AMPs

 

AMPs stands for Alternative Menstrual Products. It has taken over the name RUMPs which stood for Reusable Menstrual Products. The old name was slightly off-putting for some people. The new name encompasses a wider variety of products that are available including organic tampons and pads- for if you are just not ready for reusable products, you can still care for your health (and the environment). I will include in my AMPs section mostly re-usable items (that do not last as long as a silicone cup) available, but a few alternative disposable healthier-than-others models too.

Sponges

Honey completely freaked out when he saw me buy a sponge for testing (not everyone can afford a menstrual cup straight up, I want my blog to be relevant to women of all socio-economic situations, I reasoned )... in his defence it was not a covered one; they were all just in a basket. So I popped that one in the bathroom and ordered another one from the MeLuna website. I thought while I was at it, I would try the soft tampon.

Other bloggers have tried them too and here is what they say...

http://labyrinth.net.au/~obsidian/clothpads/spongeexperience.html

http://mwmw.com/dodo/ssfaq.html

The value I see in a sponge is that it's cheaper than a cup initially (at about the cost of a box of tampons, however will last a few cycles) and can be bought locally. If you are wanting to cut down on waste but cannot afford a cup "yet" this could be the way to go. A warning however, there has been one TSS case involving a sponge, but none yet involving cups. Comparatively most cases involve the use of tampons made with rayon.

While I was waiting for my MeLuna package, I must admit, I looked at my bathroom sponge and wondered how it was all going to fit. the next problem I had was that the bathroom sponge started to fall apart after a couple of times washing my face. I really was not confident that sponges were a good path to take.

So my sponge is here, its much smaller than I expected and the sponge seems tougher. I am pretty impressed with it. It was easy to insert, when I popped it up high enough I could not feel it at all. Its not obvious from the picture, but the larger sponge is about twice as high as the MeLuna sponge. The reusable sponge scores an outstanding – on my scale, the minus being that it is not as reusable as other forms of AMPS, however the yoghurt vector and the possibility of “love” (as the soft tampon packet puts it) boosts the sponge far above her other AMPS rivals.

Update

These sponges work very well for putting Greek yoghurt where it needs to go if you are taking a course of antibiotics and want to discourage a yeast outbreak. Tampons swell making them difficult to insert and only a tiny bit of yoghurt it seems makes it to where it needs to go. I love that I can rely on a product to so a better job, and it is re-usable. Remember it should not be used however, if you have had Thrush as you could outbreak again.

The soft tampon

Why would I want it? It's not re-usable. Initially my thoughts were… I do however, prefer a small handbag and I have this irrational fear that I am going to be stranded cupless or even... asked the question we have all been asked (and had to ask at some point) "do you have a spare..." and these just seemed a little more user-friendly for "non-cuppies". I have thought of keeping organic cotton tampons in my hand bag along with my soft-cup for "Justine Case" but then the tampons go manky... The soft tampon looks more hygienic.

Then my thoughts were… I love Greek yoghurt. Sometimes you need in more personal places. Putting it on a tampon makes it swell and difficult to insert. The soft tampon appears to have a wider surface area, therefore making it easier to get the cream where it needs to be. Sounds fantastic in theory.

It scratched on the way up and more on the way out. This is possibly because I used the wet method instead of the lube method. AKA there are 2 ways of preparing the soft tampon for insertion, one is with KY type gel and the other is wetting and squeezing most of the water out. It took me a good day and a half to try it again, this time with the KY gel (and as a period hygiene tool, rather than a promotion of friendly bacteria tool). That was much nicer. It lasted about as long as a mini would have lasted me (which is the size I bought).

The other benefits of the soft tampon are… you can wear them over-night. If you are not ready to take the “cup-step” and hate pads this could be a good alternative for you. There are several brands available and sizes and shapes vary with the brands.

One more thing that might be of interest, is the fact that you can use them (If you and your partner are game) for sex during your period, which is beneficial to fight cramping. Also one more benefit is that you can rinse your sponge before putting it in the bin, which will attract less flies to your bin.

This AMP is rated Acceptable + the rinse method and germ-free packaging bolstering its ratings after a staggering drop due to user-friendliness.

Softcup

Why would a person who loves her cups bother with a disposable cup? One reason is I love to blog... and I want it to be relevant.

Not everybody can afford a silicone cup straight up, you could even be telling yourself... that's $50 of food or fuel I could have and what if I hate it?

