Blog Update!
For those of you not following me on Facebook, as of the Summer of 2019 I've moved to Central WA, to a tiny mountain town of less than 1,000 people.

I will be covering my exploits here in the Cascades, as I try to further reduce my impact on the environment. With the same attitude, just at a higher altitude!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Glass menstrual cup

Just when you think you've heard it all. I was doing some research the other day and came across a new menstrual product that's not yet available in the U.S. yet, but may be making its way to our shores soon. It's made in Central Europe (Slovakia, I think) and it's a new menstrual cup.

So far, there are menstrual cups made out of medical-grade silicone (like the DivaCup) and natural latex rubber (the Keeper). But many people are averse to using either one because they are either allergic to rubber or don't want to use a plastic product. For those of you who want to use a cup instead of reusable pads and these are issues for you, you might be interested to hear that this latest product is made out of glass. Recycled glass in fact.

Apparently, due to economic circumstances in Central Europe and their excellent glass recycling program, using recycled glass in products has really taken off because of its affordability. Since it's easier to manufacture a solid glass cup rather that the complexities of a silicone or rubber one, and since they are virtually indestructible, the glass cup is making inroads throughout the region. The product is called, Papuča Sklo, which translates, more or less, to Glass Slipper or something like it. I like the fact that it's a pink, frosted glass, which adds a real girly look to it.

I would imagine that getting it in and out is a bit of a problem, but the benefits are great in that you are taking something out of the waste stream (recycled glass) to make this product, rather than contributing to it like with the silicone and rubber ones. Plus, you can really sterilize these cups since they are glass, which means you can boil them, put them in the dishwasher or whatever you like.

If this product becomes available here, I'll be sure to host a giveaway so some lucky reader can try it out! And, if you've gotten this far in the post and still believe a word coming out of my mouth, then I've got some property in Florida I want to sell to you.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

love that there's an option not rubber or plastic - but am seriously confused as to how to get this thing out!

hoorayparade said...

ha! i totally believed you. where in FL is that property? i'm very interested ;)

Elizabeth B said...

O_______o

Okay, you've got me expiring of curiosity. What is that actually a picture of?

Crunchy Chicken said...

The property is very well irrigated, some may say it has a bit of a drainage issue. But, it is otherwise well protected by the native species.

Elizabeth - it's an actual menstrual cup, a student project. Check it out, it has this neat curlicue pull tab thing on the bottom. But, alas, it is not made from glass.

Nikki Elisabeth said...

Omigoodness. Totally hate you. I spent the whole post going "WTF!? Seriously?!" and then killed myself at the last bit :P

Too bad I'm in NZ then. Property sounds fab ;)

Jenn said...

what if you drop it on a ceramic tile floor? or in the tub?

flutter said...

Even though it's a joke, my hoo-hah has clenched tighter than a nun's rear at the thought. Such terror!

Lori-Grace said...

I could just imagine the look on my face, say, in a restaurant, when I sit too hard on a wooden chair and BREAK IT.

OMG... My whole body was cringing while reading, also! hahahah

Farmer's Daughter said...

I was totally believing you. I thought for sure you were going to feature it on your next TV appearance :)

Anonymous said...

LOLOLOL the whole 'virtually' unbreakable got me. Umm..not a chance.

Kristin Craig Lai said...

I'm holding out for stainless steel ;)

koolchicken said...

I was wondering how a person was expected to insert it. The little "hat" on top is rather clever. I mean I know it has to be possiable, but I'm really not into vaginal gymnastics. I now feel the need to buy one just to be able to say I've tried it.

amandaginn said...

By the time April 1 rolls around, none of us will be falling for any of your foolery. Between this and the Ludacris link, you're a regular ol' "Girl Who Cried Wolf".

Crunchy Chicken said...

Amandaginn - Yes, I thought of spacing the posts out a little, but I just couldn't help myself. I'm having a very silly weekend.

thesimplepoppy said...

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who completely believed you! I was sitting here thinking "Holy Smokin' Crap!" Yeah, and what the hell is that hat/lid thing on the top of it?

Jordan said...

When I first saw the post, I thought, "Crunchy, it's not April yet." But you had me going there for a bit... I mean, people have come up with more bizarre things, I'm sure!

But no. Just no. I love my DivaCup, but no.

Sandy said...

OK, I'm really glad it was a joke. I was getting that creepy feeling in my nether regions, thinking about glass "down there"...scary proposition.

Brenna said...

Oh my you really had me going for a minute there. I just could not figure out how in the world that could be a good idea... too funny!

Brad K. said...

Two points against the papuca sklo being believable.
1) Recycling glass pays. Alone of the recycles faze, it is cost constructive, even without federal subsidies. Plastic, aluminum, paper - not.
2) With Pyrex sex toys out, and the chance to get into high-tech ceramics, too - it isn't that far fetched.

- except for leaving it out on the sink, not getting warm, while Freezing your Buns. That would be something to cringe about.

Crunchy Chicken said...

Brad - I beg to differ :) What makes the glass slipper unbelievable (and hiney tingling) is the fact that it is made out of an inflexible material.

I can appreciate overlooking this point since you don't have the requisite parts to consider this but, unless you're into fisting or some such thing, accomodating a glass cup is, how shall we say, intimidating?

Agnesa said...

Hi, Crunchy!

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/07/0729_IDEA_awards_students/32.htm

I was a bit excited and bit confused about this menstrual cup made of glass - I come from Slovakia and never heard about that (that was confusing, but...some things are produced here for foreign countries and for our nation they are available a bit later - like a famous Double Cross vodka). Anyway, I cannot also find anything like Papuča sklo (but the translation was excelent!) on the Google and I only found that cup as one of the student projects - check the link.

I would be curious - where is the information about producing these cups in Slovakia (or Central Europe) from?

Nice days!

Agnesa said...

Oooookay :D I went through the comments and it was all fun :D..Good one anyway!

Lisa said...

If it had of been real then at least it wouldn't have been a unitasker. You could of used it as a bud vase the rest of the month. Ewww.

debra said...

flash back to high school chem and the test tube rack. gotta giggle though, at least this one didn't make me wanna retch like the post about the jewelry made from used used body wax:)

jill said...

i believed you too..but thought it was crazy! I had visions of using a public bathroom and dropping the slippery thing and busting all over the floor! Can't wait until April fools day : )

Elizabeth B said...

Brad... Um, yeah, you definitely made me cringe. GUH. Cold bits! D:

Deanna, you're such a nut. But thanks for the pointer to the awards slide show. Such wonderful ideas!

Lisa said...

How in the world?! And what if it broke, ouch! lol