Question on "Instead" - pad/tampon alternative

[Mazuri]

I've been seeing these things at the Walgreens I work for and was wondering how they worked. Has anyone used one, know of anyone who's used one, and could possibly share the pros/cons about them?

The website is here and the short explanation, according to their website, is "The INSTEAD® Softcup® is a unique, proven advancement in period protection. With the INSTEAD® Softcup®, women can now live life during their periods in freedom INSTEAD® of being restricted by strings and wings!"

It says it can be used for up to 12 hours before changing, you can wear it during sex, it doesn't leak like some tampons on heavier days, doesn't shift like pads, etc etc. I only have a couple of really heavy days but when I do, I'm wearing a tampon and a pad just to feel like I've got it all covered.

I don't suffer from toxic shock with tampons, but it also says there has not been a reported case of TSS with Instead. It's not latex (of which I'm not allergic, but in case someone else is interested...) and looks kind of like a small condom.

I've been tempted to buy a box, but they're a bit pricey for something that may not work so I wanted to see if anyone had experience with them first

thanks
maz

(edited to add) In reading the webpage, I'm out as I have an IUD at the moment (dang it) but the IUD comes out this year so maybe later *sighs*

 

[wicked woman]

Haven't tried them personally but I seem to recall ages ago reading about them here. I think the response was quite positive.

Search function...like Google... is your friend.

 

[PertPerth]

the ewww-factor!

Hmmm...from what I read, it's not something that I'll ever use. Basically it's just like a plug. Women bleed for a reason - the blood has to come out. Better out than in, I say! Fortunately my periods are short-ish (4 days max).

 

[CutieMouse]

Hmmm...from what I read, it's not something that I'll ever use. Basically it's just like a plug. Women bleed for a reason - the blood has to come out. Better out than in, I say! Fortunately my periods are short-ish (4 days max).

It isn't like a plug. It's a little cup-like thing, and (as needed) you remove it/throw it away (although I've known women who remove it a few times over the day, rinse it, and reinsert the same Instead - they only use 1 per day that way). The blood still "comes out."

I tried it, and removing the thingie was more mess than I like to deal with, but I know women who swear by their Instead cups.

 

[PertPerth]

...Yes, I realise that the blood still comes out. But the whole "12 hours" is what I don't like. I'm not saying it's wrong - there are women who swear by it. I'm just saying that I don't want expelled menstrual blood lingering around my body for longer than it needs to. Tampons for ~ 4 hours, I can handle that. But "softcups" for 12 hours? Not for me.

 

[Cathleen]

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=290368

This is the link to that thread.

 

[Guest]

backflow

There is a few warnings though:

Anything in the vagina that stays for long can cause ulcers that are difficult to heal. You won't necessary know they are there either.

Also, what is there is meant to come out. If the womb fills up with blood, then blood can back up and out into the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and abdominal cavity.

This, at least in theory, could cause nasties such as endometriosis.

Just my 2c

Maharat

 

[SweetErika]

Mazuri, they're pretty cheap at Walmart.

Pert and Maharat, I'd suggest checking out the website well before you make more wild guesses and assumptions. Our bodies certainly don't produce enough blood in a day to back up into the uterus, and you are supposed to remove the cup to wash or replace it periodically.

I use them off and on. The main benefit for me is not having dryness, but I think I'm shaped oddly, so they don't always fit correctly and my cervix is low enough during my period that my husband rubs against them uncomfortably during sex. So, I mainly use them if we're planning extended foreplay, and I'll slip it out when we're ready for sex.

I'd think they'd be a big improvement for pad users.

 

[Chicklet]

These look pretty interesting. Personally, I've never had a problem with tampons, but I know a lot of women who experience discomfort during the day if they wear them, to the point that they choose pads. I might be willing to give it a try.

As for the cost, I'm wondering how much they are in the store? I'm seeing 14 for $5.99 on the site, which, if my period lasts 4 days and I used one every 12 hrs, would probably come out to about the same amount I spend on tampons per month.

 

[Guest]

Mazuri, they're pretty cheap at Walmart.

Pert and Maharat, I'd suggest checking out the website well before you make more wild guesses and assumptions. Our bodies certainly don't produce enough blood in a day to back up into the uterus, and you are supposed to remove the cup to wash or replace it periodically.

Not a wildguess, actually research for the Moon Cup I did some time ago. Women forget tampons, they can forget cups.

Endometriosis is a poorly understood condition, thought to be connected to retrograde menstruation (blood backing up). When dealing with things were research has been scarce, there is place to use your own judgement, and perhaps to consider that the non-natural solution of keeping the menses inside your body might have unforeseen consequences.

Maharat

 

[CutieMouse]

Just because it can be worn for up to 12 hours, doesn't mean it should or will be worn for up to 12 hours.

Everyone I know who uses the Instead cup, changes/rinses and replaces the cup about every 3-4 hours. The only time they leave it in for longer than that, is if they use one overnight.

 

[SweetErika]

These look pretty interesting. Personally, I've never had a problem with tampons, but I know a lot of women who experience discomfort during the day if they wear them, to the point that they choose pads. I might be willing to give it a try.

As for the cost, I'm wondering how much they are in the store? I'm seeing 14 for $5.99 on the site, which, if my period lasts 4 days and I used one every 12 hrs, would probably come out to about the same amount I spend on tampons per month.

In my experience, tampon comfort is highly dependent on brand and lube. It's not environmentally sound, but I only use Playtex - Tampax and the store brands with the cardboard applicators are horribly uncomfortable for me to insert and wear. And that's on top of not working as well as the Playtex.

