Consider yourself warned:
This post is all about my period, and running, and running with my
period, as well as playing rugby, going to work, and attending fun social
gatherings, all with my period. If you are a woman and you are active, you want
to read ahead. Men, it’s your choice!
A while back I was given the opportunity to review the Instead Softcup and I jumped at it! I’m being compensated for this review with
free products and one race reimbursement (up to $125). But the opinions are 100% all mine. And this is my first time reviewing a product
so bear with me!
Why am I excited?
Well, I’ve been half-assedly (I’m sure that’s a word) attempting to be
more environmentally conscious. I asked
my “resident environment expert” (ie, a friend in grad school for environmental
studies) what would be better for the environment than non-applicator tampons? She mentioned this cup idea which at first I
thought was a little too environmentally conscious for me. So I said thanks for the info and moved
on. But I’ve always been a little
curious…. And really, what woman passes up a product that can make being active
with your period easier? So, curiosity
got the best of me.
You want me to put that where?
You want me to put that where?
www.softcup.com
Talk about getting in touch with yourself! Tampons were hard enough! Now you want me to properly situate this device in my hoo-ha? You’ve got to be kidding me!! But alas, the directions were perfect! The key for me, just like the directions state, was to be seated (toilet) and while placing the cup in, focus on going “down and back”. Whoa, whoa, whoa… Was that too fast? Let’s slow it down.
Where? What?
The Softcup is inserted internally and sits around the cervix. It collects, rather than absorbs. There are no strings dangling about. You can safely wear the Softcup for up to 12
hours (dependent on flow of course). I
found it helpful to be familiar with kegel exercises for both proper placement
and removal. (Every woman should become
familiar with kegels if they aren’t already.)
Insertion is similar to other ring shaped contraceptive devices. I have experimented with the Softcup for over
6 months. It has definitely taken me
some time to get comfortable with placement.
But after the first few cycles, I feel like I have a good idea of good
placement vs. bad.
The Ebb and Flow…
I was ecstatic the first day I got my period after receiving my samples
of Softcup to try. Typically, I start
light and build up to one, maybe two, heavy flow days and then it trickles down
over the next 3-4. I was ready to put
Softcup to the test!
Light days- I give this
product 5/5 stars for light days!! I
absolutely LOVE it!! There’s no need to
change it every time I use the bathroom and one cup lasted me a full work day
(8-10 hours) plus a few hours into the evening.
Typically, I would come home, shower, insert a new one and be good for
most of the next day. I admit to abusing
the 12 hour rule and going well over that at least once every cycle. I experienced no ill side effects! There are some stats on the Softcup website about numbers sold and TSS
(Toxic Shock Syndrome). I’ll just say
that the risk is less than nominal with Softcup. (Knock on wood, but I’ve never had issues
with TSS and I’ve left a tampon in for longer than advised as well.)
And I have never leaked on light days!
Running on light days has also been successful. Although I can’t really pinpoint any
differences between tampons and Softcup when running, I definitely appreciate
the Softcup for swimming and triathlons.
It was super easy to handle pit stops before a race as well as no discomfort
for biking and no soggy wet string to cause irritation when running! I also had no issues while playing a dynamic
sport such as rugby. The Softcup felt
great because I didn’t feel it at all!
Heavy days- This is where
the Softcup and I start to have some issues and I give 3.75/5 stars (4 is too
many, 3.5 not enough). I have one really
heavy flow day. As much as I LOVE the
Softcup, I definitely notice some leaking on my heavy days. HOWEVER, the info packet that comes with the
product does let you know to expect some leaking when you are using the
bathroom based on the muscles being used to evacuate said waste. I’ve been experimenting with Softcup for 6+
months (have purchased two more boxes on my own). I’ve noticed that, just like with tampons, on
my heavy days I need to be more cognizant of changing my product
frequently. When I change frequently,
the leaking is minimal and yes, only when I’m using the bathroom. (More frequently = 2 cups in one day. For the
most part, one gets me through the day.)
Speaking of using the bathroom…
One of my favorite features about the Softcup is that you can leave it
in regardless of #1 or #2 in the bathroom.
That’s right! It’s internal so it
isn’t affected by either method of waste removal! I drink A LOT of coffee so I pee A LOT. It’s uncomfortable to have to change a tampon
5 times a day on a light day. Softcup
gets 4.5/5 stars for bathroom use losing half a star for messiness on heavy
days!
BLOOD! Not for the squeamish…
If just the mention of blood makes you feel ill, then the Softcup isn’t
for you. But as a woman, if blood makes
you squeamish, I HAVE to know how you handle your monthly. Blood doesn’t bother me. But changing my Softcup on a heavy flow day
kinda does. It’s messy. I’ve worked out some different techniques to
minimize mess (grabbing under the lip of the cup rather than over). My go-to method of changing/removal on heavy
days is to use a rubber (latex, like the doctor uses, not rubber, like for
dishes) glove. I totally stole that idea
from another woman and highly encourage you to steal it from me! It drastically and dramatically decreases the
mess factor. At home, the mess factor
isn’t so bad to deal with but if you find yourself in a public restroom, the
mess factor is SERIOUS business. A latex
(or non-latex) glove is the answer.
Using a gloved hand, pull out the full cup. Using the non-gloved hand, wrap the full cup
in the glove for easy disposal. (Just
take the glove off so it ends up inside out, with the mess contained inside… or
outside… but inside… Get it?) The latex
glove has saved me some rather icky situations in the bathroom stall.
My first Softcup race…
The key for anyone trying this product for the first time is to
practice on training days. Just like any
new product, don’t test it on race day.
Oooops…
Biggest mistake of my life was trying this product at a Ragnar Relay in
May. (Ragnar Relay is a 24-36 hour, 200
mile, overnight relay race.) Trying to
navigate the Softcup in a Porta-John, with only a head lamp for light, was not
easy. It was 1 o’clock in the morning
and I was running with people I met only hours earlier. Explaining to them why I might need to
randomly stop at McDonald’s in the middle of the night just didn’t seem
possible. So I dealt with heavy leakage
and I was thankful that I could change my clothes often. I had no idea how to dispose of my full cup
and I regrettably admit that it fell into the abyss of the Porta John
tank.
The Environmental Issue…
Like I mentioned earlier, I was also looking to do my part to help the
environment. My only complaint about the
Instead Softcup is that is still produces waste that ends up in a
landfill. I was hoping for a reusable
cup that wouldn’t get tossed at the end of the day. But alas, there is such a product! I haven’t tried the Resuable Softcup
yet, but it is my next adventure! In the
meantime, I read a suggestion, albeit kinda gross, that mentions rinsing the
Softcup and reinserting. I have tried
this in a pinch and it works but in my experience a wet Softcup is more
susceptible to leaking.
“V” for Victory…
Overall, the product gets two thumbs up from this runner, triathlete,
rugby player, full time employee, and even the lazy slacker in me. I’m glad I gave it several menstrual cycles
to prove its worthiness and for me to get accustomed to using it. On my light days, I don’t know I have my
period. On my heavy days, I’m not forced
to skip a work out. It’s easy to use and
more environmentally friendly than the alternatives. The only negative would be the occasional
leakage. The positives far outweigh the
one negative in my opinion.
