I remember having a cool moment with a male teacher when I was in junior high. I asked if I could go to the bathroom since I was on my period and needed to change my pad. I had my little pad/tampon clutch with me and I always felt so embarrassed holding it because I felt like it was obvious that I was on my period. Why? I have no idea lol. So dumb. But I remember asking my teacher for a pass and he pointed at my clutch and said "that's your pass" and I was like "...😉you rock" lol
yes! you should definitely do a video where you test out different period products, I would love to hear about your experience with some of these products!
Period underwear are the best! So glad I decided to make the switch. I use the brand bambody you can find them on Amazon. I love that the pad portion goes all the way up the back and front of the underwear. So you don’t have to worry about it going through onto your pants.
While we had funny story time, I have one of my own. At the end of college, I moved in with my parents briefly so we were living super close in a semi-small home. My dad is super helpful and is the primary “cleaner” of their home. Anyhow, I came home from work to find my menstrual cup (clean of course!!!) upside down on the dining room table like a center piece. He thought it was a missing part to a kitchen tool or something so brought it up from my sink 😆😂😂😂😂😂.
DISCS ARE AMAZING! They don’t sit in your vagina like the cups do, so the size isn’t as scary as you think lol. The size freaked me out too at first but they are soooo nice. I used a cup since I was 15 and then switched to the disc at like 21 and it was amazing. I have the lumma disc in small and medium. I use medium for most of my period and the small for the little spotting before and after. The medium is smaller than the soft disc you showed. I think the lumma large is closer to the size of the soft disc. I’d recommend giving them a try!! I bet the suction thing doesn’t matter with a disc cause they don’t suction! I had an IUD and I was part of that percent that dislodged it with the cup :/ so had to use cloth pads until I got rid of the iud, now discs for life!
The menstrual disc definitely seems large and intimidating at first glance but I use a reusable menstrual disc from Nixit and I LOVE it!! It's super easy to get in once you get the hang of it and it sits higher inside you than a menstrual cup which can help reduce cramping! I've done pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and now the disc and the disc is by far my favorite. Highly recommend!
Just a little tip from someone who always uses the tampons without applicators : it’s always advised to pull on the string before inserting it to make sure it is properly attached. Usually the o.b. Brand is really good and my string has never come undone… and girl let me tell you, you need to dig if you lose that tampon😬 as an orientation for those who try to use tampons without applicators you want your tampon to sit right above the “ring” of muscles inside of you… don’t be afraid to get to know your body before trying to use a tampon. Best wishes from Germany 😊
I’ve been using cloth pads and a menstrual cup for several years and love them both!! I learned about cloth pads when I was cloth diapering. The menstrual cup has been a life changer for me! Period panties are great for light days or for wearing with a cup as a backup just in case of leaks.
The diva cup changed my life! So much more flexible and comfortable than a tampon or pad… didn’t leak(as long as it was in correctly), less risk of TSS, more environmentally friendly! Actually helped my cramps too!
The disc is not as scary as it looks! It's larger because it sits right at the base of your cervix and you tuck it behind the pelvic bone. You don't even notice it's there once it's it! Also you don't have to worry about suction if you have an IUD!
It's another way men try to control women. They make something you can't control and is actually a miracle and makes it shameful. My husband has always been willing to buy my menstrual supplies. India,I seriously love your posts! You are so real and cool!❤️
I don't know why there is such same around this topic. When I got my period, my mom sent me to the local store to get pads. She sent me with a note. The man handed me back a box of Kotex. It was $1.09 I'll never forget it. but, I had to ask my sister how to use them. My mom was from the generation that didn't talk about it. I told my daughter everything she needs to know. Love this topic!
I also think the majority of people don’t find anything ‘shameful’ about periods, we just do it to ourselves. If a person, for some reason, feels embarrassed or ashamed about their cycle, they gotta figure out why they feel that way. Our bodies are freaking amazing! Read the book taking charge of your fertility if you wanna learn what your cycle actually is!
For me actually I'm not ashamed of my period, I'm just not comfortable to talk about it you know... , it's shyness not shame ... , and I think a lot of women who don't want to talk about it feel the same .
