Author Topic: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only  (Read 21081 times)

JoJo

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Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« on: December 08, 2014, 06:15:28 PM »
Since we’re already in the toilet today on the non-flushing thread, it might be a good time for this.  Guys, if your squeamish about menstruation leave this thread now….you’ve been warned.

Do any of you women use “alternative” products for that time of the month?  I used to use tampons but always worried about them a little.  I know that toxic shock syndrome is basically in the past but I did notice when I wore darker underwear there would be a spot and finally realized the tampons & moisture were BLEACHING my underwear.  Not only was it ruining underwear but how good could it really be to have bleach in there 24 hours a day?  I hated pads because nearly every time I wore them, I had an accident (not necessarily one visible to other people but enough to stain the underwear) especially at night.  So, a few years ago I wondered what would happen if I used a washcloth.  So a package of a dozen washcloths for $5 has been my supply ever since.

The key to this is going to the bathroom every couple hours as to not saturate the washcloth.  If I will be traveling or in a long meeting I’ll still use tampons instead.  Since I’ve started doing this, I haven’t had a single “accident”.  This is sort of akin to washable diapers and they always used to say “on the rag” :)

What say MMM?  Is this disgusting?  Anyone else do this or want to try?

sheepstache

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #1 on: December 08, 2014, 06:20:03 PM »
This isn't what you're talking about, but in terms of discussion of alternatives: behold, the menstrual cup thread:
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/reader-recommendations/menstrual-cups/

MayDay

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2014, 06:25:15 PM »
Menstrual cup all the way!

While I was learning that, and for past partum, I sewed some basic, very ugly pads from flannel.

I now cannot stand the commercial products and will never let my dd get sucked into that!

Zikoris

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2014, 06:41:56 PM »
I just use tampons. I use dark underwear during my period and have never had any sort of bleaching like you described. I'm not concerned enough about TSS to avoid them, and the cost is honestly so minimal it's just not a concern for me - $20-$30 per year.

midweststache

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #4 on: December 08, 2014, 06:55:41 PM »
I use the menstrual cup. Environmentally friendly (at least, more so than pads or tampons). If you like the "rag" method, there are reusable menstrual clothes/pads available on Amazon, some of which are probably less "pad-y" than others.

But if washcloths work for you, you do you girl!

SailAway

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #5 on: December 08, 2014, 07:05:16 PM »
Ooh, lots of menstrual cup fans. I've been thinking of trying that. You make some very valid tampon points.

Cookie78

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #6 on: December 08, 2014, 07:19:44 PM »
I keep meaning to get a menstrual cup and forgetting! Thanks for the reminder!

fartface

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #7 on: December 08, 2014, 07:20:32 PM »
Inspiring!

I'm more concerned about the chemicals from these products than the cost so I enjoy reading about the creative and more health friendly solutions you're all providing.

Thanks for starting this thread to help with our Flow-Stache!

cdnpink

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #8 on: December 08, 2014, 07:31:09 PM »
I use a menstrual cup for my day to day and when I want to have sex with my partner I use sea sponges. Works like a charm! :)

peppermint

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #9 on: December 08, 2014, 07:37:15 PM »
I've been using reusable cloth pads since 2006. Cost a little to start up, but they're all running strong. Bought a Diva cup, but couldn't really get the hang of it.

Mesmoiselle

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #10 on: December 08, 2014, 08:13:09 PM »
I've had a Diva Cup for 2 years. I was leery of them before I just took the plunge and gave them a chance.

In my very specific case, I'm so crampy, have bowel issues, and super heavy (I've over filled the cup if I don't empy every 4-6 hours) during the first 36 hours, that I get a nice thick rag for those two days, and then Diva the rest of my cycle (mine lasts 6 days.)

I don't even change the rag, really. I just fold it in different ways so the collection section of cloth hasn't been used. Toss in laundry end of day two, and move on to Diva Cup.

For sex, I just put a towel down, have my partner wear a condom for "easy clean up", and consider it an optimal way to "hurry" my period along. I've noticed I shave a day off of bleeding cycle length from a couple bouts of intercourse.

Rural

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #11 on: December 08, 2014, 08:38:20 PM »
Menopause, I tell you. Best thing ever, just wait; you'll see.

