I tried the disposable one they sell in stores. I think it was to big, I couldn't get it to fit properly. I had a hard time hooking it under the pubic bone. I am going to try one of the reusable ones soon, I think. They can be worn all day so you don't have to worry about emptying it and rinsing it out in front of people. They say up to 12 hours but many have left them in longer with no issue. They do not carry a risk of TSS so time isn't an issue. They hold quite a bit too, if I remember correctly, so emptying wouldn't need to be done as often as changing a tampon.
EDIT* I tried the disposable ones first because they are a soft plastic instead of a rigid cup. You can still have sex with it in. There is also no risk of hurting yourself if it is in wrong. Some of the women who used the diva cup said if it got inserted improperly you could poke/stab yourself with the end when you sat down. This sounded painful to me. I wanted to see if I could insert one correctly before I spent money on a reusable one. I admit I also would have liked them to work in the long run because then I wouldn't have to plan sex while I am on my period.
I wasn't going to add any of the edited part because I didn't want to give all of you TMI, but I didn't feel as honest leaving it out of my answer.
-- Edited by Mom of half a dozen on Tuesday 25th of September 2012 05:54:03 PM
-- Edited by Mom of half a dozen on Tuesday 25th of September 2012 05:54:34 PM
So I'm considering getting a menstrual cup. I've heard so many good about them that I'm finally willing to give it a try. However I'd like practical advice from anyone who currently uses one.
What do you do when you're in a public restroom with a line of women behind you?
With tampons I never have a problem. I do everything I need to do in the stall and then I exit, wash my hands and go on about my business. With a cup I'm envisioning the need to leave my stall and wash it in the sink and then return to my stall.
nevermind I reread Mom o' post where it says it does come with a stem.
I like the idea of the stem. Even though I've been having my period for decades and I've never forgotten anything up there I'm still a little bit paranoid about that. The stem would give me peace of mind that it hadn't got lost.
*I crack myself up sometimes.
-- Edited by dqm either on Wednesday 26th of September 2012 01:11:13 AM
My duaghter needs to use the computer but I have soooooo many questions for you!
Isn't there a "stem" sticking out? That would be the equavalent to the tampon string? Since you have six kids I'm not going to question if you and your husband are 'doing it right' but I am
confused curious
about how that works.
more questions possibly from my nook or when I get a turn back on the computer.
With the disposable ones there is no stem. It is a semi rigid plastic ring that is inserted into the vagina. You fold the ring and insert, sliding it all the way back. You do this while sitting on the toilet usually. Once you reach the back you release the ring and make sure it catches behind the pubic bone. The part that catches the blood is a soft plastic material that is attached to the ring. No stem means no stabbing yourself if inserted wrong. It also means no stabbing the husband during relations. I wanted to stick with this kind but they don't come on different sizes. I might keep messing with it to see if I can get it to fit. I don't want to stab myself.
I will write the directions from the package after I get the kids dinner and baths done.
LOL Des! It is a little hard to type some of this out and not laugh. I used words like rigid, and too big, ect. Then there is the thought of impaling yourself with the stem of a reusable one. I am trying to be adult about this but it is hard (hard... hahaha). I did have to laugh when I got to dqms post about "doing it right". I assure you dqm, I know what I am doing.
You asked so here goes. For the reusable, I cut the stem off. As far as in a public restroom, I just wipe it out with TP and resume use. Never had any issues doing it that way.
The disposable I used doesn't have a stem. I know the diva cup does though. I think it is just to help you grab it easier. I did sort of have to "go in after it" . I also had to be careful because you have to break the seal to remove it. If you are not careful it could end up looking like you killed someone in the bathroom stall. They do say it takes a bit of practice no matter which kind you choose. If you are going to try it I would just make sure you empty it at home until you get used to it. With at least 12 hours between needing to empty it most women wouldn't have to empty in public if they didn't want to.
I'm not putting something like the black one inside me, no sir... I wont even wear a tampon!!! I'm a pad kinda a gal.
The pink one I can consider, but how far up does it have to be? And how in the world do you have sex with that thing inside you?!
The pink one looks a bit like a see through diaphram. If they fit like a diaphram, you'd never feel it was there. I don't know about having sex with handles, knobs and pointy things sticking off the other cups though.
If I was younger & would get my money's worth out of it, I'd try some of these cups.
I'm showing my inexperience here, I never wore a diaphragm... I think that explains why I don't get the cups. That's what I get for having a mom that thinks that wearing a tampon makes you lose your virginity...
Is this an over the counter product or is it something that needs to be fitted? Because I went to the drug store and they didn't have any. It could be just that I live in SUCH a small town but I went over to the pharmacy to ask and the lady had never heard of them.
Btw, another question. If you buy the disposable ones (seems so counter productive but whatever) how do you dispose of them?
They are over the counter, most you order online. They ask a couple questions and then suggest a size. The one I tried, yes the pink one in front, is a one size fits all thing. I got it at Walmart, but not all stores carry them. You can order them online and do site to store, I think. As for disposal, I just dumped the blood in the toilet, put in back in the wrapper and threw it away.
. This sounded painful to me. I wanted to see if I could insert one correctly before I spent money on a reusable one. I admit I also would have liked them to work in the long run because then I wouldn't have to plan sex while I am on my period.
. I wanted to stick with this kind but they don't come on different sizes. I might keep messing with it to see if I can get it to fit. I don't want to stab myself
. 
over how you could have sex with that in there. 