@@kosarzabihi2639 that’s a good way to look at it! Spread the word that it could be shyness (which is totally fine) and not shame! There’s nothing wrong with being shy about it and not wanting to talk about it!
The disc is amazing! It works differently than the menstrual cup and sits a little higher in your body. For me it causes significantly less cramping, and it's quite comfortable.
I bought the nixit one and its on the way to me right now, I can't wait to try it since I just recently got an IUD put in so I don't wanna use my diva cup anymore, I tried it once and Im pretty sure I might've displaced my IUD but I won't know until I go get an ultrasound on Monday.
SAME! I was having cramping and leaking issues with the cup after using it for like 6 years.. gave the disc a try and YES!! I feel like it fits my anatomy better than the cup in a way 🤔
@@wv9459 is it more difficult to insert than a cup? How do you get it in further than a cup and how do you know it’s far enough in? And better question- how do you get it out?
@@teeeff8337 in my opinion, it’s way easier to insert than a cup. Like she showed, you fold it in half, then it’s really skinny and you just push it in until it is past your cervix. You can usually feel it. The reusable discs come with a little tail string thingy to make it ‘easier’ for some people to remove. I cut them off cause I can easily grab the disc and pull it out. I think lumma has some diagrams about how it works if you wanted to look at any
@@teeeff8337 they sit in your body differently too, which I think is what makes it so much easier. The cups like suction to your vaginal canal and block it and collect blood, the discs sit a little more sideways in there I guess and collect blood. No suction. Not sure if every body is the same, but if I stick a finger in myself, my cervix isn’t at the exact end of the canal, it’s more like at the end but at the top. I wish I could comment with a diagram thing.. so the disc makes more sense than a cup because of how they’re made to go around the cervix instead of how the cup is made to be in there
After a long journey of figuring out what sustainable period product works best for me, I found the perfect combo : Fabric tampon and period panties. I have a HEAVY flow and period panties alone, even the most absorbant , were just insufficient . So I found a sweden line ( I'm french) that does fabric tampon and the two together are just PERFECT!!
a little thing about menstrual discs vs cups and why they are so much bigger is because a cup sits down further in a narrower area where as a disc sits all the way up by the cervix and behind the pubic bone which is a larger area
Started moving away from the plastic applicators due to endometriosis. Went to no applicator organic cotton tampons. Then to a cup and then eventually to a disc. I LOVE the disc!! Less if a learning curve than the cup and way better protection from leaks and so much more comfortable once you position it properly. The disc sits behind the pelvic bone which is why it’s so much bigger. I use Cora which is reusable and has a lip that makes it easier to remove. Great video India!
Before surgery I used primarily a menstrual cup with thinx. BUT, before I got “short” menstrual cup- I’d use the disposable disks for the first two days of my period when my cervix dropped lower because a normal menstrual cup didn’t fit well. While yes, they do seem wide- they only expand as much as your body will let it. As far as using them for sex? Just be mindful that your cervix does raise during arousal, so it may dislodge a bit depending on where you are in your cycle
Discs are THE BEST. Way better than tampons and cups (I’ve also been reading more on cups not being good for your pelvic floor because of the suction?🤷🏻♀️). The disc doesn’t sit in your vaginal canal like tampons and cups, don’t be scared…it’s more under your pubic bone and cervix. You push it in and up. You literally cannot feel it at all. I order them from flexx but am looking at a reusable silicon version.
I'm team Softdisc!!!! They're incredibly comfortable for me. I've tried several of the reusable discs but unfortunately since they are silicone the rim on them is much flimsier and legit all of them have gotten "stuck" in me to some degree and I have to traumatically dig around to get it out. Just my personal experience for my personal shape ☺️ the largeness of the Softdisc looks alarming but the way we are configured it's actually not a problem. And they sit differently up inside you than a cup does!
The disc goes in the body different than a cup, so it’s supposed be angled in the vaginal fórnix in a way that the circumference makes sense. Period Nirvana is a great resource for anyone interested in any sustainable products.
GIRL , thank you for your video on the cup. It made me try it and now I won't use anything else. I'm still not sold on period panties, but I'll stick to the cup. Thank you for making these videos, and I'm a 43 year old, never too old to learn. Xxx
Way back in the day when I did have periods, I used OB all the time - loved they were little, easy to carry around - could fit into a jean pocket - and really, was very easy to insert. They were my go-to product.
