Revision Wonderzine tries the menstrual cup
Most likely, you already know something about menstrual cups: we talked about them in great material. Of the benefits - environmental friendliness, convenience and no leakage. They have already been assigned a separate Telegram channel, and a small survey allows you to understand almost everything. We decided to check whether the general enthusiasm was fair, bought five bowls and tried to spend the next monthly periods with them. In short, almost everyone is converted and in the future they plan to abandon gaskets and tampons in favor of reusable caps. Below you will find the table of contents.
Ladycup
THE SIZE: S
MATERIAL: Medical Silicone
RIGIDITY: Soft
FEATURES: Very smooth surface
LENGTH: For the average height of the cervix
In general, I was in the story that everyone feared. For the first time I had to introduce a mouthpiece in the toilet of a shopping center, repeatedly I changed it in the office, and once I inadvertently covered the floor in the bathroom with blood. I consider the experiment a success, despite my haste and chaotic lifestyle. Before that, I did not think about the cups, although I knew enough - their environmental friendliness and the possibility of repeated use were interesting. Tampons suited me perfectly, except for those minutes when they had to urgently run to the pharmacy. Gaskets hate wholeheartedly. Just imagine how it is to spend a hot summer with a piece of pulp between your legs. Not very nice.
The first day of the month coincided with the preparations for the move and caught up with me on the day of the trip for the paint in Aviapark. I waited for the moment when it would be necessary to insert the cup, towards the evening. And I safely forgot about it before leaving the house (but I still put the cup in my pocket). On the way, I got lost, experienced mental and physical torment and remembered that something was missing. A bowl in my backpack, sterilized in boiling water, the toilet is on the second floor, there is nowhere to retreat.
How to enter the bowl
I stood in a booth, holding a scarf in my teeth, exhausted several alcohol wipes, took out a bowl and acted according to the instructions. Everything turned out well the first time, but it was extremely uncomfortable. But then I chose forty minutes between shades of paint, ran through the rows with a cart, paid for purchases, looked for a taxi and dragged heavy buckets. There was no inconvenience, the bowl did not remind of its presence. And in the next four days, she behaved in the same way: she was scared when she was injected and pulled out, but she perfectly matched my life. A couple of times I really wore her twelve hours.
LadyCup has a very elastic bezel, thanks to which it is easily opened in the vagina. You need to get used to it: the bezel is not too willing to change shape when removing the bowl, it needs to be slightly bent with your fingers. When I didn’t understand this, I got into that scene from The Nightmare on Elm Street, in which Johnny Depp sucks the bed. However, it taught me how to handle caps more carefully. For the rest, LadyCup is probably perfect. It is very small, not too soft, keeps its shape well and costs reasonable money. A bowl that is suitable in shape and length is not felt at all, you can take almost any posture with it, walk a lot, and not be distracted by work. In general, if you haven’t canceled your period, the menstrual cap is definitely worth a try. I plan to continue to use the bowl and feel that I have one foot in the future.
Lilacup
THE SIZE: S
MATERIAL: Medical Silicone
RIGIDITY: Soft
FEATURES: Small, easy to open
LENGTH: For the average height of the cervix
Actually, I am an adherent of tampons: they are much more convenient than gaskets, and the applicator, in my opinion, is generally one of the best inventions of mankind. Those who have never used a bowl, it frightens (it would be difficult to imagine how you can shove it in yourself). In fact, everything was not so scary - the main thing to study the issue. True, the confidence that the bowl will fit absolutely everyone, I still do not have.
I chose a soft cup of size S: I thought that it would be easier to insert than a hard bowl (I feel comfortable only with small and medium swabs). A large volume was not needed, because I have been taking contraceptives for several years and there are no blood flows (technically, this is not menstruation at all, but we will omit it). Before the beginning of the monthly, I carefully read the instructions, looked at several sites and forums and felt fully armed. So much so that I decided to insert the cup on the first day a little in advance, right before the beginning of the menstrual period (thanks to the pills, everything comes as if it were on the clock) and right in the office toilet. Do I have to say that after fifteen minutes I didn’t succeed, and I came out with the feeling that I had just experienced bad sex with the menstrual cup - I never thought that I would have to examine myself from the inside so carefully.
