For my birthday, my sister-in-law got me The Keeper, which I absolutely love. If you don't know what The Keeper is, it's a reusable feminine hygiene product (aka a latex cup. super cool).
It's environmentally and economically friendly. At $35, they're supposed to last for 10 years. I'd say that's a lot better than buying a $5 box of tampons every month. Not only are you saving money, you're saving the environment by decreasing amount of waste produced. Additionally, there's no chance of Toxic Shock Syndrome like there is with tampons. How can The Keeper be a bad idea? They also make Moon Cups, which are latex free, for people with allergies. Another company makes latex free Diva Cups.
I love my Keeper and I want to give one to every woman I know. Plus, they come in a cute bag! But seriously. Good for the environment, good for your wallet, good for you.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
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16 comments:
I've had my DivaCup since my freshman year of college. I LOVE it. My sister and mom have become converts, too.
Like the Keeper, the DivaCup comes in a cute bag and with a pin, so you can proclaim your love of reusable menstrual products on your totebag or jacket. :)
I wish I was brave enough to try...I hate to say it, but I'm afraid. I don't know why. Great post, though.
My only issue is the cost coupled with the need to figure out what size I wear. I see a lot of posts about menstrual cups on the vaginapagina livejournal community about getting the right fit/right seal, etc. and it seems a bit overwhelming for me. Wish I could try them out.
I really really wanta Keeper or Diva Cup. Baddly. It's nice to hear another person endorse it. L)
I wish men had gender-specific personal hygiene things that we could talk about. I feel so left out.
Could you do a post next week about a new brand of athletic supporter?
:p
The Keeper/Diva Cup (same company) is sized based on if you've vaginally given birth.
I waited a long time before I got one because I didn't necessarily have 35 bucks to drop, which is why mine was a present. But I think I'm going to give one to someone as a gift... you know, pass the keeper love around.
Your comment was irrelevant, Michael, but thanks anyway.
Sorry, Amelia, I was just trying to make a lighthearted joke. No disrespect intended, and note taken.
It's okay Michael. And I'm sorry if I overreacted. I'm kind of used to fending off mean spirited commentors, so please forgive me for that. (I did think it sounded odd coming from you...)
I definately am not brave enough to try one of those...
Lindsay I'm so glad you like your present!
For those who are nervous- I was too, but I found tampons physically uncomfortable so I had some extra motivation. The keeper doesn't have the wicking properties of cotton so you don't get that uncomfortable drying on low-flow days. And like Lins mentioned, there are only two sizes- one for those who have given birth vaginally and those who have not.
Also check out washable cotton pads for overnight or for those who prefer an external option. You can buy them online, or make your own from a simple pattern!
YAY for menstrual cups! I use a Lunette. I decided on it by looking at that livejournal community, where they had a comparison of the sizes. I get the feeling the sizes don't make a huge difference; I got the larger size because that's what Lunette tells you to do if you're 20 or above, even though I was a virgin. Not gonna lie, getting it in the first time took a little work. And I was afraid I'd never get it out again. But you just have to get the hang of it, it's really easy now. If anyone wants to try something new but not a cup, on my blog page called Stuff Everyone Should Know, at the bottom I have links to a few places (among many) where you can find out about other reusable menstrual supplies, like sea sponges (not sure how well they work, but that's just really cool) and reusable pads.
So this may seem like a stupid question...
but what do you do if you're in a public restroom and need to empty/wash it?
It might be a little awkward/disgusting to empty it in front of a line of women in the airport bathroom if you catch my drift.
Kari
If you can grab a one person bathroom, those aren't a problem (there are an abundance at my school so that's good for me).
Otherwise, you can empty it in your stall. As for washing it, it's not necessary to wash it between every individual use, although I do out of personal preference. They do recommend at the end of your cycle to wash it with soapy water (but no chemicals). On Wise Bread, someone suggested carrying around a small bottle of a water/vinegar to rinse in between uses (if you don't have access to a sink). Otherwise, wiping with toilet paper or a towel would work too.
If you're really concerned about it, you could use the Keeper when you know you'll have access to an individual bathroom and something else the rest of the time.
Lindsay, I still think this was a great post! And I am actually considering trying one now...I've been doing a little research...although I'm not 100% sold yet. Thanks a lot for starting this discussion!
Yeah, you just have to remember to grab a paper towel and wet it before you go into the stall if you want to wash it off a little. But since you can keep it in so long, I can usually avoid emptying it in public restrooms altogether.
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