Author: simple(ish) living

On the eve of 2018, we wait for the new year. We’ve been waiting and waiting, haven’t we? I certainly did. I waited so long ago, because I failed so early and at so many things in January and February and every other month. So, in November and early December, I waited for that clean slate. To wash out my 2017 sins. I let myself fall into a catatonic state and did absolutely nothing during these months…all for that clean state.

Why?

Because 2018.. New found motivation. New beginnings. And so I wait around.

I realise a few things, I know that I won’t ever be perfect and that my life will be one big continual improvement and that’s okay. But, I can’t wait for change. I can’t wait for the lights in the sky to turn into confetti. All that waiting. Only to start it all over again when the next year flashes around.

I was waiting for someday. I was always waiting. I am always waiting. Someday, I’ll be better with my money. Someday, I’ll write more. Someday, I’ll read that classic novel. Someday.

When exactly is that day?

Yes, it’s amazing what the start of a new year can bring. It can stir up the same emotions of anticipated first date. You feel giddy. Possibilities are endless. You dress up. Spray on some perfume. You’re funny and witty. You’re invincible. You can do this. You can do everything. You are everything. The next day, you’re a little groggy but you wake up early anyway and go for that morning jog. You want to look good for this year. This year is different. It’s not like all the other years you’ve dated in the past. You’ve learnt from your mistakes. February is nearing, and all that giddiness, all that motivation is fading. You’re ready to break up with this year Maybe, start again next year. New year. New me.

More waiting.

All that waiting.

December hits around. And all your goals? They’re never really fulfilled. Those first dates, were amazing, but tending to a long term year is hard. That requires work. Drudgery.

That shit is boring. And it’s hard. I’m going to restart my Netflix subscription and watch whatever is on there. Here, watching the moving pictures, I don’t have to think. I don’t have to try and power through the drudgery. I don’t have to get up in the morning and put on my adult pants. I can fully switch off. And for the most part, switching off can be fantastic – I’m a big fan of it. No one can be intentional 100% of the time.

But how much is too much?

Can you just let your life drift on by?

Can I just let my life drift on by?

What am I waiting for?

Change?

Hard work?

I could be my own change and not wait for some digits on a clock.

So, four months later…am I still using the cup?

Short answer is yes.

Long answer is yes! And I won’t go back to using pads. It really is a game changer – but I do recommend giving this a few periods to get use to. The second time I used the cup, I almost gave up on it. The first month was probably a bit of a fluke, because even though I had some “issues” with inserting and removing the cup, it wasn’t as bad as the second month. Every time I moved (I’m always fidgeting), it seemed to move to a different angle and it leaked – this wasn’t so bad because I bought some Thinx underwear as a protective layer, just in case I were to leak, but I really hoped I didn’t need extra protection. I was hyperaware of the cup and being so concerned about “leakage” seemed opposite of what the cup was meant to do.

But as I mentioned in my previous post, you kinda need this. Because I wasn’t inserting the cup correctly. And there is no easy way or how to guide on how to insert the cup. Everyone has a DIFFERENT vagina and that’s okay, but it also means that you’ll be the only one who knows if the cup is inserted correctly and unfortunately that’s trial and error.

Most of the time though, you can “feel” if it is inserted correctly, because ironically you shouldn’t really feel the cup inside of you.

In the THIRD MONTH, I was a little hesitant to use it, particularly since it was a little bit of a disaster the second time around, but to be honest, it was smooth sailing. During the work days, I kinda forgot about my period, which is amazing. Yeah, I had cramps and couldn’t stop my chocolate/sweet tooth/eat-everything-in-sight cravings – but the blood? I kinda forgot about it. As someone who only ever used pads, it was strange not having to “wipe” blood away when going to the toilet, even shitting on my period seemed less gross due to the lack of blood – because lets face it, it’s pretty freakin’ disgusting shitting and bleeding at the same time.

Just because it’s “natural” it doesn’t mean I find periods all rosy – they aren’t – at least I don’t think so.

The menstrual cup actually does help with getting on with “it”, whatever, “it” is.

By the FOURTH MONTH I was raving about it, I’m still raving about it. I was telling my friends that they to should try it. I would leave it in for a whole day at work and not really worry about it. I would come home and empty the cup in the shower and that would be it. Depending on what “flow day” it is, I would empty it again before bed, as my heavy days are quite heavy.

That’s the one thing I would suggest, understand how “heavy” your flow it. For the first couple of days, I could have probably gone with the size two, for the rest of the period – the size one was fine with me.

Because I’m nosy and know that I would probably want to see an image of it too, here’s what it looks like after eight hours. In the size one, I probably couldn’t last the full 12 hours.

Note, I haven’t yet to try and remove the cup in a public toilet – I imagine this would be a pain.

Graphic image below:

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It’s coming, I warned you!

So, that’s about what it looks like after eight hours, on a fairly heavy day.

Not that exciting.

