I think I am going to start wearing panties...

@ScribbledAdNauseum Yes, I am very squeamish with blood in general, not just period but any cuts, drawing blood, seeing blood anything *blood*. I dread my period and I didn't like the feeling of blood dripping or like blood clots (sorry tmi). Unsure if you get blood clots or its me, but the feeling is horrible so when I used tampons, I liked that I didn't feel the tampon, or feel any blood dripping/clotting. With researching the cup, I don't know how I could position and take it out - I suppose trial & error, but i don't have the courage yet. Do let me know your review and thoughts if you end up purchasing period panties.

@ScribbledAdNauseum Not squeamish but it others read they may but hey, it’s only natural we get our periods. Oh yes we didn’t have period panties back then and it would be nice to have. Plus everything made nowadays is less bulky! I have always had blood clothes. My sugar levels are fine but I should perhaps bring it up. I figured it’s normal because my cycle is regular and ends within 7 days so I never brought it up. I hated feeling blood drip but now with tampons it’s completely fine. Perhaps I’ll have the courage to try the cups! It’ll be more affordable too. Since sanitary products definitely add up!

If you are feeling squeamish about the use of the cup then I'd probably not get one. However, I really like them. This cramping thing is new, but otherwise I find that the cups are easier to sleep with. I could always feel the tampon but I usually can not feel the cup. You can also wear the cup for 12 hours whereas tampons should be checked every 8. The only thing for me was getting used to placing it. There are several methods but I had to find the one that worked best for me. The string can break on them if you aren't careful. I've had several of the strings (it's made out of silicone) break on me. Tampons made my period feel as if it was occurring even more. So did pads. I noticed when I transitioned to the cup that my period seemed to be less frequent. That might have had nothing to do with it, I don't know. Personally, the cup works best for me because of the frequency of my menses. As for the underwear, yeah there are so many choices out there it's hard to decide. I have a group on reddit that I go to for this kind of stuff and I've already asked them. just need to check to see what they recommend.

Which one? menstrual cups or absorbent panties for the flow? The former is an older concept but has gained popularity again. The latter is new as far as I am aware.

@ScribbledAdNauseum amazon had a lot!

@ScribbledAdNauseum some times it is cheaper on eBay it really depends on what a person wants. As long as nobody else has worn it I’m fine eBay stuff. Today I got 2 kid shirts for $1/each from the dollar store

@ShyBear88 I will see if I can find it on ebay. I like shopping there more than amazon. The prices are usually a bit cheaper too.

@ScribbledAdNauseum Okay. That makes sense for the panties type. Okay. I will check it in that online site and I would also compare the same with Walmart ones. Thanks a lot for all the information in this..

@smileyhema You are welcome. I hope I've been a big help. There's also a reddit group that you can go to. R/Menstrualcup I think it is. They've been a big help to me in the past.

@smileyhema No, the panties arent' disposable types. I haven't read up a lot on them, but I'd imagine most people would recommend pre-soaking them before washing, and obviously washing them separately. I used to use cloth pads and did that with mine. You can get those menstrual cups at walmart now I've noticed. I bought mine online and actually got a coupon code from the putacupinit site. That was a few years ago so they may no longer offer the discount. You can check youtube for videos of people reviewing them, but be aware I came across one or two that were more graphic than I would expect.

@lovebuglena oh wow your grandma must have stockpiled them. The cup can not get stuck up there. I think that's a common fear for ladies, and I'll admit I feared it to but it's just not possible for it to happen. It can be difficult to get out sometimes though. I eventually learned the best placement and the best way to get it out as well. Of course, I understand sticking with pads, it's what I preferred before I discovered the cup.

I have to admit that I chose the title I did for two reasons. 1) It was the first thing to pop into my head 2) I figured It'd garner a lot of attention, and it has. I also thought someone might assume that I had stopped wearing panties and began to wear them again. If you go to the website putacupinit.com you can find a quiz that helps you decide which is best for you. They have their advantages. You can sanitize and reuse them so that means no more money spent on pantyliners, pads or tampons. You can also wear them for 12 hours versus 8 that tampons usually go for. I find that they are more comfortable overall. I can sleep better with a cup in me than I can with a tampon in me. If you can feel the cup than it's probably not placed all the way in. Of course everyone's body is different, but that's where that putacupinit site comes in. As for how it works you just place it in (and there are several different methods) and it catches the flow. You then dispose of the flow, sanitize the cup and place it back in or place it in it's pouch for safekeeping next month.

