How to Choose the Right Menstrual Cup for You | Not One Size Fits All!

Hello blog readers! Today I am back with a new post about menstrual cups. I am part of several Facebook groups about reusables (you'll find them linked in #RUMPS Resources in the toolbar above), and the most common question I see is something along the lines of.. "How do I pick a cup! There are so many brands! I'm so lost! Help!"

When I started getting into cups and blogging about cups three years ago, there were probably half as many brands as there are now. And it seems like a new cup brand pops up every week. However even with the plethora of brands, don't panic, it's easy to pick a cup that will work decently for you, although it may take purchasing a cup or two before you find that goldilocks cup! (If you so choose you can sell your gently used cup online if it doesn't work; don't worry.)

Back when I was into collecting cups! I had a lot of them, but only one was my goldilocks (Lunette which actually isn't pictured here.)

So, let's start from square one. There are a few factors to consider when getting your first cup: cup length, cup width, firmness or softness, color, material, country of origin, and price. Thankfully cups seem to have expanded to many areas of the world, but in all likelihood (unless you want a DivaCup or a Mooncup if you live in the US or UK) you will have to order your cup online. You can find out where menstrual cups are sold on the ground close to you, by visiting menstrualcupmap.com. It's an amazing resource!

How to Choose Your Menstrual Cup:

Measure your cervix to determine the length of cup you should buy. Your cervix is the part of your vagina where your menstrual fluid leaves. It's important to measure how far up your cervix is in your vagina before you buy a cup, because some cups are longer and some are shorter, so they work worse or better with people who have lower or higher cervixes. If you have a low cervix you will want a shorter, stouter cup so that it does not ride down or out of you while you're wearing it. So before deciding which cup to buy, find out how high or low your cervix is using the following process.

1. Wait until you are on your period, because your cervix will be in different positions at different times of your monthly cycle. Also, you may want to measure on a couple of different days of your period, because it may not be exactly the same each day.
2. Gently and slowly insert a clean finger back, not up, into your vagina, past your pelvic bone, some muscles, and a kind of 'empty' space.
3. Wander around to find the bit that feels a bit like the tip of a nose. Your cervix is a round nub, with an indentation in the middle.
4. Note how far your finger went before touching your cervix, and measure your finger with a ruler to find out how many cm or mm back this was. If it's so far back you can't find it at all, just estimate a bit longer than your finger.

• Now what to do with this information! Some brands make cups as small as 4 centimeter (1.6 in) long or as large as almost 6 centimeter (2.4 in) long. Your cup will sit below your cervix when in use. If it is low, you will probably find a shorter cup such as Ladycup, Lunette, Fleurcup, Femmycycle, or Yuuki more comfortable. If you have a low cervix, the cup without the stem should not be too much longer than the distance from your cervix to your vaginal opening (but you have a bit of slack there, because your cervix can be partially in the cup). If it is very high, a longer cup such as Divacup, Naturcup, or Shecup would be better so that it will be easy to reach when you want to remove it, but in this case you can comfortably use most cup lengths.

A labelled diagram of our anatomy. Notice the cervix is the nubby type thing at the back of the vagina.
[Diagram from wikiHow, orginally created by LiveJournal user morien_san]

Take into consideration how heavy your flow is and cup capacity. Some cups only hold about 11mL and others up to 29mL. Observe on a general day of your period how many tampons you use and how often you change them. Then, using the tampon capacities listed below, calculate your flow volume for twelve hours. This would be the target capacity you want in your cup. In general it's best to overestimate than underestimate so you are not changing your cup too often. Pads have capacities ranging from about 100-500 ml, but the pad would be fully saturated and leaking by this point. If you use pads, there is not a precise way to calculate the capacity you need, so just consider a light flow capacity cup (10-16ml), medium (17-22ml), or large (23-29ml). Tampon capacities:

• Light/Regular: 6-9ml
• Super: 9-12ml
• Super plus: 12-15ml
• Ultra: 15-18ml

Take aesthetics into account. Cups come different colors. They have frosted or slick finishes, grips rings or no grip rings. Stems can be hollow, flat, or cylindrical; some even have grip rings or ball stems instead. All of these things depend on the brand, and this is another characteristic to consider when purchasing your cup.