I started using the non applicator tampon when I noticed how much cheaper they were. They're really great! You have to get used to putting your finger further up to place the tampon. I use the string to splay out the base of it and they create a better seal for me. I highly recommend!
The disc doesn’t hurt at all! It goes all the way at your cervix instead of remaining in the vaginal canal like a tampon does. It takes some practise to take out but surprisingly it doesn’t catch or pull or pinch like I initially thought. And it’s safe for up to 12 hours, even with heavy periods like mine
I tried various cups for years and they never worked with my body type, I always leaked no matter what brand I tried and I had painful cramping as well. I switched to discs last year and it was a game changer. No more painful cramping for me, there is a slight learning curve. I tried the SoftCups for two cycles and then switched to some reusable ones. For me I now strictly use the Nixit cup with Joyja/Knix period panties as a back up.
1. Tip for tampon applicators: pinch with first and middle fingers, push with index. That way no acrobatic maneuvers with your fingers. 2. Switching to a menstrual cup has changed my life! I was that young girl afraid of tampons for the longest time, but for the menstrual cup, I just went for it. Definitely a learning curve, but so worth it! 3. Maybe I missed it, but did you cover removal as well, or just insertion? Taking it back to my 13 year old self, if youtube had been a thing...I would have loved seeing this video for all the knowledge, but I'd be like...okay, but how do I get it out?
When you said you asked which hole to put it in it so reminded me of my first time using a tampon and referencing my American Girl Care and Keeping of you book showing which hole to put it in 😂 You may end up loving them but I would tell you just take those discs back. I gave them several chances but I thought they were so painful and huge! I’m sure I did it wrong even after lots of research. I definitely love my cup! Best period purchase I’ve made and I have always had really rough cycles.
thank you so much for making this video! I try my best to be sustainable but this was a good reminder of ways to do more! I had already switched to a cup but i'm now researching reusable pads. you are the best!
I am much older than you. Back in my day you had a belt that you would wear with a very large pad that would huck into the belt. Not many other choices back then. I love how you are educating the younger generation on all the many products. Now I wear the period panties because if I laugh or cough I p a little. LOL
I think part of it is how women themselves view their periods- we have to change the narrative. When I was 15 I decided that I would stop always complaining and viewing my period as annoying, and this allowed me to teach my younger brothers about it it in non “disgusting” light and rather help them understand and teach them to have compassion on a girl or their classmates when she’s on her period
Oh my gosh girl. If you haven't tried a disc yet, please do!!! Honestly you had an amazing first experience with your cup. It was ok for me, but I would overflow my cup and leak all the time. I found the disc to be more fool proof for me. They are bigger because they don't sit inside you in the same area a cup does. Also the disposable discs are basically the biggest discs out there.
A menstrual cup for me is period NIRVANA. Lighter, shorter, less uncomfortable periods and i can place and not have to think about anywhere from 4 to 12 hours. Yes please! I've been using them for about 5 years or so and my only regret is not starting sooner. It is a learning curve for sure, but give it a couple cycles to learn, practice and get to know your anatomy. Finding a good seal was my initial hurdle, but once i worked it out.... *chef's kiss* Put a Cup In It on Facebook and RU-vid are such a great resource to troubleshoot and fibd the right cup for you as well. Also love period panties.
Hi India 👋 could you talk about the menstrual cup removal and cleaning? Gross talk, but how messy is it really? Do you take it out with toilet paper? Do you have to empty it in the toilet? Dab it with tissues and then clean it in the sink? I'm also on birth control so I have very light periods, so I'm definitely ordering period panties TODAY, but wondered about the cup for those few heavier days.
You do not need to take out the cup with TP! I have been using one for years and how I take it out is I bare down like Im gonna have a bowel movement, the cup kind of sticks out, then I take two fingers and pinch the cup so it breaks the seal (You can hear it when it happens), then I pull it out the rest of the way, I empty the cup into the toilet. my sink at home is right next to my toilet so i rinse out the cup in there and then I reinsert. no toilet paper necessary! also, I have period panties, they are awesome!