What do I keep in my handbag? In the past it was a few tampons, with a little bag and some painkillers in a handy container like an old mini M&Ms or eclipse box... which helped keep them water proof, gave me a handy way to dispose of them if a sanitary bin was unavailable and allowed me to soldier on if I had cramps.

I like a small handbag and there is just not room for a silicone cup in there... a Softcup however, fits very snugly. But until this week, I really did not know how to use it effectively... so it would not have been helpful in an emergency.

This information can also be helpful for a cup owner who has an imbalance of probiotics and yeast or who has a fungal infection... it has been advised that you not use your silicone cup for that cycle as yeast and fungi can “stick around” and re-infect you next time. If you had some disposable cups available, you wouldn't have to go back to tampons and pads (if you didn't want to) and you could just dispose of the cups when you are done.

Insertion of a soft cup is quite different to inserting a silicone cup, really don't make the mistake I made of trying to do it the same way, they are totally different cups and they need to be inserted in the way they were designed for. Reading the packet instructions was the best way I found to get it right. But you could also go here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amPXaswKxyk or I also found this website, it has a few more steps than the packet instructions... namely step 6 http://www.wikihow.com/Use-an-Instead-Softcup.

The Softcup manufacturers do not recommend re-using the single use cup, however many women do, and I am one of them. Some women even find that they can use a Softcup for several cycles. There a multiple ways for sanitising a cup, obviously boiling is not an option for the Softcup, however, soaking for a few minutes in a solution of Milton and water or vinegar and water, washing it then popping it into the sunlight for a few hours, or rubbing it over with a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol would work.

Compared to a silicone cup...

Insertion (for me) was harder to get accurate, I had a few “bathroom emergencies” as I had not taken the time to practise before life got busy, however, it really came together for me on my study day at home... I was calmer and I had time to get it right.

You are going to need two cups or to swap it with a pad at night... just as with silicone cups, using just the one cup eventually smells like something crawled in there and died. However, washing it in a solution of water and vinegar, and leaving it to dry for a few hours restored the smell to neutral. Soaking overnight in a solution of Bicarb soda and water was also effective. Actually I also used a solution of Tee tree oil and water, but I read this morning that TTO (along with any other essential oil) is not that great as it can damage your cup, I will remember that for the future.

They do not hold as much as a silicone cup... on my day at home, after a few hours I felt a leak... it was like... grrrr this cup is just not going to work for me... however the problem was just that the cup was full. The size is deceptive. The clear part folds up as you insert so really only the rim can catch the fluid. You will need to change your cup on a heavy day as often as you would change a regular to super tampon.

Light days... well I liked the Softcup better on light days than my silicone cups as they were easier to remove. This makes me think that they might be a good option for teenagers too.

Availability... here in Australia, I had to get them from the internet (just the same way I bought my silicone cups). I had bought a huge box of “disposable” Softcups which I thought would help me get used to using the silicone cup... LOL my silicone cup arrived first, so now I mostly give them to my friends who want to try a cup but are not sure it its for them... and then there is the one in my handbag. I would possibly take a disposable MC or 3 camping just in case one gets lost.

In other countries I have noticed Softcup will send you a freebie.... I have also read that they are available in the tampon section and 2 cost about as much as a box of tampons. This could be a convenient way to start saving some money. Neither of which are available to Australians.

I rated this AMP as exceeds expectations (even though initially it didn’t) its popularity skyrocketed on my light days with how easily it was removed. I love that people seem to use this cup as a stepping stone to Silicone and that rocks.

Affordability... the initial price is more affordable; however over a longer time, the silicone cup is going to be better value. I got my Softcups from here http://www.vitamingrocer.com.au/Soft-Cup-Reusable-Softcup-2-Count-p/154402.htm?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=pla&utm_content=154402

Organic Tampons and Pads

Available at Woolworths and Coles is a brand of organic tampons and pads called TOM organic. TOM standing for Time Of Month. Before I bought my cup, I was using TOM tampons (I was not so impressed with the pads as they were not individually wrapped and therefore could have been in contact with dust, germs, fungi and other nasties). As far as tampons go, they were comfortable, had less environmental impact as they were not made with harsh chemicals (which are washed off into waterways… etc) which also made them healthier for the user. The other fantastic thing about this product is that the box was narrow about the size of an old mobile phone and fit snugly in my handbag.  