Consider your bladder sensitivity, fitness level, and other factors before choosing a soft or firm cup. If you have never used internal menstrual products this may be a little hard to gage, but it's important to consider.

• If you have a sensitive bladder you may find that a cup that is too firm will press uncomfortably on your bladder, which could cause you to feel like you have to pee! This is not good, so consider a softer cup if this may be the case. 
• As well if you are very active, or have done a lot of dance or similar activities, you may have very strong pelvic muscles which could crush a soft cup; in that case go for a firmer cup. This may also be the case for people who have jobs or acvtivities which inolve squatting, pushing, pulling, or heavy lifting. Lastly, if you are overweight or obese, you may have more weight pressing on your pelvic area and might want to consider a firmer cup for this reason.
• It's also good to remember that in general soft cups may take some finagling to make them pop open fully in the vagina, while firmer cups tend to pop open more easily on their own. Slightly firmer cups are usually easier to use for this reason.

Decide on the brand of menstrual cup you would like to buy. Once you have figured out the length and capacity you would like to have in your cup, check the size charts below. Cups are not one size fits all, because although you maybe able to make any cup work, a little premeditation as discussed above before buying will ensure your cup is comfortable and has the correct capacity for you.

Note: Virgins and teenagers can use cups! If you are a virgin, you can definitely use a cup. You may feel most comfortable choosing a smaller cup for your first cup. I personally think the Lunette is a good starter cup, unless you have a very low cervix. Keep in mind though that if you have a heavy flow, you can still use any size cup as a virgin, and may want to consider a larger cup. 

Cups can be used by menstruating people of any age, including those who have had children. But in general do not pay too much attention to the size guidelines given by companies. Many will say their bigger size is for those who have had children; it does help in some cases but ifyou have a light flow there is no need to get the bigger size of the cup.


There are several resources and size charts which are helpful when deciding on a cup. Some brands that work well for high cervices include Lunette, DivaCup, SheCup, and others. Some brands that work well for low cervices include Fleurcup, Lunette, LuvUrBody, Meluna Shorty, FemmyCycle and others. Cups with the highest capacity close to 40ml include Meluna XL, LuvUrBody Large, and Yukki large, although many of the size twos (but not all) have around 30ml of capacity. You can find the websites and prices for the cups below by typing them into the Google search bar above.

Here is the most up to date sizing chart I have found which will tell you specific dimensions all in one place: Menstrualcups.wordpress.com Size Charts

This is a great comparison of prices: Menstrualcup.co/ Size Charts

And this is Effblog's awesome pictorial comparison of almost all the brands: Theecofriendlyfamily Blog Photos and Size Charts

This site has many cup brands ranked from soft to firm (keep in mind this is a subjective thing to rate). Effblog's chart also rates them: Menstrualcupinfo.wordpress.com/ Cup Stiffness Ratings

If you want to see specific comparisons of two cups the best thing to do is type their names and "comparison" into the YouTube search bar. :)

List of Cup Brands:

Note that this is not a comprehensive list of all cup brands. There are several that need to be added to the list like RubyCup, LenaCup, OrganiCup, Super Jennie, LilyCup, EvaCup, and others.

CupLee

• Russian brand; only available locally at present
• Cylindrical, hollow stem with grip rings that extend to cup base
• Transparent finish and shiny texture
• Available in green, blue, pink, yellow, and clear colors
• Four suction release holes below rim
• Includes satiny pouch and wooden case

Sizing:

• Small (not currently available): 44x53mm, 17mm stem, 25-30ml capacity
• Large: 40x47mm, 21mm stem, 20-25ml capacity

DivaCup

Canadian Brand; available in US, Canada, and many European countries

Measuring lines in ounces and milliliters; brand name inside

Grip rings and hollow, cylindrical stem

Four suction holes, placed up near the rim

Translucent, frosty appearance

Sizing:

Model 1: 43x57mm, 10mm stem, and 20-23ml capacity; recommended for those under thirty who have never given birth.

Model 2: 46x57mm and 10mm stem, and 26-27ml capacity; recommended for those over thirty and/or those who have given birth vaginally or through cesarean section.

