Does the keeper/mooncup definitely avoid all risk of TSS?. The UK marketing site certainly stresses the importance of keeping it clean, while suggesting that bacterial build-up is probably due to the high absorbency of tampons. The US one gives several quotes about the under-reporting of TSS but never says that you can't get it while using a mooncup. I don't think there's any medical evidence as to whether or not TSS remains a risk.

Yay! It's the My Paper Crane tampon again. :D

I honestly didn't think Toxic Shock Syndrome really and truly happened anymore. I mean, you'd have to keep tampons in all day, for many days, right? I'd like to see some statistics on how many cases there are a year now.

Also, I've mentioned my discomfort with the Instead cup (which is like a diaphragm), though I *might* be willing to try a Diva/Moon Cup or Keeper some day. But what the hell are you supposed to do when you're not at home? You can't exactly walk out of a bathroom stall with a cup full of blood and clean it in the sink!?!

I love my Diva Cup. String_bean_Jen, if you are curious, there is an LJ community devoted to cups, and your question comes up fairly regularly. Here are some solutions:
1. Change it every twelve hours. For most women with lighter periods, this is fine, especially after the first and heaviest day. For me, I am never gone from home (or from private bathrooms) more than twelve hours.
2. bring a bottle of water in the stall with you to rinse off the cup
3. Use handi-wipe type cleaners till you are alone
4. Just clean it out with toilet paper till you are alone

I also clean mine out in the shower, which isn't going to help you mid-day, but might make your mornings or evenings easier.

Whenever you clean up your cup, you risk getting a little bit of blood on your hands (though you won't necessarily) but women should understand this. Hell, I got more blood on my hands changing tampons than my beloved cup.

I adored my Keeper until my Intersitial Cystits flared up and I found that wearing anything internally exacerbated the pain.

If you can't go the internal route, lunapads are a cool way to make less menstrual-time trash. Plus, the water you soak the pads in makes a great houseplant treat. :-)

yes! Word to the lunapads. I switched over years ago and am never going back (unless there's camping involved).

I have yet to try the divacup/keeper, but looks like I'll give it shot sometime.

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

ALL HAIL THE MOTHERFUCKING DIVA CUP!!!

I wish I'd found this amazing, Christ-like invention when I first got my period.

SBJ: Dump it in the toilet and wipe the outside with toilet paper. Your vagina won't mind a less-than-thorough cleaning - there's already blood in there anyway. I rarely have to dump mine in a public bathroom (it holds a TON) and I use the shower method like JLP - it's the easiest thing ever. And, um, your hands are washable.

Since getting my Diva Cup, here are the wonderful things that have happened in my vastly-improved life:

-My monthly post-period yeast infections are completely non-existent. I haven't had a yeast infection since I started using the cup. Healthy vaginal secretions are no longer being sucked up by that little cotton devil, and smelly bacteria isn't accumulating because the cup collects, not absorbs.

-Oral sex on my period is five million times more enjoyable (for both of us). Less messy, less smelly (that's not vagina shame talking - we all know that tampons cause mad crotch rot), less obtrusive, no fighting a string.

-I am not spending shittons of money on tampons and pads. It paid for itself in, like, 5 months, and it lasts for 10 years.

-I have not ruined ONE, SINGLE PAIR OF UNDERPANTS with spillage. It forms a watertight seal with the walls of your vagina. This little miracle has to be positively overflowing for it to leak even a little bit. Hell, I went SWIMMING IN A WHITE BATHING SUIT on my heaviest day. No lie.

-I have the smug, liberal satisfaction of knowing I'm not contributing to the millions of disposable "sanitary products" that are destroying the environment and that my money is not going to misogynistic, woman-hating companies that profit off of vagina shame.

-Having a rather heavy, 9 day period, I'm no longer running to the bathroom every 3 goddamn hours to change my SuperMaxiMonsterTruckSized tampon, since the Diva Cup holds so much you could eat cereal out of it.

