Grace's Entry into the Softcup Fan Club

My sister first purchased these from a drug store going out of business sale. I doubt that any of her bargain finds have ever or will ever give me as much pleasure and satisfaction. I am an over the road truck driver and it is often impossible to get to a ladies room. The Instead cup lasted me an entire trip (10 hrs driving!). I will never wear another tampon again. Even in my most controlled times at home I could count on leaking through a tampon. Tampons become uncomortable when full. I flow very heavy and thought the O.B. Ultra was as good as it could get for me; pads are totally out of the question for me. I forget this is in place. When it was time to replenish my Instead supply I had to go into 5 different stores before I found them (fortunately, it was a planning ahead purchase) I refused to buy tampons. The makers deserve a Nobel Prize!

ALL2BLESSED, thanks so much for your personal story. It's for women like yourself that Softcup really fulfills a need where tampons fall short. I'm so happy that Softcup meets your needs during that time of the month. I'd love to feature your story to share with our readers and online community. Would you be willing to write a testimonial for us? I think many women could identify with your busy life and long workdays. Email me at mary@evofem.com if your interested in providing your testimonial about Softcup!

I began using Instead during the late 90's and used them up until I had a hysterectomy. Using gave me the freedom to live my life instead of being tied to a schedule of fear and leakage. I was walking through the grocery store this morning, and was so pleased to see they were on the shelf! I'm still an advocate for Instead even though I no longer need them. They really are life changing!!

I suffer from PCOS and have heavy periods where I am stuck in the house for a week. With Softcup I feel I can finally have a life again even during that time of the month. Thank you Softcup for giving my life back.
 
A Spicy Boy, A Cat, and My Fat Ass

I love this product and I tell every class I'm in front of (I'm a health educator) how wonderful this product is. I've been using the Insead soft cup for about 8 years. When I use this product, it's almost as if I don't even have my period-that's the best part for me! I really can't say enough about this product and I'm thrilled that you're making a reuseable one!! I was first introduced to this productive when the company sent me a case of free samples to give out and even since, I've been hooked! Thanks for making this product

can you sleep in softcup all night long

Amanda, yes, you can wear Softcup overnight. It's safe to wear for up to 12 hours.

Kirsten, thanks for sharing your experience with Softcup! It's wonderful that you're educating other women about their options for period protection. Keep up the good work!

I have always seen this product on drugstore shelves and yesterday I decided to try it, just for kicks... I am already hooked, these things are amazing!! It's much more reliable than a tampon and so nice not to have to change it every 2 hours... it's also more comfortable, cheaper, and creates less waste. I have an extremely heavy flow and my time of the month has always been hell for me and created a huge mess, but it looks like this is going to change all that! I just wish I had found out about these when I was 12!

Thanks for your comment, DG. I'm so glad you tried Softcup and like it!

Unfortunately for me, these just don't work. I have a very heavy flow at the beginning of my period, with massive clots. It causes the cup to overflow and leak. I had one in just yesterday for a whopping total of 20 minutes and I'm glad I was at home because I started to leak badly. When I took it out, there was a massive clot filling up the cup. These things can't handle big clots. If you don't have this issue though, yes these work wonders. But if you do, wait till the heavier part of your period is over before you use these.

Okay, I bought the softcup after hearing and reading such great reviews on it. Im not a heavy bleeder, but I have found the cup still leaks not much but its enough for my undergarments to never be the same lol. Also after I put it in and just go on about my day normally I feel the cup pushing down and out. And let me tell you its painful! I don't know if I put it in wrong or what. So I tried again, same thing. Bottom line, unfortunately the softcup didn't work wonders for me. :(

it did not work for me

this was my main concern. i have clots too and was wondering how it held up.

Ashley, if the cup is sliding out or is painful then it is not positioned right. Try inserting it farther back. Many women, when they first try Softcup, insert it like a tampon, which is incorrect. It should be angled back and down, not up. Push it in as far as you possibly can (your finger will be fully inserted when it's in all the way), and tuck it behind the pubic ridge. You can feel with your finger if the thin plastic part is covering your cervix, which is the correct position. You shouldn't experience leakage or discomfort, in fact you shouldn't feel it at all.

If you're sure you got it in right but it still won't stay tucked behind your pubic bone, then it may simply be too large for you.

Softcup should handle clots successfully as long as it's positioned correctly to collect menstrual fluid as it leaves the cervix. Most leakage occurs because women don't have Softcup inserted correctly. After you insert it, feel with the tip of your finger whether your cervix is covered by the thin plastic part of the cup.

I am wanting to try softcup. I am an almost 26 year old woman...I hate tampons...I can feel them even when they're not full! And when they're full, it's terrible. I dont like all the fibers and the chemicals either, Im what you can call a green machine and looking for any products to use that are biodegradable and safe for ME. I've been using pads, but even those are just gross!!! They feel like diapers and my boyfriend can't even touch me :( I have one question though...Do we flush or throw them away?? Im so scared to try this product only because there is no "string" and am afraid I wont be able to take it out. HELP!!!!

