Blackbeard The Pirate's Bucket O' Blood Is Back

[bloodyrosemccoy]

A few months ago I decided to try menstrual cups again.

I tried the Diva Cup a few years ago, but even though I kept at it for months, I never could get it to sit right. No matter what I did it always felt like I'd somehow managed to shove one of those foil grocery store party balloons with the stiff stems into a place where foil grocery store party balloons are anything but welcome. So finally I had to give up and go back to destroying ecosystems every month.

But my failure always nagged at me, especially given the absolutely over-the-top way everyone who's used them carries on with an almost alarming wild-eyed enthusiasm over the darn things. So I recently decided to give it another shot and went back to forums like menstrual_cups.

Have you ever been to one of those? They're hilarious. They may be wild-eyedly enthusiastic at some points, but mostly they read like any other nerdy forum devoted to things like slot cars or doll mods or brewing or cosplay--absolutely devoted to maximizing the potential of their chosen interest. Something about earnestly technical discussions of nether regions just amuses the hell out of me. Although, given the potential discomfort when you do it wrong ("OH GOD IT FEELS LIKE I SUCKED MY ENTIRE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM INSIDE-OUT"), I can see how it would be something you'd want to get right.

Anyway, what do you know, they gave me some ideas. Turns out the Diva Cup is one of the longest cups, as these things are measured, and I'm--well, let's just extrapolate from the rest of my short and stubby anatomy and assume I have a, how shall we say it, a hobbit hole.* My problem was that I probably needed a shorter one.

So a couple months ago I got the Moon Cup,** chopped off most of the stem, sanded the stem's new rim, and damned if this thing isn't working out great. Now I don't have to feel like I'm destroying the environment every month!

Also, as long as I was on the site, I picked up a bunch of cloth pads. I don't know about you guys,*** but I think they're entirely worth it.

Although, even if the patterns they have are cute, I am still waiting for the pirate-themed pads. ursulav, you have destroyed me forever.


*Okay, the extrapolation is bullshit, but in my case it's true, judging from my own experience and my doctor's added input.

**I should add that I found this site through the fabulous Erika Moen's Oh Joy, Sex Toy comic, which reviews--surprise!--sex toys, as well as many other sex-related or just sexy topics. It is cute, fun, and exactly as NSFW as a comic entitled "Oh Joy, Sex Toy" sounds.

***Well, likely mostly gals, in this case.

Comments

[sriti.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of this device before! Sounds so much cleaner than tampons and sanitary napkins. Is it very expensive? Also, if you cut off the stem, how did you pull it out later on?

Also, thanks for the comic reference, it's definitely an interesting one!

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Well, I didn't cut off the whole stem--the things are pretty long to start with. My own anatomy means that the cup sits pretty low down, and I can get a grip on the base, too. That also has another advantage--gripping the actual cup means you can break the seal it forms, which makes it easier to get it out. And be warned--it takes a bit of getting used to, and chances are you're going to make a bit of a mess the first few times you pull it out. But I got used to it pretty quickly.

Around here they seem to cost about $35. Given that they're supposed to last 10 years, it seems like a good investment if you decide you like it. ;)

I am FASCINATED by the comic! It's definitely not in my usual sphere of interests, but Erika and Matt are so cute and smart and fun that I can't stop reading it. And I'm learning a lot.