Showing posts with label feminine care. Show all posts

Tampon Tribe Menstrual Cup

 


  I have previous blogged about menstrual cups when I tried the Diva cup years ago. But in the end I didn't keep using it due to finding it more troublesome compare to reusable pads. Well now I've decided to go back to menstrual cups now that I'm not at home as much anymore. Reusable pads can risk getting messy and plus it can be a bit smelly on heavy days. Not a problem for me to deal with when I'm at home, but not something I want to deal with when I'm away from home. 

 So I've went an bought Tampon Tribe's brand menstrual cups due to them using medical grade material rather than silicone. It arrived in a small eco-friendly looking box. Since its been awhile since I've used menstrual cups I'd have to relearn it. There is a small instructions paper to help you out, but its still something you have practice and figure out. 

 First time using it I had a difficult time removing it and was rather frustrated with it. I was not on my period yet but a couple days before it starts so it may be due to that. But after that first day trying it out it was a lot easier to insert and remove. I got the large size due to my age and at first I thought it might be too large but after using it on my period I feel its a good size!

 The large size is big enough even on my heavy days to get through the day without having to empty it which is exactly what I wanted! I do find it much more comfortable compare to to the Diva cup. It is more expensive compare to the Diva cup but I think its worth it since its medical grade material and something you put inside you so its better to have higher quality product in such a sensitive part of your body.
feminine care
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Heart Felt Bamboo Menstrual Pads


So I wanted to get more sanitary pads since I really like the one I got, but I wanted to try a different brand. The Heart Felt ones had good reviews and I get 5 for $30 which I think is decent since the other one cost $10 for one.

The other pad was the Gladrags. Compare to that, the Heart Felt are a bit bigger. They don't have inserts like the Gladrags. I think these pads are good enough as liners and for regular flow. You could use it on heavy flow days, but you would have to change them more often. The bamboo part is a dark grey felt-like padding. The rest is what I think is nylon and the button fastener is plastic. The nylon can be a tad slippery on the underwear though. You can avoid or minimize this if you wear a more tight underwear. The button isn't as easy to use as the one on Gladrags, but its not impossible.

These pads do absorb quite bit though. Since the pad is black in color, and the other material is nylon, I have no problems with staining so far. There is a review that complained about the smell. Sure, the pad does have a weird smell, but its hardly strong. It seems to be gone after a few uses or at least I never ever notice it. Another review complained about the lack of proper materials and manufacturing information. This is true, all the was included in the clear bag was a Heart Felt card, and the pads. It is a little disconcerting to not have that information.

Overall, these pads have done really well so far. They have no problems going in the wash and dryer. The shape is still like it was when I first got them and no stains.
feminine care
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Gladrags


Before I had tried menstrual cups, but it was too messy and uncomfortable for me. I searched for reusable pads out of curiosity one day, and to my surprise they exist. Gladrags were one of the top sellers on Amazon so I decided to buy one pad to try out. One cost $10 which I find a bit pricey for one cotton thing. The listing shows a blue design to the pads, but the one I got had a flowery yellow design.

The pad is shaped like a diamond with a button snap. One side has washing instructions tag, and overlapping flaps where you put the inserts. The pad came in a box, and came with 2 pantyliner shaped inserts. The pad with two inserts in place has the same amount of thickness as a regular disposable pad. Having inserts to adjust to your flow is a neat idea.

When I first tried them on, it does look a bit bulky, but it fit snug on the undies so it didn't move. Despite its bulky appearance, it is quite comfortable. I did wear it on my first day of my cycle, but it was a light flow so the second insert was untouched. The instructions says to presoak your pads in cold water after you're done with them to discourage staining, but it really didn't do anything for the staining. I even rinsed and tried using detergent, soap, and hydrogen peroxide to clean the stains before putting them in the wash but it didn't help. After washing them in the washing machine it didn't change much which is unfortunate. However they stains did eventually fade away after a number of uses. They did bunch up in the wash so I just fix the shape and hang dry them instead of putting them in the dryer. The fleece material does wear down a bit after only a couple months of use.

