BUT IT'S SO BIG!!!

Hi all!  Today I am coming at you with a post about the size of cups!  Now, I want to say that I meant to post a picture of a good size comparison, but got stuck not posting that picture... because... I lost misplaced my Lena cup.  Which I just got this week.  #Jennskills.  ANYWAY!  So, pretty much whenever people (especially virgins, or those a bit unfamiliar with the nether regions) hear about cups for the first time, or when they see one, they ask, "How will it EVER fit?!?  Won't it hurt like hades to put in and take out!?!  BUT IT'S SO BIG!!!" 

The answer is simple.  No.  

It will not hurt.  It may be slightly *uncomfortable* but you will get the hang of it and it will be easy.  

It fits, because as all of us (hopefully!!!) know, the vagina is a muscle and not some other organ.  That is why it miraculously accommodates a baby during birth and can still contract for sex, and generally because no one wants to walk around with a birthing sized vagina! (Amen?!) That is why women practice kegels, and why women with weaker pelvic floors suffer from leaking when sneezing and the like.   This leads me to the idea that besides the "G-spot" the vagina is actually pretty numb (THANKFULLY- wouldn't kids be painful?  Let's all go hug our moms, okay?).  If the vagina itself has low pain receptors, than the cup will not hurt once in (JUST LIKE TAMPONS).  It folds down in many different folds to be small enough to fit easily inside the vagina.  The only part that is initially uncomfortable is learning how to insert and remove, which is even harder if you're nervous.

SO!  My suggestion to you (if size is the only thing holding you back) is:

Take the leap!

Grab your cup, 20 minutes of free time, maybe a bit of water based lube (although I've never had to go this far.  You can also use a minimal amount of coconut oil), and a cup of tea.  Relax relax relax.  Say a prayer or a few "Om's."  Lock the bathroom door.  Watch a few different folding videos.  Do your best.  If it doesn't work on the "dry run" it may actually work on your period, because your anatomy (cervix mostly) changes during your cycle.  

And that concludes what I have to say about the issue of size.  Sure it is slightly bigger than a tampon, but there are far more benefits to using cups than not.  Pictures will be up ASA I find my Lena cup.  (Lena Small is tiny! : )  

Next post: The Learning Curve!

Comment below if you are scared of using cups, what is holding you back?

Much love,
Jenn

How to Find Your Goldilocks Cup

Finding your “goldilocks cup” or perfect cup can be tricky, especially for beginner cup users.  It can be an expensive task if you want to try different cups and wasteful.  I have put together a few different tips in different categories for those who wish to more easily find their perfect cup.  Keep reading and please share if you found this helpful : )

Cervix height (Vagina length)

How “long” your vagina is isn’t really the right terminology; your anatomy is actually based more on how high your cervix is, although the length of your vagina is often how it is referred to.  If you have a “long” vagina (high cervix) many cups will work fine for you!  A few lengthier cups include Luv Ur Body, Lunette (size 2), Diva cup, Lily Cup and more.  If you have a low cervix, some cups to consider are: FemmyCycle low cervix, MeLuna Shorty cups, Lena and many others.

Firmness

The firmness of lack thereof of the cup of your choice will depend on what you find easy to insert and remove, how strong your pelvic floor muscles are, and how new you are to cups.  If you find it painful to take out a cup, you may want to opt for a softer cup.  If your pelvic floor muscles are very strong, you may want to opt for a softer cup but you should be fine with most cups.  If you have a weak pelvic floor, you will want to look for a firmer cup.  If you are a newbie at menstrual cups, you will want a cup that is not necessarily firmer, but maybe has an easy ability to “pop” open once inserted.  A few firm cups include, MeLuna Sport, Yuuki, Lunette size 2 (my MOST firm cup).  Some softer cups would be Anigan, Diva, MeLuna soft.

Material

Menstrual cups typically come in silicone varieties but some cups, such as MeLuna are made from TPE or Thermoplastic Elastomer.  The keeper cup is made from Rubber.  This choice could be made just out of preference, or medical reasons.  You might be allergic to one material but not the other.  All materials utilized by cup companies are safe to be used for menstruation.

Size – diameter

This will be dependent on comfortability with your vagina, sexual activity, and whether or not you’ve given birth.  Some use larger diameter cups as virgins with no difficulty but it would be better to be careful and simply consider diameter in your choosing of your cup. 

Size – capacity

This will be more dependent on your flow.  If you have heavy flow, ignore the diameter guide and opt for a larger cup.  If you have light flow, you can try to weigh whether using a smaller or larger size cup will be right for you.