How to measure the height of the cervix
Fortunately, I started the experiment almost last, so my colleagues shared their experience and gave advice. First, I recommend this link. Secondly, I advise you to try out different ways of addition: with the classic, letter C, my soft cap did not want to deal with it, but everything went much faster with "punch down fold". I advise you to press the side with the hole through which the air passes - so even easier. Thirdly, I think that water-based lubrication can help - though I have not used it. It is also useful to practice inserting a bowl before the cycle begins, and take out the first few times in your own bath or shower, if you can: there is less chance of blood being poured around.
In general, it is convenient to use the bowl - after a day I trimmed the tail a little and it became quite good. The cup is not felt inside, but it seems to me that there is a danger in this: it is easy to forget to pull it out after twelve hours, especially if the menstruation is not abundant. I think this issue is solved by reminders in the phone. After several times I learned how to insert and straighten it in a couple of minutes - and even coped with it in the toilet of the restaurant where I was at the banquet. At first I was insured by the daily installation, but there was no leakage. However, I am not sure that I am completely converted: it was unpleasant to embed and especially get a mouthpiece every time, with tampons it was nevertheless easier. But I think I will give her another chance, after all, it's nice to save money on pads and tampons, and this is a more eco-friendly thing. And I also think to consult about the bowl with a gynecologist - just in case.
MeLuna Classic Ring
THE SIZE: S
MATERIAL: Thermoplastic elastomer
RIGIDITY: Medium hardness
FEATURES: Ring for extraction instead of the stem, made of hypoallergenic material
LENGTH: For the average height of the cervix
Before the experiment began, I read on our website and in other trustworthy sources which menstrual cups are comfortable, eco-friendly, and so on, but it didn’t get to the point of purchase because I was indecisive. I got a purple bowl of one of the most popular brands - the basic model, which is recommended for beginners: size S, in theory, is suitable for all who have not given birth, elasticity is average, just for inexperienced users. At the end of this bowl is not a tail (aka the “stem”), but a ring. I did not quite understand how it differs fundamentally from other variations, except that you can hang a key ring with a bell on it, but the manufacturer is unlikely to mean it. A storage bag and instructions are attached to the cup, which is a little ridiculous, but intelligible.
I have been using tampons for a long time, so I don’t think it’s wild to put the hygiene product inside: for the first time I used water-based lubricant for the first time, but then it wasn’t useful to me. Before the first use, I boiled a bowl in a dipper, like a soft-boiled egg, and googled if there were any problems with the use of a cap in women with my disease - endometriosis. I found this: there is a strange myth about the connection of menstrual cups with endometriosis, which does not stand up to scrutiny. Women on Reddit say everything is fine. In general, bowls are considered safer than the same tampons or pads, because they are not associated with toxic shock syndrome and spare microflora.
9 ways to fold the bowl
The instructions warn that learning to introduce skills can take up to three cycles, but I mastered it faster. Everything was normally inserted and straightened from the second attempt, with the pad for the first time it was worse and harder. For safety net, I also used a daily gasket, but in general it is not needed: the cup, even on the first day, was not filled to the brim and did not leak. Perhaps people with heavy monthly safety net come in handy. Despite the elasticity, the bowl inside is not felt, just like a correctly inserted tampon, only without a rope sticking out.
Pulling out turned out to be a little more difficult than inserting - it’s good that I did this at home, because for the first time I looked like a novice butcher. I do not advise for the first time to empty the bowl in the office toilet, if you do not want to scare colleagues. In any case, this attraction awaits you not every three hours, as with a tampon, but a couple of times a day - so that colleagues can be patient. The cup showed itself well both during sleep and during work (I like to sit in strange poses and tie into a knot). The conclusion of the experiment: the bowl - a great achievement of civilization, I will use the model I got next.
MeLuna Soft Stem
THE SIZE: M
MATERIAL: Thermoplastic elastomer
RIGIDITY: Soft
FEATURES: Very soft, made of hypoallergenic material
LENGTH: For the average height of the cervix
"Well, how do you put it in yourself?" - the first thing you think about when looking at the menstrual cup. As it turned out, shoving is not the main problem when it comes to mouth guard. But the benefit is incredible: just like in advertising pads and tampons, with a bowl, if you wish, you can move along the railing, and shine your booty into the camera while playing tennis.
I never liked all the traditional feminine hygiene items. Tampons are large (even the smallest), dry and uncomfortable gizmos that are unpleasant to introduce, and there is also toxic shock syndrome from them. Gaskets - bulky, squishing and not too fragrant smelling strips, which come loose and strive to flow in any movement. For fourteen years of menstruation, I got used to, that in the days of X, you must constantly ask others to check whether there are any spots on the pants, glue the biggest airbag for the night, don’t wear white and hope for the best. The menstrual cup can solve all the above difficulties, but there are, as they say, nuances. This is how we experienced the first joint periods with my cap.
