women... sanitary frugality~ possibly tmi

[bekajoi]

Ok, I know some think it's gross to think about it, but what do you do to keep your sanitary needs frugal? Do you still buy the disposable options out there? Thought about cloth? Use something internal and reusable like the Keeper or Diva Cup?

[jenna]

I switch between the Diva Cup and pads. I haven't gotten used to the Diva Cup totally yet.

I've thought about trying the cloth, but haven't made the move to get any.

[bekajoi]

I use cloth pads, and am slowly cycling through my disposable ones when I'm out and about. Also saving many of them for guests who might need something.

I really really love the cloth~ super comfy. And I hated all pads before. Now I prefer cloth pads to anything else. :) Want to try the Diva Cup but haven't made the jump yet.

[rainbow_clouds]

I use the DivaCup. I love it.

[MorningCalm]

Started using cloth about a year ago and can't envision ever going back to disposables. Tried sea sponges (not vegan, I know) before going to cloth and they were OK, but GladRags are less prone to leaks. ... With the sponges, I also felt like I still needed a liner for "backup" protection.

[Starblossom]

I use the Divacup and it's great! The only problem is I am not completely used to putting it in, so it does leak a little on my heavier days. So I have a package of pantyliners that I use for the 'leaky' days. I'm hoping this is the last package I'll have to use. I might also buy some pads to store in case of emergency, or for guests.

[Thalia]

I would like to try cloth for at night. disposables are so expensive and wasteful.

[Blue Plastic Straw]

I love my Keeper. It's paid for itself twice over, at least, in the five years I've been using it.

[thebelovedtree]

I love my diva cup, I had to use pads this month and it reminded me of how much I hated them. I honestly don't know how so many women use them every month for their entire lives w/o searching for something better, they leaked way more than my cup and were very expensive!

[Kiz]

Well.. in terms of frugality alone depo pro-vera was the best. $4.90 for the shot, the doctor comes free, and it lasts for three months. Now I am not on contraceptives I use tampons. I know, bad for the environment and expensive, but the Diva Cup thing sounds incredibly offputting. I don't like the thought of it at all.

[MaryC1999]

I have cloth but I have to use disposables on my heavier days. I haven't found a cloth pad that doesn't leak. I also carry disposables when I'm out and about. I don't carry a diaper bag, just a small purse, and I want to be able to change it if I have to.
Cloth is very thick to me but my cramps seem to be lighter when I wear them. It's a trade off I guess.
Mary

[bekajoi]

Mary, do you have any overnight or postpartum pads? Those are what I have to use on my heaviest days. They work beautifully and almost always have a waterproof lining to help. Longer front to back, and wings on most brands. Worth a look. If it's only for a couple of days you might only need 4-6 of them.

[mazikeen]

I've been using the mooncup (uk equivalent of the divacup) for 8 months now, and I can't picture going back to reusable pads or tampons. I do enjoy knowing that I can cut down on waste so much, plus save money.

[vggiegirl]

I use tampons. I know, bad for the environment and expensive, but the Diva Cup thing sounds incredibly offputting. I don't like the thought of it at all.

Same here. And I could never go back to pads. And the thought of re-usable ones makes me incredibly queasy. I haven't used pads since my first year of having a period. I was always self concious about odor...I've walked past women and you just *know*...it's really kinda gross.

[MaryC1999]

Mary, do you have any overnight or postpartum pads? Those are what I have to use on my heaviest days. They work beautifully and almost always have a waterproof lining to help. Longer front to back, and wings on most brands. Worth a look. If it's only for a couple of days you might only need 4-6 of them.

Yes, I do have a few overnight ones, they still seemed to leak. I'm not sure if it's the design or what. The relative thickness is a real turn off for me too, at that point.
Mary

[bekajoi]

I was always self concious about odor...I've walked past women and you just *know*...it's really kinda gross.

This was me, actually~ TOTALLY grossed out by the idea. But the smell comes from the chemicals in the disposable pads, and does not exsist with cloth. Cloth are much more comfortable, and cramps are nonexsistant with them~ I had AWFUL craps with tampons, though I loved my brand (OB, no applicator)

Just saying I was there, myself, and once I tried cloth, I never went back. I actually did my first cloth stuff when I was in the 8-9 week long postpartum period, where it's constant and HEAVY at first. It won me over and now if I use a pad, it's a cloth one. Again, I still tend to use disposable options that I still have on hand, when I go out and about, but am trying to weed through them.