Femmecup

• UK Brand
• Clear finish and squishy silicone
• 4 slanted suction release holes under lower rim
• Firm rim and squishier base
• Spiraling grip ring on base and stem
• Solid, cylindrical stem
• Measuring lines inside the cup at 5 and 10ml
• No writing on inside rim

• Only one standard size; 45x50mm, 25mm stem, and 15ml capacity

Fleurcup

• Small, clear fleurcup (left) and large Fleurcup (right)
• Available colors
• French Brand
• Four slanted suction release holes; placed up near the rim; two on each side
• Almost opaque finish and "peach skin" texture
• Grip rings on stem, which is flat instead of round.
• Softer than some other brands; often recommended for first-time users.
• Available in clear, red, pink, violet, green, grey, orange, blue, and black

Sizing:

• Small: 41x47mm, 23mm stem, and 15ml capacity; recommended for younger those or those with a light flow.
• Large: 46x52mm, 18mm stem, and 29ml capacity; recommended for those who have given birth or for those with a heavy flow.

JuJu Cup

• Australian Brand
• Clear, shiny silicone cup
• Green, purple, and black satin finish pouches
• Four suction release holes, slanted second rim
• Easily cleanable logo on cup's inside
• Pyramidal shaped stem and butterfly shaped base grips

Sizing:

• Model 1: 40x46mm, 20ml capacity
• Model 2: 46x50mm, 30ml capacity

Instead Softcup

• A disposable cup; positioned differently than the other reusable cups mentioned
• Available at most drugstores
• Composed of a plastic sac and heat-sensitive ring
• Recommended for use during sexual intercourse
• See Use an Instead Softcup for more information

Iriscup

• S (left) and L (right) Iriscups
• Spanish Brand; only available in Spain
• Available in clear or pink
• Hollow, cylindrical stem with grip rings
• Slanted suction release holes at alternating heights
• Sizing:
• S: 40x45mm, 20mm stem, and 15ml capacity; recommended for those under 25 who may have given birth by cesarean section.
• L: 45x50mm, 15mm stem, and 20ml capacity; recommended for those over 25 and/or those that have given birth vaginally.

Keeper & US Moon Cup

Rubber Keeper

Silicone MoonCup

• US brand
• The Keeper is opaque and composed of natural gum rubber (aka latex). The Moon Cup, which is the same size, is composed of translucent silicone.
• Hollow, cylindrical stem
• Smooth finish, no grip rings
• Double spill proof rings on the inside
• Six suction release holes under the second rim

Sizing:

• Style A: 44x54mm, 25mm stem, and 15ml capacity; recommended for those who have given birth vaginally (After).
• Style B: 41x54mm, 25mm stem, and 10ml capacity; recommended for those who have not given birth vaginally or have given birth through cesarean section (Before); slightly firmer and smaller.

LadyCup & Color Cups

• Czech Brand
• Clear glossy finish and very smooth texture
• 6 slanted suction release holes at alternating heights
• Bumps along base for gripping; hollow, cylindrical stem
• The clear cup is referred to as a LadyCup, while the other colored cups are referred to as LilacCup, PinkCup, BlueCup, OrangeCup, GreenCup, and YellowCup. There is also the limited edition LOTOS Cup in a pink/orange color.

Sizing:

• Small: 40x46mm, 19mm stem, and 11ml capacity; recommended for those under 25 who have not given birth.
• Large: 46x53mm, 13mm stem, and 20ml capacity; recommended for those over 25 and/or those that have given birth.

Lunette

• Finnish Brand
• Four suction holes, placed up near the rim
• Grip rings on base and flat, tab-shaped stem
• Brand name on outside of cup
• Translucent finish; available in clear (Lunette), blue (Lunette Selene), light green (Lunette Diana), purple (Lunette Cynthia), coral red (Lunette Áine), and yellow (Lunette Lucia).

Sizing:

• Model 1: 41x47mm, 25mm stem, and 20ml capacity; recommended for those with a light to moderate flow, virgins, or younger those; made of a softer silicone.
• Model 2: 46x52mm, 20mm stem, and 25ml capacity; recommended for those with a normal to heavy flow; made of a stiffer silicone.

