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!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Squatting in the red tent

"Feminine protection": it has such a dubious double meaning to it. I'll refrain from ranting about that one for now.

Anyway, I was thinking the other day that I hadn't hosted a DivaCup Challenge recently and I figured it was probably not a bad thing since, for some reason, I got it into my head that everyone already used one.

And, then, I realized that I must have been smoking crack or something because it seemed unlikely that everyone already used one since most women have never even heard of the damn thing. Call it temporary environmentally insanity.

In any case, that got me a wonderin'. What the heck are women using these days for "feminine protection"? And by that, I mean you.

What the heck are you using?

1. Conventional tampons (plastic, cardboard or no applicator)
2. "Green" tampons (made from unbleached and/or 100% organic cotton)
3. Conventional pads
4. "Green" pads (made from unbleached and/or 100% organic cotton)
5. Reusable menstrual cup (DivaCup, Mooncup or the Keeper)
6. Disposable menstrual cup (Instead)
7. Sea sponge
8. Reusable cloth pad (LunaPads, GladRags, etc.)
9. Other
10. Nothing - I squat in the red tent

114 comments:

Surviving and thriving on pennies said...

3 and only because im trying to use up what I have. I have sea sponges and cloth pads just waiting for me in my bathroom. Each time I open up my cabinet, I see them. Ugg I need to get going on that whole thing. Im horrible!

Miss Kris said...

5...when I'm not pregnant! I started using The Keeper in 2000 and switched to the Diva Cup after giving birth to my first child. Yikes! It did not fit me well at all and I had nothing but problems. I went back to The Keeper (silicone, this time) and it fit perfectly.

In a recent PEPS meeting that I lead, the discussion of birth control & menstrual cycles came up. I shared that I used a cup and most of the women had never heard of it before. I'm not sure if I converted anyone, but I do hope I at least piqued the interested of at least one!

p.s. recommendations on what I should do with my barely used Diva Cup?

Heather said...

sea sponges! (7) I love them as much as you seem to love your diva cup - minimal hassle and super comfortable :-) I leave them out for approx 4 hours a day to prevent any chance of TSS, and for that I use cloth pads.

Nikki Elisabeth said...

5 - Moon Cup. Still loving it about 3 years on... and try and convert people to reusable menstrual cups at every opportunity. ;)

mudnessa said...

Diva Cup thanks to you and one of your challenges a few years back. I had never heard of one and it took me a while and a lot of extra research to try it but I did and I will never use tampons again. I haven't yet but I am thinking of getting some reusable cloth pads as well.

Anonymous said...

5. Moon cup. Love it, wouldn't ever change. Do occasionally use cloth pads at start and end.

Hazel, UK

Issa said...

I've been using a Diva Cup for years, with occasional use of cloth pads from Etsy.

Aimee said...

I have an IUD and haven't actually had a period beyond a few light spots in about five years. However I usd to use OB tampons - applicator free. That is probably what I'd go back to , although I will say that a diaphragm is a great dual purpose device. Contraception AND blood catcher all in one. I've certainly relied on my diaphragm a few times.

Kristijoy said...

Luna pads, my flow is not so great that a diva cup or the like is worth it. I have one but the pads just work better for me.
I recently added some glad rag panty liners since switching to a Merina IUD, but the Luna Pads I have had for like over 3 years now, I think.

Anonymous said...

Combination of Diva cup with cloth pads at the beginning and the end.

In an overshare... it was cloth pads only when you got me thinking about it in one of your earlier diva cup challenges, because the diva cup was incredibly uncomfortable until after I got married...

LatigoLiz said...

9. Other

I had an endometrial ablation and no longer have periods. Well, not enough to worry about. Minimal spotting, if even that. I am overjoyed. No more feminine products for the most part. If anything, the occasional panty-liner.

Anonymous said...

conventional pads, sadly. I am looking to switch to cloth pads - though more than once I've though about ditching it all and just squatting in the red tent.

Sera said...

A mix of conventional pads and reusable cloth. I only have three of them, so getting them washed and dried sometime during my university schedule in time to reuse them on the same cycle is tricky. I tend to use disposable during the day and cloth over night. Have considered getting a menstrual cup, but I can't afford the initial outlay cost (around $50 NZD I think), even though I know it would save me over time.

KristaR said...

I use a Diva Cup, Lunapads and Gladrags.