ShortInSeattle

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #12 on: December 08, 2014, 08:52:09 PM »
I learned about the Diva cup here - very pleased with it. Great product.

scrubbyfish

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #13 on: December 08, 2014, 09:13:24 PM »
(I've over filled the cup if I don't empy every 4-6 hours)

Bless you, Mesmoiselle! This is me, too! I've never met anyone else with this. My whole body and my period are entirely comfortable all month long -including during my period- no health issues, etc, but the vast amount of blood that falls out of me 1-2 days a month, oh my! The funny thing with the cup is that it has measurement lines. That's what confirmed for me that I was indeed bleeding way more than typical, 'cuz I was dumping like I was saving myself from a leaky boat.

Quote
The DivaCup conveniently holds one full ounce of menstrual flow (30 ml). As the average woman only flows approximately 1 to 2 ounces (30-60 ml) per cycle, The DivaCup is the ideal menstrual solution...

Quote
In a randomly selected group of premenopausal women, the most common amount of menstrual flow (measured in a laboratory from all collected tampons and pads) was about two tablespoons (30 ml) in a whole period (1;2). However the amount of flow was highly variable—it ranged from a spot to over two cups (540 ml) in one period!

So, days transitioning to and from the big P I use one of four cloth pads that I bought decades ago. The cloth pad works fine if I bleed in slow motion, as I do on those transition days, but with Great Gushes, the blood pools on top of the cloth then spills over. So for two days a month I use the DivaCup, with a disposable pad (because those are the only things that will soak up as much blood as I gush) 24/7 as back up.

Mesmoiselle

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #14 on: December 08, 2014, 09:30:33 PM »
(I've over filled the cup if I don't empy every 4-6 hours)

Bless you, Mesmoiselle! This is me, too! I've never met anyone else with this. My whole body and my period are entirely comfortable all month long -including during my period- no health issues, etc, but the vast amount of blood that falls out of me 1-2 days a month, oh my! The funny thing with the cup is that it has measurement lines. That's what confirmed for me that I was indeed bleeding way more than typical, 'cuz I was dumping like I was saving myself from a leaky boat.

My period has changed over the 15 years I've had it. Last 2-3 years I've had it, it's hardcore 2 days, normal on the 3rd day, stops entirely the 4th day, comes back the 6th, and spots all 6th with occasional 7ths. But the cramping is way better than it used to be when I was younger. It used to be heating pads and nausea all the way. Now that only happens to me maybe twice a year instead of every time.

Cressida

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #15 on: December 08, 2014, 10:44:46 PM »
My "alternative" is a Mirena IUD. With the ACA it was free. No periods, just get it replaced every five years.

I know, this won't work for anyone who doesn't want to be on (1) hormonal (2) birth control. I fucking love it, though. That's even though the insertion is possibly the worst pain I have ever experienced. (note: never been pregnant)

Chranstronaut

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #16 on: December 08, 2014, 11:29:50 PM »
Menstrual cup all the way.  I'll honestly never go back.  I got it when I was going through a "trash reduction" phase, but it's seriously increased my happiness on my period tenfold.  I love it.  It's like a little pope hat for my lady bits.

My "alternative" is a Mirena IUD. With the ACA it was free. No periods, just get it replaced every five years.

I know, this won't work for anyone who doesn't want to be on (1) hormonal (2) birth control. I fucking love it, though. That's even though the insertion is possibly the worst pain I have ever experienced. (note: never been pregnant)

I was too afraid of the insertion and the possibility of it ripping through my uterine wall to go for an IUD.  I got the arm implant that often has the same effect on reducing periods entirely, but I just end up spotting all the damn time.  A menstrual cup is awesome for this uncertainty because I can leave it in all day and only bother with it when I wake up and when I get home from work.  It's perfectly comfortable on days I don't end up bleeding, which is a huge bonus.

scrubbyfish

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #17 on: December 08, 2014, 11:44:42 PM »
Menstrual cup...It's like a little pope hat for my lady bits.

rotflmao! do you write jingles for a living!? oh, I am so going to enjoy my next period all that much more!

Chranstronaut

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #18 on: December 08, 2014, 11:56:23 PM »
Menstrual cup...It's like a little pope hat for my lady bits.

rotflmao! do you write jingles for a living!? oh, I am so going to enjoy my next period all that much more!