-If I think I'm getting my period or if I'm not sure if it's finished, I can pop that little bitch in without worrying about the dreaded non-saturated "dry removal" of a tampon (which is actually dangerous and causes infections).

-I don't have to take a stock supply of tampons in my pockets, purse, or travel bag everywhere I go.

-I can wear it safely for 12 hours (and honestly way more) and know I'm not going to get TSS.

-I can sterilize it in boiling water, but it can be cleaned perfectly fine with warm water and a little mild soap every few days.

-Comfort. You know that "ewwww my saturated tampon is slipping out and it's hurting when I walk!" feeling? Well, I don't!

-You have to touch your pussy to put it in (and yeah, that's a fucking bonus for me).

Seriously, I love this thing so much I've bought it for all my friends for Christmas. I'd sell my family members for my Diva Cup. It's better than everything all around: health, money, environment, convenience, satisfaction, politics, sex etc.

If you're super hung up on touching your vagina or seeing your own blood, then you suck and don't deserve something as awesome as the Diva Cup anyway. There are no excuses-it's the best thing ever. I'm going to get a tattoo of it on my face, that's how much it rules.

(FYI: You can get 'em at some Whole Foods and it's cheaper than ordering online).

Holy smack! Thanks for all the info Jenlovesponies and TheSoyMilk Conspiracy! SoyMilk, you made me laugh with some of your points. I shall look into The Diva or Moon Cup. If it's more comfortable inserting and taking out than the Instead cup, it could be a winner!

I've been thinking of getting a menstrual cup... any info on the Keeper vs. the DivaCup? They seem virtually identical, but I'm wondering if anyone has a preference.

I just want to say that TheSoyMilkConspiracy rocked my world with her DivaCup review. I laughed out loud, woman.

But yeah - once you get the Diva Cup there's no way back. Even with an IUD in.

Coshea, may I recommend http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/tag/comparisons&reviews for you? There are hundreds on women in that community, and some with plenty of time on their hands have posted some entries comparing their experiences with the Diva verses the Keeper verses the Moon cup. There are also pictures, diagams, and illustrations to help with inserting.

SMC- I second each and every one of your points! I would marry my cup if it were legal. Its fantastic for oral sex- my boyfriend hates blood, any blood, and used to refuse to give me oral sex during my period, because tampons just prevent blood from escaping, and pads especially don't. Now he loves to go down on me during my period (though, TMI, I find that my pussy is a little drier, because, duh, the cup is stealing my secretions. Its still better).

I have a lot of friends with whom I have shared the idea of the cup, but most are too squeemish ad whiny to buy one. I still have some friends who don't know how to use tampons, even, so I am not shocked they hate the idea of the cup. I have even had some people who can't verbilize why they hate the idea of the NuvaRing, but its the same old hate your body but let men touch you here anyway bullshit.

I got a Diva for my mother, who doesn't hate her period for the first time in 40 years. And she is a heavy bleeder!

French Jes: Hell to the yes. I have an IUD and I love it almost as much as my diva cup and the two don't cause any problems for each other.

And to chime in with the Instead cup discussion: Instead can suck my balls. I tried it and it's so ineffective I can't believe it's still on the market.

Coshea: The difference between the Keeper vs. the Diva Cup is that the Keeper is made of rubber and the DC is made of medical-grade silicone (which is non-porous and what all your sex toys should be made out of as well). The DC was created in response to the Keeper for women who were allergic to rubber and couldn't use the Keeper. Though I've only used the DC so I can't compare, I would go with that one because I think silicone is better for you than rubber/latex anyway, and the DC can be boiled to be sterilized.

So yeah, the difference is in the material and that's about it.

And thanks for the love everyone...I'm basking.