Toria said...

Mix of 5 (lunette brand) & 8. the cup is okay, but I prefer the pads most of the time.

Laura Kaeding said...

3. Conventional Tampons. Using up my huge stock of them. I want to use a reusable cup, but my significant other has said she wouldn't touch me anymore if I did cuz she thinks it's disgusting. So when I'm out of conventional tampons, I'm going to do my best to switch to eco-friendly tampons at the very least.

owlfan said...

Diva cup mostly. I still have a stock of conventional tampons - I may use some this summer on vacation when I'm not sure about conditions. I also use cloth pads, homemade. I only have 2, so I need to make some more.

Anonymous said...

Diva cup + cloth liners. For the women who posted that the DC was not a good fit but the Keeper worked better-try trimming the DC tail entirely off and flip it inside-out. That's what I had to do for mine! I'm interested in getting a LadyCup to be my primary, and have the DC as backup-how I'd hate to have a cupless period now! They're the best!

(used to use organic tampons before the cup, but after having babies had to switch to pads, and really didn't like it!)

Two Flights Down said...

5 - I've been using the DC, which worked great at first, but now I've been having problems. It's always leaking and I have to wear a pad as a backup. I've tried everything in the instructions, but it still doesn't work. Not sure what to do at this point. Even when I used tampons, though, I had to wear a pad as a backup, because they'd leak, as well. Maybe I'm shaped funny or something?

Julie said...

Just got my Diva Cup and am using it for the first time. I wore it during my morning swim. I am thrilled. I also use cloth pads - they're like Luna Pads, but I made them myself (an afternoon of sewing that saved me a heck of a lot of money compared to buying pre-made ones.)

I'm glad you did the Diva Cup challenge. I think this was one of the places that I read about it and decided that I really had to give it a try.

Eva Elisabeth said...

I actually switched to a Diva Cup at your recommendation. It's been about six months or so and one of the best moves I've made in a long time. Talk about head and shoulders above using pads or tampons. Their comfortable, easy and not clogging up my sewage system.

DK said...

I was using a Diva Cup. Then I decided it was time to boil it since it was pretty dingy looking. So I put it in a pot of water on the stove and got distracted. They can catch fire if you don't pay attention to them! And not the nice kind of fire that you can put out by putting a lid on the pot. It goes out for as long as the lid is on but then as soon as the lid is off again it's flames aplenty.

I've been using a box of standard tampons for the last 2 cycles because of this little fiasco and the fact that I'm too broke to buy another. Since there's also no funding in the budget to buy more of those I was thinking I was going to have to get on the ball and make some cloth pads to use even though I detest using pads of any kind. Then another blog I read had a contest to win a Keeper. I don't think I've been that excited and relieved to get an email asking for my mailing address before. New Keeper should be in the mailbox in a week or two.

All of Us said...

I'm a Diva girl all the way!!! It's been two years since I discovered this little miracle and there is no going back.

Anonymous said...

In my experience -both the diva cup and the keeper leak. Could be because I have very heavy flow but don' t think so. Maybe my anatomy down there is not so tight since having 3 kids?

Sandy said...

Post-menopause ROCKS. 'Nough said.

Nina Zephyr said...

Reusable cup & I have a cloth pad that I rarely use, mainly just for heavy stretches.

KM said...

5. Diva cup- going on 7 years

Q said...

I use the Diva cup, when I can right now, I had a surgery done about 2 months ago and now the diva cup hurts alot, so I`m slowly working back to it.

I HATE pads now. So gross.

Enough said...

A mix of 1, 3, and 5. I've used a Diva Cup for about 6 years and am a huge advocate for cups, but after the birth of my 2nd child (3 years ago) it just has not 'done the job' as well as it used to. It's uncomfortable bordering on painful some days, and my flow has gotten much more heavier and leaks from the Diva on heavy days were just disastrous. I can use the Diva on Day 1, then switch to conventional super-duper absorbency tampons (usually o.b.) for Days 2-4, then the Diva for the remaining 1-2 days.

Marci said...

I have been pregnant or breastfeeding for the last 5 years so I haven't used much. Most recently I used conventional pads but I think when I start up again I'll try out the cloth pads.

Unknown said...

2 mostly, working on making my own pads & liners and want to get a cup, just need take the plunge and get one, though since we may be getting pregnant soon, I think I'll wait until after so I don't have to buy another one so soon.