TOMs tampons were a reasonable size and comparable to the “cooler” brands in shape, as opposed to the tampons that were available from the health food store (big enough for an elephant to feel) and no-name brands (with no pointed tip that felt like they were being inserted backwards). They were not available in the “shrinky” kind or with wings, but with the lack of bleaches and rayon I was happy to go with that. Pricewise other brands are slightly cheaper but in my opinion, TOMs is better quality.

I give this AMP an exceeds expectations – this was a good product which prepared me for silicone cups and rescued me from pads.

The Verdict

If you are up for reusable; the natural sponge is the nicest NSCAMP (non-silicone cup AMP), it did not scratch at all going up, did not make me cramp, lasts longer than a box of tampons and was easier to use than the softcup. I read today that it can also be used during sex too, but I have not tried it. I love the fact that I can reuse them, so next time I need some more probiotics inserted, I will give it a go with the sponge. I am thinking that this could also be a better solution for my “emergency” gear for my handbag, I like the idea that if kids go through my bag (as happened once at church)… its a neatly wrapped sponge and if I lose it its not as expensive to replace as a cup.

If you are just not ready for other AMPs I cannot recommend TOMs (and other organic tampons) enough, if you are not a tampons girl (and for night time) Anion pads. Both are top quality and work very well. The soft tampon is good too, but remember the lube.

JUDIE

The Diva has Arrived

 

I was fairly excited to try the DivaCup, mostly because of the name, Diva. I still have fond memories of living in a house with 5 chicks, on Weaver St. and being known as the Weaver Divas. Though we have moved on it was a fantastic part of my life and I love to catch up with my old housemates when I can. Just a reminder no menstrual cup companies including Diva have paid me for this review.

You may notice, I said fairly excited what held me back a little was that the shape (when looking on a computer screen) it appeared to be similar to a moon cup or Keeper. It is in fact, larger so if you have a heavy flow you are going to love this cup and the brim is not as thick either so that will definitely be a bonus cramps-wise.

Another bonus for the Diva is that she can be purchased in a store, if you are lucky enough to live in a town that they are stocked in. Surprisingly I do and I have seen her for sale in person at our local chemist. The DivaCup can be found in store and online in 23 countries around the world. Check here to find a store near you. If not, the DivaCup can be purchased online.

A few things to keep in mind about The DivaCup:

• The DivaCup can be worn for up to 12 hours at a time and needs only to be cleaned 2-3 times a day with warm water and the DivaWash or a mild, unscented, oil-free soap.
• Since The DivaCup is a personal hygienic product, a general guideline is to replace it once a year, but ultimately, it is up to the consumer to decide when it is necessary to replace the cup.
• The Divacup is one of only 3 brands of silicone menstrual cups that are TGA approved.

I used the Diva cup for two cycles before writing my review as I wanted it to be thorough.

Initial Reaction: Ok after the… Yea I have mail; it was the ray of sunshine on a horrible day... when the package was opened there was surprise, it was larger than I anticipated, the DivaCup model 2 was the same capacity  as my large JuJu size 2 cup. The DivaCup is longer and slightly thinner than the JuJu cup. There is also a little badge on the cotton bag that holds the cup.

In the zone: Inserting the cup was fairly easy, it opened up quite well inside. It has been my 2nd easiest cup to insert, the Ruby being the easiest. While the cup was in; I did not feel it and felt no extra cramping or pain from the rim opening up too fast which happens with cups that have very thick rims.

Rims are handy as they help to stop “air pockets”, (Tampon users will know this too) you may be familiar with the feeling of “OMGoodness my cup is leaking… run” Then you get to the bathroom and there is nothing there. It’s like being punked by your cup/tampon. Removal does tend to be messier.

If you have read my other posts, you may know that I have mentioned pain upon removal on a dry day. I inserted the DivaCup on a day I thought I was getting my period however it ended up being a dry day and this was the easiest “dry-day” removal.

Verdict: the DivaCup is truly Outstanding. It has all the things I like in a cup, size, flexibility, smallish rim. I now have 2 go2 cups for my heavy days. I love that I can keep it in for longer than the smaller cups, and also (as I found out by accident) if I pop it in on days I am expecting my period, its no a big deal if it ends up being a dry day. The Diva cup is longer than many other cups, I found that it just fit me, lengthways but I loved the narrower circumference.

Choosing a cup: Keen to try a Diva but not sure on the sizes? Check here.