And Mary, if you can find some with a terrycloth inner, they'll be better about leaking than the all flannel ones. My overnight ones are 2 layers flannel, 1 layer terrycloth, and they're perfect.

[erineernie]

The diva cup rocks for many reasons. I think the best thing is it holds enough that you only have to clean in out twice a day. I used to go through super plus tampons like every hour or two and it was a pain in the butt. Its surgical grade silicone and you can boil it to sanitize if your really worried. I've used it for over a year and I wouldn't go back. The only downside is that I find sometime it makes me a little sore. You fold it to put it in and sometimes when it pops open I feel a little "streched".

[vggiegirl]

This was me, actually~ TOTALLY grossed out by the idea. But the smell comes from the chemicals in the disposable pads, and does not exsist with cloth. Cloth are much more comfortable, and cramps are nonexsistant with them~ I had AWFUL craps with tampons, though I loved my brand (OB, no applicator)



Thanks! I had always wondered about that. Regardless, I am really squeamish and just like to get my period over with as little hassle as possible. I take Seasonale so I only get it 4 times a year. I would still never be able to use cloth...so much mess. Trust me...I buy granny panties in bulk so if there is an "accident" they go right in the trash :o

<-----weirdo

[thebelovedtree]

Thanks! I had always wondered about that. Regardless, I am really squeamish and just like to get my period over with as little hassle as possible. I take Seasonale so I only get it 4 times a year. I would still never be able to use cloth...so much mess. Trust me...I buy granny panties in bulk so if there is an "accident" they go right in the trash :o

<-----weirdo


Thats probably my favorite thing about the cup. I only have to deal with it twice a day, it rarely if ever leaks, and I don't have to think about my tampon all day. I had to use pads this month and it felt like I was going to a horror movie every time I had to pee.

[vggiegirl]

Thats probably my favorite thing about the cup. I only have to deal with it twice a day, it rarely if ever leaks, and I don't have to think about my tampon all day. I had to use pads this month and it felt like I was going to a horror movie every time I had to pee.


:lol:

[hippymama]

I made my own pads of flannel from my son's diapers. I can't get over how comfortable they are. I have big huge pp ones, and smaller thinner ones. I used to get rashes from pads, and and I hate that crinkly, wet sticky feeling. Now I don't feel anything. I actually forget. and I don't really have to change but maybe once or twice a day.

I bought a box of Instead. I used to love them before kids, now they don't seem to fit as well. I only used one a month, then I got pregnant, so the box of 14 is lasting me like 2-3 years. When it's empty I'm thinking Diva or moon cup--they are a little bit different.

There is SO much nasty stuff in disposable pads and tampons. Really super nasty. Especially tampons. Do you really want to put asbestos and dioxins inside you girlie parts? EWWW.

[ceryna]

I've been using the Divacup for over a year and I haven't bought and/or used any pads or tampons in that entire time, with the exception of my wedding day, when I wore a pad as extra protection in case my beloved Divacup picked that one day, of all days, to leak. (And I didn't buy that one, my MOH gave it to me!)

[KC_VeganVixen]

I recently switched from disposable pads to organic cotton Lunapads, and I'm never going back! I originally switched because of a rash I kept getting (I guess from those pesky chemicals in disposable pads), but I also like the fact that they're washable and reusable. And they're not really gross at all. Just soak and wash.
It's been two months, and I haven't had another pad rash (or leaks, either)! I love my Lunapads! And they're REALLY soft, too.

The only thing that took some getting used to was that they're thicker than disposable pads. I thought they'd be really visible through my jeans, but they just look like a panty line. No biggie for me.

[TangledUpInBlue]

After reading this thread last night, I took the plunge and ordered a 3 pack of Gladrags. The only thing that has kept me from ordering them before is that I don't want that wet feeling all the time. But after reading your posts, it seems like (hopefully) that won't be an issue. If I like them, I'll order more.

I'm also hoping that the cloth will cut down on my yeast infections. I seem to get them all the time and I'm hoping that changing over will help.

Still thinking about buying the Diva Cup at some point. But we'll see how the cloth goes first.

[Tesseract]

Any opinions on Gladrags vs. Luna Pads? I've seen both advertised, and briefly contemplated switching... I've been pretty happy with my disposable pads, never had a problem with leaks, but I know reusables would be so much better both environmentally and financially. and apparently for my health, too. It never occurred to me before, but so many people have said they feel better getting away from the disposable products.