Tigerlily said...

Diva Cup. I'm always raving about it to friends one of my coworkers even wants to get his girlfriend one. I still have random OB applicatorless tampons in purse in case of an emergency while I'm not home.

Karly said...

I use two things: a menstrual cup, and cloth ads/pantyliners for back up. I have become slightly...oh, obsessed with these things I have 6 cups (I know, I'm nuts!) and a nice stash of pads, but I'm never going back to conventional tampons and pads. EVER!

Jennie said...

Cloth pads, made by me using hemp and bamboo cloth. :-)

Mama Mama Quite Contrary said...

I just got my period again after about two years. (Pregnancy and exclusive breastfeeding of twins was a real gift in that regard.) I use organic tampons but am very curious about giving the diva cup a try. I've heard that it is not as effective for women with a tilted uterus (like I have) which is the only thing giving me pause. I'd love to know if there are other women out there who have experience with this!

Stephanie said...

Reusable cloth.

Katy said...

I took one of your challenges a few years ago and am now a faithful user of the Lunapads. I have tried other reusable pades, but the Lunas work the best.

Thanks Crunchy!

Billie said...

I used to use conventional tampons and pads. Then my period changed to almost non-existent and I went to conventional pads. I just used up the last of my pads (took months and months to get through the 2 packages) and have just ordered cloth pads.

I may also investigate buying some cloth tampons for special times like swimming but I am not sure if my period is strong enough to support using a tampon.

I have finally made the jump!

Kim from Milwaukee said...

Divacup, thanks to your first divacup posting a couple years ago, Crunchy Queen!! Actually I only get to use it once a year now that I'm reaching my 'prime'. :) Ironic that I finally have a comfortable way to deal with my period and I don't get a chance to use it much. Oh well.

Cloth pads if backup is needed. Had them for many years.

Used the sponge years ago, doesn't work for me. Way too messy and unreliable.

Unknown said...

I have used Glad Rags for nearly 20 years. I am not interested in the diva cup or keeper because I have horrible cramps and tampons make them worse. I expect that anything up there would have a similar effect.

Nic, SD said...

5 with 8 as a backup. Have some of 2 hanging around the apartment, though.

Fat Mama said...

I used the Diva Cup for one cycle and loved it, then I got pregnant so it is patiently waiting to be used again in a few months. I have been looking at cloth pads to buy for use after the birth. No more disposable products for me... thanks to you!!

Jenette said...

#4 & 8. I tried to make some but I cant wear them out of the house ... they are too ugly LOL.

Farmer's Daughter said...

Breastfeeding! Before I got pregnant, I used a Diva Cup a few times. Now I'll have to get a size 2 Diva Cup after delivering my 9lb.8oz. baby, but happily I don't need it yet.

ehmeelu said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
swiggett said...

Mainly my Diva Cup. Sometimes, though, my body doesn't want anything to be inserted, so I use conventional pads. Need to transition to either organic/chlorine-free or reusable ones.

Anonymous said...

Conventional tampons. Yeah, I know, sinful. As I get closer to menopause my once scant period gets heavier and longer, although not nearly as regular as it once was. I work in an industry where I may not even get to go to the bathroom for 8 hours or more, so I need something that I KNOW will mostly likely contain my flow until I can get to the bathroom. If I'm working the first few days of a period, it's 2 super plus tampons per change until the flow slows down somewhat.

The Diva cup piques my interest, but there's no way, at this stage of my life and career I'll take a chance with something like that. If I were younger and had a job where I might actually get to the bathroom and had some privacy to wash it before reusing it, well, that would be a different story.

simply_complicated said...

Homemade cloth pads now... thanks to you and your blog, actually that got me thinking about them a few months back. thank you!

i still use conventional pads when i travel though, as the whole washing issue is a bit tricky.

i would LOVE to get a keeper, but would have to travel to the states to get one, as they don't ship up to Canada anymore (if they ever did?)

oh, and @ Sera and any other folks who might want to make (or commision from a seamstress) cloth pads: my blog post that has a link for lots of patterns http://leftofaverage-southofnormal.blogspot.com/2010/03/that-time-of-month-again.html

Anonymous said...

Divacup user for about 6yrs! Love mine...Once I got stuck out of town without my divacup (emergency) and OMG - Tampons were gross and messy, NEVER Going back to those things! LOL

Patty said...