For more information on DivaCups, menstrual cups in general visit the DivaCup site http://www.divacup.com. You can also like DivaCups on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter. Become informed and help spread the word about Women’s health issues.

JUDIE

Interviews with Happy Cup-Owners

I have asked some menstrual cup owners to share their stories… you all pretty much know mine. However, if you are new to the blog here is a refresher. I would not ask anyone to do something I was not prepared to do myself.

 

Alias/ name Judie

What did you use before you tried reusable products Pads and tampons, usually together as I was paranoid about leakage. Especially when I was relying on public transport, waiting… the whole “do I have time to change?”… “There is no place to change”… stressful!

What do you use now? I use a large JuJu on my heavy days, Ruby at night and light days and very light days I use the small JuJu. In my work bag I keep my moon cup USA for emergencies and in my handbag is a softcup. I also have a sponge.

What do you want to try? I really want to try re-usable pads but I am rubbish at sewing, so I am looking online (and bribing my friend to make me some)… I liked pads to prevent chafing during the Summer months, so basically I would like a viable alternative. In the meantime I am trying washers, but while they are comfy they fall out when I go to the bathroom, so its really only an “at-home” solution.

What are you looking forward to about that product? Snaps that clip the pad in place.

What did you think when you first heard of cups? Yuck! I was grossed out at my friend who thought I would like them as I loved tampons. At that time, I was switching to Anion pads for health reasons. I must admit she only described the rubber one and it sounded uncomfortable and just plain dirty.

What do you think now? I love my cup and would not go back to tampons and pads. They are great for the environment, healthier for me and just plain convenient.

What advice can you give? Don’t knock it till you have tried it. It takes a while to get around the “yeek” factor, but it’s totally worth it.

Pls rate the product/s that you use... Outstanding exceeds expectations acceptable poor dreadful and troll

These have been rated in my above blog… however: Juju, Ruby and Lunette- Outstanding. Sponge, Moon Cup USA- exceeds Expectations. Soft tampon, Washer, Softcup- Acceptable and EE-/Acceptable + is MeLuna.

Reggie

What did you use before you tried reusable products: Disposable Tampons and Pads

What did you think when you first heard of cups? My main questions were about health and safety, and then making sure I had the money to buy the product. Also how long I really could keep a cup in.I was blessed by being given my first cup, and now I'm saving all the money I would normally spend on Tampons and Pads to buy another cup, and I want to try reusable pads next.

What do you think now? What advice can you give? Pls rate the product/sthat you use... Outstanding exceeds expectations acceptable poor dreadful and troll: I am using a Ruby cup. I love it. I enjoy the freedom of not having to change every time I go to the toilet, nor needing to change so regularly. I use to hate going into the toilets and having to 'crack' open a tampon, or unwrap a pad, thinking others would hear it and know I had my period. Now I love it, no one knows because I don't have to crack anything. My Ruby goes in before I leave the house and I wear it all day, and then remove when I get home at the end of the day. It is great. I recommend the Ruby to everyone, at least have a go.

Next cup I'll try is a MeLuna due to the different sizes and they are cheaper, while don't seem to lack quality.

What advice can you give? Umm .. talk to others who use them about them. Don't be afraid to have a go. If you are unsure, have your first run on a day that you are at home, and maybe wear a pad as well, if that will settle your nerves.

Jane

What did you use before you tried reusable products: I would normally use pads, mostly buy Libra -Now use MeLuna, I don’t really need to try others now- I’m very happy with MeLuna

What did you think when you first heard of cups? When I first heard of cups, I thought it was really gross and some weird hippy thing -now I think its a great way to save money (by not having to buy a new packet every couple of months) and cut down on rubbish (for the same reason) and its also so comfortable. I don’t have to be sitting in grossness all day and getting chafed. Its really freeing.

What advice can you give? Just keep an open mind and maybe give something different a go.

What do you think now? What advice can you give? Please rate the product/s that you use... Outstanding exceeds expectations acceptable poor dreadful and troll: Exceeds expectations… (and its pretty)

JUDIE

Real Cup Blogger… Earned her stripes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunette

My IT teacher at tafe, says that “real IT people” use the search function rather than the mouse for finding things… if one applies this to “real” menstrual cup bloggers… I think that would be that you have some cups with holes in them sent to you by a company. This happened for me this week. I was very excited after sending a few emails to some cup companies to receive emails back with the promise of sample cups with instructions. I should add here, I have not been paid by any Menstrual cup companies to promote their products, nor will I receive any money if you chose to buy one of their products. I simply write my experiences with their product and their company… and show them to my friends who are interested.

