Will this become a series?

[gemfyre]

The idea with this series (which started with the poll on shampoo/conditioner) is to make people aware of the other options out there. Too many people don't use environmentally friendly, healthier and cheaper options simply because they don't know they exist. Only the big companies that are interested in something that is cheap to manufacture and consumable - so you buy more - can afford the saturation advertising to make everyone aware of their existence. The rest has to come via word of mouth.

I'm not cutting this poll because I don't see why I should. Almost every woman menstruates so I don't get why anyone should be embarrassed or ashamed of it. To cater for the sensibilities of some, I've set the poll so no-one can see who answered what.

And in case you didn't know. I use a Mooncup.

[Poll #1141757]

Comments

[stonelizard.livejournal.com]

I used to use organic tampons but finding them in Oz was hard, and buying them in large quantity was $$$! I hate hate hate towels and stopped using them as soon as I was comfortable with what the hell was going on with my body (about 14)
I recently found the mooncup online and am planning on using it when I move. Can you tell me good things about it?

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

I think the question should be "Can I tell you bad things about it?" And the answer to that is no.

Cups don't work for everyone. But I got the hang of it pretty quick and now having a period is a non-issue.

[vegetus.livejournal.com]

I have no idea where you are in Oz but there is a healthshop I found in Belconnen Mall in Canberra that sells certified organic tampons for $3.50 a box which is heaps cheaper than the big name ones.

[morningglorymlp.livejournal.com]

I honestly gave the DivaCup a shot for over a year and always had problems with leakage.

You might be interested in this blog.\

http://www.idealbite.com/tiplibrary/today

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

:( That sucks. From reading menstrual_cups it would seem people have a lot more problems with the Diva than with other cups. That could be due to the fact that most people use the Divacup, but it is longer than any of the other cups.

Before I had a Mooncup I had a Diva and I find the Mooncup is more comfortable and leaks less - although, if I hadn't accidentally destroyed my Diva, I'd still be perfectly happy with it.

Perhaps a different cup would work better? Perhaps not. Maybe ask the folk at menstrual_cups, they're a wealth of help and info. :)

[morningglorymlp.livejournal.com]

I had considered trying another cup, but I couldn't justify the extra cost at the time. However, my periods seem to be much lighter than they were when I tried the cup, so I might have to see if I can find it and give it another shot.

[stawberi.livejournal.com]

I used my mooncup for over a year before it started to leak, it was really frustrating because it was otherwise fantastic.

[ahrian.livejournal.com]

I use a Diva cup or did up until i got pregnant and i loved mine, never had any leakage problems. I plan to use it again as soon as i finish healing from having the baby.

[aequanoctis.livejournal.com]

I don't know how I even managed to live through my periods before Lunapads.

[princess-kessie.livejournal.com]

Not having had a period since 1998 (thank you, hysterectomy!) I can only say what I *used to* use. I was forced to use commercial pads that rustled and leaked so badly (I was a heavy bleeder from day 1) from when I started at 8 right through to when I would sneak them from the school nurse at 15. My mother refused to buy me tampons (OMGtehHORRORZ! You might get TSS!!!eleventy1!!)and I didn't get my own allowance while at home, so couldn't buy my own.

After leaving home at 17, I continued with super tampons plus super pads due to my heavy bleeding (this is what ultimately led to my hyster) which eventually were costing me a fortune (I was going through a 20 pack of each every 2 days for months on end). I used both until my hyster, 20 years after menarche.

It wasn't until more than three years after my hyster that I first became aware of menstrual cups and reusable pads (although how effective they would have been for such a heavy bleeder is questionable), and more than another 3 years before I could find any trace of them either being sold in or shipped to Australia. I sincerely wish I'd had the chance to try a cup - perhaps it could have save me a small fortune in feminine products! :)

I am so glad there are alternatives to commercially produced tampons and pads these days - why shouldn't women have that kind of choice? And why the hell did it take so long to get those choices?

Kudos on the Mooncup, btw :)

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

Cups have actually been around since the 1930s. But seeing as that was when disposables started coming into prevalence too, they sort of fell by the wayside until recently.

With new technology cups can made of medical grade silicone and people are just becoming more aware of the options, and thanks to the internet can tell more people about it.

As for cloth pads, well they've been around since cloth was invented I'm guessing.

[kittikattie.livejournal.com]

I use commercial pads right now, but am t hinking of making my own cloth ones.

[jayed.livejournal.com]

I don't bleed anymore (well one bleed in 7 years), but I do have a weak bladder, so I use commercial pads for that (not quite what you were asking, but..).

[glittery-girl.livejournal.com]

I used to use organic shampoo and conditioner but it was making my hair worse than the commercial crap!

I use organic cleaning products though, so I do my bit in some places!

[bethaniej.livejournal.com]

ijust use commercial pads but i'm thinking about getting some cloth ones...