3 but I'm trying to switch to 4. I have to seek them out as they aren't available in all stores and like the first commenter I am trying to use up what I have (I actually donated some but I'm irregular and a couponer so this took a little while-almost there). Also 1 for swimming but that is a RARE occasion. I'm thinking about getting some cloth liners for some purposes but habits are habits and I'm shy about these things. (I've only learned about some of these options in the last few months so I havn't gotten around to leaping yet. Maybe when/if I have a child and am washing cloth diapers it'll be less 'ick' to throw cloth pads in the laundry too.)

Christina said...

We use 5, 7 and 8 here. I used my keeper for many years, but over the last couple it hasn't been sitting well and doing lots of leaking. Every few months I give in another chance... My 14yo uses cloth pads exclusively, will try sea sponge this summer for swimming. I've got additional cloth pads in storage for my 11yo when she joins the tent.

We have our leftover disposable supplies in a basket, for guests or emergencies.

cpcable said...

Cloth pads by "Party in my Pants." I'm also using up a couple of boxes of organic cotton tampons (with no plans to buy any more), but I only use one per cycle, so I've got several months until they're gone. Eventually I'd like to make the switch to a DC.

die Frau said...

Love me some Diva Cup. I will never, ever go back to tampons again, no matter how eco-friendly. I haven't needed backup cloth pads yet, but I'll get them if needed. And it's thanks to you, Crunchy, that I'm using the cup!

p.s. Hoping that a pregnancy will soon eliminate the need for anything--please keep your fingers crossed for me....

Juli said...

5. Diva Cup for a couple years, and Moon Cup before that. I keep meaning to make myself a couple of gladrags.

Robin said...

Diva cup! I've only been using it for about a year. I think that my periods are shorter now because of it!

Deborah said...

5. Reusable menstrual cup (DivaCup)
and I use homemade cloth pantyliners when my period is light.

koolchicken said...

I use the DivaCup and Lunapads. I've used them for a few years and have even gotten my Mum to convert!

Anonymous said...

6 (sadly, hard to find :( ) and 8 (homemade), primarily, though 3 sometimes depending on where I am.

debmoulton said...

Diva cup and homemade cloth pads.

Paige said...

7&8, for 7 years now. NOT going back to plastic, YUCK.

May said...

5, thanks to finding out about them from your blog :)

Laura said...

I use HagRags(reusable cloth pads)! The woman who makes them uses really fun and funky patterns which makes them more fun.
My flow is super light since my IUD. So the pads don't get a ton of use.
Pre IUD I used my HagRags and unbleached/no chlorine OB style tampons(no applicator). I forget the name of the tampons. I tended to have very heavy flow and feared not doing the tampon/pad combo.
When the IUD is spent I will use cloth pads and try a Diva or Luna if my flow is heavy again.

kidk4m said...

Keeper/Diva Cup for over 10yrs.

Michelle said...

I'm a Diva gal nowadays, and I love it. Even my cramps have subsided somewhat.

Sonya said...

Tried a DivaCup, but it was difficult bordering on painful to insert and nigh impossible to get out. I will probably try a softer cup that runs a little smaller (keeper, I think?) eventually. My flow tends to be pretty light though so I actually use nothing at all mostly. I just use the bathroom a couple times more a day and encourage it out. I have the stand by stained underpants, and I've considered getting cloth pads but I rarely bleed thru the underwear. If it seems like a heavy day I will use a tampon at work and at night, but I usually don't use more than 2 tampons in a cycle. I haven't bought new ones in ages and ages.

Luisa said...

5. Moon cup and 8. glad pantyliners
Made the switch 3 months ago to the keeper now I can never go back to tampons. I'm thinking of donating them to a woman's shelter. Still trying to use up the last of my pads. The glad liners are great for the rest of the month. I can't wait to make some of my own. They are so comfy. I'd have to say with the keeper and the cloth pads I have a cleaner "period"
Thanks for all your info I read when making the switch. :)))

Sam said...

Diva cup

Anonymous said...

1 & 3, but I'm planning on making a nice big stash of 8.

Ashley said...

My cycle is so off kilter that there is rarely a need, but I do have reusable pads. For the heavy "reusable-ain't-gonna-cut-it" days... unbleached disposable.