@@ambermorton5030 that’s exactly how I do it too. I’ve noticed the number one question about period cups is usually “what if you’re in a public restroom where the sink is out in the open?” To that I say- you can leave the cup in for up to 12 hours. Most people aren’t away from their homes for more than 12 hours at a time. Empty it before you leave the house and then again when you get home. They make larger ones for heavier flows. I use the normal size one and I’ve never had it leak. You can also use a panty liner or the period panties with the cup for extra protection if you’re worried. And I’m pretty sure I’ve left mine in for more than 12 hours, gross, I know, but it’s not exactly the same as leaving a tampon in that long. It’s silicone so it doesn’t attract bacteria. The 12 hours is more so that it doesn’t overflow, but if it’s a lite day, I know it won’t leak. I think most women think they bleed more than they actually do. You see your period in a whole different way when using a cup. Most women see it soaked into a pad or tampon. It was pretty weird to see my period in liquid form sitting in a cup for the first time. I realized I don’t bleed as much as I’d thought.
I live in NY and I grew up using applicatorless tampons, it's totally easy and you're right having grown up with it it's second nature. Honestly the few times i've used applicators it's felt much more complicated than it needs to be LMAO
I was a tampon user for manyyyyy years and now I only wear period pants. I’ve only got the brand ModiBodi but they are fantastic!!Infact they even do swimwear! Yes the initial investment is pricey but now I never have to buy tampons or pads ever again! Game changer! Also, I’ve never had a leak, once you get over the fear it’s pretty “liberating”! Haha
Same feeling of liberation! I've used pads since I was 14, and switching to Modibodi has 100% changed my world. Never thought period panties could make me feel that way hahah
I agree, there's shouldn't be shame around periods. It's a natural, bodily function that biological women go through and we shouldn't feel ashamed or embarrassed. But I disagree with you when you say periods are not disgusting. Periods *are* disgusting. Period blood smells, it clumps, it stains your underwear if you're not careful, periods cause diarrhea, etc. Poop is disgusting too-- it's natural and normal but we don't try to make it "beautiful" or celebrate it so I don't understand why we feel the need to when it comes to periods. I'm all for sustainable products and encouraging women to use what works for them without shame or stigma. 🙌 But I still stand on the fact that periods are gross. 🤷♀️
I agree. I’m so glad I don’t have them anymore. But I always had horribly heavy periods and I wonder if period panties or cups would have held my flow.
Hahhh totally fair enough 🤣🤣🤣 I don’t know why but I’m not easily grossed out by anything. And I’ve never thought it was gross 😅 but just natural. But i totally get your point 🤣
I live in Sweden and we only have tampons without applicators. A tip is to tug the string before inserting it as you are then assured that it is stuck and the bottom flares out enough to push it in. Also it is ten times easier using your middle finger rather than your pinkie. It gives you a lot more control and allows you to reach far enough especially if you have a high cervix. Best wishes from Sweden xoxo
When I first arrived in Australia 10 years ago I kept looking for the plastic insert tampons.........no where to be found. I thought it was weird to put it in with my finger. Over the past 5 years or so I've used a cup. Never going back
I think that there's more shame over peri menopause and menopause. Just when you get used to things and are confident in who you are SUPRISE your body goes mental!
I so love you make videos like this! I am curious about the disk I asked my cousin for a tampon once and she gave me a disk and i just decided to take the risk that my liner and tampon I had in already was gonna work because the disk freaked me out.
I LOVE my (reusable) disc! I like it better than using a menstrual cup. I hated taking those things out because I could never release the suction easily. And yes, the size comparison between the disc and cup is intimidating, but I personally find its easier to put in….you don’t have to worry about getting in exactly the right place. Once it’s in, you don’t feel it at all! I def recommend you try it!!
I started out using all natural tampons with the cardboard type applicator when I first started using tampons and didn’t have any problems. I like them better then the plastic ones.
I used the disc for a short time and while it was nice because it can last longer than a tampon, it staying in and not leaking depends on the internal anatomy. The disc has to be able to sit on the pubic bone edge from the inside and some women have smaller “shelves” if you will on the inside. I had a very hard time getting it to stay put all day and not leak. They seem suitable for women who have larger pubic bones, but it’s always worth a shot! It has pretty nice benefits.
