Monday, June 16, 2014

FemmyCycle Review

"Say goodbye to pads and tampons!

The FemmyCycle is an innovative menstrual cup that is safe, cost effective, and most important, minimizes the mess and leakage associated with almost all other feminine sanitary products. The FemmyCycle ® is ideal for active or athletic women."

The above was copied and pasted from FemmyCycle's website. :)

You may or may not know that I switched to RUMPs (reusable menstrual products) and no longer use disposable tampons and pads for my periods. It has been as wonderful as periods can be and loads better than using disposables. If you are having a response of "ewww" or "ick" or "that's gross" right about now, I totally get it, but keep reading. At the end of this blog I have placed some links to some blogs addressing those very things and maybe they'll change your outlook. If nothing else, I hope I will at least get you thinking about how you can help the planet's pollution problem.

My first try with a menstrual cup was the Diva size 2. There was a learning curve, but once I was inserting it right, I knew I wanted to keep using a cup, but I was getting cramps from the firmness of the Diva cup. I went to my FB RUMPs group and asked them what they recommended and kept hearing about the Sckoon cup. I bought my Sckoon cup and let me just say-I LOVE IT so much I bought a second one. I cannot ever feel it while it's in, and it pops open much easier than the Diva. It is more flexible and softer than the Diva. As long as I empty it often enough, it does not leak. It fits very well and I can tell very easily that I have it in correctly over my cervix. I have been using my Sckoon for several months now.

I love using a cup so much, and I am even excited about my homemade cloth liners! I got so excited I wanted to spread the word about RUMPs so I wrote to some companies asking for stickers/pamphlets and such to leave in restrooms. One of the companies I wrote to was FemmyCycle. FemmyCycle was so awesome, they sent me pamphlets and even asked me to try a sample and give a review for their menstrual cup. Within a week I had a FemmyCycle to try.

My thoughts on the FemmyCycle are mixed. I got the regular FemmyCycle cup. They do have a low cervix option available. I must say, this cup does not leak IF PLACED CORRECTLY. However, I have been having a lot of difficulty getting it to unfold completely and therefore have had a few issues with leaking. If I understand correctly, the FemmyCycle is designed not to open all the way. I think it is confusing because even though it does not have to open completely, it does have to unfold completely in order for it not to leak. I have trouble getting it to unfold and also knowing if it is unfolded because it is so large. This part is a little bit frustrating but I haven't had horrible messes or anything, so it's still catching most of what it is supposed to even if it's still a little folded. I also have experienced minor cramps from the firmness and how large it is. I have only used it for 2 cycles, and some cups can take several cycles to learn. I obviously need a little more practice with this cup since its shape is different than the Sckoon and Diva cups and I need to get familiar with how it feels when it's open AND unfolded like it should be. I do like it for my heavy day even if I have to put up with cramping as I don't have to empty the FemmyCycle as much due to it's larger capacity. I have to empty my Sckoon about every 4 to 5 hours on my heavy day and work bathrooms are not the most ideal for rinsing out a menstrual cup. With the FemmyCycle I can go my whole work day and not have to empty it until I get home. On light days, I use my Sckoon and empty it every 8 to 12 hours.


At the end of my cycles I boil my cups and put them away. I keep one in my purse and one in my bathroom. Less waste, less time AND money spent on my periods, and more freedom during activities like swimming and playing sports. I never feel like my cup is going to fall out, nor has it done so. I have had tampons fall out before or at least feel like they're going to fall out and that is not a pleasant feeling. I never liked using tampons and I never liked the waste caused by using pads/tampons. This solves many of my period problems, and is healthier for my body. What's not to like?


Still think it's gross? Read the following blogs addressing the "ick factor."
http://paleomovement.com/ladies-menstrual-cup-can-change-life-least-period/
http://www.mommygreenest.com/why-i-heart-my-menstrual-cup/
http://lunapads.com/blog/2010/09/cloth-pads-gross/
http://www.overthrowmartha.com/2014/05/menstrual-cups.html