Cloth Pad & Menstrual Cup Discussion Thread

[onthefly]

So, Keeper, Diva, Mooncup - which is better?
And I'd need a few cloth pads too, right, in case of leaks...?

[Nicole Tracy]

Mmmmm.... a very good question indeed! I have a mooncup, and I'm really happy with it... but I haven't tried Diva or Keeper.

I have a few friends and patients who use mooncups and all are pleased with them. There must be a wonderful BB woman who has tried them all and can give some feedback. If not, I may have to take it upon myself to be the guinea pig for everyone!

Good question - looking forward to hearing some feedback

xxx

[paradise lost]

I've used the Keeper and the Diva. They're both much of a muchness, though i find both a little long and trim the extraction stem right off at the bottom of the cup so it can't stick into me. I have seen photos on the internet of all 3 next to one another and i think (might be best to check) that the mooncup is the most petite in length - they all have similar rim diameters.

Personally if i am asked i advise women to buy a silicon cup (moon or diva) simply because after 3 years of use i developed a rubber allergy from the keeper. That won't happen with everyone, but it CAN'T happen with the medical-grade silicon products.

Bx

[Smoke Jaguar]

Bec, this is what swayed me into the Mooncup - I nearly went the Keeper until I started to read about allergies. I don't think I have an allergy now, but that's not to say that after exposure to it I wouldn't develop one after a while.
I still love my Mooncup...3 months on! I just think it was such a positive way to await the return of my period after so long not having it after giving birth

[paradise lost]

Due to the Mirena my Diva is on hold just now, but i did make a bunch of cloth pads out of an old brushed cotton cot-sheet. They're white which isn't really ideal, but they seem to work fine for my light AF. I know exactly what you mean about it being positive Mayaness - i can remember first getting my Keeper and for the first time ever looking forward to my period and suddenly realising that all the "mainstream" products made me feel by inference crappy about my body. Dirty and annoying and hassly. With the Keeper it was like the light suddenly came on "wait, this ISN'T dirty, it doesn't NEED to be a hassle!". I've been a roaring woman ever since

Bx

[Nicole Tracy]

Medical grade silicon is definitely the best option allergy-wise and would be less prone to cleaning problems. I think I'm still leaning towards recommending Mooncup as the ultimate menstrual cup

xxx

[Kitt3n]

ok, these maternity pads are giving me "nappy rash" lol - has anyone tried the sckoon giza pads?

[beckles]

OK update on my new diva cup. very comfy, easy to put in and take out. Not one drop of leakage even Day 2, my heaviest. I am really comfortable with my body, my womanly bits, free and easy...definately NOT a prude BUT i would rate the ICK factor of using the Diva 10/10 still. the whole fishing around to remove it, empting the blood, rinsing and re-inserting is, well, just not pleasent for me. anyone else have a high ick factor that reduced as they got used to it. i really love the convienience of using it so much so the high ick factor will not stop me but just wondering if you get used to the whole confronting sight of empting a cup of menstral blood down the loo then cleaning it out.
maybe i am a prude!
beckles

[paradise lost]

OK update on my new diva cup. very comfy, easy to put in and take out. Not one drop of leakage even Day 2, my heaviest. I am really comfortable with my body, my womanly bits, free and easy...definately NOT a prude BUT i would rate the ICK factor of using the Diva 10/10 still. the whole fishing around to remove it, empting the blood, rinsing and re-inserting is, well, just not pleasent for me. anyone else have a high ick factor that reduced as they got used to it. i really love the convienience of using it so much so the high ick factor will not stop me but just wondering if you get used to the whole confronting sight of empting a cup of menstral blood down the loo then cleaning it out.
maybe i am a prude!
beckles

Beckles the ick factor definitely does decrease with use - after 3 or 4 months you DON'T fish around, because you know exactly where to look - like your fingers find the stem/base without any effort or thought, you are so USED to seeing the blood in the cup and watching it settle in the loo and the last of it wash away in the sink, you no longer think about it, and in general the most revolting thing i've encountered since then is the sight, one month i was abroad and forgot to take the Keeper with me, of my usually tidy-in-the-cup menstrual blood smeared messily like toxic jam on a disgusting pad and tampon, both of which i could hardly bear to touch to get rid of them. I can remember before having DD the sight and smell and feel of someone's baby drooling or (even worse) eating messily and putting spit or food on me *actually* made me retch, but familiarity breeds acceptance, since DD passed through the dribbly/weaning stage i don't mind a bit of food at all. Once a baby at toddler group i was holding while his mummy ran to the loo was sick all down my new top and when the group leader freaked and began asking for wipes from all the other mums i was like "nah, he's a baby, nothing horrible comes out of a baby". Never thought i'd think it, let alone say it!

Give it a bit more time hun, the ick goes as familiarity gorws.

Bx

PS the girl who introduced me to Keeper is SO OCD she would take our plates to wash them WHILE WE WERE STILL EATING and she loves her cup. It's just a matter of getting accostomed to seeing the blood in that context. Afterall, poo on the pavement is to be avoided, but poo on our little lovely's bum is to be carefully wiped away....

[maz]

Hoob hon...you need to give me your addy again please..i have an international envelope here screaming to be posted to you with a pattern

AF is due tomorrow..typical..cant keep family away for chirstmas now can we

[onthefly]

Thanks ladies.
I think I'm leaning toward mooncup if it's a bit shorter - I'm a bit, er, short there too I think
cheers,

[beckles]

hoob thanks for your words of encouragement, i hoped it would get easier, i really do love it.
beckles

[alioops]

OK, I am pretty much convinced. I need cloth pads and a mooncup. Can the mooncup be used for PP blood or does it need to be a PP pad? I am about as freaked my the huge number of brands as when I first started using MCN. Man, I need an IRL shop!!!

OK I need a decent list of what is good, I want PUL backing (My poor pelvic floor isn't quite what it used to be, so I want some protection when I sneeze) and preferably bamboo in the middle.

I prefer Bikini undies or G's, sometimes wear boyleg though. Not fussed about wings or no wings, as long and it doesnt bunch majorly and leak everywhere I am happy.

I am generally medium to light flow.

[Kitt3n]

ali, check out the swaddlebees ones - from weewuns - i think they will suit you.....

[1MOREPLZ]

OK i am thinking about venturing into getting some cloth pads...although i must admit i HATE wearing pads!!!! makes me feel like i have wet myself.... would also be willing to give these 'mooncups' a go aswell....
so any good tips?? what are good brands etc??
HEAVY flow here

[BellyBelly]

Have you thought about getting some acupuncture for your heavy periods? I noticed the difference after one cycle and never had heavy periods again Very happy customer here

[1MOREPLZ]

Thanks BB..NEVER thought about that..actually never knew about that...
they have always been heavy right from the get go (20 yrs ago...god makes me feel old!!)

[onthefly]

OMG, it's been 20 years for me too! Thanks for reminding me Katones and making me feel old