What is The Keeper, you ask? The Keeper is a small, internally worn, natural rubber (same rubber that is used for making baby bottle nipples) menstrual cup and is a great alternative to tampons and disposable pads. It is reusable, and lasts longer than any other product we know of (product life of 10 years and comes with a convenient storage pouch). The Keeper, manufactured since 1986, is made without the chlorine, absorbency gels, glues, scents, fibres, metals, and other ingredients found in most tampons. It is comfortable, convenient, and easy to use—simply insert it, and when it’s full, empty, rinse, re-insert, and you’re ready to go. The Keeper holds up to one ounce; most women menstruate between two to four ounces over the course of their cycle, about four to six tablespoons, and will only have to empty their Keeper one, two, or three times during the day.
Why are there two sizes?
The Keeper comes in two sizes: size A, for women who have had a vaginal childbirth, and size B, for everyone else (including women who have given birth by cesarian section). The differences are slight, but can be important for a good fit. The size A Keeper is slightly larger in diameter, and the rubber is somewhat more flexible, to allow it to conform to a vagina that has been stretched by childbirth. The difference in size is not noticeable when you are inserting or removing the Keeper. Each size holds one ounce.
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Because of what we’ve all heard about the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) with tampons, women are sometimes cautious about using an internal menstrual product. The Keeper is different from tampons. Cases of TSS are usually linked to high absorbency tampons—the higher the absorbency, the greater the risk of TSS. (In a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, each one-gram increase in tampon absorbency increased the risk of TSS by 34 percent.) The Keeper does not absorb your menstrual flow, but simply catches it. More than a decade of use by women around the world have shown the Keeper to be a low-risk product where TSS and other infections are concerned. There are no reported cases of TSS linked to the Keeper.
In our opinion, the Keeper is safer than conventional pads and tampons. Hygiene is important; as with tampons, be careful to wash your hands well before inserting or removing your Keeper. And do empty and rinse your Keeper at least once during every 12 hours. If you know you have the bacterium linked to TSS, please use internal menstrual products carefully, if you use them at all. And if you are in any doubt, check with your health care provider.
Saving Money
The Keeper costs more upfront than a box of pads or tampons. Unlike pads or tampons, though, you only buy it once. Add up the costs for yourself. Calculate how much you spend now on menstrual supplies every month. Then see how quickly, buying disposables every month, you would spend the equivalent of the price of the Keeper. That’s how quickly you will break even on your purchase of the cup. Every menstrual cycle after that is ‘free.’ Think of it.
Comfort
Like tens of thousands of other satisfied Keeper users around the world, we find the Keeper to be one of the most comfortable internal products we have ever used. We’ve tried tampons, sponges, and another version of a menstrual cup. Nothing is as comfortable or works as well for us as the Keeper. Even better, as with Lunapads, some women find that their cycle is shorter once they start using the Keeper. It’s hard to say why this would be, but several women have reported this connection. Some women have also said they have stopped getting yeast infections with the Keeper. Many have said that they generally feel better about their cycle and more positive about their bodies. It’s not hard to understand why that should be true. Products that are kinder to our bodies and more environmentally sensitive can help us feel we’re doing something good for ourselves during a time of each month that we’re generally taught to be ashamed of and to hide. That’s empowering.
Convenience
Imagine a menstrual product small enough to fit in your back pocket, discreet enough to slip into an evening bag, light enough to carry on a backpacking trip around the world, simple to use wherever you are. Imagine never again having to run to the store for supplies. Imagine putting $5 or $10 extra dollars in your wallet every month. Imagine that one small, flexible cup is all you need. This is the convenience of the Keeper.
