Boys, this isn't the Livejournal Post you are looking for

[pegkerr]

Saw this girlie free tip at poor_skills

Free Menstrual cup!

http://www.celle.com/survey/

Go here to receive a free Menstrual cup! All you need to do is answer 3 questions and give them your address. I'm so excited. This isn't a scam, several of my friends have gotten one already.

What is a menstrual cup, you ask? Well it is a small cup that collects your blood during your period, Its reusable! Just wash in hot water when its full and reinsert. It lasts for up to 10 years, Just think never having to buy another tampon or pad again. And you can wear it for up to 24 hours!!!

So go get one. It's free.

Comments

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

I always worry this will give me a urinary tract infection like the diaphragm did, pressing against my urinary tract. Do you think this is shaped differently?

It's so appealing. I'm tired of wearing diapers every goddamned month.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

No idea whatsoever. I've never used one before, but I'm ordering this one to give it a try. I know there is an LJ community where you can get a lot of questions answered, menstrual_cups.

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[thescissors.livejournal.com]

I've been using mine for about a year now, and no problems so far, although every body is different. I adore the thing--it's the first time I ever literally forgot I had my period. I found that at first, it did press a tiny bit on my urinary tract, but not hard, not enough to obstruct anything, and actually I think my body has adjusted or something, because I don't notice it pressing any more.

It is shaped differently from a diaphragm, and it's also different from a diaphragm in that it sits lower in the vagina, not way right up against the cervix. It's smaller in diameter than a diaphragm, so I imagine it would press less.

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

*runs the other way!*

[liadan-m.livejournal.com]

having read a few FAQs on cups, the answer is "maybe".

I just filled out the survey and am going to wait and see. I have an appointment with my ob/gyn in a month - by that point I should know if we've got a problem or not.

Have you tried cranberry pills?

[airemay.livejournal.com]

My roommate last year told me about these! Thanks for the link- I ordered one!

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

Oh, I just use condoms, now. I haven't used a diaphragm since I was a teenager (I'm 38). Haven't had a urinary tract infection in nearly as long.

[liadan-m.livejournal.com]

ah. certain brands of condoms mean that I *will* get a UTI, which sucketh mightily. Diaphragms are right out. I'm hoping that a cup will not cause problems.

[piccolo-pirate.livejournal.com]

Do you know if the cup they're offering is any different from the Diva Cup? (www.divacup.com) I was planning to order a Diva Cup and I'm skeptical of anything offered free... but this would be a great way to save some money.

[naomikritzer]

It looks like the Diva Cup in the pictures. I've wanted to try a Diva Cup for years but was never willing to spend the money -- from what I can tell, about 25% of the women who try it think the Diva Cup is the greatest thing ever invented, 25% find it utterly unusable, and the other 50% think it's OK but enough of a hassle that after a few months they leave it in a drawer and go back to using pads.

[naomikritzer]

There was a Diva Cup fad on my parenting message board a couple of years back. So far as I can tell, about 25% of the women who try them find Divas to be the greatest thing since sliced bread; 25% find them completely unusable (they're uncomfortable, they cause problems, they leak, they cause cramps...whatever); and the other 50% find them OK but enough of a hassle that they switch back to pads and leave the Diva in a drawer after a couple of months.

I can't use tampons (they give me cramps -- I have no idea why, but my cramps are consistently 10x worse if I use tampons) so I'm not sure whether a Diva would work for me or not, and I've never been willing to spend the money to try it out, but hey, if it's FREE, I'll give it a shot.

[anomilygrace.livejournal.com]

Tampons give me cramps too, and I've been using the Diva Cup since summer - I've found that it works wonderfully UNLESS I put it in on my first day. Then it gives cramps probably 10x worse than the tampons. Other than that? Awesome.

[roadnotes.livejournal.com]

I've used a cervical cap for years, rather than a diaphragm, and the menstrual cups look to be close to the cervical cap in size, rather than the diaphragm. And once I switched to the cap, my UTIs dropped in number and intensity.

[moondancerdrake.livejournal.com]

I've been wanting to try one of the Diva cups but didn't want to pay the cash in case I didn't like them. Getting a free one would be nice.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

No idea. I'm just parroting something I saw at poor_skills, as I said.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Very wise of you, if it doesn't involve you personally!

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

;-)

[lilisonna.livejournal.com]

I hated the Diva cup, but have friends who swear by it, so I agree with your breakdown.

Luckily, my current form of birth control has pretty much eliminated the need for such things. (Ahh, somewhat tipsy tmi.)

no offense

[mizzlaurajean.livejournal.com]

but it wasn't the one I was looking for either, lol.

I think that is sooo very gross. Right up their with cloth diapers. I'm all in favor of making these things biodegradable and earth friendly and yet also disposable. it's the happy medium I seek.

yuck yuck yuck!

[diatryma.livejournal.com]

Tampons gave me horrible cramps-- only not really cramps, because the pain was in places that do not have muscles. The Divacup doesn't do that. The first day can be a little weird, but no more so than a tampon.

[diatryma.livejournal.com]

I forgot too! It is so weird.

[schnoogle.livejournal.com]

I have a Lunette brand cup which I'm VERY happy with. I gave it a few trial runs when I wasn't bleeding and had some initial difficulty, but once I got used to it it was brilliant! Set and forget, so to speak. ;) SO much better than forever worrying if the damn pad or tampon was leaking.

Re: no offense

[schnoogle.livejournal.com]

I find the idea of having a used pad or tampon lying around anywhere gross. :D

[schnoogle.livejournal.com]

You know, I never considered that the terrible cramps I occasionally get could be related to tampons. Hmm.

Incidentally, I got a cup and while the first time or two I did get some cramping I found that once I had a little practice it went away and now I honestly forget it's there. :)

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

I thought the Menstral Cup was a NASCAR event.

[piccolo-pirate.livejournal.com]

Ok. Thanks for the tip!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lindsay_/]

that's craziness! i just recently bought one for $30! But I love it!!! So i definitely encourage everyone to make the switch!

[katakanadian.livejournal.com]

I have had a Diva Cup for 3 years and I dread using it every month because it is messy and uncomfortable to insert/remove. Yes, I can forget about it for hours but I find it randomly leaks far worse than I ever had with tampons. The only reason I keep using it is for the reduction in waste.

[avengangle.livejournal.com]

Ditto. And I understand that the disposable ones are kind of . . . not the same. So this is a nice opportunity.

[ann-totusek.livejournal.com]

My only concern here is that the site does not get your age and maternal status, which is important in sizing/ordering your cup. I went ahead and did it anyway- I already have a Diva that I really like, and am getting a MoonCup for comparison purposes. I'll be interested to see what they send me and if it is indeed sized correctly.