Eco-Friendly Period Products, a Brief Overview

Hello lovelies! Today I thought I would write a post about the many eco-friendly feminine hygiene products that are out there for consumers to choose from. There are so many options to consider, in your drugstore aisle or your local organic foods store. I think every woman should at least consider switching to eco-friendly menstrual products, as they create less environmental waste, keeping the earth healthier, and they are not associated with serious health problems like Toxic Shock Syndrome. So here is a list of environmental alternatives for your period:

• Organic cotton pads tampons -  For those of us that are dearly attached to our disposable menstrual products (aka most women), this is a great option for making your period more environmentally friendly without sacrificing your disposable products. Admittedly, you will still be producing waste, but companies such as Natracare and Seventh Generation make an increased effort to cut down on packaging. As well organic cotton products are free from harmful chemicals, such as chorine, dyes, and fragrances… they also shed fibers and leave them behind in the vagina like most non-organic brands.  So this is a great option if you’re not comfortable with trying reusable products, and your body and the environment will thank you for switching to an organic brand. (I have recently received some Natracare products from a contest on BePreparedPeriod so I am excited to try them out.)

• Reusable Instead Softcup / Instead Softcup – Instead Softcup is composed of a plastic sac attached to a firm ring, that is used to collect menstrual flow instead of absorbing it. Softcup is a good intermediary between disposable and reusable menstrual products. Softcup can be worn while sleeping or during intercourse. Personally, I reuse regular Softcup for one period, but the company has also recently come out with a “reusable” version that was designed specifically to be used for one period. (You need to rinse Softcup between uses.) These still create waste of course, but they are healthy for your body and a good stepping stone if you are considering reusable menstrual cups.

  

  Reusable Instead Softcup
• Sea sponge tampons – Sea sponge tampons or "pearls" are made from well, sea sponges, and are used like regular tampons. They are very soft and are reusable for about six months. They are also healthier for your body, and will cut down on how much waste you use.  However, like all reusable menstrual products, you do have to clean and take care of them.

  

  Jade & Pearl Sea Pearls
• Menstrual Cups – Menstrual cups are the big daddy of reusable period products, because they can be reused for years and years. They are bell shaped cups made of medical grade silicone that collect menstrual fluid. They need to been rinsed between uses, and cleaned between periods, but they are extremely comfortable and can be worn while sleeping. These are also healthier for your body and the earth. They come in lots of fun colors as well!



Menstrual Cups come in many colors/sizes.

• Cloth Pads – If you prefer not to use internal products while you’re on your period, but you want something that is reusable, cloth pads are for you. These are very comfortable and absorbent, and come in lots of fun colors and patterns. They are extremely easy to use, but do require cleaning after each use which involves throwing them in the washer and dryer.

So I hope y'all found this post helpful. Have a great week!

FTC: This post was sponsored by Softcup/Evofem. I was compensated to mention Softcup in this post, but these are my 100% honest opinions as always.

Period Sex/Masturbation - Gross or Not?

Hello ladies! I hope you are having a good February. The winner of the Softcup contest from last post was Shelly D. Congrats Shelly! Please let me know if you end up liking the product.

Disclaimer: This post has major TMI, probably more than most of my posts. If you are easily grossed out, it's not for you. k thx bai

Anyways onto the subject of today's post, since it's almost Valentine's day and all I wanted to talk about... period sex. That's right- period sex. I think there's a pretty big taboo surrounding intercourse or masturbation while you're surfing the crimson wave, at least in Western society. Traditionally, in many religions and cultures, women are viewed as "unclean" while they are on their period. And I think a lot of couples are squicked out by the mere idea of period sex, especially younger ones! Well I am here to tell you that period sex or masturbation if you happen to be alone this V-day 1) is still very enjoyable 2) helps relieve cramps (sex = natural pain reliever) and 3) does not have to be messy.

Reusable Instead Softcup

Let's start out with the mess factor, which is obviously a big factor in whether you or your partner, or yourself and your lady parts are going to be combining the sexy times and the period. One thing that will help tremendously is looking into trying Instead Softcup, a menstrual product that can be bought at most drugstores. If you haven't read any of my other posts about Softcup, you can check out my initial review here. Anyways, this is a flexible cup that you can use instead of tampons. It works well, and it leaves room for other things down there--it's an internal menstrual product you can use during intercourse. Most other things, like tampons and reusable menstrual cups, tend to get in the way, but this works well.

