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

The question was asked in another thread about a Luna, and rather than hijack that thread, I thought I'd start a new one.

My initial response was to the letter to P&G, and I made the comment that I don't deal with pads or tampons anymore since I got my Luna. Ray asked me what a Luna was. . .so here we go.

The Luna cup, Diva cup are alternatives to pads and tampons for your cycles. They work along a similar theory of the diaphram - think CUP. It covers your cervix, catches the blood internally in it's little cup, and you empty it, rinse it and resuse. They are made of silicone, very soft, very supple, and come in various sizes. Also, you can use the cup for up to 10 hours at a time!! Much better than six for a tampon and "until messy" for pads. Additionally, my experience has been that I've had less infection issues since switching to the luna.. .probably has a lot to do with NOT having wet, warm cotton shoved. . .ahem. . .up north.

There is also a disposable cup on the market currently called Instead. I keep a box of these at my office just in case I get caught by surprise. They are constructed similarly, however, with the Instead since it doesn't have a "stem" and is simply a pliable cup, you can actually have s*x during your cycle. No mess. Spouse can't feel it either. How awesome is that? Finally! Finally, someone got smart!

Hmmmmm...............sex during the cycle eh? Thats a selling point for me!!! I always want it during that time but am just not comfortable with the mess.

Now....ok so the cup goes up there and there's a string attached to pull it out? Now.....how does the blood stay contained when you pull it out? I guess I'm not seeing how it works? I mean I see how it works but not how you take it out?

LOL. . .ok, lesson time. Sit up straight and pay attention. Here's how each works:

The Instead (available at Walmart) looks like one of those jelly bracelets all the kids are wearing - you know the ones that say "Livestrong" and stuff like that? Well, around the bottom of the "bracelet" part is a thing membrane. You squish it together, one sdie to the other, and insert it, stopping when it reaches your cervix. Let go, it'll pop open, against the vaginal walls, thus catching the fluid. When it's time to extract, you hook it with your fingertip, slide it slowly out, and dump it in the toliet. Wrap it in some tissue and discard.

The Luna's and Diva's are similar in theory. No strings, no cotton. Nothing that can harbor the growth of bacteria. Think, trombone mouthpiece? Goes in the same way, is smaller than the Instead, but works with natural (safe) suction against your cervix. Blood exits the uterus, through the cervix, and into the Luna/Diva. There is a stem on the bottom of those, sometimes you need to trim it. It does not extend past the vaginal opening. You cannot have sex with the Luna/Diva b/c of the stem, which is why I use Instead if I'm feeling particularly amarous.

I'll try to find some links and bring them back and post. You can look at them, check them out. If you are considering such a change, I'd suggest purchasing a box of Instead (about $6.00) and trying them first. They are different than the Luna/Diva, but the theory is the same. I find my periods to be MUCH more sanitary this way, and I'm not in constant fear of anything leaking. I've yet to have a leak with the cup.

Huh - I was curious too so I searched the web and found this site for the Diva cup:

http://www.luckyvitamin.com/857538000022.html

I had seen the throw away ones in the store but I just thought I would have trouble getting it in because I'm overweight.

Tranq

Can you use tampons? I don't really know that it has anything to do with being overweight or anything.

The Luna I prefer b/c it is softer (or so I've heard) than the Diva, and also comes in two sizes. . .regular and small. I'm built really small ~ even after two kids ~ so I needed something a little smaller. The Luna works beautifully. I have also found, believe it or not, that I've not had cramps since using it. Weird, but a nice perk.

Yup - I use tampons, so maybe. I didn't keep searching but I hadn't seen the luna on line?

The Diva
http://www.divacup.com/?gclid=COCQ4u...FQU7UQodsEaWtg

The MoonCup
http://www.mooncup.co.uk/index.html

Instead (by the box, disposable)
http://www.softcup.com/

The Keeper
http://www.keeper.com/?gclid=CI_E-pat540CFUtyOAodGyT90w

<font color="green">Please don't get me wrong these cups are great BUT you do need to empty them a bit more often than once a day. I used one in my teens and because I was scatterbrained ended up with endometrisosis. So empty it morning and night and more if you tend to flow heavily. Endometriosis is an ugly disease and I am aware that this is not the only way to get it but most doctors will tell you they really don't know why women get it.</font>

Yes, like a tampon, you're supposed to keep them in no longer than 8 hours at a time. I was seriously considering getting one of these cups, but when I found the time limit, that made it not worth my money or my while. I normally would change more often than eight hours, but I wanted something I could leave in up to, say, 14 hours, because I sleep more than 8 hours, and when I'm on my period, it can be up to 14, and I hate the mess when I wake up.

Sounds gross.

I prefer to skip my period via the pill and only have it a couple times a year.

My dr is fine with that ... there are no issues with it ...

I'm still just picturing a cup full of fluid, trying to remove it blindly without spilling haha. I don't know.....and I don't like the idea of having to "fish" for it to take it out. I don't think I've ever reached in as far as my cervix. Maybe its just fear of the unknown.