I only use the june cup and sometimes period underwear from thinx or victoria’s secret. The june cup is my favorite because there are 3 sizes suitable for everyone from teens to moms and people with heavy flows and they also offer firm cups great for exercising in
Im 30 and i still conceal my tampons 🙈 I’ve never really questioned why but it’s so dumb Lol I am planning on trying the Saalt Disc though! The fact that you can have sex (mess free) with it in sold me 👏🏼
I don’t get how you can have sex with it? Does it just push the blood back into you? It doesn’t look like the cup part of it has enough room for a penis lol I’m so confused by how that would work.
I used to use my menstrual cup and loved it but when I got an IUD I really struggled with my cup as it felt like the suction was pulling on it, so while it didn't pull it out it still felt like it moved it and caused really really horrible cramps so I switched to a reusable disc where they had different sizing options so it's pretty much same size as my cup but doesn't cause any cramps and I'm so happy with it!!
Maybe I am not remembering correctly, but isn't it in the Bible how a woman should not be touched during her bleeding time? The way I interpreted that is that a woman is "dirty" during that time, and would be the reason why the period is looked at as gross or embarrassing. (note: I don't believe that our periods are gross, they are pains but not gross)
Love that you talk about this. In South Africa we rarely get the tampon with the aplicator. I use tampons and menstrual cup. Looking for a softer menstrual cup than the one I have. Little story I was in high school and asked the male teacher can I go to the bathroom and he said no wait for break and I just told him we'll I need to replace my tampon, his face was blood red and let me go to the bathroom. ❤ u!!
I used the flex disc which are like the soft disk. They too are pretty big and I always found them a little uncomfortable. Then I switched to Lumma disc and they are amazing! I love it so much more. And they are much smaller than the flex disk and soft disk but still hold without leakage for me. Best switch. And auto dumping is nice as well when you go to the bathroom.
Go back to middle school to wave around a tampon 🤣 I never understood why a normal bodily function is something to be ashamed of. Id love a video of you testing out all kinds of different products!
Are women really still ashamed of it? I don’t really know any women who are embarrassed to talk about it these days. But we also don’t go flaunting our periods around just like we don’t go flaunting our other bodily functions like farts and diarrhea around lol
EXACTLY!!!! There is nothing wrong with having a period. As a 25 year old woman I even get nervous grabbing a tampon from my locker and carrying it to the bathroom at work. Like why tf should I be embarrassed about that?! I keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone n carrying it out in the open bc I don’t wanna teach and young girls or my daughter someday that she should be embarassed.
My pet peeve with cardboard applicators is that they get stuck sometimes and aren’t as smooth and easy of an insert. I still prefer them over no applicator tampons where it’s just me and the tampon being pushed up there as that gets bloody quickly lol
I really struggling with finding the right thing for me. I live in Norway, and the OB tampons is sold here and that type of tampons is the norm. Period panties sounds so much work in everyday life. I only wear skirts, so taking of the leggings and so on, with my bad hips and complicated body just puts me off. I uses crutches and have done it for soon to be five years. I also have poor vision, and it has gotten worse, so I struggle with the pads that is very absorbable, since you can’t see the the blood that well. The cheaper ones are just white, but are to short for my heavier days. I have also vaginismus after abuse, so sometimes a tampon doesn’t fit, even the smallest. I do try to use a tampon to help with it, but it depends on my mental health if I have the energy to it. The cup is not an option. So I end up with pads and some tampons, and make the best of it. Just need to make it as easy as possible for both my physical and mental health. I wish I could use the cup, that is really the best option, both for the pocket and the planet. Thank you for talking about it, and I have never seen a disk before, that is not common here in Norway. Love from Johanne, Norway 🇳🇴
I love a reusable tampon applicator to use the no applicator tampons. I don’t like a menstrual cups suction with my iud so the reusable applicator is a great alternative that Is really easy and more sustainable
What tampons do you recommend? I had to stop using them because i would get a UTI after every period? Sny idea why? I change them like im supposed to and never sleep in them idk.
I’d be interested to know how these work if you have dryness. That’s the only thing stopping me from making the switch. I’m worried it will be too uncomfortable to insert and get out.
