In December 2000, I was standing on an Oahu beach with Lori, J., and S. Two of us were wearing bikinis and the discussion turned towards finding comfortable bras. S., the only male of the bunch, paused for a moment and then said, "Whoa...I've just entered the Girl Zone."
Well, guys, you're about to enter the Girl Zone right here, but if you're living with a member of the opposite sex (or planning to at some point in your life), I'd suggest you read on. And then tell your female friends. I'll try to keep my language tasteful so you don't freak out. ;-P Today's topic is: menstrual cups.
A menstrual cup is a little rubber or silicone cup that is worn internally and catches menstrual flow. It forms a seal when properly used, so there's no need for pads or pantiliners (ladies, what do you think of the word "pantiliners"? I've always hated it). There's no risk of toxic shock, it can be worn overnight, and many women have fewer cramps when using one as compared to using tampons. I found out about it in 2002, when E. was visiting me in San Francisco. I immediately got on the Web to check it out.
Interestingly, a bunch of the testimonials I read online about The Keeper (the cup I use) were written by men living in the middle of the woods in Canada, where "feminine hygiene products" are not only really expensive, but also hard to dispose of. These guys were psyched that they could pay $30 once every 10 years or more and not have any monthly garbage to deal with. Most of them had bought them as gifts for their wives! Picture that!
I love my menstrual cup is because there's no waste, it's very discreet, and it's easy to travel with. And it's cheap! I often forget I'm wearing it (though so far no disastahs! Whew!) It did take me 3 months to figure out how to get it to seal right, but from then on I knew I would never go back. I actually look forward to using it every month because it is so cool. Can you imagine that?
If you want to give it a try (or give it as a gift):
The Keeper (made of gum rubber)
The DivaCup (made of silicone)