Have a papal period. Lunette

Runningtuff

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #19 on: December 09, 2014, 12:43:28 AM »
+1 for Lunette cup.

Took a couple of cycles to get the hang of it, but now it's great.

marty998

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #20 on: December 09, 2014, 12:52:37 AM »
Since we’re already in the toilet today on the non-flushing thread, it might be a good time for this.  Guys, if your squeamish about menstruation leave this thread now….you’ve been warned.

I think we've had so many of these threads over the years that if we're not desensitised to it now then we never will be!

There's enough guys here with wives, daughters, nieces that we've heard it all before anyway LOL.

RetiredAt63

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #21 on: December 09, 2014, 07:12:52 AM »
+1 for the Mirena - I never noticed when I hit menopause, we had to test hormone levels to confirm.  But I had had a baby so insertion/removal was not a problem.
I got it because I was having super heavy flow (gushers) and this was newish.  Turns out I had adenomyosis - the smooth muscles were not clamping properly on the blood vessels, so of course I was bleeding more.  Really it was not a "period" in the true sense of sloughing off the uterine lining, I was actually bleeding from vessels that should not have been bleeding. I was at the point of the Mirena or a hysterectomy, and I do try to avoid major surgery.  What a blessing.
So others, if you are having heavy flow and that is new, you could have endometriosis or adenomyosis - have you told your ob/gyn?

MandalayVA

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #22 on: December 09, 2014, 07:30:02 AM »
I call my periods "crimson tsunamis" so a Diva cup is out.  This month, however, hasn't been too bad.  I'm 48, so menopause can't come soon enough for me!

KBecks2

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #23 on: December 09, 2014, 09:41:50 AM »
I use pads, always brand, from Aldi.  Never liked tampons.

scrubbyfish

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #24 on: December 09, 2014, 09:47:33 AM »
So others, if you are having heavy flow and that is new, you could have endometriosis or adenomyosis - have you told your ob/gyn?

I don't think I have anything, only because I have no symptoms besides heavy flow for 1-2 days. No cramps, no discomfort, no pain, no bloating, nothing.

An interesting shift was with my diet. I used to have all sorts of INSANE symptoms -way beyond discomfort, other weird physical changes- and then I completely changed my nutrition, and ::bingo:: every symptom was gone. Just the day of gush remained.

I actually LOVE my period, and already feel sad about it going away with menopause :(   I definitely don't want it gone sooner. I [heart] menstruation.

RunHappy

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #25 on: December 09, 2014, 11:06:10 AM »
I still use tampons and sanitary napkins and buy them in bulk, on sale, and with coupons (I have enough to last most of 2015).  However I think I'm going to look into the menstrual cup because it sounds much more efficient.

smilla

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #26 on: December 09, 2014, 04:35:07 PM »
I started with a Diva cup but found it impossible so switched to the LadyCup (smaller and somewhat squishier).  I had a fairly long learning curve but now I love it and once I got the hang of it, the Diva cup was no longer a problem either. 

I have fairly low flow so the thing I like best is that, when I am travelling or in an inconvenient situation, I can just leave it.  I, very occasionally, have gone 36 hours with no mishap or discomfort (or odor).  Also, pap tests were much less uncomfortable after I began using a menstrual cup.

BooksAreNerdy

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #27 on: December 09, 2014, 04:52:35 PM »
Another diva cupper here! Or as DH calls it, the vagina bucket.

I had fit issues until I turned it inside out. Now its practically a custom fit.

I also have some pretty cloth pads from Pink Lemonade Pads on etsy. I've had them for 4 years now and they are great for light days and back up.

scrubbyfish

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #28 on: December 09, 2014, 04:55:44 PM »
When I started using the cup (first a Keeper, later the Diva), I could NOT make it happen, not before kid, not after kid. I was all pushing and prodding and rooting around, lol. One day, a friend of mine who also used one said she needed to dump her cup (because we're open about such things), went into the bathroom, and came out like 30 seconds later, done. I was stunned. What the?!? She was confused as to why I was stunned, and asked what the heck happens to me in the same process.

