-Curious

On the market since 1992, Instead is an alternative to tampons or pads for use during menstruation. Instead is shaped similar to a diaphragm; it has a thick, flexible ring at the top connected to a thin, flexible pouch. The pouch "catches" the menstrual blood. When in use, Instead, similar to the diaphragm, rests between the pubic bone and the cervix, the opening of the uterus. Instead is not to be used for contraception, however, despite its similar shape and positioning to the diaphragm.

Many women consider Instead to be an alternative to tampons, especially women concerned about the possibility of toxic shock syndrome or irritation, which may be caused by the bleaching of the absorbent fibers in tampons or the synthetic fibers themselves.

Insertion, as with tampons and diaphragms, takes practice. The more knowledgeable and comfortable a woman is about and with her body, and the more she practices insertion, the easier it will be. To use Instead, a woman needs to find her vaginal opening and insert fingers to place Instead in its proper location. The rubber ring at the top folds so that it may be slipped in. To remove it, insert a finger into the vaginal opening, hook the finger under the rubber ring, and pull gently, keeping Instead horizontal to prevent the contents from spilling. After removal, the contents can be emptied into the toilet. Then a woman can wrap the used Instead in toilet or facial tissue and throw it in the trash. It's important NOT to flush Instead or the plastic wrapper it comes in down the toilet since this causes major plumbing problems. The removal process, according to some users, can be precarious, especially at first. With practice, privacy, and persistence, a woman can learn to avoid or minimize spills.

According to the manufacturer, Instead can be left in place for up to twelve hours on light flow days. This is almost twice as long as a tampon, so it's handy for overnight use or when a woman knows she won't have access to a bathroom. As with tampons and pads, the length of time a woman can keep Instead intact between changes varies with comfort and heaviness of flow. The menstrual cup is an alternative to pads during physical activities, such as swimming, aerobics, and dance. As with any product, though, a woman will need to experiment at first to find the best way to avoid leakage when exercising. The manufacturer also states that Instead can be worn during sexual intercourse, although it is NOT intended as a form of contraception or protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

You've asked whether it's okay for virgins to use Instead. From a medical standpoint, it's completely fine. Perhaps a woman is concerned about stretching or tearing her hymen. Remember, the hymen can stretch or tear for reasons other than sexual intercourse or vaginal penetration — sometimes just from bicycle or horseback riding, gymnastics, or dancing. Think about one's priorities, cultural values, and what one feels comfortable with. If a woman is worried about this, she may want to stick with pads for now. However, if a woman uses tampons, then she'll probably be able to use Instead.

At this time, Instead is not as widely available as tampons and pads. It can be purchased through the manufacturer or at a select group of drugstores and discount department stores. Contact the Instead information line at 1.800.INSTEAD (-467.8323), or visit them on-line at the Instead web site.

Since you're curious about alternatives to tampons and pads, you may also be interested in the Keeper and the DivaCup. They are reusable menstrual cups that look a little like a cervical cap with a handle or a small plunger. The Keeper is made of natural gum rubber and the DivaCup is made of medical grade silicone. With proper care, they can be used for up to ten years. Similar to Instead, they can be left in during menstruation for six to twelve hours. Unlike Instead, they have flexible rods connected to their base — to aid in their removal (thus the plunger-like look). Benefits to using the Keeper and the DivaCup are similar to the Instead, with the additional plus of being environmentally friendly. Instead's materials aren't biodegradable and they're not supposed to be reused; the Keeper and the DivaCup are washable and reusable. Since the Keeper and the DivaCup need to be rinsed or wiped clean between uses, they may be awkward in public bathrooms. For more information about or to order the Keeper or the DivaCup, visit The Keeper/The DivaCup web site.

If you want to see what the Instead, the Keeper, and the DivaCup look like, you can go to the Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health web site.

Now that you know more about these three different menstrual cups, you can try them out and then decide which feminine hygiene product(s) best fit your needs.

Alice

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