blood on my hands. Call it a hang-up. I don't care.

Here's some more "messy" reviews, from a quick Google:

http://www.drugstore.com/qxp40597_33...ection_cup.htm
http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Instead...splay_~reviews

ok, I have a question that may not be able to be answered... since having my 3rd child 3 yrs ago (by c-section) I have been unable to wear tamons at all because they cause so much pain (prob unrelated to the birth but happened at the same time). I am wondering if using a cup might be the same>>> painful?? Otherwise they look like a fantastic alternative to me

From what I've read, if you have a tilted uterus, it might be a problem (not necessarily painful, but leaky), but otherwise, I can't tell you.

when i saw that my first thought was its going to be a balloon looking thing popping out of my vagina....but you say it doesnt look like that?? where does it go then when it fills up...wouldnt gravity have something to do with it....and lets just say it breaks...now im sure it hasnt but for my sake ...wouldnt that be dangerous having something full of your blood pop while still inside your body?? I mean that would be an easier way to get toxic shock syndrome correct? Honestly..im a pad girl myself...i get such heavy periods i have to change my pad (which were the heavy duty pads to be sure) every half hour for the first two to three days...otherwise i will be quite noticable to everyone else....i dont know....im afraid to try it.....

I'm afraid too. I think its the concept of change. I know what I'm used to lol. I remember when I finally switched from pads to tampons, the change was a big thing to get used to. I never even knew there were thins other than pads and tampons, so the whole idea just kinda freaks me out tee hee.

It doesn't "pop" or anything like that and has very little to do with gravity. The ONE time I've neglected my cup, it leaked a bit - I felt it and remedied it right away. It doesn't back up. . .I'd imagine if you didn't remove it and empty it it would eventually break it's seal and slide out, but we're talking HOURS past normal wear/change schedule.

Additionally, I have a tilted uterus as well. The first cup I tried was too large and did not work effectively. It wouldn't "seal" at all. I ordered a smaller size, and viola! Perfect. The Luna comes in the smaller size.

As far Instead goes, I checked out the other sites as well. I'm not certain why these women had such issues, but I suppose anything is possible. I work and live near a large research hospital and they conducted a study here for Instead (which I missed out on!) with 2500 women. I can't find the link (will keep looking though) but I recall that a large percentage of women were happy with the cup and the alternative to traditional menstrual methods.

My gyn gave me information about the cups and the lowered risk for TSS. I found this particularly convincing for me as I've already had one bout with it during my teens.

I'm curious. . .what's the big deal about touching your own body? Is it just a lack of understanding about how your body works or would it be related to abuse issues?