When I first started my period I thought that like the tampon just set between your lips. I was like how does it stay? How can I get in the pool with this? My mom was like 👁👄👁
living in europe we use cardboard applicators and plastic ones, i personally find plastic more comfortable to insert but they are more expensive. the cardboard are very finicky
I got married when I was 27 and we’re almost a year in. I’ve never had to talk or mention anything about my period to a man ever. And I’m so embarrassed to talk about it. He’s not at all he’s so sweet and kind and caring. But I’m so embarrassed. Why?! Idk. Help. Lol 😂
Hey lady! I'm wondering if the disc (or anything plastic) inserted into your body might cause issues such as allergic reactions (or even do long term damage.) That could be very uncomfortable, eeeee, lol
Genuinely curious.... how the heck do you take out that cup without.... spilling? I'd be afraid of like pulling it, having it pop out and blood going everywhere?! I really want to try one though my cramps are debilitating on my period.
I take my cup out when sitting on the toilet, that way the contents can be tipped straight into the bowl. Ngl on my heaviest day some blood will get on my hand but I just clean up with toilet paper and wash my hands thoroughly before rinsing and reinserting the cup. I’ve heard some people can do it without spilling a drop but that’s something I’ve never managed after 4 years of using a cup 😅
Hiii question about period panties. Do you rinse them out in the sink or anything before putting them in the washing machine? And do you wash them separately from other clothing?
I use Thinx brand. I personally rinse one out as soon as i'm done with it. I have multiple pairs. Then at the end of my period I throw all of them into the wash just on their own together. Then I air dry them.
So I haven't had a period because of my birth control. But I have a 12 year old daughter who hasn't started yet, but pads kind of scare her. How do the period panties work? Does it get messy at all? Or I guess smear the blood instead of holding it? Is there a limit to how long you can wear them?
I have a few pairs of period underwear and its like a built in pad inside that is SUPER comfortable and it makes it so you don't bleed through your underwear. It can get messy only if you leave them on too long. there are different types, ones for light, regular and heavy days just like with pads. I have a few from Knix (I'm not really a fan of the material but they do work) that I use on my spotting/light days and they work great. I also use them for when Im working out just in case my bladder decides to cause issues.
@@ambermorton5030 how well do they absorb? Does it leave any thing on top of the pad? They seem pretty ideal for my daughter. She's really uncomfortable with the idea of pads. So I want her to feel comfortable but not be freaked out by blood sitting on top like a pad.
@@ambermorton5030 do you just throw them in the wash after or do you rinse them out first then launder them? Seems weird to just throw a blood soaked pair of underwear in the wash with all your other clothes. I’m imagining it like throwing a heavily blood soaked pad in the wash lol I guess I just don’t really get the period panties. I don’t ever use pads because I hate the feeling of blood leaking out of me (I love the cup) so it sounds so weird to me to put on a pair of panties that you intend to menstruate into, I’ve spent my life trying to avoid that lol
Actually I never used a menstrual cup nor a tampon, and I'm a little bit scared 😅 , I don't know if it hurts and what to expect... , I use pads instead, which one is more comfortable? Should I try tampon and menstrual cup?
Tampons are easier to use because they dont go up so far and they have a string for easy removal. I cant get a hang of cups, but that's just me. Just know that if either a tampon or a cup hurts when it's inserted, you've done something wrong, so pull it out and try again or readjust until you dont feel it anymore.
It does not hurt. Pads are definitely the least comfortable, to me. They’re big and bulky, I haven’t used a pad in 2 decades. For me, the cup is the most comfortable with no leaking. Even when I used to use tampons, I hated how they got all soaked and soggy at the bottom and leaked, altho I’d still chose them over a pad. The cup is amazing, you should try it. You know when you’re wearing a pad and you can feel the blood leaking out of you? Yeah, I HATE that feeling. You can’t feel it at all with the cup, it just leaks right into the cup, you don’t feel anything. And with the cup, I could sleep naked and not have any worries, it’s life changing. And it’ll save you a lot of money. I haven’t bought a tampon in 7 years and I’ve been using the same reusable cup for that same amount of time and it still looks brand new. All you need is one. Clean it after every period by hand washing it with antibacterial soap, then soaking it in water and hydrogen peroxide. They are made out of silicone so they don’t attract bacteria, but I still like to sanitize it anyway.