So the first cups that have arrived are the Lunettes in the small and large sizes. I have been drooling over a Lunette for a while now, possibly because they come in pretty colours… in particular the Selene or her Roman name is Luna (blue) and the Cynthia(purple).

The word Luna has a lot of good memories for me. A little girl I used to nanny loved the moon, I told her that in Spanish “she” was called Luna, so every time she saw the moon, she would say… “There’s Luna, she’s my friend” night or day she loved the moon. Luna Lovegood happens to be one of my favourite characters in Harry Potter I love that she looks for the good in people and is a bit of a dreamer.

Cynthia is another name for Artemis, a goddess in Greek mythology. In the Percy Jackson series, Thalia, one of her hunters, was one of my favourite characters although I had been pronouncing her name incorrectly in my head.

I liked Artemis as she liked to protect people, (I like that this cup- protects me) and her relationship with her twin brother added some witty lines to the story.

Now the question is; do I prefer a blue cup or a purple, as I am sure that either will make me often think of my favourite stories, we can all use a little escapism.

First time cup users

I recommend both Lunettes as a first time cup, the Lunette is an outstanding cup (In my grading system). Both cups fold nicely into a punch-down (which is my favourite fold) and the and both open up comfortably first time upon insertion. Neither are difficult to remove, however the smaller is slightly more comfortable in the removal process. This is the Australian website for Lunette, and they have deals as well… http://www.lunette.com/au/store/index.php 

Compared to other cups, I like that the stem is not hollow, this will help it to be easier to clean. I like that there  are grippers on the stem (even though I cut my stems off the cups I use). There are practical grips on at the bottom of the cup, to help with removal. The smaller cup is slightly softer than the larger cup and the rim at the top of both cups is not too thick.

There is a distributer in Australia and they had my order here in under a week (even with public holidays).

You all know… I love deals.

JuJu

In the mail arrived my JuJu sample just in time. It was a nice surprise for it to arrive when I was home. A few weeks ago, I wrote to JuJu and told them that I loved their product, I write a blog and have been showing interested ladies my cups. I also mentioned that I was excited to read of their partnership with Days for Girls and asked if they might have a B-grade sample of the small JuJu as the larger one was a little “intimidating” to some of the girls I was showing my cups to. JuJu went above and beyond my expectations.

Firstly the package was large… that was because there were 2 cups in there… perfect in their boxes along with an extra bag so that I could show the JuJu in all her glory to those who want to meet her… and no holes punched in the side (just air holes).

This was the answer to a question I had been pondering all weekend… What do I do if someone wants to see my cups and I am on my period? Do I wear a tampon??? How about a softcup? Now I don’t need to worry as I have 2 JuJu model 1s so I can just wear one and show the other.

I was keen to see if the JuJu model 2 (smaller) was more user friendly… and ladies she is awesome! JuJu is an Outstanding in my grading system. JuJu model 2 may well be an Outstanding +.

I have a problem with “shrinkage” in that on my light days its kind of hard to get my cup up in there, but I have no issues any other time of the month and I am not sure of the science behind it... In fact this little clip always makes me laugh at the dilemma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DoARSlv-HU.

The small JuJu on my light days was like a dream. She worked perfectly and was very comfortable. Opens perfectly every time and fairly easy to remove. I could definitely recommend this cup to teenagers and young ladies as well. It has a slightly higher learning curve than the Lunette (a bit harder to remove) but you could certainly use it as a first cup and the website has some fantastic tips.

JUDIE

Cleaning a Menstrual Cup

Each cup maker recommends something different for cleaning cups, some like the Keeper and its silicone twin, do not recommend boiling at all but a 1:9 ratio of vinegar to water. Others have different times for boiling, or recommend soaking in Milton or Hydrogen peroxide and water solution to sterilise. It can get a little confusing.

In my kit I have a mug that I either soak my cup in vinegar and water in or fill with water, stick my cup in and a saucer on top and heat in the microwave for 5 minutes.

Earlier this morning I read an article written by a genuine person (I assume) warning that cups were not hygienic because you are taking your cup out say at work or in a public bathroom and putting it back in with germy hands and for others as you are tipping blood down the sink.