Once in a while it pops in beautifully; most of the time I'm still poking, prodding, twisting, rooting for up to two minutes to get it placed properly and completely unfolded. It's a whole event for me. I did read a couple of helpful tips on the DivaCup webpage -fold the cup, squat, go in at a particular angle, turn it a couple of times. Those helped a lot, but it's still silly. Wetting the cup in warm water also helps me.

The other aspect to the cup I don't love -besides it not holding more than a couple of hours of my profuse bleeding at a time and being difficult for me to place- is public washrooms, or any washroom in which the sink is far from the toilet. When I use the cup, my hand gets very bloody. I don't mind that at all, but I totally mind being stuck in a cubicle with a bloody hand, and also not being able to wet the cup for easier insertion... Or in NZ, when some washrooms had the sink in a room separate from the toilet room. Tricky, potentially embarrassing.

And I still use it, go figure! I do like it infinitely better than pads. I prefer tampons, but I choose the cup for environmental reasons and to preserve plumbing systems.

zsmith

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #29 on: December 09, 2014, 05:56:11 PM »
Diva Cup is seriously amazing! They used to recommend that you could keep it for up to 7 years or so, but then changed the packaging to a year at a time. It's medical grade silicone, clean it well and you can use it for years. Mine is going on 5 years.

Although now I'm pregnant so I understand I'll be selecting a new size after the baby is born.

ABC123

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #30 on: December 09, 2014, 06:31:00 PM »
I love my diva cup. I use a cloth liner as backup, just because it makes me more confident.  I have some regular fem products left from before I made the switch, so I decided to use some of them up last month. The smell almost made me gag.  I never realized how bad pads smell until I stopped using them.

Lyngi

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #31 on: December 09, 2014, 09:15:20 PM »
 I tried the Diva cup this year,  I really like it, but I have a hard time emptying my bladder with it-maybe I need to try to adjust it higher.  I am  allergic to the super absorbent commercial pads.  The thicker pads are ok.  I also had a Mirena IUD and I loved it!   I am nearing peri-menopause (weird bleeding patterns)  and I think maybe I will go get another. 

JustTrying

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #32 on: December 09, 2014, 09:53:09 PM »
I'm planning on switching to the Diva Cup...I haven't made the plunge yet because I discovered the Diva Cup RIGHT after there was a big sale on my favorite brand of tampons, so I bought about half-a-year's supply!

So for now I use tampons. I actually am very picky about my tampons - I use OBs, because they are most agreeable with my vagina. However, to save money, I wrap my used tampons in phone book pages rather than TP to save money. Quite possibly one of the most ridiculous things ever, but I feel like it puts something useless (a phonebook) to use, so it's not so bad! :)

Also, I love the response about menopause. Hey guys, menopause is SUPER mustachian! :)

aetherie

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #33 on: December 10, 2014, 06:42:04 AM »
Another DivaCup fan here!  I've been using mine for... 7? 8? years and it's still going strong. I'm not sure why they would tell you to replace it every year, except to boost their sales.

The only issue I have is that I can't use it overnight without leaking, at least when my period is heavy. So I use an o.b. tampon each night for sleeping, then put the DivaCup back in when I get up.

boy_bye

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #34 on: December 10, 2014, 06:53:47 AM »
I've tried a cup several times and I could never get it to work for me. Either there's so much suction it hurts, or not enough suction. The one month I really tried, over and over again, and it actually made my cramps worse than they have been since I was a teenager.

Plus I had a procedure done a few years ago, and eve since then my flow has been bananas (not literally bananas, but so heavy for a few days). I got checked out, doc says there's nothing wrong, so I just deal with it.

I used to use OBs exclusively, but the last few years, I just can't stand the feeling of tampons anymore. Plus they fill up so fast, it's like what's the point. So I am on disposable pads now, because I don't have any good alternatives at the moment (don't have my own washing machine for reusables). I guess on heavy days I go through 4-6 overnight pads. Good times.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2014, 06:56:15 AM by madgeylou »

scrubbyfish

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #35 on: December 10, 2014, 07:19:21 AM »
An aside: For everyone with super heavy flow while otherwise being entirely healthy, my favourite tip has been to take one ibuprofen at the start of the heavy flow. It reduces it amazingly!