MeLuna

small and large regular Melunas

• German brand
• Made of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer); a rubber that is as safe to use as silicone
• Suction release holes near the rim
• Grip rings at base; foggy, textured finish
• Different stem styles:
• Basic: no stem; best for experienced cup users
• Ball: ball-shaped stem
• Traditional: long stem composed of gripping balls
• Ring: a tab-shaped stem
• Limited edition glitter cups are available
• Available in red, clear, violet, orange, green, blue, and black colors
• "Softcups" are also available in cyan and pink. They are made of 25% softer TPE.

Sizing (stem length varies for all) for regular Melunas:

• Small: 40x40mm and 10ml capacity
• Medium: 45x45mm and 15ml capacity
• Large: 45x54mm and 24ml capacity
• Extra large: 47x56mm and 30ml capacity

Sizing for Shorty melunas ideal for low cervices:

Miacup

• South African Brand
• Mauve/deep pink color and glossy, opaque finish
• 2 suction release holes under top rim
• Small logo on inside rim of cup (no writing)
• Grip rings on base and stem; flat, tab-shaped stem

Sizing:

• Model 1: 43x53mm, 17mm stem, and 21-23ml capacity; recommended for those under 30 who have not given birth vaginally.
• Model 2: 46x53mm, 17mm stem, and 26-27ml capacity; recommended for those over 30 or those who have given birth vaginally.

MissCup

• Brazilian brand (ships worldwide)
• Long, narrow bodied cup
• Slick finish and opaque silicone material
• Size B: recommended for those before 30 that haven't had children; 40x56mm, 16mm stem, and 30ml capacity
• Size A: recommended for those after 30 that haven't had children; 43x56mm, 16mm stem, and 30ml capacity

Mooncup (UK) 

• UK brand
• Because of a naming dispute with the Keeper company they are now sold in the US under the name MCUK.
• The original Mooncup had a distinctive yellow tint, but the latest version has a whiter colour
• Grip rings on base and stem (Newer version has grips the full length of the stem); hollow, cylindrical stem
• Measuring lines
• Six suction release holes under the lower rim

Sizing:

• Size A: 46x50mm, 20mm stem, and 12-13ml capacity; recommended for those who have given birth vaginally or are over 30.
• Size B: 43x50mm, 20mm stem, and 14ml capacity; recommended for those who have given birth by cesarean section or are under 30.

Mpower cup

• South African Brand; only available in South Africa because of legal dispute with Lunette company
• Nearly clear, soft finish
• Flat, tab-shaped stem
• Grip rings on base and stem
• Two suction release holes under rim
• Only one standard size; 47x54mm, 15mm stem, and 27ml capacity

NaturalMamma

• Italian brand
• White, opaque finish
• Cone shaped and soft silicone material
• Suction release holes
• Grips on base and stem
• only one standard size; 44x56mm, 15mm stem, 27ml capacity

Naturcup

• Spanish Brand; only available in Spain
• Four sizeable suction release holes
• Three subtle grip rings on base and ball-shaped stem
• Three measuring lines and cup size printed on the inside of cup
• Firmer ring and softer base
• Sizes:
• Size 0: diameter of 40mm and length of 56mm; recommended for those under 18 who are not sexually active.
• Size I: diameter of 43mm and length of 65mm; for those ages 18 to 30 who have not given birth vaginally.
• Size II: diameter of 47mm and length of 65mm; for those who have given birth vaginally and/or are older than 30.

Shecup

• Indian Brand
• Light pink
• Nub shaped stem
• Suction release holes under lower rim
• Writing on inside rim of cup and measuring lines
• Vertical grip lines at base of cup and one horizontal grip line on base
• Only one standard size; 44x54mm, 5.5mm stem, and 16ml capacity

SI-Bell cup

• French brand
• Translucent, white finish
• Bell shape and soft silicone material
• Grip rings on stem and ball at base
• Four suction release holes under rim

Sizes:

• S (small): 41x47mm, 27mm stem
• L (large): 46x52mm, 22mm stem

Yuuki

• Czech Brand
• Clear and glossy finish
• Grip rings on base and stem; hollow, cylindrical stem
• Brand name on inside of cup
• Four slanted suction release holes
• Measuring lines and spill proof line inside the cup

Sizing:

• Cup 1: smaller; 42x49mm, 20mm stem, and 19ml capacity
• Cup 2: larger; 47x55mm, 20mm stem, and 29ml capacity

Some of this text is copied from an open source wikiHow article which I wrote, although it has been edited by other editors. I will link to it here to avoid plagiarizing myself. As well all of the images from company websites have been approved to be used with an open source license for wikiHow, which extends to my blog. As well many of these iamges are from members of the LiveJournal Menstrual Cups community. Thank you to all for providing photos!

