Ironically, I lost my Keeper.

April 10, 2009 2:14 AM

LadyFilter: Can menstrual cups be purchased in retail stores? (More specifically, in Los Angeles?)

I'm visiting family for Easter, and I forgot to bring my Keeper with me. I'll suck it up and use tampons for a few days if I have to, but I'd really prefer to buy a spare menstrual cup. As far as I know, though, the Keeper is only available online. Do any stores in Southern California sell something similar?

I have tried Instead, and I found them to be less than ideal.

posted by arianell to Shopping (16 answers total)

I have seen these for sale at health food stores, particularly co-ops.
posted by idiopath at 2:45 AM on April 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

I know Diva Cup is sold in stores. You might want to visit their store locater.

Although personally, there are slight differences in the brands of cups shape and elasticity. I am glad I did the research and bought the one I thought would be most comfortable, which is only sold on the internet. I did my research at the Menstrual Cup Livejournal Community. I decided against the Diva Cup because it's shape was longer than the other ones and the shape of my vaginal canal is not very long. I ended up with the smallest cup available at the time, it is known for "riding high", and the bottom of it still pokes out of me from time to time needing re-adjustment. Had I purchased another brand I'm reasonably sure I wouldn't have found it comfortable. FYI, if that sounds like you, you might be interested in my choice, a small size Lady Cup.
posted by Niomi at 4:00 AM on April 10, 2009

I'm not where you are, but our local Whole Foods sells them.
posted by anastasiav at 4:21 AM on April 10, 2009

I'm not in LA, but I've seen them at Target.
posted by ellenaim at 5:00 AM on April 10, 2009

I'm not there either, but our Whole Foods also sells them.
posted by limeonaire at 5:41 AM on April 10, 2009

I've seen them at camping stores like REI, too, as well as Whole Foods and coop grocery stores.
posted by vytae at 6:06 AM on April 10, 2009

Keeper doesn't seem to have an online store finder but Diva Cup does here Looks like Whole Foods, REI and a few natural food stores carry them, as well as (I kid you not) the Love Boutique.

I *heart* mine, dunno how I stuck with tampons and pads for so long!!!
posted by legotech at 6:23 AM on April 10, 2009

I got my Divacup from Whole Foods...and due to a similar forgetful incident, I've gotten them from Whole Foods in both La Jolla and Palo Alto. Given that you are between those two cities I think you should be able to find one.
posted by crinklebat at 8:05 AM on April 10, 2009

Rite Aid also sells the Diva Cup (and also some other brands -- not sure of their names though). I think they have those stores in CA.
posted by bluefly at 8:05 AM on April 10, 2009

They definitely have Rite Aids in LA (sorry hit post on accident before).
posted by bluefly at 8:06 AM on April 10, 2009

I'm not in LA, but I've seen the Diva Cup (I love mine!) in both Whole Foods and some smaller food coops / health food type places.
posted by fantine at 9:03 AM on April 10, 2009

Since we seem to have established that they're available in L.A. (at Rite Aid and Whole Foods, etc.) can I ask what advantages cups have over tampons? (I had never heard of them before last night, and here they are on AskMe today! Amazing.) Also: the instructions for how to use them on the Instead website¹ are very vague. Do they fit over the cervix? Where do they sit in the body?

¹The only menustrual cup manufacturer's website that isn't blocked at my work. The others get this: Reason: content_filter_denied: Your request was denied because of its content categorization: "Intimate Apparel & Swimwear" I mean, I get why they block Victoria's Secret, I guess, but Diva Cup?! The firewall here drives me crazy.
posted by ocherdraco at 9:38 AM on April 10, 2009

I've only used the Instead (which I've read a lot of women think is inferior to the Keeper or Diva Cup), and I love it! It is such an improvement over tampons. For one thing, it doesn't have to be emptied as often as you need to change a tampon. I've never had "overnight" leakage with the Instead. You can leave a cup in as long as 12 hours at a time, unlike a tampon. As far as insertion, I was completely convinced I'd never be able to do it when I unwrapped the first cup. Just for chuckles, I followed the instructions and (no exaggeration) in less than a minute the thing was in place and there was no turning back! (Far better than my first tampon experiences!) The cup is flexible, so you squeeze it between your fingers until it comes together in the center and is now long and oval instead of round. Insert it as you would an OB tampon. This was the part that scared me the first time - the instructions mentioned feeling the pelvic bone and that sort of gave me the willies. But actually all I did was push it inside and all of a sudden it was "gone." Apparently when you push it up far enough, it expands on its own and fits right over the cervix. Once it was in place, I couldn't feel it at all.
posted by Oriole Adams at 11:24 AM on April 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

I, too, have never used a menstrual cup. However, I am taking a trip soon which will involve a lot of snorkeling. My cycle shifted and now I am stuck with my period while on the trip. Anyone try these while snorkeling and/or swimming? Sounds like it might be superior to using tampons.
posted by fyrebelley at 1:42 PM on April 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

Sorry to threadjack -- but to answer ocherdraco's questions:

They sit kind of higher up -- basically, if you can still feel the cup, it is probably either 1) inserted too high up or 2) full.

I never, ever, for the life of me thought I would end up in the "I love menstrual cup camp!" but here I am. I've been using the Diva Cup for almost a year now and it's been amazing. It's cheap -- just a one-time expense that will last you quite a few years and environmentally friendly (two advantages over tampons). It's convenient to keep in your bag when you are expecting to start your period. I can't praise it enough.

Please feel free to pm me if you have questions -- fyrebelley, the same to you. As for swimming, I haven't done that yet (I just don't swim much!) but I am leaving soon for a vacation that will involve swimming, so I will let you know.
posted by fantine at 2:17 PM on April 10, 2009

I have swum, snorkeled and SCUBA-ed in my Diva Cup, and recommend it whole-heartedly.
posted by aint broke at 2:44 PM on April 10, 2009