String_Bean_Jen: yes, TSS still happens. TSS is a systemic infection usually caused by staph. aureus; men and women can get TSS, and a person does not need to be menstruating or using a tampon to get it. The incidence is much lower these days, mostly due to awareness of the TSS-menstruation link (and the removal of the disgusting Rely tampon from the market), but it's still estimated that about half of reported TSS cases occur in menstruating women (of course, no one can say for sure that a woman who get TSS while menstruating would not have gotten TSS had she not been on her period--i.e., correlation vs. causation).

Sorry, I love women's health.

I'm kind of glad the whole diva cup topic came up again. There was a thread a while back (at least a few months) and people were posting about alternatives to pads and tampons. I just want to say a huge thank you!!! After reading the thread I ended up getting a diva cup. I had a hard time getting used to it at first, but I was able to fix what was bugging me and I'm having my first happy period ever. I've always hated tampons with a passion, and I'm realising now just how uncomfortable pads are. I really never knew how to look for alternatives before, so thank you to everyone who posted on that thread.

I wonder if the right-wing religious fascists will try to ban this as well. After all, its effective and safe--two things that make them very uncomfortable.

Just wanted to chime in and say how much the mooncup changed my life. It's incredible- mindblowing almost. I hated my period so much, I just could not believe how long I was going to be stuck with the pain, the horrible changing of tampons, the leaks, the 7 days without sex... the cup has basically given me back my happy life during menstruation. My friends that use it say the same- my pal that uses an iud without hormones has very heavy periods, but is not bothered by them anymore, due to the cup! praise the cup! im glad that tampon users can feel safer, but really, the cup is the be all and end all for me.

I'm not pulling a cup full of menstrual blood out of my hooha in a public place. I'm glad if other women are happy with that option, but I'll stick with (frequently changed) tampons. Call me a filthy polluting earth-hating bad feminist, but it's never going to happen. (And I did try it at one time, so I know for a fact that I'm not comfortable with it.)

June: Um, ooookay. Whatever works for you - nobody's prying tampons out of your hands. I don't really see the difference between pulling a menstrual blood-soaked thing out of your vagina and pulling a menstrual blood-filled thing out of your vagina, but you also called it a "hooha," so I guess I'm not surprised by your arbitrary feelings of discomfort.

Just a comment on the keeper - I went into my local health-food store to look for one, and they said they stopped carrying them... Because they didn't sell well and because women kept RETURNING them. So my guess is the idea didn't appeal (can understand - if you aren't adjusted to the idea it might be a turn-off) but then to top it off it didn't work for people... Otherwise I think I would've gotten one myself. At the moment though I'm just looking for tampons that keep the odor to a reasonable level (I'm not for spraying perfume down there, but I like feeling/smelling clean) but don't have unfriendly substances in 'em...

I rarely have to clean mine out during the day. It's part of why I love it. Shower in the morning, insert after cleaning, wear it all throughout work, come home, clean out, reinsert. Then clean it once again before bed. Or do what I do, switch to cloth pads while you're at home. (Sometimes constantly taking the cup in & out makes me irritated, so I use a pad/cup super-combo!)

Obviously, everyone here loves it, but what about the size? It looks awfully big to slide in comfortably to me. (Full disclosure/possibly TMI: I find anything bigger than a regular tampon a little difficult to slide in.)

Do you just get used to it, or is it ok from the start?

I rarely have to clean mine out during the day. It's part of why I love it. Shower in the morning, insert after cleaning, wear it all throughout work, come home, clean out, reinsert. Then clean it once again before bed. Or do what I do, switch to cloth pads while you're at home. (Sometimes constantly taking the cup in & out makes me irritated, so I use a pad/cup super-combo!)

prairielily -

Yes, it is a bit odd at first, because it sits so low compared to a tampon. Also, the little tail on the bottom for removal sometimes has to be trimmed if it pokes you. But once you learn to insert it correctly, not only does it take no time at all, but you literally forget its there. I used to check it all the time because I thought for sure it *must* be leaking, but it never has!

prairielily -

Yes, it is a bit odd at first, because it sits so low compared to a tampon. Also, the little tail on the bottom for removal sometimes has to be trimmed if it pokes you. But once you learn to insert it correctly, not only does it take no time at all, but you literally forget its there. I used to check it all the time because I thought for sure it *must* be leaking, but it never has!