Level of Menstrual Cup Experience

If you are new to using a menstrual cup, a cup with more pronounced grip rings, larger suction release holes (easier for cleaning), more pronounced or stretchy stem would be good for you!  If you are an old pro and comfortable with your anatomy then you should have no problem using a cup with lesser pronounced grip ring, etc.  A cup for a beginner with the above features might be Lunette, Fleur, Yuuki, Skoon while a cup for an experienced cupper would maybe be the Bella cup or Femmycycle.

Ethics

This is somewhat one sided, and most cups are made responsibly, but companies such as Ruby cup have a get one give one type thing where you buy your cup and they give a cup to girls in Africa to help girls stay in school.  When buying a cup, if this is important to you, you might want to buy a cup from Ruby cup or look into other ethical cup choices.

Price

There may be a quality discrepancy but you can get a cup from eBay for $3.  You can also purchase a JuJu or Diva cup for around $40.  I don’t suggest starting with the eBay cup but if you’re willing to not be dismayed it could be a great choice for you!  More expensive cups are put through higher standards of quality inspection.  You can make your own judgement call.  If you want to get a cheaper cup, there are also B/S/T (Buy Sell Trade) groups on Facebook for menstrual cups and MC_Sales at LiveJournal if you don’t have a problem boiling or sterilizing a used cup.  You can usually find a cup on these sites for $15.

Color and Texture

This is simply preference based but there are different companies that make different colors available and different cup companies have different textures of silicone.  Search around to see what you think you’ll like : )

I think this wraps it up!  I am always at your beck and call if you need any help picking out a menstrual cup, please just comment below or email me crazyjennjennmenstrual@gmail.com!

Thanks for a visit : )

JuJu Cup Review! 10% off JuJu Menstrual Cup coupon code.

Hi All!

I am back with a JuJu Cup review!  I have been busy and my skipped a few cycles but here I am with my review of the JuJu cup!  The JuJu cup is from Australia, now sold in the US.  Their company is very much for the environment which I love.  They were kind enough to send this cup to me to review for free, but that does not change my opinion of this cup.  The company was very easy to work with, and cares a lot about women.

Inside the package sent to me was a letter, with benefits of JuJu and "Why choose JuJu":

Health Benefits-

• JuJu can be worn for twice as long as you would normally wear a pad or tampon and can be worn for up to 12 hours.
• JuJu can be worn before your start your period so you won't be caught off-guard
• JuJu is easy to clean and disinfect.
• JuJu has no strings, no wings and no leaks thus making it perfect for women with an active lifestyle who enjoy sports such as running, swimming, and yoga.
• JuJu is safe - it does not contain any harmful substances such as chlorine (used for bleaching some tampons and pads) or fragrances.  Further, there has been no association of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) with menstrual cups.
• JuJu is hypoallergenic - suitable for women with sensitive skin, dermatitis or allergies.
• JuJu does not contain any absorption agents and hence will not cause vaginal dryness.
• JuJu can be worn by women with a retroverted uterus and heavy flow.

Cost and Convenience Benefits-

• With proper care a JuJu can last many years, saving women on average $90 per year.
• No more running out or having to stock up on tampons and pads.
• JuJu is great for women who travel as it is easy to pack and you don't have to worry about availability or where you will dispose of the waste.

Environmental Benefit-

• By switching to JuJu a woman will save our waterways and landfills from the disposal of an estimated 10,000 feminine hygiene products over her lifetime.

Why choose JuJu:

     The key points of difference between JuJu and other cups on the market are;

• Quality: JuJu is manufactured from a high quality medical-grade silicone.  JuJu is hypoallergenic and free from additives such as dyes used for colouring.  Many other cups on the market are made from TPE, latex or non-medical grade silicone.  The silicone we use carries independent certificates of compliance for biocompatibility and toxicity and we manufacture in a 'clean-room' environment to strict International Organization for Standardization standards so you can be sure you will be buying a quality product.
• Regulatory requirements: JuJu is registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia (TGA), ensuring our cup meets quality standards set out by the Australian government.  We have met all FDA obligations to sell in the U.S.
• Australian made and owned: JuJu is the only Australian made menstrual cup.  We have chosen to manufacture JuJu in Australia as opposed to cheaper off-shore alternatives to ensure a high level of quality and to support Australian jobs.
• Environmentally friendly: JuJu cares about the environment.  Our packaging is made from recycled, carbon neutral paper and we use low-impact silicone moulding methods.
• Ergonomic design: JuJu was designed in consultation with leading ergonomists and gynecologists to ensure it is comfortable and easy to clean.
• Award winning product: In October 2013 JuJu won Green Lifestyle Magazines Wellbeing Product of the Year.  In 2014 we were finalists for the Telstra Australian Business Awards.