Quote
Whenever flow is heavy, start taking ibuprofen, the over-the-counter anti-prostaglandin, in a dose of one 200mg tablet every 4-6 hours while you are awake. This therapy decreases flow by 25-30% and will also help with menstrual cycle-like cramps (7). - See more at: http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/resources/very-heavy-menstrual-flow#sthash.BiAOp1g5.dpuf

That and more tips re: fluids, salts, etc, here: http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/resources/very-heavy-menstrual-flow

queenie

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #36 on: December 10, 2014, 07:29:35 AM »
+1 for the Mirena - I never noticed when I hit menopause, we had to test hormone levels to confirm.  But I had had a baby so insertion/removal was not a problem.
I got it because I was having super heavy flow (gushers) and this was newish.  Turns out I had adenomyosis - the smooth muscles were not clamping properly on the blood vessels, so of course I was bleeding more.  Really it was not a "period" in the true sense of sloughing off the uterine lining, I was actually bleeding from vessels that should not have been bleeding. I was at the point of the Mirena or a hysterectomy, and I do try to avoid major surgery.  What a blessing.
So others, if you are having heavy flow and that is new, you could have endometriosis or adenomyosis - have you told your ob/gyn?

I have had prolonged bleeding and heavy bleeding for about a year now.  Paps came back normal, blood work fine (except iron levels, obviously), pelvic exam shows nothing, ultrasound clear.  I had a hysterosonogram a week ago and am waiting on the results of that. 

My options are likely going to be birth control (pill or nuva ring), IUD, endometrial ablasion, and hysterectomy - in that order.  Hopefully just the birth control or IUD will resolve things, as I also want to avoid any surgery.  If I end up on BC, I am going to start using it without the weekly break to skip my period altogether.  I had a tubal ligation two years ago and my period is totally useless to me. 

In the meantime, I use a Diva Cup.  Because I bleed heavily, I do also use a pad as back up for the first couple of days.  I will never go back to tampons.  As much as I hate the messy feeling of using pads, I hate the thought of using tampons more.

tmac

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #37 on: December 10, 2014, 09:11:34 AM »
Sidebar:

I have no experience with cups (I have a Mirena), but I think they sound awesome. I'd like to encourage my 11-year-old daughter to give them a try when the time comes. Any suggestions? I thought maybe could get one for myself so that I could figure it out first and give her better information. I imagine the initial cost for two would be worth it if she can avoid a lifetime of disposables.

dbanta

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #38 on: December 10, 2014, 09:16:05 AM »
I bought reusable pads, called "Mama Cloth" on Etsy.  They just got in last month so I haven't tried them yet, but I plan to wash them like I do my son's cloth diapers.


scrubbyfish

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #39 on: December 10, 2014, 09:20:34 AM »
I have no experience with cups (I have a Mirena), but I think they sound awesome. I'd like to encourage my 11-year-old daughter to give them a try when the time comes. Any suggestions? I thought maybe could get one for myself so that I could figure it out first and give her better information.

Oh, great idea!

I could see they might be an overwhelming contraption to an 11 year old girl. But, a few ideas:
1. They come in at least two sizes: "before vaginal childbirth", "after vaginal childbirth", so make sure you get the right one.
2. If I were doing this for a daughter, I would get one of each of at least three kinds. Not Mustachian, but I would be more concerned with letting her try out various ones for comfort than in saving the difference and risking putting her off altogether by inadvertently selecting one that happens to be less comfy for her.
3. I would Google this, and also ask the companies themselves, for more tips for girls.
4. Ya, I would get one for you, too and try it out before starting her on it so you have some first-hand info for her. Some might be horrified by this thought, but personally, I'd be entirely comfortable even letting her try various kinds and then, after a wash, mom taking on one she didn't like.

sheepstache

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #40 on: December 10, 2014, 09:32:38 AM »
Plus I had a procedure done a few years ago, and eve since then my flow has been bananas (not literally bananas

HA HA HA

What a mustachian procedure that would be though. Free bananas!

boy_bye

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #41 on: December 10, 2014, 09:55:14 AM »
Plus I had a procedure done a few years ago, and eve since then my flow has been bananas (not literally bananas

HA HA HA

What a mustachian procedure that would be though. Free bananas!

i know right?!

get on a webcam and FIRE is right around the corner!