I found the first argument surprising, because you would face a similar situation with changing a tampon. For that reason I like finding a little bathroom that includes a sink with the toilet. If not I would usually wash my hands before visiting the cubicle (as I did when changing a tampon). The body has an incredible ability to fight germs… what concerns me is that when wet, a tampon and pad start to leach the chemicals they contain – your skin is right there so its going straight into your body. Silicon however does not do this.

For the rare circumstance that I need to change at work, a small squeeze bottle like the one pictured is what I take with me and is enough to clean the cup without having to wash any blood down the sink. The blood from my cup goes straight into the toilet. I also check the toilet before leaving for “spills” as I am sure most women do. Once; I have had to flush the toilet a second time. At home, I use the same method, but wash my hands and cup in the basin and ensure that both sink and toilet are spot free when I’m done.

Anion did not make tampons with the safe materials they used to make their pads for a simple reason… When researching women’s health, the owner found that surgeons were finding that regular tampon users have fluff embedded in their cervix.  I think the risks associated with most pads and tampons (especially the ones who are not honest about what they put in their products) are higher than the risks associated with cups. Anion is a safe choice but for me the landfill is an issue. In the end you need to make your own choice.

Judie

More cup deals

There is a new cup company in the USA called Sckoon… http://www.sckooncup.com/buy-sckoon-cupp/why-sckoon-cup-3.html… as they are just getting started, they have some specials going. For those who love the colour variety of the MeLuna but those who have trepidations about the TPE as opposed to the tried and tested silicone… this could be the cup for you. I am totally drooling and to be honest I am not sure how many more haircuts I can skip to feed my MC “habit” because I certainly have not started “saving” in the way most other cup users have saved… what else can I say I am a martyr for science. 

Love the bell shape and apparently they are rather nice and soft. They are very pretty with the flower and practical with the grippers.

Also available from this site is the Lunette cup at a discount which also has very good reviews. The Lunette, is one of 3 silicone cups approved in Australia. I also like the way they have named the colours after Greek and Roman goddesses… a little fun.

The good the bad and the ugly...

I found this guide to be very thorough... If you are considering buying a cup and are wondering which one? http://menstrualcups.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/my-comparisons-and-ratings/

Moon Cup USA/ Keeper

There is some animosity in the MC world regarding the Moon Cup USA, made by Keeper. It's too close in name to the Mooncup UK and they are both silicone and apparently people have been ordering on eBay what they think is a UK and its a USA. The big differences are that the Moon Cup by Keeper (silicone Keeper- is the nickname I will mostly refer to it as to avoid confusion) is smooth and not vegan friendly. Being smooth makes it easier to clean but harder to remove. The MCUK is matt, vegan and the stem is better. To be honest I was confused... I thought I had the UK and gave the USA to my sister, but it was the opposite way around. Some very observant people may have noticed the “switch-a-roo” recently. However if you and a few friends want a Keeper or a Moon Cup USA pop on over to http://www.keeper.com they have a “3 for the price of 2” deal going, there does not seem to be an expiration date... This deal is not available on their Moon Cup website. I got a little confused till I read the URL, I thought it might have been a hoax.

It's better than a tampon, it worked for me as a “first time” cup and was my prefered cup for night time. A little difficult to remove due to the wide rim. It’s not a cup I would recommend for teenagers, you might hate cups forever if this was your first. For sexually active women over 25 or who have had babies, the ridge might not be such a problem.  It never fails to pop open, its always the one fold and the one position. But it holds less liquid, and the rigid rim means it is less “cramp friendly” than its competitors. What I mean by that is for my experience, (and other bloggers have found this too) on a crazy heavy day I will always have some “crampidge” when I was a tampon user, sometimes I would find if I used a pad on a non- ridiculous day the cramps would go, and on a ridiculous day, the tampons would make the cramps worse.

Removal and reinsertion can be difficult while you are learning, so its beneficial to have a cup that allows you to go optimally over 8 hours, as the learning curve can be frustrating, oh but completely worth it so keep trying. Once it is in there is not much difference in the feel of a large cup to a small cup. So why put yourself through that more than you need to?

What I did not realise in the first few months is that removal is a technique too. Breaking the seal and walking it out works but folding it back into a C fold makes it come out “more agreeably, but yes it is a little messier”. This takes practise.