You pull the tampon out by the string, you don't grasp the tampon itself. And I'm pretty sick of the judgement and leaping to conclusions (Women who use tampons are ashamed of their body!) fans of these products indulge in against those who dislike them. Feminism is supposed to be about having choices--notice I specifically said I'm all for having options and if other women like these products, great.

"Hooha" was simply an attempt to be humorous. Get over yourself.

I'll stick with my environment destroying maxi pads, thank you very much.

I wish I could use a Diva cup, but my GYN said "No, no, no" when I asked about using it with an IUD, and I've heard horror stories about people dislodging their IUDs with it (because of the seal it creates against your cervix), and the resulting pain + expense of having to have them replaced. So I guess I'm stuck with tampons, because I'm pretty attached to my IUD :(

When I lived in Ireland, I had the pleasure of the acquaintance of two Nigerian doctors. One of them was SHOCKED I knew what TSS was. I explained to him that everyone in America knew about it, and he explained to me that Nigerian women just DON'T, and that he had seen scores of cases walk into his general practice. The patients had been surprised to learn that tampons are meant to be changed out more than once.

So yeah. Even if you don't think it happens here, know it happens elsewhere.

I have to weight in on the side of the diva cup. I've had mine for about four years and I could never go back to anything else! Once in the morning, once at night, and forget about it. It took one or two cycles to get used to insertion, but that's well worth it. I also trimmed the tail off the bottom, and I can't feel it now at all.

In all this time, I've only had to change it in a public restroom once. If you find you must, just carry a couple of handy wipes and it's not a big deal. But again, only once ever have I had to do that.

Does anyone know the name of the ones that are like the Diva Cup but disposable? I'd rather try cheaper disposable ones first than spend over $30 on something that ends up not working for me somehow.

And also, the reason I even use tampons is that I have a crooked body (scoliosis that couldn't be completely corrected) so pads would always end up doing weird somersaults in my underwear.... Does anyone know if this would be a problem with the Diva Cup (like, maybe it wouldn't suction because of my crookedness)?

Other than that, I worry a little that this supposed breakthrough fiber might be found to be carcinogenic in thirty years or something like that. Am I the only one who thought, "oh god, not more chemicals that are supposed to be good for me!"? (And does anyone know if this is even something that needs to be worried about?)

I'm wearing my DivaCup right now. I love it so very, very much. I'm a poor graduate student, so not having to spend money on disposable menstrual solutions means I have more money for beer.

Wait, I mean for books. Yeah. More money for books.

Regarding the size of the divacup, i was extremely terrified when i first picked it up. I didn't believe it would fit inside me, I find regular sized tampons uncomfortable, nevermind anything bigger. Adding to the fact I'm very slanted, I was really unsure of it. But once you get the hang of getting it in and out it works fine. I also had to trim the stem of it, it was painful otherwise, but now I don't even know I'm wearing it most of the time!

June: Sigh. You pull the cup out by the stem in the same way you pull a tampon out by the string. I don't squat on the floor, pop my cup out, and dump it all over me. But yeah, saying "Whatever works for you - nobody's prying tampons out of your hands" is being super judgmental and an attempt to take away your "choice" to use tampons. I don't remember advocating that we criminalize disposable tampons and pads, but whateves. You should realize though, that a bunch of feminists raving about a product that you don't happen to like isn't a personal attack on you or your feminism.