Wolf_Stache

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #42 on: December 10, 2014, 11:59:41 AM »
Ok, maybe I'm the only one with this problem... but my flow is all over the place. One month it will be just light spotting, I won't even need to use a pad and have no cramping then other months I'll go through 10 to 12 heavy flow pads and cramping so bad I can't move. I've actually been so bad a few times I've had to call in sick to work.

I've never had any successes with tampons - either not enough flow to bother or so much I have to change the tampons every hour (if they'll even stay in, usually they just fall out).

Anyway, the crazy fluctuation mean I'm leery to try anything but pads. Can't do reusable cause I currently don't have a washer/dryer.

scrubbyfish

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #43 on: December 10, 2014, 12:03:16 PM »
Anyway, the crazy fluctuation mean I'm leery to try anything but pads. Can't do reusable cause I currently don't have a washer/dryer.

A cup is excellent for crazy fluctuation! Heavy flow (with a back-up pad, disposable in your case), light flow, no flow. Works great. You just empty it more or less often as needed.

Chranstronaut

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #44 on: December 10, 2014, 01:06:31 PM »
Sidebar:
...I'd like to encourage my 11-year-old daughter to give them a try when the time comes. Any suggestions?

Well, just letting her know the option exists is a great start!  They never even mentioned cups in my sex ed classes.  I didn't know how long they'd been around until I bought mine a year ago and did a bunch of research online.  I'm sure if you use one yourself, that will really help her out.

I believe the smallest cups in the US are made by Lunette ($35-45), and that would probably be a good one to start with (I am not a medical professional).  I am petite at 5'3"/115 lb and that is what I use.  However, if she is only a preteen when she starts, she might have trouble figuring out the insertion and feeling comfortable really getting her hands in there.  I suspect she may even struggle figuring out her internal size if her pelvic bones are still moving during puberty.  Everyone's bits are different :) 

I would check out the sizing charts here: http://menstrual-cups.livejournal.com to get an idea of what different brands exist and how large they are for both of you.

Anyway, the crazy fluctuation mean I'm leery to try anything but pads. Can't do reusable cause I currently don't have a washer/dryer.

A cup is excellent for crazy fluctuation! Heavy flow (with a back-up pad, disposable in your case), light flow, no flow. Works great. You just empty it more or less often as needed.

That's exactly why I love my cup, too.  It doesn't matter if you bleed or not, it's very comfortable to wear 12 hours straight.  There's no chaffing like tampons can have when your flow is too light.  The only unpredictable thing with the cup is that it can touch your cervix if you insert it high and your cervix drops low when you are on your period.  This has only happened to me twice, and it caused back aches and intense nausea after about 15 minutes of inserting my cup.  I just take it out and re-insert it, or use another method for the day if I'm having trouble placing it.  It's easy to forget that your cervix and vaginal canal are moving around and punching yourself in the cervix is not a fun idea.

Wolf_Stache

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #45 on: December 10, 2014, 01:57:44 PM »
I'll have to check out the cup then! Thanks!

DoubleDown

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #46 on: December 11, 2014, 06:58:40 PM »
I opened and commented on this thread it because it said "for Women only" -- and I'm. That. Guy.

carozy

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #47 on: December 12, 2014, 09:57:32 AM »
Just wanted to mention cloth pantiliners for every day use.

I bought some from Etsy (the brand was MamaBear) and they're very comfortable.  Or you can sew your own if you're handy.  I bought a 10-pack for about $25 + shipping.  Luckily I had an Etsy gift card so my own investment was just to cover the shipping.  I think are a good deal.  They'll last for years and I won't have to purchase store-made disposable pantiliners again.

CheapskateWife

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #48 on: December 12, 2014, 10:42:04 AM »
Another vote here for the DivaCup...one of the side benefits that I like, is that after 2 kids; well, I can be a little leaky. 

With the cup inserted, my bladder gets better support and the leaks are non-existent.  Awesome side effect!

10dollarsatatime

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Re: Mustachian time of the Month - for Women only
« Reply #49 on: December 12, 2014, 07:50:10 PM »
I use the instead soft cup.  It's disposable.  Packaging says 12 hours between changing, but I have to do it more often my first couple of days.  I clean it and reuse it during the week, and when my period is up, I chuck it.  I get a box of 16, I think, for about five bucks.  Lasts more than a year.  I love them.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!