500 days of summer - shower sex

Now, Softcup doesn't work perfectly at keeping you completely blood free. There may still be a few drops that come out. I recommend changing your Softcup before intercourse and putting down a towel. You also may feel fresher and sexier if you use a baby wipe or feminine wipe before hand. If your partner is still squicked out by the idea and is male, suggest that he wear a condom (which you should be doing anyways if you're not using another contraceptive). You can also try sex in the shower, which makes things very easy to clean up, but keep in mind this doesn't mix well with rubber condoms.

A SoftCup sits where a diaphragm would in the vagina.

Also, there may be some differences in how intercourse feels. I know when I am having a low cervix day (aka when the dangly thing inside my vajayjay is lower), it doesn't always work as well because there's just not enough space for PiV. (That doesn't mean there isn't space for FiV or MiV.) However, I recently tried the new make of Softcup, which are slightly slimmer in the rim, and it seems to work better . :) You just have to try it out and see for yourselves!

So now that we've established that period sex doesn't necessarily have to be bloody, there's just a few other things to discuss. Firstly, sex is a natural pain reliever because it releases endorphins in the pleasure center of your brain, and this helps relieve pain like headaches or cramps. However, you still want to be careful and gentle, especially in regards to your cervix. Too rough of sex is probably not a good idea since the cervix tends to be sensitive during menstruation (at least for me), and bumping it could make your cramps worse. Take it slow with lots of foreplay and lube, and it should feel just right.

my v-day companion :)

So I hope y'all enjoyed this post! My boyfriend and I are long distance, so I will be spending this V-day with a Softcup and my new purple vibrator. *wink wink*  I hope everyone, single or not, has a great week!

FTC: I was compensated for this blog post, but this is my 100% honest opinion.

PMS - Pre Menstrual Silliness

Hello dears! Today I am going to be covering the topic of PMS, aka Pre Menstrual Silliness. For me personally, I usually experience lower abdominal cramps, leg aches, sadness and irritability, and general tiredness—the emotional tendencies beginning a little before my actual period and everything continuing into my period. The best remedy for all of these is to pamper yourself with lots of chocolate and relaxation time, but as a busy college student, that’s usually not an option. So I usually try to go to bed earlier, take some pain medicine, use my laptop as a heating pad, drink tea, eat yummy food, and avoid stressing myself out as much as possible.  

No heating pad? Overheated macbook to the rescue!

Now that I use reusable cups or Softcup for my period, I have one less thing to stress about because I don’t have to worry about changing my period protection once every eight hours. I also never used to sleep well when I used pads at night, because I experienced frequent leaks. I love my cups for this reason; I can wear an internal menstrual product while sleeping, and I can sleep for hours and hours without a leak. Menstrual cups and cloth pads have saved some of my pretty undies—that’s for sure!

reusable Softcup :)

Some women that start using Softcup or reusable cups also say that their cramps go away completely. I wish this were the case for me, but I still get pretty bad cramps, which spread down to my upper legs, even though I use my cups.  However, as I’ve mentioned before, I find cups to be much more comfortable to wear. I would occasionally be aware of the fact that I had a tampon in, but with cups I can forget about it and have one less bother.

Lunette & DivaCup

So that’s all I have to say about PMS. Please leave a comment with your opinions on the topic!

FTC: I was asked to do this series of posts on Instead Softcup by their marketing company, and I am being compensated,however these are still my 100% honest opinions about the product and my lifestyle.

Giveaway: Instead Softcup Menstrual Cups!

Instead Softcup

Hello lovlies! Today I have a giveaway for y'all! I am very excited to announce that I am giving away a new, unopened box of 24 Instead Softcup! This is actually quite a lot of Softcup--if you use four per period it will last you for six cycles, and if you use one it will last you for two years! The box one lucky blog reader will be receiving is the new design of Softcup that has recently hit the market. I personally prefer this version because the rim is slightly thinner--it's a tad bit more comfortable for insertion/removal and PiV (more coming up on that later). 

