# Menstural cups **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 20, 1999, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357 "1999-09-20T14:31:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/101 "2002-11-19T19:53:57Z")
I used the cup thing MAAAANNNY years ago. Or should I say, I TRIED to use it. Couldn’t get it in, couldn’t even imagine getting it out. Doesn’t sound even the slightest bit convenient (but that’s me). ---
**Author:** ![Moxmaiden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Moxmaiden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moxmaiden)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/102 "2002-11-19T21:47:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*I took one look at that Instead or Keeper thingy and ran the other way. Am I the only one who still uses pads? I’m paranoid about TSS. \*\* I hate tampons, and hated usuing a diaphram, so I don’t think I will be using the Keeper. Instead I am in process of sewing my own pads. How’s that for TMI. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Azure\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Azure\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azure_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/103 "2002-11-19T23:07:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shirley Ujest \* > \*\* I will have to say after all this time using the MC, I did have my first painful incident after inserting it too deep. ( I was day dreaming and well, just shoved it in in it’s folded in-half state) and when it opened up at the opening of my cervix. Well, mama, I will tell you, for about five minutes, getting off the toilet was near impssible, it was like a contraction in labor, but worse. (worse because it was totally unexpected. Like someone pulling your short hairs.) > \*\* _sigh_ Three pages of great reviews, but I can’t get past this one. _shudders_ Hey, **Guin**? _raises hand_ ---
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/104 "2002-11-19T23:30:26Z")
OpalCat…when you said it lasts up to 10 years I had this mental image of that thing being inside of you for 10 years! My God, I thought, there must be a shitload of blood in there! ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/105 "2002-11-19T23:43:56Z")
oh blink, the hilarity you have just brought into my life!!! no kidding, it last 10 years… and you never empty it! ---
**Author:** ![TwungTister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TwungTister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwungTister)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/106 "2002-11-22T18:20:15Z")
Nobody has mentioned sponges. The museum of Menstruation: [www.mum.org](http://www.mum.org) Jade and Pearl: [www.jadeandpearl.com](http://www.jadeandpearl.com) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/107 "2002-11-22T19:01:26Z")
WIth all these new converts, does this mean I’m no longer the Menstrual Cup Queen of the SDMB? ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/108 "2002-11-22T20:51:26Z")
You’re welcome, **Shirley**. 😃 I promise to restart this thread again at least once. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/109 "2002-11-22T21:13:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\*You can leave it in much longer than tampons and it’s much cleaner… you just dump it out in the potty and rinse it out in the sink and stick it back in… they’re actually very clean. > \*\* two thoughts come to mind: 1 - If I ever visit, don’t _ever_ use the sink at Opal’s house. 2 - _ **EWWWWWWWWWWWW!!** _ ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/110 "2002-11-22T22:27:41Z")
I’ve read about the Keeper ages ago and thought, nope, no way, no. I can watch surgery on TLC, I watched a vet do eyeball surgery on a bunny and though “cool,” but I _cannot_ deal with menstrual blood and I get grossed out when I donate blood and the tube is draped over my arm (the warmth of my own blood just grosses me out). I would faint the first time I had to empty the Keeper. But, now that this thread has been resurrected, I have to say, it gave me a weird dream: I dreamt I was wearing a “menstrual cup”. And in my dream is really was quite the _“cup”_ as in bigger than a coffee mug! Big red, rubber thing that looked like a bowl! In my dream I kept thinking “geez, everyone is gonna know I have my period!” because trying to sit at my desk at work, I was about 4 inches up higher in my chair – balanced on the “cup” that was tucked in my pants. When I woke up, it turned out that I really needed to pee and between my complaining bladder and reading the SDMB, my dream was influenced by the power of suggestion. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/111 "2002-11-23T01:30:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lizard \* > 2 - EWWWWWWWWWWWW!! Consider the other common options: pads. You know what the inside of a bandaid looks like after it’s been on for a while? How it’s a mixture of red, brown, and “undetermined moistness”? Well throw in some sticky, black clots, several pubic hairs, and crotch sweat and you have a pad. This is rubbing against your body the whole time. Then you have to touch them to dispose of them, and they aren’t flushable. tampons. These are like internal pads. The blood is irregularly absorbed, and gets funky when it soaks into the cotton. The string is usually soaked with blood, sweat, and pee, and you have to grab it to pull it out. Half the time the whole thing does a pendulum swing when it pops out and hits the toilet, your leg, your hand, or any combination. They are either put in the trash can or flushed. And then you have to wash nasty string-goo off your hands. In your sink. With the cup, the blood is in its natural state – liquid. It doesn’t gunk up, turn smelly, or do anything else weird. The blood doesn’t work its way around the cup, so pulling it out, your fingers just get regular girl-stuff on them, and that is minimal. Rinsing it out in the sink is no different than washing off a cut or dealing with a bloody nose. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/112 "2002-11-23T01:32:44Z")
err… “TMI alert” ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2002, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/113 "2002-12-04T21:42:53Z")
_ **bumpety bumpety bump** _ for all the ladies who are dying to try a cup, but are allergic to latex, [www.mooncup.co.uk](http://www.mooncup.co.uk) are offering a version identical to the keeper made from silicone rubber. the price is £27 (£29 for outside the uk). i think this is about $40. they say you can use sterilising tablets or put it in the dishwasher, rather than just vinegar and hot water… seriously considering it… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2002, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/114 "2002-12-04T22:03:25Z")
PUT IT IN THE DISHWASHER?!?!?!?! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2002, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/115 "2002-12-04T22:04:52Z")
What is wrong with that? If you are really squeamy you can put it in without any dishes. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2002, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/116 "2002-12-04T22:07:43Z")
I’m gonna get one of those mooncups when I get some more money. Silicone holds up better than rubber. ---
**Author:** ![Leifsmama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a698b9/32.png) [@Leifsmama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leifsmama)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2002, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/117 "2002-12-04T23:51:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \* > \*\* > > In my dream I kept thinking “geez, everyone is gonna know I have my period!” because trying to sit at my desk at work, I was about 4 inches up higher in my chair – balanced on the “cup” that was tucked in my pants. > > \*\* Oh, my sides are aching as I pick my self off the floor! ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357/118 "2002-12-18T15:53:47Z")
Count me in as a satisfied user of Instead! I bought some on the basis of the recommendations here, and so far so good. The only place it is sold here in Tulsa is Walgreen’s, I think. I got fourteen to a box, and it wasn’t expensive. The cup is comfortable, easy to insert, and doesn’t leak. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstural-cups/9357.md?page=5)