JuJu

I totally recommend it to ladies who have a heavier flow and a fairly tight schedule though it has a slightly higher learning curve than other models. Some of my friends have a smaller cup that they change 2x/day in the shower. I obviously have a heavier flow, so that did not work for me with the Silicone Keeper, but it works very effectively with the JuJu. While other silicone cups open for me perfectly every time, the JuJu seems to change, one time its the 7 fold with this position and the next time it wants a C fold in that position (on the 3^rd go)... since writing the above, I have found the c fold in the squat position to be the most effective on a regular basis.

Getting a (larger) JuJu out when you are a rookie; did a kid at school ever sting you with a rubber-band wasp? Yep... I rest my case. You definitely do not walk this baby out and it is most suited to heavy days which I have found that I am more “open”. Being a smooth silicone, with less defined ridges, its harder to grip when removing than the Moon Cup USA is and it did ruin my manicure. Yes it is still my favourite, after reading what I have written you can be forgiven for wondering why? Maybe it's the pretty purple bag it came in. But mostly its because I can leave it in for longer on a heavy day, going to work and not having to worry about leakage... There is also the feel of quality about the JuJu that is better than the silicone Keeper and MeLuna. The JuJu is seamless and appears to be made of very good quality silicone, and does not stain as much as the silicone keeper.

Ruby

Ok I have a new favourite cup and it is the Ruby. She arrived today, I was working on my assignments and Honey came in with a pink parcel. To be honest I thought at 3pm that I had missed out again today, but it came with the regular post. I swear its not the pink envelope or the pink ribbon on the bag, or the fact that its named after my favourite gem...

Ruby is comfortable to insert even on a dry run day... I could not resist and I am glad I tried. The Ruby cup is also a dream to remove... the ridges are not quite as pronounced as the MeLuna ones but they give pretty good grip- much better than what I am used to with the JuJu and silicone keeper. The stem is nicer and has better grip, and the quality of the silicone appears to be right up there with the JuJu.

The best of all my cups and combined (quality silicone, good grippers, easy to insert and remove, feels comfy)... with the social justice. We have a winner. I can totally recommend this cup for a first time user or an MC addict. What's more, over half the women in the world who own a Ruby cup used a Ruby Cup for the first time and its the only one they have. The Ruby cup is an Outstanding cup in my grading system, and I would absolutely recommend it for a first time user.

I am not going to lie, its expensive, however not the most expensive cup I own. Two Ruby cups on special in a sister deal was 80 AUD by the time I paid for postage and pay-pal fees... On the flip side, I no longer waste $90+ every year on sanitary products either- so even though I went with quality, I'm still winning. In the end you need to decide what is best for you, your pocket, and your body.

JUDIE

Women's health

Honey was very reticent to have this blogged on his site, but I think it really goes hand in hand with the philosophies of L2L. Staying healthy, helping the environment and even helping a girl in Kenya to become better educated (If you buy the right brand).

I am talking about menstrual cups or MCs for short. Halfway through this year I took the plunge and am so grateful for the convenience and have not looked back.

It took me about 2 years to go from what I like to call the “yeek factor” to actually trying it out. So if you are more than slightly repulsed keep reading anyway. I used to be a sales consultant for Anion (its like amway for “nasties-free” sanitary napkins)... I got a bit annoyed at wasting all my good pads showing people who did not care for a far superior product that was not the “cool brand”... so they were not interested in making a purchase. But during my time as a consultant, I did some research...

Did you know that:

• There are many toxins in the “cool” brands we buy of pads and tampons

• some are made from recycled pulp that is bleached and treated with harsh chemicals.

• Most companies will not tell you what they put into their sanitary napkins, however the area down there is just as absorbent as your mouth, I believe there needs to be more transparency.

• Buying organic tampons and pads might not be enough, many of them are not individually wrapped and if left in the box, dust, insects etc can climb in leaving germs. When you use them the blood becomes food for the germs and they multiply every 20 minutes.

• You should not store your sanitary products next to chemicals, heat can cause the vapour in the chemicals to rise and seep into your products leaving them not so toxin free.

I must admit the pads were pretty good, but during Summer, I needed tampons again. I still had some “left over” and after a break my tampons were not “welcome”. I was rather itchy. Using organic tampons however, was nice but I was concerned about the “germ factor” and the amount of landfill etc.

Its funny a couple of times I was caught “without a spare”, and I thought how nice it would be to have a cup that you can just rinse and keep going with... I put it to the back of my mind once again with the yeek factor.