@ScribbledAdNauseum I would not be comfortable having anything in there, especially all day. And I'd always worry that it would get stuck in there and I wouldn't be able to get it out. Plus, I'd worry about leaking too. So pads for me. My grandma, when she was still alive, supplied me with pads I use. She's been gone for years and I still have a lot left to use. She saved me a heck of a lot of money.

@ScribbledAdNauseum maybe your getting yeast from not cleaning it well? I get cramps from yeast.

I am part of a group on reddit that deals with menstrual cups. I made a post last night asking them about the panties. I haven't checked it yet, but I will. No, I don't like tampons. I also think that they make my flow worse. Honestly they are more instrusive than the cup. The cup is barely noticeable, except for recently. Even so, these cramps do not happen every single time, they've just been more frequent.

@shaggin Hmm. I'm not sure, but that could be the reason. I usually wipe it out and use a little bit of soap and rinse it in hot water. I boil it after every cycle. I should probably be boiling it more frequently, though my current method had been working.

@ScribbledAdNauseum i looked it up in the net. this cup, we don't have this. I can't imagine using this but this is nice it is environmental friendly.

There are all sorts of things on the market to deal with menstruation. There are the period panties, the menstrual cup, tampons, pads, and even cloth pads that you wash. The menstrual cup is just a medical grade silicone cup. It is reuseable as well. You sanitize by placing it in boiling water for atleast 2 minutes.

Thank You. THey are fairly expensive, so I hope so too.

I think I'd read somewhere that the cups were used in the 70's, but they may not have been very popular. I think the panties are a very new concept. As for the cups, they aren't as scary as they seem and it's very easy to keep them sanitary.

@LadyDuck There are so many things discovered about tampons, the chemicals that are in them. This might not have ever been a problem in Europe as I know there are higher regulations for items there. There are now safer tampons and menstrual pads on the market, but I prefer the cup because it's cheaper (I have two of them and just sanitize them between and during each use).

@ScribbledAdNauseum I have never seen the cups in Italy or France during the times I needed those things. I always used internal tampons after I married, clean, easy to change. I am so glad that this problem is over.

I tell myself that i wish I could get a hysterectomy and not have to worry about the flow but then I tell myself that it's selfish of me to think that way. I know some women have had to have a hysterectomy, having no choice int he matter. My aunt had to have one as well and I believe it was an emergency one as well. I don't like tampons and never really have. They either didn't work for me or were to uncomfy. The menstrual cup, other than the cramping i've dealt with lately, is hardly noticeable.

@noni1959 I won't be getting one unless it's absolutely necessary anyway. I don't have the money for such an operation. The families history of menopause makes me think that when my time comes, it will be quite the doozy.

@ScribbledAdNauseum I hated having mine and they were irregular as well. I had mine when my youngest was four months old. It's OK to wish for one but keep in mind if you don't keep your ovaries, you can go into menopause and even if you do. I have my ovaries though they can't find one (hmmmm) and about three years after my surgery, I hit menopause anyway. It wasn't too bad but I had some doozie swings and hot flashes.

There are a few brands out there now. There's even a brand that markets themselves as period panties but they aren't. They are just panties with weird designs, but have no absorbency.

@Hannihar I'm glad that they work for you. I suppose I just move around a lot more, especially at night. The cup works well for me except for the times that it makes me cramp.

Pads have never worked well for me, even when fastened to underwear. I used to use cloth pads and they had a snap closure that went around the underthings.

@ScribbledAdNauseum I am sorry they did not work for you. They did work for me.

How often I get it just depends. There are some months that I have it every day and it's a heavier flow. There are other times when I don't have it for months. Sometimes I just spot a few days each month, that's more regularly the thing that happens now. I have tried many things to help with the situaton. I drink Kombucha now to help, and I think it does help somewhat. I've also drank ACV, drank raspberry leaf tea... The list goes on and on.