I tried the Softcup during my last period and I wasn't completely happy w/it.
First of all, the product is tricky to remove without spillage...I found it very messy! Also, I suppose it's OK to flush them? Although I would not feel good about disposing of them in the toilet. And, if you're not near a sink when you take it out (camping, etc) it can be a bit of a bloody mess....I think I'll just stick w/my trusty O.B. Tampons...

Hi Sandy, Softcup should not be flushed, as it can damage plumbing. Once you remove the cup just wrap it in toilet paper, or in the wrapper for a new one, and throw it in the trash. Some women use a latex glove or plastic baggy over their hand to remove the cup, then wrap it around the used cup for disposal, to reduce the mess.

Have you had a chance to watch our instructional videos? It's very simple to insert and remove Softcup, and it can't get lost in your body. However, it can sometimes take a few tries to learn how to insert it properly into position. But you shouldn't be afraid. If you insert it and it's uncomforatble, then it's most likely not in right. Just remove it and try again. You shouldn't feel it if it's in right.

Regarding disposal, you should NOT flush Softcup because it can damage plumbing. It should be thrown away. Softcup is not biodegradable because it is made of a safe, biocompatible material that doesn't break down. If you are concerned with waste, you may be interested in the reusable Softcup, which will be available for purchase on our website starting the first week of November. The reusable Softcup can be worn and reused through one menstrual cycle.

Can you use the softcup and still have sex?! My husband is leaving for out of state and will be gone for a month and AF started today. I want to enjoy my last weekend with him?

Yes, absolutely. You can use Softcup and comfortably have intercouse while the cup is in place. As long as it's inserted properly it shouldn't cause discomfort. Some partners have reported that they can feel the cup, but in general it is not uncomfortable for either partner. Athough you may want to experiment with different positions to see what works best for you and your partner.

Has anyone tried them during sex? Thanks

This product doesn't sound very hygenic. I took a poll at work and all 10 ladies agreeded. One said she tried it and when it got filled after 2 hours it leaked all over her. I don't think a product should be made to capture the blood in that manner, use a pad, a tampon or get on birth control that stops the flow. This just sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

I love this product, however, it took my over a hour just to remove soft!!

I need help! I read about this product in Cosmo magazine and ran right out to buy it. I have very, very heavy periods and thought this might be a solution. My problem was I couldn't get it out!!! I have used a diaphram in the past so I didn't think this would pose a problem but OMG... it was a nightmare. I actually had to get in the shower and call my poor husband in to help. What in the heck am I doing wrong? I felt the rim but my finger couldn't quite reach it. My husband said going up the middle (thru the plastic) and grabbing the rim from the inside was how he managed after many attempts to grasp it. I hate to give up on it but I honestly thought I was gonna have to make a call to my GYN Dr.

Hi Paula, I'm sorry you had this experience. Although it is uncommon, sometimes the rim of the Softcup can be hard to reach, especially if you have short fingers. If you're tense, it can make removal more difficult, so the key is to relax. While relaxing your abdomen, just bear down with the same muscles you use when taking a bowel movement (sometimes it can take a little practice to find the right muscles to push with). With you finger inserted, you should feel the rim of the cup slide forward as you bear down. This will help you reach it for removal. Again, try not to tense up but rather relax and bear down. Sometimes it can help if you're squatting down low to the ground.

I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude or anything however, how does one think that it will get "stuck" up there.. Or need their husband to help with removal?? Are you guys serious? I've been using Soft cup for almost 6 months or so and though I can say I have leaked a few times at my heaviest, for the most part I love it and I think it shortens the length of my period because it let's the flow "flow" and doesn't suck the juices dry like a tampon toward the end of my period. I have never had sex with this product, I don't see that being mess free as if the cup was filled with blood and then you had sex wouldn't it push the blood out of the cup during intercourse? Anyhow, great product but I guess not for everyone.

How does the softcup hold up to being really active in sports? Is it possible to slip out during any physical activity?

Softcup shouldn't slip out during sports or excercise, as long as it's positioned properly. There is a slight chance that doing extreme exercise or weight lifting, in which you might bear down with certain pelvic muscles, could displace the cup, but that is unusual.

Krystal, we usually recommend inserting a fresh cup before you have intercourse to reduce the potential of any leakage if the cup shifts around slightly during sex.

Today is my first day using this product. I brought this yesterday and I have never look so forward to my menst. I placed it in today and I believe I put it in correctly because I didn't mess the pantyliner. I hope that this work, looking forward to informing my five sisters.

what happens when you have to pee???

Krystle, the Softcup is placed in your vagina and you urinate through your urethra. The two are completely separate. So you can pee while wearing Softcup with no problem. To get a better understanding of how Softcup works with your body, watch our Anatomy video at www.softcup.com/video-tutorials

Let's just say i have been hooked from the getgo. I seriously would love to be an advocate. I mention it to all my lady friends all the time. I always give them a sample and explain how it works and insertion. Its a tad bit tricky at first and might cause discomfort at.first, but once you get the hang its beneficial. Almost all my friends went out and bought some. my advice is at first wear a liner for back up and if it leaks a little dont give up.

