The Keeper

[tulipgraham]

I hope this is posted in the correct place..

Has anyone ever tried this? Sounds odd, but interesting.

http://www.thekeeper.com/ http://www.divacup.com/

Edited to add the UK version:

http://www.mooncup.co.uk/

[Darlene]

I don't but some of the other ladies do. I think it's a great alternative to having to pay those high prices for "supplies" every month.

[ama]

I use the diva cup which is very similar to the keeper. I agree -- its a very frugal and envirmental saving thing to do. I love mine!

[Kimberlina]

I've been meaning to buy one of these for years, but not the Keeper. (I'm seriously latex allergic, and something like that might be just enough to send me over the edge into anaphylaxis.)

I really, really need to just buy one!

[bridge]

I love mine, It is great to not have to spend $$ on the supplies.
One of the best investment I ever made.
Plus I have more bathroom cabinet space

[Valerie in WA]

I use the Diva cup; it's silicone, not latex. I got it about two years ago and I LOVE it. I did need to use a back-up pad the first two to three months, while I got the hang of it. Now I only use a back-up liner if it's my first day AND I'm going to be at work for 12 hours. In fact, if it's getting too full, I can usually tell before any leaking starts. (Hope you get the gist of that; I'm trying not to give TMI.)

Seriously, it's one of the best decisions I've ever made. After the first day (cramps), it's like not even having it at all.

[UPSyours2]

Hi I have not tried that yet but one of my friends saw this newspaper ad & told me I should try it to get pregnant using it a different way!

So now "the keeper cup" has a few uses!


http://www.nydailynews.com/02-23-200...p-333857c.html

A clever conception?

Crafty women are taking fertility into their
own hands. Are they on to a new sensation?
Your Bod, Babe!


BY JORDAN LITE
DAILY NEWS HEALTH WRITER


The menstrual cup may have helped Theresa Eisennagel conceive Lucas.


Women claim cups like Instead can be used for fertility.

Would-be moms are putting an old-school tampon alternative to creative use - for fertility.
Message boards are abuzz about the menstrual cup, a diaphragm-like device that women have used for decades to collect and dispose of blood during their period.

Now, enterprising women having trouble getting pregnant are inserting the cup after sex to trap sperm near the cervix, or asking their partner to ejaculate directly into it. The manufacturer of Instead, one popular brand, has received enough inquiries from eager-to-be-mamas that it has asked the Food and Drug Administration for permission to label its Softcup as a fertility aid.

Theresa Eisennagel, 29, tried for three years to get pregnant the old-fashioned way. Overwhelmed by the prospect of paying upward of $10,000 per cycle of in-vitro fertilization, she and her husband, Stephen, were considering adoption when Theresa had a eureka moment.

"One day I was just very upset and I thought, 'Well, it kind of works like a diaphragm and maybe it could work in the opposite setting,'" said Eisennagel, of Worthington, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus.

The next time she was ovulating, the couple used the cup twice a day for five days "and I got pregnant right away," she said. Today, they have a 20-month-old son, Lucas.

Women have been telling similar stories on sites like iVillage, thefertilityshop.com and conceivingconcepts.com . Instead receives about two inquiries a week from curious women, said company president Teri Hirschfeld.

But doctors nix the concept as nonsense. "You can pretty much sell anything in this country and find an audience to purchase it," said Dr. Alan Copperman, director of reproductive endocrinology at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Skepical of effectiveness

"After ejaculation, most of the sperm travel up the female reproductive tract in minutes, so trapping them in the vagina for a few more hours probably just won't help much, if at all," Copperman said, adding that anyone having trouble conceiving should see a doctor.

Instead has not studied whether the Softcup actually helps women get pregnant. Similar devices, such as Milex's cervical cup, are marketed as fertility aides, Hirschfeld said.

She argues that the Softcup, which retails for $3.49 for six, helps women do what doctors recommend anyway.

"Why do they think it's bogus?" Hirschfeld said. "I've heard of many women who have infertility problems who are advised to lay on their backs and prop up their hips [after sex]. That's basically what we're telling people to do. Our product helps keep the sperm up there."

Other cups exist, though they're situated lower in the birth canal than the Softcup and not used for fertility.

"When you're faced with what we were faced with, you're willing to try anything," Eisennagel said.

Originally published on February 23, 2006





http://www.keeper.com/

The KeeperTM, Inc.
P.O. Box 20023, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Information: 1-800-500-0077
To order via Toll-Free
Worldwide Voice Mail: 1-877-AKEEPER, Fax: (513) 221-1464
eMail: Contact



THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF The Keeper®
- with proper care (ex: not washing in harsh chemicals) - is up to 10 years!!

Occasionally, a woman believes that trimming the "stem" of The Keeper will provide a more comfortable experience. However, please be aware if you cut off more than 1/2 of the stem, The Keeper cannot be returned for replacement or refund. And, very importantly, the stem serves a purpose: it is essential for inserting and removing The Keeper.