Revised rating:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Why not 5 out of 5? It’s still a bit of a pain trying to get the cup out, but it gets easier.

I bought my menstrual cup at biome, for those who are wondering.

It’s been about one year since I heard about the menstrual cup. I wasn’t keen to try because frankly, why would anyone want to stove a piece of silicon up their hooha?

There are benefits of course. Better for the environment and a shelf life of ten years. And depending on your flow, the cup can be used for up to 12 hours at a time.

But it still took me a year to “give it a try” mostly because the cup is $60. And $60 is a bit of money for something that I wasn’t 100% sold on.

A couple of months ago, I decided to buy the cup. I spent the money!

The hardest part was trying to decide what size I was. Was I a size one? Was I a size two? Even after reading the reviews, and doing my research on the sizes, I was still unsure about my size. I’m under thirty (but almost thirty), never had children and also have a heavy flow. So what size? What size??

I bought the the size 1 as it was recommended to me.

Sorry to say, I let the shop assistant choose my size!

Did my dollars evaporate into thin air.

Was it worth it?

My review of the lunette cup below.

Product Details:
Brand = Lunette
Cost = $60
Size = 1

*For starters, my period lasts for six to seven days (yay). It’s very heavy to heavy for the first two days. Medium for two. Light for two or three days.*

Some pictures!

The First day:
Flow = Light to Very HEAVY

Definitely try putting this in in the shower.

It’s more difficult than you think and also easier at the same time.

It’s a bit of a contradiction – so, how do I explain that contradiction?

My body did tense up, because frankly why the freak was I trying to put this thing inside me?
“It” hurt.
“It” wouldn’t relax.
The cup wouldn’t go in.
If you can’t relax, this will definitely be harder than you think.
Once I relaxed (and it took some time), the process was quite easy. I didn’t feel any peeing sensation or even feel it inside of me.

Success!

I was quite impressed and went about my day as usually.

I didn’t realise this was actually just beginner luck. My mishaps on day two later.

Don’t scroll further if you don’t like the site of blood. But I thought it would be helpful to take a picture of what was captured after three-four hours.

*WARNING: GRAPHIC*

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That was just after 3 to 4 hours so I was glad I changed it before bed, I had a feeling the size 1 might be too small for my flow.

How does it feel sleeping in it?

It was kinda great. I used to wear pads. And it’s odd having “dry” underwear in the morning or at anytime really. I’m use to “the drop”. It was actually freeing.

Toilet business/answers below:
How is it to pee in?
Just normal.
Pee away! It’s kinda cool peeing and not having to wipe away blood.

How is it to poo in?
I definitely felt it.
I definitely felt it move.
Be careful it doesn’t shift. This happened to me one time, and I leaked.
Great news is you’ll probably feel it leak at the beginning and have time to change!

Farting?
Yeah, it felt weird as.
Definitely felt it inside of me trying to let one rip (not in public of course!)

Second day:
Flow = HEAVY to Medium

When I took the cup out in the morning, it was almost full. It wouldn’t have lasted the 12 hours. But it did last 8-9 hours. If I didn’t cleaned the cup before bed, it would’ve definitely leaked.

So it’s important – are you a 1 or 2?

How heavy is your flow?

I’m probably a 2 for the first day and a 1 for the rest.

I’ll stick with the 1 for now.

Day two was actually the most difficult day. I struggled. First to take it out. Then to put it in.

It really got in there when I slept. Growing up in an Asian household there were certain things we never talked about. Sex. Vaginas. And periods. I had to get familiar with my body. It’s something I’ve never done. Strangely, it was also kinda liberating.

I can totally understand why it’s recommended that you trying inserting and removing the cup in the shower. It was tough. AND it kinda hurt taking it out. AND it took multiple times to put it in right.

Lucky it was a Saturday.

How did I know I inserted the cup incorrectly?

I felt like peeing every time I placed the cup inside me.
Sometimes, it felt sharp. It didn’t feel seamless like the first day.
I also leaked.

I think it was important this happened.

I knew then what it was like to put it in wrong. I knew how it felt.
This made the other days pretty easy, because I knew straight away if the position was wrong.

Three to Four days:
Flow = Medium

Nothing out of the ordinary here.

I’m still amazed how there was no “period smell.” Yup, no smell at all, which is great. And weird. (Good weird)

Although, I was getting sick of trying to remove the cup (it’s tricky a business and you need some serious finger strength), but I knew I would definitely use the cup again.

Oops spoilers.

Five to Seven days:
Flow = Light to very light

To be honest, I stopped using it after the fifth day.

It was a bit of hassle removing the cup for so little blood and the final days of my flow are so light.

So, I think I’ll try Thinx period underwear for these “light” days. (My review of Thinx underwear shortly).

Final word?
I would definitely use the cup again, particularly for the heavier days. Not so much for the light days.

3.5 stars out of 5 (minus 1.5 stars because it wasn’t so easy to take out the cup).

I purchased my menstrual cup at Biome stores.

Four months later – part two of the review…