Then, whenever possible, I squirt a little bit of silicone lube on the applicator first. That cuts down dramatically on dryness and discomfort.

I think the box of Instead is $5 or $6 at Walmart. A box of 188 tampons is $12-13 at Costco, so the tampons definitely come out cheaper, but the cups aren't that expensive. I looked into the Keeper and other reusable cups a couple of years ago, but didn't order when I found the Instead didn't fit me all that well and could be felt during sex.

Lately, I've been putting in an Instead after we have sex to try to keep more of the semen near my cervix for an hour or so. I'm not sure how well it actually works, but we did get pregnant the first time we tried it.

 

[Mazuri]

Thank you all I only was interested in them on my heaviest days as on those days I have to use both a tampon and a pad. I can only use "Regular" strength (?) tampons as supers are uncomfy, but pads make me think I'm wearing a diaper

I called myself searching too, but I guess I didn't do it well enough

 

[KokopelliRises]

My suitemate this last year got them about halfway through the year and was so pleased with them she started to tell a lot of her friends about them and how they work. I don't know if I'd ever use them, but it might be worth a try at the very least.

I remember hearing or reading somewhere that some women do/used to use diapraghms in a similar way, which is kind of odd to me. I think they only used them during sex though, to make sure the blood didn't get all over the place. I wouldn't know since I've never owned one. Just my two cents worth.

 

[salsalicious]

I've tried something similar, and it is so-so. It presses against something that makes it hard to pee, which can't be good. I also don't like messing with it, because it takes longer to deal with than a tampon.

 

[sexy_chicq]

I have seen two different variations of that - the Diva Cup and the Mooncup and have had nothing but positive reviews on those products.
They both have a stem which allow for easier removal.

From what I have heard they help reduce the length of your peroid and also help alleviate cramps. (what a bonus!)

The Diva Cup and Mooncup are also safe to use in the bath/shower/pool and can be used overnight.

As they are reusable (you wash them after each removal) I would think it'd be a good investment, and a small something I can do to save the environment.

 

[SweetErika]

Yeah, there have been several threads on the Diva Cup and Keeper, and they're full of glowing reviews.

I might try the Diva Cup since there's a one year money back guarantee. My main concern is it not fitting correctly since I've had trouble with Instead, but I guess the worst that can happen is I have to get a different size or send it back.

 

[SweetErika]

This is an awesome site with comparisons of the Diva Cup, Mooncup (UK), Lunette, Keeper/Mooncup(US) and Instead:

http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~obsidian/clothpads/Cups.html

The Lunette looks best, but it's more expensive and there's no warranty (there are rumors they'll try to work something out if you have problems, but shipping from Finland is more expensive, obviously), so I think I'll try the DivaCup, and if I don't like it, I'll go to the Lunette.

Since the reusable cups don't fit on/around the cervix like the Instead, I think I'll have fewer issues with fit.

 

[Mazuri]

Thank you for the link, I'll read over it after work today

 

[cricketbug]

I've tried the Instead cups but they don't seem to "pop" open past my pubic bone like they should, so they're super uncomfortable for me.

I picked up a DivaCup about 2 1/2 years ago before getting pregnant with my now 1 1/2 y/o daughter. I the Diva b/c I can wear it about 3-4 hours without needing to empty & re-insert. That's a HUGE plus b/c I'm a teacher...and we all know teachers never go to the bathroom! *chuckles* Plus, I, too, have the "1-pad/tampon every hour" bit, but I used the super tampons...yick.

 

[ms.read]

I don't undrstand how any one could use one ofthese poducts... they just seem so messy and uncomfy.... never heard of them before this though.. im going to checkem out next time i go shopping

slightly confused and a little wierded out....

 

[SweetErika]

I don't undrstand how any one could use one ofthese poducts... they just seem so messy and uncomfy.... never heard of them before this though.. im going to checkem out next time i go shopping

slightly confused and a little wierded out....

The upper two thirds of the vagina doesn't have nerve endings, so apart from insertion and removal, one doesn't feel anything if the Instead is placed properly. I've heard most women don't feel the other cups really either, or if they do, they're usually just aware it's there, but it's not uncomfortable.

As for the mess, yes, there is some until one gets the hang of removing it. I suppose it depends on how bothered one is by blood and such - I figure it's a natural part of my life, and it doesn't gross me out at all. Plus, seeing what I'm producing/expelling (in terms of the amount of blood, clots, etc.) helps me monitor my health and make adjustments to my diet and such.

I find pads to be the most disgusting thing ever. They never absorb everything, so stuff gets all over, irritating my skin, and I'm always aware of the diaper-like feel. Needless to say, I only use them when I have no other choice.

 

[Chicklet]

Then, whenever possible, I squirt a little bit of silicone lube on the applicator first. That cuts down dramatically on dryness and discomfort.

i always lube it up in my mouth first, lol... i find just a lil bit of saliva works wonders for me. totally with you on the playtex part.

 

[cricketbug]

I find pads to be the most disgusting thing ever. They never absorb everything, so stuff gets all over, irritating my skin, and I'm always aware of the diaper-like feel. Needless to say, I only use them when I have no other choice.

DITTO! I actually use cloth pads as a backup for my DivaCup and have felt SO much better. Plus in some weird funky way, it's lessened my flow a touch.

 

[EveAnna]

I've never heard of these before, I'm a pad wearer - I usually struggle with tampons but I'm definitely going to check these out.