$35 + $2 shipping & handling



Over 10 years* that's 29 cents per month! Compare with other products at $4.00 per month:



http://www.keeper.com/HTML/articles_links.html

http://www.keeper.com/HTML/article_cost.html

So what's the answer for the frugal, environment-conscious menstruating woman? REUSABLE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS, of course. Unlike tampons, women can use the earth-friendly, reusable menstrual cup, called The Keeper ® (http://www.thekeeperinc.com), made from gentle rubber (similar to the rubber that is used to make baby bottle nipples). Besides being easy on the environment, The Keeper® is easy on the pocketbook, costing an average of 29 cents a month for 10 years. With proper care (for instance, not using harsh chemicals to wash it), one cup should last up to 10 years!

The Keeper® is also convenient, and comes with a drawstring purse, so it is easy to keep with you so you'll always be prepared. And since it is made of rubber, rather than of an absorbent fibrous material, such as rayon, it can be worn up to 12 hours before being emptied. On heavy days, you may want to change it more often. The fact that The Keeper® is not made of rayon, or any other synthetic material, also reduces the potential for Toxic Shock Syndrome and eliminates dioxin exposure. (Are you aware that the FDA does not require manufacturers of tampons or pads to list their products' ingredients in or on the box?)

But some women want a reusable - but not an insertable - menstrual product. The answer: reusable menstrual pads, such as GladRags ( http://www.gladrags.com), made from organic cotton that, like The Keeper®, can be used for years and will be friendly to the environment and the pocketbook. In fact, women should have choices -- a drawer full of several different reusable products for various times during their periods.

For these reasons, reusable menstrual products are THE MOST ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY OF ALL!

For more information, please contact the Marketing Director of The Keeper, Inc., Julia Schopick at 708-848-4788, or email her at Julia@thekeeperinc.com. Or please visit The Keeper website at http://www.thekeeperinc.com.



http://www.keeper.com/HTML/about_keeper.html




About The Keeper®

The Keeper® is the unique women's health product: reusable, environment friendly, and economical, it is

MANUFACTURED BY A WOMAN – FOR WOMEN

HOW DO I USE The Keeper®*?

Many women wonder about how to use The Keeper® . After washing your hands, simply fold your KEEPER by pressing the sides of the lightweight, flexible cup together; then folding the cup in half again.

Now, hold the folded KEEPER between your thumb and index finger, as shown.

To insert The Keeper®, sit on the toilet (or in an equally relaxed position) and insert your folded KEEPER completely into the vagina. Let the cup unfold by releasing your fingers. After inserting, gently rotate it with your fingertips, before pulling it down and forward into position between your vaginal lips. At this point, you should feel that your KEEPER is firmly in place. It is now in the correct position!

As you can see by the illustration to the left, The Keeper® follows the natural slant of your vagina. It does NOT touch the cervix, but rests comfortably below it. (Be sure the pull-tab is at the entrance to the vagina, but remains outside the body.)



REMOVING The Keeper®

Sit on the toilet, grasp the pull-tab firmly so that the tips of your fingers pinch the base of the cup. This action allows air to enter around the cup, releasing the suction, and making it easy to remove. Ease your KEEPER gently forward and downward, supporting the bottom of the cup with your fingertips to prevent spilling. Empty.

If you are still having your period and want to reinsert your KEEPER, simply wipe it (a tissue is fine!), and reinsert. (If you don't have access to clean water, believe it your not, you may use your own sterile urine to wash it! It is best, however, to use clean drinking water. )

At the end of your period, wash The Keeper® in soapy water – or it can be rinsed (not soaked) in vinegar diluted with water – and let it dry. Place your KEEPER in the convenient purse bag it came in.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I EMPTY MY KEEPER?

Your KEEPER holds one full ounce of menstrual fluid. Since most women flow 2 to 4 ounces during their periods, emptying the cup a few times a day is usually sufficient. In a month or two, you will become familiar with your own menstrual flow pattern, and will know when to empty it.

IMPORTANT

Your KEEPER is made of pure gum rubber – similar to the material that is used in baby bottle nipples.

When first using The Keeper®, you may be slightly aware of its presence. After you use it for a few periods, you will find – as thousands of other women have found – that you "wouldn't know how to live without it!"


Use only as directed

[Darlene]

Wow Andrea, you are a wealth of knowledge.

[slowtypinwoman]

I too use the Diva cup and love it.

[kettel6]

I am interested in getting the Diva Cup too. But right now I'm using sea sponges and they are great.

[chatterweb]

Thanks OP!!!

WOW! this will put tampax out of biz

I am dying to try one too, tired of the cramping from inserts, and bulky pads.

[ama]

Great article to pass along -- I think I read somewhere that reusable menstrual products first came out back in the 30's but then of course tampons etc came out and probably better marketing strategies. The Keeper etc were forgotten. I love mine -- I usually forget I'm having a period at all!

[miss_thrifty]

ah yuck, no thank you. In the frugal gazette book she talks about it, and uses it. I won't. sorry nn pads and tampons are what i use. chepest i can find.

[UPSyours2]

I remember Ma telling me about stories from years ago during TTOM she'd be out working on the farm picking beans & just wearing a rag she said there was no KOTEX then!