Please leave any questions below in the comments, or any ways this guide could be improved. Thank you for reading!

Sarah

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.

Reusable Resolutions & Reusable Instead Softcup

Hello lovelies! With the New Year just around the corner, it’s a good time to reflect about areas of our life that we could improve upon. I’m focused on important things like increasing my GPA and maintaining relationships as my college friends continue to shuffle around the country and the globe, but I also want to work on decreasing my negative impact on the environment. One way I could do that is to cut out a lot of disposable things that I use and toss out everyday.  I can easily generate a long list of disposable stuff that I could replace with reusable items, most of which I already own.

1. drink cups – water bottle, thermos
2.  razor blades – epilator
3. tissues – hankerchief
4. grocery bags – nylon shopping bags
5. cotton swabs – wash cloth

my envirosax.com bag that is really cute and portable!

We really live in world full of disposable products, but there are alternatives to almost every option. So I am going to try to make a conscious effort this year to bring my shopping bags with me when I go to the store, or my water bottle when I go to the dining hall, and in general reduce the amount of waste I generate with my reusable resolutions.   Because although a lot of the stuff we throw away may be biodegradable, nothing decomposes very fast in landfills. Things need the proper space and time to decompose, like a compost pile, or else we will end up like the crummy garbage filled world pictured in Wall-E.

Where am I going with this? Well, I think this time of the year is a good time to try new things, and for you, reader, one of things might be a reusable menstrual product. One woman will dispose of thousands of tampons or pads in her lifetime (and spend a fortune on them too), and we make up half of the population so that's a lot of used tampons. (Yuck!) These are usually made of some combination of cotton and plastic, and like I said, nothing decomposes in landfills. Nothing. In the future, archaeologists are going to be able to learn everything about our lives from them, because it will also still be there to get dug up. But anyways, this New Year, why not try something new that will help the environment and save you money? Like... reusable menstrual products, perhaps?

my Lunette menstrual cup

There are lots of options under this category: silicone menstrual cups, cloths pads, sponges, etc. but today I am going to be discussing the new reusable Softcup, which I was very excited to try out and compare to the disposable Softcup which I have used before. For those of you that don't know, Softcup is a menstrual cup composed of a crinkly plastic ring and a firmer plastic rim.( For more information about the Softcup see my original review.) The new reusable Softcup comes in green packaging and was designed to be used for one cycle. I have yet to see this in a drugstore, but they are available to buy from the company’s website.

reusable Softcup and packaging

The disposable Softcup and the reusable Softcup are exactly the same size, but they both differ from the Softcup that was on the market when I last did a review of disposable Softcup.  The rim for both disposable and reusable versions of Softcup has gotten thinner, which I think will improve comfort during sex, but the diameter has stayed exactly the same. The sac that holds the menstrual fluid also seems shorter now, although I did not notice any difference in capacity.  So if Softcup didn’t work for you before because of its size, then I am betting it still would not work for you with this slightly different model. They have also changed the packaging on the disposable Softcup from a purple to a pink box, although the wrapper on an individual Softcup is still purple. The box is also much smaller. For some great comparison pictures of the new and old Softcup design check out this livejournal post.

new design disposable Softcup and packaging

As a regular user of disposable Softcup, I have personally reused one cup whole period and then thrown it away, even though that’s not recommended by the company. I started using Softcup after trying out the Lunette and DivaCup, which are menstrual cups designed to be used for years and years, so it seemed weird to throw out a cup.  They are easy to rinse with water after removal and reinsert. Women have done this before, and they will do it again. If you’re a menstruation nerd like me you might know about one of the earliest menstrual cups, Tassaway, which you were supposed to toss away after each use, but many women reused them because their wear time was longer.  Regardless of my tangent, I am glad that the Softcup company came out with this product, because it sounds like they are listening to their customers.