Veronica said...

9 - I'm using a continuous birth control called Lybrel. It's basically like the Seasonale type things, only instead of 4 periods a year, it's none. I'm coming up on 2 years with no periods and no pregnancies! What more could a college girl ask for? If I go back to having periods I'll consider Divacup, but I most likely see myself going back to conventional tampons.

Anonymous said...

Oh goodness.... I wish I could use my Diva. I'm just having so many issues. It was also hard when my youngest was craly and my older one always wanted to be with me. It was just hard some time to find a little privacy to go to the bathroom and I just didn't want to deal with cleaning the cup and keeping them away too. I need 3 hands!

I have sea pearls, green tampons, and cloth pads, but my cycle is so messed up right now. I tried to get help for all this about a year and a half ago and it took forever to get appts at all- and they were no help. But I'm sick of it, so I want to try over again.

I will say that I found an old stash of boxes of tampax and regular pads. I'm cheap so I used them on occasion. I shouldn't have. It really made me bleed more and longer (longer than I already do which is already abnormal)

I do tell people about cups and reusables if I have the oppty' though.

I do think a cup that was skinnier and NOT any longer (maybe even shorter) than the diva might work better.

http://www.adesiretogetcreative.com said...

Partially thanks to your previous posts on the DivaCup, I got one at the beginning of April. I'm finishing my second cycle with it and wish I'd had it since I was a teenager.

Marie-Josée said...

Natra Care organic panty liners and pads. O.B. tampons. Am considering the Diva Cup.

FernWise said...

"Other" for me - Hysterectomy worked, but I'd not recommend it for everyone!

Carrie at Rhubarbsky said...

Keeper and Glad Rags.
I'll never go back.

Rosa said...

menstrual cup, or cloth pads (or both together sometimes) for me.

Tinfoilhatsociety, I'm not trying to pressure you, but I wanted to say for readers who might still be on the fence - when I worked long hours & was liable to get stuck with a client & not be able to take a planned break, the Keeper helped a lot - I wear a pad with it, for backup, and it's good for about twice as long as a tampon so there's less likely to be an emergency.

Betsy Escandon said...

1, when I'm not pregnant or breastfeeding. LOVE not having it. I wish I could just ignore the whole thing.

Shari said...

Femme Cup. Love it!

I also have a Diva Cup I used once, didn't like and don't know what to do with it....

Jennifer said...

I'm a conventional girl... tampons and pads. I've been THINKING about the diva cup for a long time but haven't got up the courage yet.

Marino said...

1 wif cardboard applicators. thinking of moving to 2 soon when budget allows.

WTF's a sea sponge? i think maybe you could do a post on it?

Rebecca MacLary said...

I'd like to say my Diva Cup, but I can't get the damned thing in. Twice I've tried. What's my problem?

So I use cloth pads that my friend makes. The 2nd and 3rd night of my period is usually pretty heavy and so I use a folded up pre-fold diaper in a pair of those maternity panties they give you at the hospital after you've had a baby. Not very glamourous, but it works-and protects my sheets.

susanna eve said...

Been using moonwit cloth pads for more than 20 years. Bought a keeper and a diva cup and can't seem to use either, may try again for travel this summer. As I approach my 51st birthday I keep hoping for the blessed cessation of menstruation:)

Unknown said...

Diva cup! I've been using it for about a year now and I will never go back to tampons. It has truly changed my life.

Anonymous said...

I've been using my Diva Cup since I read about it so long ago (has it really been 3 years?!), and I LOVE IT! I was nervous the first time I used it away from home - I remember crying in a hotel bathroom with the water running, because I couldn't get the thing to "pop" open. I finally paced around the bathroom for a few minutes and it did POP open and hurt SO bad... I never thought it would get any easier... but OMG, LOVE MY DIVA... I've used and changed it just about everywhere I can think of that I've been in the last 3 years... including backcountry trails, camping, old ramshackle "restrooms" with no trash and questionable plumbing...

I've also been trying to get used to using cloth pads. They're a most certain step up from plastic disposable ones, but my only reservation about our recent decision to get me preggo (fingers crossed!) is that I'll HAVE to use, um, external... um... protection (?). I purchased some locally, and I've made several more, but I've found that I'm such a wuss with the whole diaper, err, pad thing, that I hold it in anyway... Sorry... TMI...

What can I say... I love my diva!

