Why I'll Never Use Tampons Again #SckoonCup Review and Giveaway @Sckoon #Ad 6/30

***Thank you to SckoonCup for sponsoring this post. I was selected for this opportunity to review the product as a member of the Green Moms Network, and the content and opinions expressed here are 100% my own.***

Okay, so I have to say, I am not at all shy when it comes to talking about normal bodily functions. I've posted about my pooping habits before, and I have even talked about why no pregnant women should EVER try to induce labor by taking Castor Oil. (Seriously, ladies, not a good idea. If you want the gory details, check them outHERE.)

Anyway, I have not used tampons in a couple of years now. 3 years, to be exact. You see, something horrid happened, and I am lucky nothing bad happened to me. This is a totally true story, and kind of embarrassing. But, it's something that can happen to any woman, so it's definitely worth the humiliation of sharing. 

I was caring for Xander, who was a very challenging infant, and Sophie, who was just starting to run around the house. (My kids are a mere 12 months apart in age.) Anyway. I was exhausted and kind of forgot that I had a tampon in. It was towards the end of my period, and there was only light spotting. So I went to bed and completely forgot that I had left the tampon inside of me. The next morning, I went about my business and thought nothing of it. This happened the next day, and the next....I had forgotten about the tampon for over a WEEK. 

What clued me in? The disgusting, blackish, foul-smelling discharge that started happening in my nether regions. It smelled like something had died in my hoo-hah. Literally. I actually accused my very faithful husband of bringing home an STD, and made an appointment with my OBGYN. Who about died laughing when I was in a complete panic in his office.  I guess the string from the tampon somehow got "lost" inside of me, and it was just sitting up in there, rotting away. Gross, right? I am SO lucky I didn't end up getting TSS, (Toxic Shock Syndrome) which can be fatal. That day, I threw away my tampon stash for good. I switched to reusable menstrual cups, since they're made from medical grade, non-toxic materials, which are much, much safer than tampons and disposable pads. 

So recently, when I got the opportunity to try SckoonCup Menstrual Cup, I was excited. I have been using menstrual cups for 3 years now, but had never tried this particular brand. I've heard wonderful things about them, though, and absolutely love the different color options. Sure, it sounds silly to care what color a menstrual accessory is, but I think a bit of color makes the whole experience a bit more fun. And let's face it, ladies: ANYTHING that can make a period pleasant is A-OK in my book! I chose the Harmony color. Why? Well, it's pretty, and harmony is definitely something I could use a bit more of during that time of the month!

SckoonCup is made from a super-soft, medical grade silicone that is easy to clean and comfortable to wear. This cup comes in 2 size options:

Size 1: Small, for women who haven't previously given birth vaginally. Capacity 23ml

Size 2: Large, for women who have given birth vaginally. Capacity 30ml

I chose the Large, even though I have never actually pushed a baby out vaginally. I had 3 cesareans. However, after my last baby, I had my tubes tied, and as a result, I experience incredibly heavy bleeding. (The doc never warned me about the possible side effects of a tubal-ligation, and I totally regret the procedure now.) So I definitely wanted to extra capacity offered in the Large size. 

Anyway, back to the good stuff here. SckoonCup is probably the most comfortable menstrual cup I've ever used. Once it's in, you cannot feel it at all! If you can feel it, it's probably been inserted incorrectly. Don't worry...It takes a little while to get the hang of a menstrual cup. Once you've got it down, it becomes second nature. 

SckoonCup is designed to fit a woman's body perfectly and more important, comfortably. This cup has no writing or embellishments that can cause discomfort you-know-where. It's super soft and smooth, and stays in place beautifully thanks to the easy to clean, angled  suction holes. These little holes create a "seal" inside the vagina, keeping it where it needs to be. (No, the SckoonCup won't get lost in there!) 

If you've never used a menstrual cup before, it can be a bit intimidating. I know the first time I used one, I was very leery of shoving something so big inside of me. There are several different ways to fold the SckoonCup, and it's super-soft and flexible. Once you put it inside, all you need to do is adjust a bit and make sure that there is a seal, and boom! You've got perfect period protection! 

I've been using my SckoonCup for a couple of cycles now, and I absolutely love it. it's so simple to insert, and is easy to take out, too, thanks to the little stem at the bottom. If you find the stem irritating, you can trim it down with a pair of scissors. It doesn't bother me at all, though. In fact, I can't even feel it! Removing any menstrual cup can be tricky for new users, but once you get used to it, it can be done quickly and with very little mess, if any. 

My SckoonCup also contains my monthly flow quite well. I have not experienced any leaks, even when worn overnight. This is not something I can say about other cups I have tried. Still, I empty my SckoonCup a few times a day, just to make sure everything is fresh down there. 

So if you're curious about making the switch to a menstrual cup, I would definitely recommend SckoonCup. It's soft, flexible, and definitely does its job very well. There are no toxins in this product, so TSS is something you won't need to worry about. Not to mention, using a menstrual cup is eco-friendly, since it helps to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the Earth's landfills. Give it a shot! I think you'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was! 

How to Connect :

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Enter to WIN :

I am thrilled to announce that one lucky reader will receive their very own SckoonCup in the color and size of their choosing, along with one randomly selected SckoonPad! (Look for a review of these beautiful, reusable pads soon!) 

 How cool is that?!

Simply enter using the easy Rafflecopter form below!

This giveaway is open to US residents 18+ until 11:59PM EST on June 30, 2014. No PO Boxes. Winners will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. All entries will be verified, so play fair! I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. Thanks for entering, and Good Luck!

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