green wrapper for reusable Softcup

The packaging for this product is literally very "green" and super cute. It came with some instructions, which are easy to read and very helpful for troubleshooting. I tried the reusable Softcup out for about three days of my last period, and it did not leak once, even though I wore it for long periods of time and slept with it in.  (It did “leak” a little when I peed, but that’s only because I move my pelvic muscles at the same time which slides the Softcup down a little.) The Softcup seems easier to insert, now that the rim is a teensy bit thinner. The firmer rim was noticeable during and just after insertion, but I could not feel it after about a minute or so.  

reusable Softcup

The Softcup rinsed clean fairly easily with water and a little elbow grease, and there was no menstrual fluid that got caught in any crooks or crannies of the rim or sac. However, this cup seems like it would be rather hard to clean without running water—i.e. in a public bathroom stall. Unlike a bell shaped menstrual cup, where all the fluid pools in the bottom and pours out easily, the fluid is always spread out across the bottom of the sac with this cup. Since I have rather gelatinous fluid it doesn’t slide easily off of the cup and into the toilet, which means I would have to spend a lot of time wiping out the fluid with TP, which is just not my favorite thing to do.  I think bell shamed cups are just easier and faster to use on the go.

The materials, which include a slightly firmer rim and a thicker, more durable looking material for the sac, held up the whole time, and I was not afraid that I would accidentally puncture the cup with a fingernail or something like that. Removal was simple and as non-messy as possible as long as I kept the Softcup upright, which is easy as long as you are careful and paying attention to what you are doing. I generally only spill fluid when I'm either tired or not thinking about what I'm doing with my cup.

disposable Softcup (left) and reusable Softcup (right)

I also tried out the new design of the disposable Softcup for the last two days of my period, which is very similar because it has the same dimensions but different materials. 

It also performed just as well and did not leak. Again, It has the same dimensions as the reusable Softcup, so it does not seem any different when inserting, besides having a less firm rim that was slightly more comfortable during insertion. The major difference I found that when I tried to rinse it clean, the menstrual fluid was prone to getting stuck between the rim and the sac.  I genuinely do not think this cup is as durable as the new reusable version or as easy to clean, although it’s almost identical in other aspects.The sac material feels less durable and is clear and shiny, while the rim is light pink and softer than that of the reusable Softcup.

The only caveat I have to this review is that I disagree with this new Softcup being described as “reusable," because honestly I don’t consider a product that you throw away after 5-10 uses to be truly reusable, at least in the way I think about the meaning of the word.  In my humble opinion, I think reusable things should be reusable... for pretty much forever. I am going to continue to use the same Softcup (after sanitizing with rubbing alcohol of course) and see how long one cup can hold up. And while I think this product is a great way to ease yourself into trying alternative menstrual products if you are leery about the prospect of them, it does not help the environment as much as using a Lunette or the DivaCup does. Reusable Softcup does technically produce less waste when compared to tampons or pads, but it seems like the waste that is produced would be harder to get rid of in the end.  That is my only serious beef with the new reusable Softcup, and otherwise I really like it. 

Overall I think it’s a definitely a step up from the disposable version, and I will probably repurchase this instead of the disposable Softcup. And for me the Softcup is still far superior to any tampons or disposable pads, because you can wear them while having sex, for longer amounts of time, without the risk of TSS, without odor, and while sleeping, exercising, or whatever.

Anyways, I hope y’all have a safe and relaxing holiday season! I am going to reward myself with some new thong cloth liners from etsy with my Christmas money as my first step towards being reusable (to eliminate some disposable liners I have been using with my sexier undies). I might also buy a few more nylon shopping bags in cute prints, which I will place in each purse so that I am never without. I am also determined to become one of those people who are constantly attached to their water bottles. What about y’all? Do you have any reusable resolutions? Leave a comment below if you do.

FTC: The company provided me with these products to review on my blog, and I am being compensated for these blog posts on Softcup. However, I always write with my 100% honest opinion about products on this blog.