For more information on why I choose to use Softcup for about 50% of my period check out my past posts:

•  Holiday Travels & Menses
•  Instead Softcup, a Review
•  Exercise & Menses

Now onto the giveaway rules. Follow them and you will have a better chance of winning. ;)

1. You must enter using the rafflecopter widget. Entries not entered through the widget will not be seen by me!

2. You must follow/subscribe to this blog. You can use email, Google connect, and other accounts I believe. You must provide this information in the giveaway. (Only I will be able to see it.) I will double check these things--please do not try to flout the requirement. No spam please.

3. You may choose to complete optional entries for a better chance of winning. These are also through the widget! Each optional entry is worth one more point:

• Follow me on twitter @loveyourperiod
• Post a blog comment. (Question below.)
• Like this blog post.
• Follow @insteadsoftcup on twitter
• Like Softcup on facebook

4. You must leave the username to validate your following/subscribing/posting! Also you must leave your email so I can contact you if you win.

5. You should be 18 years or older or have your parents permission to enter. I will have to ask for your mailing address.

6. This contest is open internationally, but please know will have to pay the cost of shipping after $6 (via paypal). Sorry--I'm a broke college student!

Good luck! :)

FTC: This blog post and giveaway was sponsored by Instead Softcup, but these are my 100% honest opinions as always.

Exercise and Menses

Hi lovelies! I am back with another post today about Softcup and working out. Now, one of my new year’s resolutions, and really year-round resolutions is to start running again. I got into it for a while this summer, but I fell out of the habit and it’s hard to get started again. I am honestly not a very fit person, what with all the time I spend sitting in front of the computer. I have a pretty healthy-vegetarian diet, but exercise does so many good things for the body as well. So I am really going to go for a run today. Well I’ll walk my dog, and save the run for tomorrow. Or the next day. ;)

Instead Softcup

Regardless of my negligent exercise habits, I often find myself invited to exercise with friends or needing to do somewhat physical activity for an extended period of time while I’m menstruating. This presents a problem because we don’t want to experience leaks while we’re running around, and we may need our period protection to last for a long time, especially if you’re going to be outdoors the whole day, hiking perhaps, without a bathroom in sight. This is where I think Softcup (or other menstrual cups) make a huge difference. Softcup is very comfortable and lasts for up to twelve hours.

The tampons I used in highschool

Back in high school, I used to wear tampons during the day and I participated in my high school’s marching band, which meant three rehearsals a week after a long day of school. Needless to say when I had my period, about four hours of sleep, and three hour band rehearsal, I was not a happy camper.  Tampons were just the extra nudge in the wrong direction. They were fine for going to class, but then during band rehearsal it would feel like I literally had a stick up there while I marched around in fundamentals. Very uncomfortable, and I really wished I had found out about cups during high school. I also had to change my tampon right after school let out in the gross public high school bathrooms, because my tampons were semi-leaky on occasion and would definitely leak after a school day plus band rehearsal. When I look back it also seems very unsanitary to me, because I would wear disposable liners along with my tampon that had a non breathing plastic layer to them.  

sweat + menstrual fluid + pantiliner I’ve been wearing all day at school = questionable

But anyways, on the other hand I absolutely love Softcup for exercise. I walked a 10k with a cup in, and it didn’t leak the whole time or bother me. I even ran (well, tried to run) the last mile or so, and I felt great. I have also worn cups on runs, and they stay in place beautifully and have a great capacity. You never have to worry about them leaking in the middle of a long run or a long workout. I have a friend who is very athletic. I turned her onto cups and she likes them a lot for running in official races or in general. I've also worn a cup while swimming and had no leakage--I was a bit nervous, and usually some water gets in the cup, but no blood comes out! And most importantly Softcup are sooo comfortable—I don’t feel them inside me at all (unlike tampons), so even if my legs and lower belly are aching from period pains, I don’t have to add another discomfort to my body while working out. I mean, hopefully the endorphins from my run should help with the aches, but sometimes after a run I just ache all over in more places.

Disposable and reusable Softcup

I hope y’all enjoyed this post, and are staying fit and exercising (unlike me). Please share any tips you have about getting motivated to go running and such and your opinions on exercising during menstruation. Thank you for reading!

FTC: I was asked to do this series of posts on Instead Softcup by their marketing company, and I am being compensated, however these are still my 100% honest opinions about the product and my lifestyle.