Review: Softcup Feminine Hygiene Product

[TeacherSmurf]

Feminine hygiene products are an often overlooked item.  To be honest, we tend to not want to think about it, when we are not having our periods.  However, I figure with everything else that could go wrong, that would be when I start.  With that in mind we have packed sanitary pads.
 
One bag lasts about one period for me.  This means a lot of storage room taken up for once a month.  So, we started to look for an alternative and found a product called Softcup.



The good: It is small.  The plastic envelope is about the size of one thin pad, but the reusable one can be reused for the entire period.  They can stay in for up to 12 hours.  You can't feel it in you.  I have a heavy flow and after I learned to position it correctly, I have had no problems.  Considering that one lasts the entire period, the cost of the reusable Softcup is pretty close to my normal sanitary pads cost.

The bad: It takes awhile to get used to using, and to put in correctly.  I used it and a pad for a little while to make sure there were no "accidents."  You need to be in a seated position to insert and remove it.  There also needs to be a source of water nearby (if you are using the reusable one) to rinse it out.  Public bathrooms won't work unless you are using the disposable type (of course, you can just leave it in until later).

The ugly: It is really gross to remove.  You defiantly want water nearby to wash the Softcup and your hands.  Ick. 

Overall: I will pack a bunch of these in my survival kits, along with one bag of pads.  I'll pack the pads for the first day(s) to make sure I have it in correctly, as well for someone else in the family.  I'm not sure I would use the softcup every month in everyday life, but I can defiantly see advantages to using and storing them over pads or tampons for WTSHTF.

Just thought I would share what I found.    

 

[Sarah C.]

Thanks for sharing this. I had heard of these, but did not really know much about them. I think they are a great addition to a survival bag, but I will keep using other methods until I absolutely need to use them!

[TeacherSmurf]

Thanks for sharing this. I had heard of these, but did not really know much about them. I think they are a great addition to a survival bag, but I will keep using other methods until I absolutely need to use them!

True, and I agree, but they are defiantly something you need to practice using before an emergency situation.

[Victor Leigh]

I think when the SHTF, there wouldn't be much room for niceties like sanitary pads. Who really cares if there's blood on your thighs, when you have bloody wounds all over the rest of your body. Anyway, I think the women in the villages have the right idea. They just use a towel. Strap it on with a belt and they are good for many hours. Cheap and re-usable, too.

[TeacherSmurf]

I think when the SHTF, there wouldn't be much room for niceties like sanitary pads. Who really cares if there's blood on your thighs, when you have bloody wounds all over the rest of your body. Anyway, I think the women in the villages have the right idea. They just use a towel. Strap it on with a belt and they are good for many hours. Cheap and re-usable, too.

That is my point Victor. 

Half a years worth of these products take up less space than a kitchen towel, it lasts more than a couple hours per wearing, it can be washed and immediately reused (unlike a towel), and you won't be bleeding all over the place attracting wild animals. 

Remember, not all emergencies require loosing civility as well. 

[Rivet]

Not to get too graphic, but I understand it, not addressing feminine hygiene can lead to all kinds of infections and issues.

[itsybitsy]

Not to get too graphic, but I understand it, not addressing feminine hygiene can lead to all kinds of infections and issues.

Precisely, Rivet.

And why someone would advocate that women SHOULDN'T address it is beyond my comprehension!

[Victor Leigh]

That is my point Victor. 

Half a years worth of these products take up less space than a kitchen towel, it lasts more than a couple hours per wearing, it can be washed and immediately reused (unlike a towel), and you won't be bleeding all over the place attracting wild animals. 

Remember, not all emergencies require loosing civility as well. 

I see the economics and efficiency of using this new device then. btw can this thing do double duty as a contraceptive device? It kind of looks like a diaphragm to me.

[Rivet]

I see the economics and efficiency of using this new device then. btw can this thing do double duty as a contraceptive device? It kind of looks like a diaphragm to me.

Doesn't appear to be so.

[TeacherSmurf]

http://www.softcup.com/faqs[/url]] Can I have intercourse with reusable Softcup?

Yes, you can have clean, comfortable sex while wearing reusable Softcup. Softcup is not a contraceptive and does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

[Victor Leigh]

A dirty thought just crossed my dirty mind. Does wearing one of these mean that a woman can have sex during her menstrual periods?

[TeacherSmurf]

A dirty thought just crossed my dirty mind. Does wearing one of these mean that a woman can have sex during her menstrual periods?

  Yep

http://www.softcup.com/faqs[/url]]Yes, you can have clean, comfortable sex with the Softcup in place. Although individual experience may vary, most likely neither you nor your partner will feel the Softcup. To help avoid leakage on heavy flow days, we recommend inserting a new Softcup before intercourse.

[Victor Leigh]

In that case, I can see this product taking off. Off-hand I can think of many professional ladies who might find it very convenient for work.

[TeacherSmurf]

Okay, so I have been using these for awhile now, both the reusable (one cup per period) and non-reusable (two cups per day).

I am going to stock up on these for survival purposes, but I will also pack a box of pantyliners to catch the little that comes out when you are changing them.  Space wise, this means a years worth of protection vs about three months worth of pads.  You definitely need to practice using them before an emergency though. 

*Hint* If you use the non-reusable cups, keep a box of plastic ziplocks with them to put them in once it is removed.

[Jessi]

The ugly: It is really gross to remove.  You defiantly want water nearby to wash the Softcup and your hands.  Ick. 

This part gets better with time. Once you get the hang of it, there's not nearly as much mess. You still want some water, of course, because you should be washing your hands and the cup, but it shouldn't be anything major. In a pinch, a baby wipe can do the trick just fine, too.