The Keeper

[CaptainSwab]

I know there are a few of you on here who use this.

I've been thinking about buying one lately. Does anyone have a website?
I also have a couple of questions...

How long (typically) before you need to dump it out?
Is it hard to get in? I'm used to using tampons so something without that long thing seem like they may be difficult to put in...

Thanks!

[Flower]

I love my Keeper! Here's a website- http://www.eco-logique.com/p-choosing.htm

I empty mine twice a day- once in the shower (at night) and once in the morning. I don't have many problems getting it in. It takes a little practice, but once you get used to it it's pretty easy. Plus, it saves on a lot of waste & saves money!

[Epinephrine]

they're much easier to put in than tampons because they're not absorbant. i needed some practice before i could put it in properly (w/o leaks) though. i empty it out twice a day.

http://www.keeper-menstrual-cup.com
http://www.divacup.com

[Mskedi]

The keeper is awesome! :) I think I've had mine 4 years now. I dump it twice a day -- once in the morning, once in the evening. The rest of the time you don't even know it's there (that is, after you size it right).

I got mine from eco-logique (the site Flower gave you). It was cheap, came quickly, has a money-back guarantee...

The only thing I'd warn you about is the initial sizing process. You have to cut the stem to fit you, and while it's too long, it does feel uncomfortable. After you cut it to the right length, it'll be fine. So that's about 5 minutes of discomfort there. I think you can handle it. :)

[Pixelle]

Wow...I've never heard of that before...I'm fascinated, I'll have to try it :)

[kristadb]

I almost wish I got a period so I could use this.

Almost. Not quite.

[EquiPro]

I am the biggest Keeper fan (as most of you know). I LOVE it. Here is the original site:

http://thekeeper.com/

I can't say enough good about it. It is manufactured and sold by women. It is GREAT for the ecology. It is cheap (pays for itself in about 3 months). It is easy - took me about 15 minutes to get used to and to figure it out - for me, btw, I need almost no stem - just a nub - I don't use the stem at all.

I put it in when my period starts. I dump it in the morning when I get up and again before I go to bed. I do this in the shower only because my flow is SO heavy that it is just easier to do that for me. People always ask about having to dump it when you are out at and about and my answer is this: you don't have to. In the literature, it talks about how the Keeper holds about 3 oz of fluid - what most women have in an entire cycle. I'm telling you now, on my first 2 days, I fill that baby to the top during the day. If I don't have to dump it when I'm not home, no one will.

2 amazing things that have resulted from using the Keeper. 1) even though I just got off of the pill - something that should result in a longer period, the Keeper has actually shortened my periods and 2) it cuts down on cramps amazingly.

I will say one little tidbit of info (too much info, probably), if I don't put it in the correct place (it sits a lot lower in your vagina than a tampon), it ends up rubbing my g-spot! A tad too exciting for me, but sort of weird.

Just more reasons to LOVE your Keeper!

EquiPro - the Keeper queen

[AuroraLily]

I LOVE my Divacup. I bought it about 4 months ago and it's amazing. I empty mine 2-3 times a day. No big deal. It took some getting used to but now I don't know it's there. Plus, like Equipro said, it reduces cramps. Can it get any better!!! I feel clean, happy and healthy.

[CaptainSwab]

Thanks for the info ladies. :)

I've only heard good about it and no bad so I'm going to give it a try.

[rainbowmoon]

I've been thinking about getting one of these...but...
Ok, how far do you have to shove it in there? I'm not really uncomfortable with my body, I'm just afraid I won't be able to get it up there, because I have a hard time with tampons without applicators. I just am feeling really bad about all the waste I generate when I am on my period, its terrible.
lovenlight,
linz

[AuroraLily]

Rainbowmoon: the cup doesn't go up very far at all. It's easy to insert. You may want to use some lubricant the first few times. You just fold up the cup and insert and then twist it into shape. Removal is also simple.
If you have any other questions, please ask.

[natalie]

Ive had my keeper for about 6 months. Ive had no real problems with it - it took a few gos to get it right.
I think people are hesitant cos it looks so different to a tiny white tampon that you remove by pulling a string.
I havent trimed the stem - i dont notice it at all. Like others, i empty mine twice a day. Its great to be able to wear it overnight. I feel better about using it for so many reasons - less packaging/waste and its definately saving me money. I was spending a fortune every month on tampons/pads.

Linz - i cant really comment cos ive only ever used tampsons without applicators (so im not sure how different it is to use ones with applicators) but if you are having trouble inserting it you may find it easier if you put some lubricant on it.

[Epinephrine]

rainbowmoon: tampons are hard to put in because of the rough texture and because they absorb all the moisture on the way in, irritating your skin. the keeper/divacup doesn't do that at all.

i didn't know that the cup was supposed to hold the blood from an entire period. mine is filled to the top the first couple of days too.

[Mskedi]

linz--
The keeper sits really low. I usually hold it under some warm water before I insert it to make it easier to insert, though I do that mostly now from habit. It's just as easy without it (but it helped a lot while I was getting used to it).

Of course, I used o.b. when I used tampons, so I don't know much about tampons with applicators -- I think I used them twice and I thought they were even more uncomfortable than tampons in general. The keeper is so comfortable that I have honestly started to drive to work and then driven home because I thought I forgot to put it in! :o

[isthatatictac]

I get so happy when i hear about other people using reusable menstrual products. CaptainSwab, that's great that you've decided to get a Keeper, tell us how it works out for you. I have a mooncup, I love it. I can't stress enough just how much better it's made my periods. To echo other people here, it reduced my cramps too, and made my periods shorter. I can't really think of any bad points. Apart from it's a pain (literally) to insert when you have long nails (ouch) but I don't have long nails now, so that doesn't bother me :P

Never going back to tampons again, that's for sure.

I want to shout it out to the whole of girlkind. :)

My mooncup came with neat little advertising stickers than I stuck in the girls' loos at school. That made me feel accomplished.