I told her I never used KOTEX I use ALWAYS & she was funny saying ohhh that's a good name nobody knows what you're talking about since always can be anything!

I found some more links & info here:

http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/alt...menstrual.html

Alternative Menstrual Products: A Guide for Teens

Since most young women use name-brand pads or tampons during their menstrual period, you might not know that there are other products to choose from. If you are looking for more environmentally-friendly menstrual products or have concerns about the chemicals and synthetic materials used to make regular pads and tampons, you should know that there are other types of menstrual protection available to you. While no method is perfect, you may find that one or more of the following products fits your needs!

What are some of the alternative menstrual products that are available?

Non-chlorine bleached all-cotton pads and tampons are available at many natural foods stores and even in some larger supermarket chains. They are generally a little more expensive than regular pads and tampons. They are disposable, so they are not as environmentally friendly as a reusable product, but they are not made using chemicals. However, even 100% natural cotton can contain pesticides, so if you want to be sure that the product you are buying has no chemicals, it’s best to choose a brand made with organic cotton.

Reusable, washable cloth pads work just like regular disposable pads, but instead of throwing them away after use, you rinse them out, wash them, and use them again. Reusable pads usually come in two parts: a liner and a liner holder. The liner goes inside the holder, which has wings that snap around the crotch of your underwear to keep it in place. On light days, the liner holder can be used alone; on heavy days, you can use two or more liners with one holder. One company, Lunapads, makes all-in-one menstrual underwear that has a cloth pad built into the crotch. Cloth pads are more expensive than disposables at the time of purchase, but they will save money over time because they last for years.


Sea sponges are a natural alternative to tampons. They come from the ocean floor, and contain no synthetic materials. One sea sponge will last for about 6 months. To use a sea sponge: dampen it, squeeze it tightly in your hand, and insert it into your vagina. Once in place, it works like a tampon to absorb menstrual flow. A sea sponge needs to be rinsed out about every 3 hours and thoroughly cleaned and dried at the end of each menstrual cycle. In the 1980s, the FDA found that some sea sponges marketed as menstrual products contained potentially harmful bacteria. Today, at least one sea sponge manufacturer (Sea Pearls) claims to sanitize their sea sponges using an environmentally-friendly process, but there are no studies that support that claim at this time. As with tampons, it is possible to get toxic shock syndrome from sea sponges.


Menstrual cups are another alternative to tampons. Currently available are two reusable menstrual cups ("The Keeper" and "DivaCup"), and one disposable cup (the "Instead Softcup"). Menstrual cups are small, rubber or silicone cups that are inserted into the vagina to "catch" menstrual blood rather than absorb it.

The Keeper menstrual cup is made of natural gum rubber from trees. The Keeper is placed inside the vagina a few inches below the cervix and can be worn for 6 to 12 hours depending on your flow, including overnight. When The Keeper is full, simply empty (into the sink, toilet, etc.), rinse with clean water or wipe clean with toilet paper, and reinsert. The Keeper cannot be worn by women with a sensitivity or allergy to rubber.

DivaCup is made of silicone, which makes it an alternative for women with latex allergies or who are sensitive to The Keeper. Like The Keeper, DivaCup sits a few inches below the cervix, can be worn for up to 12 hours, including overnight, and it is emptied and cleaned the same way.

Both the DivaCup and The Keeper are much more expensive to buy than a box of pads or tampons (The Keeper costs about $35, while the DivaCup costs about $25), but with proper care they last for years, making them very inexpensive to use over time.

The Instead Softcup is worn at the very back of the vagina and covers the cervix. It can be used for up to 12 hours at a time, depending on your flow. The manufacturer claims that it can be kept in place during any activity, including sexual intercourse (note: wearing Instead during sex does NOT protect against pregnancy or STDs). The cup must be thrown away after a single use. Instead Softcups are sold in drug stores and supermarkets, but they can be hard to find and are more expensive than tampons.

Are reusable menstrual products safe and healthy to use?

Although it may be challenging for some girls and young women to handle their menstrual blood or place a menstrual cup in their vagina, it is important to know that there is nothing "dirty" about menstrual blood. These reusable products are sanitary as long as they are properly cleaned and stored according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Of course, you should never share reusable menstrual products with any else, and you should be sure follow the manufacturer's instructions about when and how the product needs to be replaced.

Where can I learn more about alternative menstrual products?

Because most women are not familiar with these products, their manufacturers are often willing to provide education and support to anyone interested in switching from the more popular menstrual products. Most manufacturers even offer a money-back guarantee to encourage uncertain consumers to give eco-friendly menstrual products a try. Three commercial web sites with a lot of information about menstrual alternatives are www.gladrags.com, www.lunapads.com, and www.eco-logique.com.

Most of these products take some time to adjust to, especially if you have been using name-brand tampons and pads for years. You might decide that you are happier using an alternative product once you get used to it, or you might find that you would rather stick with regular tampons and pads. There is no right or wrong choice! The best menstrual product for you is the product that you are most comfortable using.

[canadian gardener]

yes. Till my hysterectomy. Saved a ton of money, along with my cloth sani pads. I used the Keeper for the heavy flow days, first two usually, then just the cloth pads after.