MaddyG said...

I'm a Diva, thanks to the Crunchy Chicken. ; )
And I use some cloth pads that I made out of old leg warmers!

Amber F. said...

Diva for me as well. I had a lot of trouble with it the first few days, but finally got the knack after a while, and sometimes forget I'm on my period.

I usually have one heavy day where I have to deal with it after 6 hours, but a "family" bathroom at work is perfect for dealing with that, although once you get used to it (and work it quickly) you can deal with it in a regular restroom.

I do keep pads around, just in case - mostly for friends. I've had the same ones now for about two years. :)

Anonymous said...

I don't have periods due to my birth control, but I'm considering switching to a different method which will mean having periods again. To be honest, not having to deal with a monthly cycle is the main reason I've stayed with this birth control for so long. Not having a period for 7 years rocks, what can I say?

I have a stash of conventional tampons from years ago I'd probably use up first (since I'm too cheap to just throw them out), but then I'd definitely consider going with a menstral cup of some sort.

Heather said...

@Madz, look at http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/menstrual-sponge. I sterilise mine at the end of each cycle by soaking in warm water with a tablespoon of vinegar for 30 min then rinsing well. I have two 'on the go' at a time so I can take one out and put a clean one in straight away. The clean one is stored in a lidded box near the loo. Note that you don't need to get special 'menstrual sponges' - any fine-grained actual sea-sponge that's around 2 inches by 1 inch will do fine. I got 20 from TradeMe for about $20 including postage - I think they were marketed as 'cosmetic sponges'. They last for ages - the two I'm using at the moment have been in use since March 09 and November 08 respectively. If you're interested contact me on hmroberts AT gmail DOT com and I may be able to send you one or two - I think you're in Wellington?

Krista Morris said...

The Diva cup changed my life for the better. I love it and would never dream of changing to anything else.

Unknown said...

I'm using luna pads, when I'm not pregnant. Though I just bought some disposables to save my hubby from the laundry for the first week or two after I have this baby (I don't have enough to get me through more than a day or two of postpartum).

contessa20 said...

DivaCup baby!!! I have cloth pads too but I rarely use them anymore.

Crystal @ Semi-Crunchy Mama said...

Cloth pads. I switched about two years ago. I was putting away my son's cloth diapers, marveling over how soft & cushy they were, and then walked into my bathroom to change my disposable pad. My uncomfortable, sweaty pad that bunched and slipped, causing adhesive to stick where adhesive should never be. The light bulb went off, and I ordered several cloth pads off esty.com the next day.

Unknown said...

Guilty of using almost all:

2. "Green" tampons (made from unbleached and/or 100% organic cotton)in emergencies/work stash or when I just need a break from my "diva/keeper" cup
4. "Green" panty liners (made from unbleached and/or 100% organic cotton)
5. Reusable menstrual cup (DivaCup, Mooncup or the Keeper)
7. I've used the Sea sponge and loved it, until I laughed too hard...
8. Reusable cloth pad (LunaPads, GladRags, etc.)

phabulous_philly said...

1 - with a cardboard applicator and paper wrapping ( because somehow I think the paper is more environmental than plastic )
This is the most difficult obstacle I face when making green changes and the one I kee putting off because it's not something I want to think about ( unless I get a scare lol )

Angela said...

I miss my diva and keeper! post-pregnancy, regardless of cup size, my body seems to be tuned to pushing things out instead of holding things in. I'm due with #2 NOW (come ON, already!), so I have a bunch of cloth pads ready to go. But oh, do I ever miss the cups. Maybe someday I'll get enough tone back there to hold the cup in for longer than 20 minutes. :P

Crunchy Chicken said...

Angela - Do you need a double extra wide? I know the feeling. Just keep working those kegels!

Anonymous said...

#5 - using a Diva for the first time during this period and I will never go back - I love it! Learned about it here on your site, did my own research, and am now working on convincing my mom and sisters to switch.

Nikki

Azulao said...

Di-VA! Di-VA! Di-VA!

All hail the Diva Cup!

And all hail Crunchy, who introduced me to the concept and convinced me to give it a whirl.

Anonymous said...

keeper x 5 years, one of the best purchases I ever made! As to some of the concerns about it, I also have the so-called "tilted" (aka retroverted) uterus and it doesn't make one whit of difference for using the cup. Also, when i worked waiting tables long hours w/o breaks i definitely preferred the keeper - on a medium flow day i can leave it for like 10 hours.