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dalila said:
<font color="green">Please don't get me wrong these cups are great BUT you do need to empty them a bit more often than once a day. I used one in my teens and because I was scatterbrained ended up with endometrisosis. So empty it morning and night and more if you tend to flow heavily. Endometriosis is an ugly disease and I am aware that this is not the only way to get it but most doctors will tell you they really don't know why women get it.</font>

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None of the cups cause endometriosis. That is a rather "not so old" wives tale.

Secondly. . .the Instead specifically, can be left in for up to 12 hours, not eight.

And lastly. . .I've never had to "fish" for anything. You put your finger in, maybe up to the first knuckle and there's the rim (Instead) or the stem (Luna). You don't actually have to reach all the way up to your cervix.

Ewww wow I feel about 15 again learning about tampons. I just can't wrap my mind around it!

Well Ive never heard of such a thing. But we are still using leaves in Scotland!

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allthegirls6 said:
Well Ive never heard of such a thing. But we are still using leaves in Scotland!

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LOL you guys are too much.

Despite what seems like "LOTS" of fluid, you really only loose about a tablespoonfull of blood with each tampon/pad. So. . .the cups aren't "FULL" by any means.

Relax. Nobody says you HAVE to try it. I was just making the point that there are OTHER alternatives out there. Each woman is unique. Trying something new is how we discovered the tampon.. .so it might be worth it to try a cup. ::: shrugs ::: It's up to you.

I have to say I'm intrigued. Maybe one day when I've got money to spare I'll give it a whirl lol!

What causes endometriosis?
No one knows for sure what causes this disease, but scientists have a number of theories.

They know that endometriosis runs in families. If your mother or sister has endometriosis, you are six times more likely to get the disease than other women. So, one theory suggests that endometriosis is caused by genes.

Another theory is that during a woman's monthly periods, some endometrial tissue backs up into the abdomen through the fallopian tubes. This transplanted tissue then grows outside the uterus. Many researchers think a faulty immune system plays a part in endometriosis. In women with the disease, the immune system fails to find and destroy endometrial tissue growing outside of the uterus. Plus, a recent study shows that immune system disorders (health problems in which the body attacks itself) are more common in women with endometriosis. More research in this area may help doctors better understand and treat endometriosis.

Yeah, with most of these Cups, there's a stem to pull them out. When I was considering them, I forget which one it was, but one had a longer stem, and I was going to go with that one.

I thought I read on those sites that you could only keep them in for 8 hours. Where did you read they can stay in for 12 hours? Is it on the Instead page? I don't think I considered that one, actually...I remember looking at at least three kinds, maybe four, but don't remember if Instead was one of them.

As for using birth control to have fewer periods, I used to do that. I absolutely agree, Diva, it's great. You said you only have your period twice a year? Are you outside the US? I always hear they recommend at least three periods...my gyno also said that. However, I've heard of people doing more, or avoiding their periods entirely. I read about one gyno who hadn't had a period for six years, at the time of my reading. I think it was in one of those women's magazines, like Marie Claire.

Anyway, my problem is, I'm 39, and I worry about the risk increase of taking the pill, now that I'm older. My gyno had said it was ok (I think I was about 36 at the time), but I was still nervous about it. I don't smoke or anything like that, but I'm overweight, and I worry about blood clots.

The Instead can be left in place for up for 12 hours. It's also the ONLY cup that can be left in place during s*x. I personally think that's very cool.

Really? I'll have to look into that. Thanks!

I've never heard of these cups, so this thread has been very informative! I am a long time diaphragm user, for over 20 years. These cups sound just like a diaphragm. I have often liked the way the diaphragm works during my period, to keep all the blood contained. Now they have a product that does just that. I guess a question would be, you can't use the diaphragm with one of these things simultaneously, right? With the diaphragm, you just hook one finger over the rim to pull it out, so I don't get the need for a stem on these products. It did puzzle me that the link someone gave for the Diva, it says for women "post-childbirth and/or over 30. "Why would that be? I have used the diaphragm since before I was age 20 with no problem. Why would this be different?

I think the point with the Diva has to do with size, since it only comes in one size. It might be too large for a woman who's never birthed a child. Diaphrams are custom sized. . .unlike menstrual cups.

I use the Instead during my cycle if we want to have s*x. It says on the box, that it is NOT a contraceptive. . .but, if I'm on my period, the odds of getting pregnant are LOWER than normal, AND I have a barrier in place (the Instead). I don't sweat it too much.

I liked the Instead a lot b/c of it's shape and simplicity. Getting used to the Luna took a little time, with the stem and all. and the stem is there b/c the Luna, the Moon, the Diva are ALL shaped like trumpet mouthpieces. There is not "hooking your finger" b/c there isn't a place to do that. You grab the stem, pull gently. . .like a string on a tampon.

Quite an informative topic! These cups seem a bit expensive for me. Anyone know where I can get them for real cheap?
Also, why doesn't it need to be fitted just as the diaphragm? What if it's too big or too small around my cervix?
Teacher, are you there?

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Gracey said:
I think the point with the Diva has to do with size, since it only comes in one size. It might be too large for a woman who's never birthed a child. Diaphrams are custom sized. . .unlike menstrual cups.

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Well, that's odd, because my cervix didn't change size after I had kids. I have always used the same size diaphragm, from before kids, to after the first baby, to after the second. Maybe this is unusual?