I was telling my family member about my products and she told me that she uses a Diva cup and never looked back. I was intrigued, she told me you order them on the internet and I began to do some research. I found that there were like heaps to choose from and that many people had just one, but lots of women had 3 or more.

Teenagers were using them, women who had babies, virgins, many different women with many different needs.

The first website I found recommended the Mooncup UK and the Moon cup USA, so I ordered both. The USA came just in time for my period and I found a wealth of information on youtube and particularly useful information was from a young lady called Bree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xsaf10dy0Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRGqVH1cJ6k

I liked my moon cup but found that both were really quite the same, so I gave the UK to my sister when it arrived. I had quite a heavy flow and was changing it a lot, and found that the style may also have been encouraging cramps... so I bought a JuJu. Partly because Ju is actually one of my nick-names so I had an affinity with it and partly as it was larger so it held more. On a side note... It's also harder to insert. The moon cup just opens in there but the JuJu requires some practise.

Now helping a girl in Kenya, similar in style to the juju is the Ruby cup. You can get a deal if you buy 2 (one for me, one for a friend)... I don't have one yet, however I plan to get one this year. For each Ruby cup bought by someone in a developed country a Ruby cup will be given to a girl in Africa, which helps her stay in school and also to stay healthy as the alternatives available are quite unhygienic. Google it if you are game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In3I6xNaZNQ

I use a cup pretty much exclusively, one thing I have found to be a benefit of being a multi-cup-owner is I can have a night cup and a day cup. When I have used just one cup on about day 3, I find that it begins to smell. So I also checked with my other friendly cup users to see what they do...

One uses cups as you would a tampon for swimming and re-usable pads for the rest of the time.

One douches, that didn't work for me

My other friend just keeps using it, ensuring she has washed it out properly. There is no odour once the cup is re-inserted.

Silicone Cups on sale

Blog notes

I recently changed jobs which has meant I needed to change how I manage the time of month (I am unable to keep my handbag with me at my new job)... Not wanting to be running out with a "bathroom emergency" I tested the tried and true form some women like... wearing my cup around my due date “just in case”. It is a practical solution, however removing the cup at the end of the day, if my "favourite aunt" hasn't arrived is tricky. For various reasons, I had been putting off getting a "light day" silicone cup... until today, I had one fight too many with my JuJu and Moon Cup.

And while I was at it I decided ordering my "spare" cup was now or never too... lucky really, as the cups I had been drooling over are on sale. You may remember from my previous blog that the cups I have wanted for months are the MeLuna and Ruby cups... mostly as they have deals for 2. For a while its been my dream to take advantage of the 2 pack deals and gift the spares to my 2 MC converts. This is what I spent... Honey skip the next 2 paragraphs...

50 euro (included 5 euro in postage) for 2 ruby cups delivered to Australia http://www.ruby-cup.com/en/ and remember when you purchase a Ruby cup a girl in Africa gets one too and it changes her life, in ways we can little but imagine.

25 euro postage inc for 2 MeLuna cups delivered to Australia http://www.meluna.org/MeLuna-menstrualcups here.

Ruby cup is on sale till 07.04.14 and comes with 2 separate bags so it's much easier to share with a friend. One size fits all and it can be ordered on a smart phone!... Found that out while my computer was doing 53mil updates... Ok it was actually 98. You also have the option of buying a beautiful pink silicone cup to microwave sterilise your cup in at the end/beginning of your cycle. Currently the cup is also on special for 10.95 Euro and one cup is going for 27.95 Euro or together for 35.95 Euro.

MeLuna comes in 2 separate sizes one size apart (with the exception of the “Mom combi-pack”) and they must be same thickness and style ie soft, classic or sport with a ball, ring, stem or basic shaped “gripper”. Also the 2 sizes are 1 size apart so you would need to agree with a friend who would have the prettier/larger one and the type you are trying. You would also need to decide who gets the bag... If one of you can sew (not me) that person might like to make a bag or you can get another bag for 5Euro.

The MeLuna double pack is geared to one person using 2 cups. This makes having a day and night cup or a heavy days and lighter days cup more affordable... providing you like the MeLuna cups. However, with a few negotiations I think you can defiantly share the pack between two women.  For more euros you can get a hot-pack teddy combination, that might be a nice gift idea for the MC loving chick.

Now the race is on... which cup will arrive on my doorstep the fastest?

Judie