I have an IUD can I still use this product?

@AO We recommend you check with your doctor before using Softcup with an IUD. Although many women succesfully wear both, there is a potential risk of pulling on the IUD strings when you remove the Softcup. Your doctor can give you the OK to wear Softcup, and may even clip your IUD strings short for you.

This is my first time trying the soft cup. I am a very heavy bleeder and I have tried everything. I saw this product for the first time and am a little skeptical. I really hope it works so that I can function while on my cycle. I will let you know if the soft cup works for me. I am happy reading the reviews but a little worried about the whole clot thing because I too have big clots. I wonder why I havent seen this product before!

Oh gosh I just got these for the first time today. I was wearing tampons before and I had to change my tampon every thirty minutes because I bleed heavily, these are the best thing ever invented I'm not upset about getting my period anymore :)

I am a 15 year old girl, and I want to use this product. But I have a few concerns...
First off, I am afraid I won't put it in right. To be completely honest, I'm not sure where my cervix is inside of me. The video gives me some advice... but I am still unsure. Do I just push it in until it stops? How do I know I have the right angle? I am also afraid it will not want to come out.

Dear Anonymous, thanks for you voicing your concerns. I encourage you to get to know your body before using Softcup. If you insert your finger into your vagina, you should be able to feel your cervix with the tip of your finger. It's a little knob that kind of feels like the tip of your nose. When you're ready to try Softcup, you should squeeze the rim together and push the cup back as far as it will go. Your finger will probably be fully inserted when it's in far enough. The reason you should push back instead of up is so that the rim of the cup will slide under your cervix. Once the cup is in, you should be able to feel with your finger that the thin plastic part is covering your cervix. Also, the rim closest to the opening should be tucked up behind your pubic bone, which feels like a little ridge, so it will be held in place. It can take a few tries to get it right, so try it on a light flow day and use a back up pad or pantyliner at first. Removal should be easy, just hook the rim with your finger and pull out slowly. If you have trouble reaching it, just bear down with your muscles just like going #2. That should help the cup nudge forward for you to reach.

Either I'm not doing something right or this is not the product for me. I love the way it fits very comfortably. I have somewhat heavy flow for the first two days and the first time i used the cup after one hour i had spillage on my liner. I immediate pull the cup out to find very little was in there. I tried another one and issue repeats. I have now gone back to tampons and have a box of softcup that i will not use. Very unhappy

Hi, I used today the softcup for first time, and 2 hours after I put it inside me I go to pee and the fluid leak out, is normal? I just take it off and used a pad, I inserted wrong?

Sorry for my english I from Mexico

This is my first time using the soft cup but when I tried to take it out the inside of my vagina felt some what swollen is that normal? It don't hurt other then that it worked great but I was just wondering about the bump in there while the soft cup is inside

Hi J, this is normal. When you urinate or have a bowel movement certain muscles contract and push the cup forward slightly, causing a little leakage (especially if you have been wearing the cup for several hours). When your muscles release the cup should move back into place. To be sure, insert a finger and feel if the cup has shifted and nudge it back into place if needed.

Drea, this is probably normal. Throughout your menstrual cycle, due to changes in your hormones, your vaginal walls may change shape somewhat, feeling more swollen at some times than at others. As long as you are not feeling unusual pain or irritation it shouldn't be a problem. But if you notice any unusual discharge or irritation, discontinue using the Softcup and consult your doctor.

My boyfriend and I are long distance, so when we do get to see each other we try to "make the best of it," as much as we can, if you know what i mean. For medical reasons, I cant take BCP's to control my flow, so my best friend told me about Softcup. I was so impressed! My flow is normal to heavy and my boyfriend cant feel it at all- (although we use condoms). Some times there is a little leakage depending on how vigorous/deep you get:)
Overall, I highly recommend!

I think that they should come with gloves...

This product sounds really amazing. But I do have one concern. I get uti's a lot, pretty much anything sets them off espically my bfs piercing downstairs. So I'm just wondering is this still ok with being super senseitive down there?

Ok, so i just started my period this morning and remember rushing around for a pad or tampon or something....well my bfs sister lended me a couple tampons(not that she would want them back) until i could go buy my own. the three lasted me throughout the day and then i finally changed into my last pad i had in my purse for emergencies. not and hour later i was leaking through it and realized i had to go to the store. so there i am standing in the aisle and i see instead cups. hmmmmmm so i read the box and decide to give it a whirl. Now im not gonna lie i was pretty nervous when i got home. I have a very tiny frame and feared that it might not fit. so i did what the box said....so far so good. hey....i dont feel it haha.only thing i noticed is that at first it makes cramps more noticable but it goes away pretty quickly. Muscles adjusting im assuming. No leakage yet. Im gonna try this tonight when i go to bed, tomorrow during work....and then when i see my bf ill see if i cant prove that last one wrong if you catch my drift. If you dont hear from chinagirl again then you know that it worked in every way for me and you may have just changed my tampon religion!