_________________________________________________________________________________

The benefits above are fairly all encompassing to menstrual cups, but JuJu really is a great company.  The cup will run you $38.18 USD (no including shipping), but at the end of the review I will have the coupon code for 10% off, bringing the cost down to $34.36.  This cup is really a great deal!  The company's website is also very well done.  

The cup came very quickly and has lovely, fun packaging.  

Outside of packaging shows model # (size) info about cup, capacity, etc, contents, etc.

Inside of packaging: -Healthier for your planet: Most women have about 450 menstrual cycles in their lifetime and use 10,000 disposable tampons or pads which go into our landfills and pollute our waterways.- -Healthier for you: No strings, no wings, no chemicals, no bleaches, no fibres or absorbency enhancers.- -100% Recycled paper packaging. Reduces your environmental footprint. Cruelty free. Australian made and owned.- -Healthier for your purse: Women spend about $4000 on disposable feminine hygiene products in their lifetime. JuJu is a one-off purchase that lasts for many years with proper care.- -The Meaning of JuJu: The word juju travels back to West Africa rituals of magic and power. Juju is believed to cure ailments of mind and body and can be increased with selfless acts and good deeds. Every one of us has the ability to use our energy, our juju, to heal our surroundings and ourselves.   Cherish every day, love with all your heart, be kind, live passionately, and inspire the world around you with JuJu.-

I love the company but that aside, I really love the product!

They generously sent me 3 (yes, 3!) of their lovely silk pouches available when you buy the cup.  All of the colors (navy, green, and magenta) are beautiful.  The cup is a good size!  I asked for a size 2, which is the larger of the 2 sizes, since I have heavy flow.  The grip "rings" are non traditional for menstrual cups; the grip "rings" are actually butterflies.  I think it is a lovely touch, but almost a design flaw, as it would be hard to retrieve from the vagina upon removal to someone new to menstrual cups.  The stem is great in the aspect of it stretching a great length when you need to pull the cup out (which is great if you have a longer vaginal canal) but also hard because again, no grip rings which makes it slippery and maybe harder for an inexperienced cup user.  The suction holes are really good as far as size and placement.  The silicone reminds me of the Yuuki silicone.  The cup is slightly softer than the Bella cup, but firmer than the Diva cup.  That being said, it pops open very easily!  The cup is offered in 2 sizes: 1- small and 2- large.  The small holds 20 ml and the large holds 30 ml.

This is the JuJu (right) next to the Bella (left).  They are often remarked as very comparable cups based on size, shape, silicone, stem, etc.  I would agree with that, but notice slight differences.  The JuJu is a "shiny" silicone and the Bella is a more "peachy" finish cup.  The Bella is also longer, the JuJu might be better for women with a "shorter" vaginal canal.  The rim is also more pronounced on the JuJu than the Bella, but I would say it's a fairly standard rim for cups.

Here is a better look, from above...

Here is the JuJu between a size 2 Lunette (left) and size 1 Diva (right).  The JuJu is a bit (seriously- just a tad) smaller than most of my size 2 cups without sacrificing much capacity.  This makes it a great option for those who might want a cup slightly smaller than the large sizes but who still have heavy flow.  The firmness is also somewhere between these cups, so I thought it made for a good comparison.

<The JuJu company also sent me some wonderful pamphlets to share about menstrual cups!  They're really great!  I decided to copy a few more slightly smaller in size to leave in bathrooms.  Love their care to spread menstrual products.







Over all I give the company a 4/5.  The company (it's ethics, customer care, values) is definitely 5/5.  The packaging and shipping speed is 5/5.  The quality of the cup is 5/5.  The price point is pretty good, 4/5 (it's not a "steal" in the cup world, but not crazy).  The ease of use for an *inexperienced* cup user is probably a 2.5/5.  I would give it a 3.5/5 for an experienced cup user, I have minimal trouble with it (it's just not the easiest cup to use, for me) but for a beginner cup user it could be frustrating.  If you are a cup user looking for your goldilocks cup, this really could be it!

Also, a disclaimer to the Reusable Menstrual Products world, every woman has different luck with different cups.  This really is just how it works for my body and my needs.  Every woman's anatomy, cup experience, patience, and flow are different.

SO!  Now that I have hopefully convinced you to go get one, here is the 10% off coupon code!  CPNTAF100199

Thank you so much for reading!  More reviews to come!  Feel free to ask any questions below.

Much love,
Jenn