Still Using Pads and Tampons?

So for the past 6 or 7 years now I've been menstruating. And I always thought that the only stuff to use were pads and tampons. Pads got sticky and gross, and tampons were always leaking, left particles inside the vagina, and also hurt to take out when not completely soaked through. And on top of that you had to buy new ones every month and throw them out when they were used. (I know there are reusable cloth pads out there, but personally carrying around pads is a pain and I already hate doing laundry as it is.)

And then I heard about the Diva Cup.

Basically it's a silicone menstrual cup that collects menses in the vagina until you take it out and empty it and wash it out and reuse it. Indefinitely. I read that some women have had theirs for over 10 years and it still works like new.

I bought the Diva Cup 1 online for maybe $32 and tested it on my last period, and for me, this is GREAT! Other than getting used to inserting it, this thing is amazing. You don't feel it at all when it is inside, it's just like a tampon without a string. It also lasts for about 6-12 hours depending on how heavy your flow is. I had no leakage after biking 12 miles, sleeping and dancing at a wedding for hours. I had no real problem getting it out either. Plus it even has little measure marks on the inside to tell you how much you've bled in ounces and mL! NUTS! Cleaning isn't that bad, you just dump the blood into the toilet and then wash it out in the sink with some soap. In a public restroom? Wipe it off with some toilet paper and just pop it back in or just wait until you get home (it'll probably hold up) if you're squeamish.

But the best thing about it is that you don't throw it away. It's eco-friendly and pays for itself after a couple months of paying for disposable pads or tampons.

If the Diva Cup isn't for you, there are other brands of menstrual cups such as the Lady Cup or Lunette. Each has a slightly different design so if one doesn't fit as well as you'd like you can always try a different brand!

I've also tried Insteads, which basically use the menstrual cup idea in the form of a Livestrong-esque band that has a bag membrane on the inside. You can find them at almost any pharmacy. I haven't had very good luck with them as they always leaked on me, and they are also unfortunately one use only. Supposedly one can have non-bloody sex with one of them in (you still have to use a condom, it is NOT a contraceptive!!!), but I haven't tested that capability. I'd just prefer the bloody sex rather than have something stuck inside me but hey, that's just me.

Have any of you tried a menstrual cup? How was your experience?