Anonymous said...

I have been using the Keeper for about 5 years - definately got my money's worth. I also use some hand made cotton rags. Next challenge is to convince the 18 yr old to switch from the organic tampons to a Diva Cup or Keeper.

MadameMim said...

I switched to a diva cup about a year ago. I need to make some cloth pads. I have a heavy flow during the first few days, so until I make the cloth pads, I've just been using a bit of recycled tp as backup during the heavy days. I really need to make them...

Also, how exactly does someone "squat in the red tent"? I've always wished my period was more like peeing, lol. I could just go to the bathroom and bam, be done for the month...why does it need to last days and days? But anyway, I've never heard of squatting...

Lil said...

3,4,5. My problem is that I have very "generous" periods, and it's a struggle to find eco-stuff able to deal with that. So I'm mainly using standard non-eco pads, and eco-pads (but organic cotton, not cloth) at start and end. I've bought a diva cup (after reading your posts!) and tried it but was not sold because as I said, there's much to deal with and it's not so practical. I don't see myself using this at work for example. Still, I haven't thrown it away and think about using the cup when I stay home or something like that.

Marie said...

I have just returned from having my LadyCup removed at the gyno office. The seal just would not break after numerous attempts in 36 hours. Even the Dr. had difficulties. This experience was both painful and embarrassing. I'll be going back to tampons and Gladrags. The cup was just not meant for me, no matter how I wanted it to be.

Sari said...

I use cloth pads and am thinking about using a cup as well now that I am swimming and running regularly. can't stand disposable pads of any variety natural or not and tampons just mess up my cycle, they really seem to block the flow.

Wendy said...

I can imagine that, with readers like yours, it would be easy to forget that not everyone is where you are ;).

I use a DivaCup (thanks to your encouragement back in 2006 ... or 2007 - anyway, it's been a while ;). I also use cloth pads, occasionally, that I made at the same time I made a half dozen for your Goods4Girls program.

I love, LOVE my DivaCup, although it took me a while to figure out how to wear it properly. Now, that I have, though, I wouldn't switch back.

My daughter is getting close to her first menses, and I'll be teaching her about being a Diva ;).

Leah said...

2 & 3--but mostly 2.

jb said...

#3 but I would use #4 if it were more available. I live in a small town in Michigan.

Manda said...

5! Love, love, love my Mooncup and I wish I had known about it years ago, started using it a year and a half ago and I would never go back to conventional pads. All this said I have been unable to tell others of my switch because its pretty much unheard of here in NZ, and the people I talk to don't reallly discuss 'feminine protection'. Any handy hints for bringing it up with people?

lauren. said...

5. diva cup. it's a love-hate relationship. i didn't know there were other brands. i can't wait to look into them!

Allie said...

My answer depends a lot. I rarely bleed (2 years on Lupron followed by a religious use of Depo). However, when I do, I use the following methods:

Conventional tampons if I'm at work (though I've had the same 3 boxes for the last 5 or so years and haven't used them up, so take that for what it's worth).

Cloth pads if I'm like, really bleeding and not at work.

Squatting in the red tent if it's just a bit of spotting and I'm not at work.

Urban Turnip said...

Who are these people who get a LIGHTER flow with an IUD? Mine has increased my flow considerably. I tried the DIVA cup and it doesnt quite have the capacity to deal with heavy days, even when I empty it regularly

I'm trying it again for light days with organic cotton reusable pads for backup. And for heavy days, either eco tampons or ob tampons.

nava said...

homemade cloth pads. I have thought about getting a cup, but I am not happy about the disposability factor with those. I'm thinking of trying seasponge first, but we'll see, I'm really happy with my cloth pads.

Unknown said...

Cloth pads! They rock! I started using them 6 months ago and it's amazing how comfortable they are. And they're crazy absorbent. I wasn't expecting that. I live in coastal Texas where is it hot and humid and wearing pads in the summer was always disgusting and caused mucho chafing. So I'm actually looking forward to this weekend when I start my period to give them a whirl in the heat and humidity :-)

Nina said...

7, the menstrual sponge (I got mine from jamsponge.co.uk )
I use tampons if I'm travelling, but i find the sponge so much more comfy and vagina-friendly