The pad is about 6.5" long which a ok length. The one thing I don't like is the ends can tend to fold over after using the restroom. This makes since since there's nothing to really make it stick against the underwear so I just have to make sure they don't fold.

I have yet to try wearing these on my heavy days, but will update this post when I do. I mostly wear this during as a pantyliner. They are comfortable and does feel much drier than using a disposable pad which I really like. Overall, I do like this and have wished I had another quite often so I do plan on buying more cotton pads though I will try other brands. I definitely recommend these over the menstrual cups.


feminine care
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Diva Cup

I've been hearing about these menstrual cups for awhile now, and was very hesitant about trying it. For one I never saw these in stores so I had no idea how big these were, and also if it will work for me. The divacup is $25 too so its not the kind of money I want to waste if it doesn't work out. However, after sometime I decided to try it and bought it on amazon in time for my period. Except, my period came two weeks late.

So while I had the product I look at the livejournal community for menstrual cups that everyone recommended, and learned quite a few things that I wish I've known before purchasing the divacup. I did a dry run and learned its not easy to insert and remove it as I had assumed. When my period finally came, I decided to try to insert it in the shower and that was even harder to achieve. I left it in throughout the night and woke up with little spotting, and cramps. I figured I must have positioned it wrong since the cup wasn't full. Trying to remove the cup is quite an exercise for your kegel muscles. Its definitely much easier to insert and remove the cup during your period than in the dry runs. However I was feeling quite uncomfortable and crampy so it worried me. Thought it was just me getting use to it, or perhaps a normal cramp? One of the things I had to do alot more was inserting my fingers, and I had to do it so often for the cup that I've gotten use to it. I'm still in the learning curve and have learned alot about myself and menstrual cups throughout my first period with it. It was frustrating and frightening because of the mild cramps and uncomfortableness. The people in the livejournal community suggests that its crutial to know where your cervix is. I was hesitant about it since I had no idea what it would feel like or if I'll feel it at all. But I got myself to go find it and I think I did. It was lower than I thought, and figured the cup must be too long since it is the longest cup out of all the other cups according to the info on the community. From there I learned to try to use the cup inside out. I was afraid that I'd have a hard time removing it because there's no stem, but it wasn't. I still had discomfort but not as much as before. Although this made me leak more than before so I think the cup wasn't opened fully. I wanted to try other folds, but all of them I had issues inserting except the punch down fold. Plus I was afraid of how it would open up once I insert them. Had to let my fingers go cause I couldn't insert them with the cup which resulted in the cup opening too soon which hurt. I continue to feel discomfort and crampy so I had to discontinue using the cup.

When my second period came, I inserted the cup inside out with little difficulty. But I was leaking an hour later so I had to remove it. Except I had a very frustrating time removing it because I couldn't reach the knob with both my fingers with the bone in the way. After alot of kegel muscles, I finally was able to remove it. I re-inserted it in the normal form instead of inside out and was alot easier after the removal difficulty. I didn't feel it open but I heard some suction so I assume it opened up unlike before. I was feeling a bit of discomfort, but after 30mins to an hour along with some kegel muscles exercise I no longer feel discomfort or cramps! And no leaks! Finally!

On my 3rd period, I used it at night on the first day since I was having cramps during the day I didn't want to put on the cup. Inserting has gotten easier this time, and removal is good as long as I cut my nails and take my time.  Its good to take your time or else it would hurt or do it incorrectly. I've gotten to get my fingers inside this time so I don't have to do too much work to insert it. However I still use the punch down fold so I couldn't let the fold open half way since the widest part is closer to the stem end. Also I am able to insert it in the shower now too. Earlier I feared that this cup would be too big for me, but now it feels comfortable. I still would not use it through my entire period since I'm not a fan or use to inserting and removing it a few times a day.

Overall, I think this is a great product especially for night use. It is frightening at first and it does take a long time to finally be get use to it, but I have learned alot as a woman. Plus I do not have to worry about staining anything anymore. I advise going to the community and reading up on menstrual cups and people's experiences before buying one. It really has made that time of the month less hassle.
feminine care tips
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