Waxghost: the disposible cups you're thinking of are called Instead, and as I have previously stated, they can eat me. They're not at all the same thing as the Diva Cup/Keeper/MoonCup. They're shaped like a saucer/diaphragm and they leak like nobody's business. You just have to spend the 30 bucks and try one of the cups for yourself if you're interested (and you should be!) - I personally think they're worth a shot. (And, as stated, they're less than 30 at Whole Foods - 25ish I think)

And to answer the "it's so big!" worry: yeah, it looks big and like there's no way in hell it would be comfortable, but you don't feel it in the same way you don't feel a tampon. As Danyell said, you usually have to trim the stem (I did), but once it's in, you seriously can't feel it. The vaginal canal really doesn't have that many nerve endings.

Mags: I've used both an IUD and a cup for years and had no problems. When you remove the cup, you pinch it, which breaks the suction seal, so you're not actually vacuuming out yer cervix. I will look more into this though, because I've never heard of IUDs being a problem with cups.

For all the people asking if the cups are going to work because they're small/big/tilted etc...nobody knows. Unfortunately, everybody's different and there's no other way to know if a cup works for you than to try it yourself. I recommend using it for 2-3 periods (with a pad as backup) before giving up, because some people take a while to get used to properly inserting it (I got it on my first try, though).

Waitwaitwait. This gets better. I just made my way over to the DivaCup website, and a customer wrote a poetic testimonial to her DivaCup. You will so love this...

------------------------

Diva, this is for you:

Because of this Diva I don,
I am no longer a slave to the 'pon
It fills me with glee,
To know that I'm free,
And saving this world we live on.

I go through my day with ease,
There is no string there to tease,
It catches it all,
Before it does fall,
I now live without boundaries.

So now when I go to the John,
There's nothing for me to check on!
And it is so great,
To know that my fate,
Is not in a Kotex nap'kon.

Diva must have come from the gods,
I think they have the best odds,
To have made something great,
That seems so innate,
And all who know share applause!

Clare from Alaska

Proof that chemical engineering solves everyday problems. Woot.

Waxghost-
I believe you can clean and return it with a receipt to the DivaCup folks if it doesn't work out for you. For a year or something. Anybody else have a link?

Calling my discomfort "arbitrary" was pure doubachbaggery, and you know it. And I don't believe I ever said anyone was trying to take tampons away from me, I was merely pointing out that I preferred them. And you should realize that someone having a different opinion on a product isn't a condemnation of your enjoyment of it, BUT WHATEVES.

Calling my discomfort "arbitrary" was pure douchebaggery, and you know it. And I don't believe I ever said anyone was trying to take tampons away from me, I was merely pointing out that I preferred them. And you should realize that someone having a different opinion on a product isn't a condemnation of your enjoyment of it, BUT WHATEVES.

ALSO, I know you don't "squat and dump blood all over the floor", LIKE I SAID, I've actually tried these products. Way to both twist how tampons are removed and how I supposedly think cups are removed, you disingenuous asshole.

Whoah, June, calling someone an asshole, particularly SoyMilk who has been nothing but helpful on this topic, is harsh and unnecessary. I've been following this thread all day and there is no need for posters to attack one another based on their choice of menstrual product. We all make the best choices for ourselves and we can respect each others.

I'm NOT attacking her because she likes the cup. I don't give a damn what feminine hygiene product anyone chooses to use. I'm "attacking" her because she was disrespectful (starting her first reply with a snotty "Umm, okay"), twisted my words, and turned MY original comment into an attack on women who use this product when all I said was that I PERSONALLY didn't care for it.

That seems like such a gimmick. They have SO many different tampon "options" out there like Tampax Pearl, Playtex GentleGlide, etc., and superficially, it sounds good that women have a variety of choices but to me it just seems very consumer-driven. If you use your tampons correctly your chances of getting TSS are tiny, but I'm sure once these new tampons are out on the market, there will be TV commercials for them using scare tactics to get women to spend their money on them.

My period is so short and light that I haven't bothered to invest in a divacup or anything. I used to use my diaphragm as a cup, which was really neat, but I ended up getting BV, so I stopped (and then my dog found and ate the diaphragm anyway!). Now I just use organic tampons without applicators on the first day and a pair of Lunapanties on the next.