I bought a box of them a couple of years ago, intending to give them a try one month when I could be at home all day "just in case". The box is still unopened and gathering dust.

They say you can have sex while using one...

I think it would just be messy all around.

Ive seen them and been tempted to try...but the whole concept seems tooo messy!!

Not putting it in..but taking it out!!

The idea of being able to use it at "special times" is interesting...
but one week of "rest" hasn't killed anyone I know! LOL

God had one day of rest, beautiful women need 4 or so :)

Actually, OB are pretty good. They don't leak as much as Tampax does.

Do you mean "Natracare"?
I have, but they're expensive (they are considered to be more environmentally friendly or something.... well, the power of the dollar won out and I'm back to the cheaper, mass produced brands).

Words from the Women's Health Nut...
 

Yes, I meant "Natracare," I can never remember how to spell it. I love them! Where I get them, they were about 26 cents each, and since I don't use that many (one box of ten gets me through two and a half cycles), I'm willing to splurge for environmental friendliness. The cotton is chlorine-free, which is good because the chlorine in mainstream tampons isn't good for women's bodies. Remember, our mothers were the first generation to use tampons on a regular basis, so the full impact of them on our bodies isn't known yet.

Once you go applicator-free, you never go back! Back to the environmental thing--applicators are just wasteful. OB and Natracare have designs that make them expand wider when they are exposed to moisture--preventing leaks, while Tampax just gets longer. I've never gotten messy using an applicator-free tampon, and since I'm used to them now, they're easier than using a traditional one.

Wasn't a similar product on the market years ago, but taken off because of Toxic Shock Syndrome?

I don't know if any of y'all have ever used a diaphragm, but it's the same concept. And just as messy during "that time". blech.

Re: Words from the Women's Health Nut...
 

I went back. I'm a convert to the new Tampax Pearl.
Haven't had any leaks or anything ::knocks on wood::

Since we're on a female topic anyway...i asked my doc about the whole skipping a month w/the pill, and she said that there is going to be a new pill comming out end of this year/begin next where you would only have to get your period 4 times a year. apparently, the male creators of the orginal pill thought that women wouldn't feel natural without getting it once a month.
figures they would think this-THEY WERE MALES!!!
any thoughts on that? personally, i can't wait!!

You can put me down on the list for being first in line to try that new pill. I REALLY wanted to try Depo this last time around (after my last yearly), but the Dr. completely scared me out of it..... Between all of the horror stories and possible weight gain issues, I left completely discouraged at trying it. I was really disappointed, because it seemed like such a great concept. So, hopefully this new pill will have at least some of the convenience that Depo offers (few to no periods) without the nasty side-effects. :)

Yeah I think that pill is called Seasonal. Or something similar to that.


Courtney

OMG that's hilarious.. that's what I was thinking too!!!

http://www.softcup.com/images2/hand.jpg

This looks so wrong...

..why does it have to look like a bottle nipple?

PS: I don't really trust this one either..but it'd probably be nice if you have really light periods though.

That just seems wrong. Gross mental picture of spilling blood!

Slightly on the subject...

Does anyone have chronic migraines and is on the pill? I have been told that they can make them stronger and more frequent.

Oh man here's a Random Story....

So go back about two years and I am sitting in a Chapter meeting; our Archon (President) has an annoucenment she wants to share with us. (I think no big thing right...) well, she jumps up and starts passing out pamplets of "Instead". (she is a little random at times but I kept thinking OMG!)

Not only did she starts swearing by the product she busted out with one in a zipped-lock bag. the gross deal was it was hers!!! (it was clean of course)Well the 40 or so of us aren't always the most mature at times and we were dying of laughter after that...

Lets just say she shouldn't go into sales for the company :)


(I could never use it; too gross because I am definitely not coordinated enough. I'd spill for sure)

I have used instead since fall and love them, they are the best things ever i swear by them !!!

I LOVE Instead! I switched to them for lots of reasons, and I tried switching back to OB after a few months-- I HATED it! I could totally feel it inside of me and it felt gross. Instead are great. You can leave them in longer, fool around with them in (no, it's not messy at all), and there's no string hanging out. You can't feel them if they're in properly. Seriously, it's like you don't have your period at all! You only have to deal with them twice a day. Taking them out can be a little messy the first couple of times until you get the hang of it, but we all wash our hands after going to the bathroom anyway, right?