Time of the Month
Apr 16, 2011, 9:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 63
Time of the Month
I'm a little surprised no one has started a thread about menstrual cups. I've met many women while traveling that would never go without said item.
Benefits of traveling with the cup:
-you don't have to pack feminine napkins/tampons
-you don't have to worry if the local area has your favorite products
-you can leave it in for 12 hours (makes for easier travel on long hauls)
-you don't have to worry about disposing dirty items (especially in areas that may not have trash cans readily available)
-less waste for everyone to deal with
Benefits of traveling with the cup:
-you don't have to pack feminine napkins/tampons
-you don't have to worry if the local area has your favorite products
-you can leave it in for 12 hours (makes for easier travel on long hauls)
-you don't have to worry about disposing dirty items (especially in areas that may not have trash cans readily available)
-less waste for everyone to deal with
Apr 17, 2011, 6:15 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL, AA
Posts: 6,031
It's not specifically about the cups, but they are one option mentioned in this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...suspicion.html
Apr 18, 2011, 8:55 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: VA base, Midatlantic travel
Programs: HH Diamond, Marr Plat, Natl Elite, AMEX Plat, AA PP
Posts: 126
Those are a great and convenient item, plus you only have to travel with one! It does kind of make me want to wear it for my next full body NudeOScope, just to see if they pull me aside for further questioning. "Pardon me ma'am, it seems to me, you have a shot glass in your hoo-ha! You mind 'splaining that?"
Apr 19, 2011, 7:26 am
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 55,189
I've never heard of them. Are they comfortable? If you're only going to bring one, you're going to disinfect it after each use I assume thus you've got to bring disinfectant liquids. We can't bring liquids over 3 ounces assuming you don't check in bags. Or is the disinfectant some kind of powder you in which you add water and put into a glass?
Apr 20, 2011, 7:45 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DCA's home, AA hubs and spokes are where you'll usually find me
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Posts: 367
Apr 20, 2011, 9:41 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 63
It does take a couple months to get used to and figure out what works best for you. I would always just clean mine out in the shower and ignore it for the rest of the day. I found the gross factor to be a lot less than tampons.
Apr 21, 2011, 11:50 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: SW WA
Posts: 3,890
I looked into this a while ago, and saw an FAQ for one maker that said that you needed to use their special wash for it, and you had to boil it every month. That seemed to be too much effort, and certainly not practical for travel. Is this what everyone else is doing?
Apr 21, 2011, 12:20 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DCA's home, AA hubs and spokes are where you'll usually find me
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat
Posts: 367
They're basically just trying to sell you their wash -- any decent soap will do. And boiling it once a month is pretty straightforward - just boil for 20 minutes or so. You can do it whenever and it's really not a hassle at all.
Apr 21, 2011, 1:18 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 55,189
I would think boiling would be a necessity for those who use them. But I'm still curious about these cups.
Apr 21, 2011, 2:29 pm
#13
Moderator Communications Coordinator, Signatures
Join Date: Apr 2001
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How much of a disinfectant is soap and water if the water isn't boiled? Would I want to stick that thing back inside of me unless I knew it were completely sterile? No way. That's the convenience of a tampon. Each one you open is sterile. Get the super-plus or the ultra (playtex brand, in this case) and those things last even on your heaviest day between normal trips to the bathroom.
I would think boiling would be a necessity for those who use them. But I'm still curious about these cups.
I would think boiling would be a necessity for those who use them. But I'm still curious about these cups.
Apr 21, 2011, 6:35 pm
#14
Senior Moderator; Moderator, Eco-Conscious Travel, United and Flyertalk Cares
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
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Posts: 17,833
I would imagine it you're boiling it between times of the month and keeping it in a sterile container. Then during your time of the month, its either inside you, or being washed with soap and water (in the shower), and then put right back inside you. Unless your , um ...inside... is in need of disinfecting, I don't see what kind of disinfecting the cup will need during its few days of use.