I was too lazy to study the question normally in advance, so I took the cup from the game bought for the experiment at random. “Mmm, soft, probably, it will be easier with her,” I reasoned. Everything works exactly the opposite: the softer the bowl, the harder it is to properly position it in itself. Introducing the silicone dome is not difficult in principle. The main thing is to choose a convenient form of folding - "U fold", "punch down fold" and "7-fold" are the most popular, - relax and take your time. Through trial and error, I realized that the “punch down” was the most comfortable for me, but for that I had to rub myself properly on the first day - I must admit, I was a little overdone. To make it quite simple, do not be afraid to take a water-based lubricant.
How to safely remove the bowl
To straighten the bowl after such a folding, you need to press the base - the air will come out and it will fall into place. With hard caps it works with a bang, soft, stubborn and do not want to finish. I had to read the entire Internet and spend trash-shuting - press to the back of the vagina, twist, pull down and then up again - to find a way to solve the problem. I have never spoken so closely with my vagina; Along the way, I discovered instructions for determining the height of the cervix and now I know which one I have. As a result, my way is: to clamp on the hole, through which the vacuum is broken when taking out - so it is much easier to finish the cup.
I wore the bowl recommended 8-12 hours: size M is not enough for twelve on the most abundant days, but in all the others I just cleaned it during the morning and evening shower. Before and after the menstruation, it is necessary to boil the drip for a couple of minutes; It turned out that you can sleep, with your leg up, and do not leak, play bowling, go on a hill and run only because the cup gave up and overflowed, and at work forget about jogging with a pad around the office. The tail was longish for me, so I cut it off - as soon as it shortened, I stopped feeling in myself at all. From now on, we will be inseparable with kapa - I think to buy her a pair to try a different volume, length and stiffness and keep several different monthly periods for different days.
Lunette
THE SIZE: 1
MATERIAL: Medical Silicone
RIGIDITY: Medium hardness
FEATURES: Small size, elasticity
LENGTH: For the average height of the cervix
I do not even know where to start. It is possible from the fact that the menstrual cup is the best invention of humanity after the wheel. Or from what kind of horror mask I wore for the first couple of days before I had to use it. Before that, I did not study the subject, and if it were not for this experiment, I would probably have tried this instrument for a long time or never. When the cup came into my hands, there were a lot of questions and fears - some of them still remained, I hope this material will clarify something.
The first and most important question: "And how will I shove it?" Pictures in the instructions explained not too intelligibly, I had to google the video. I looked at the first one, with an imitation of the vagina in the form of a tuba made of cardboard, then a couple more ... It became clear that everything would have to be studied in practice. Most instructions show one way of folding, which is not very suitable for me. By the way, what I learned about was simply because I had to try to enter the bowl several times. In general, I found a couple more ways, one worked perfectly. Separate difficulties arose during extraction. Naturally, I have a separate bathroom, of course, I forgot a bottle of water. I just had to jump out with this thing in my hands and solemnly bring it to the bathroom. It looked so-so, and more I did not forget. But still, until the end, I did not adapt to the extraction. Without the habit of complicated, you can stain everything around. For the first time I would do it in the bathroom, filling everything with oilcloth, or at least removing the bright rugs from the bathroom.
The pros and cons of using menstrual cups
In the future I plan to buy another bigger cup so that you can safely change it outside the house and do it even less often. During menstruation, the size of S was suitable, except that on the first day it was necessary to closely monitor. That is, as you understood, despite my misadventures, I nevertheless became an adept. Because for the first time in the last seventeen years, during this period, I felt like a man. That is, for the most part, I did not even think about menstruation. For the first time over the years, I slept like a boss, rather than curled into an embryo pose.
All obstacles are in the head, and without trying, you will not know. Doubt, which does not leave me yet: and yet how hygienic is the bowl? To be honest, I did not find a definite answer on the Internet. Is it normal that blood stays in the bowl for long? What is the most hygienic way to change it outside the home? I want to believe that I have nothing to worry about. The cup is indeed a thousand times more comfortable than other means of hygiene, and, which is important for me, it is very eco-friendly. I just imagined how much garbage I have produced over the past seventeen years, and I was scared.