We tend to take a lot for granted. Once upon a time, for example, women were not allowed to enter or run in the Boston Marathon. Kathrine Switzer broke that barrier.

She knew she had to finish.

I'm not easily grossed out. Thanks for the info on the disposables! I think I'll give them a try! 

I used to use the disposable version-- think the version was "Instead," and you could buy it at the drugstore. I LOVED it, because I had very heavy periods and tampons just couldn't keep up. (Luckily I have an IUD now, and no periods since I had it put in 3 years ago!)

It was a little tricky to learn how to put it in at first, and if it's not inserted all the way you can feel it against your pubic bone when you stand up and move it around. But once you get it correctly set in place, you don't feel it at all-- or at least, I didn't. Zero trouble with leakage, either, because the topmost ring piece fits closely enough around the cervix that it's not going to "miss" anything, and they hold a LOT so I never had any risk of overflow at all.

It's probably not the best choice if you're easily squicked out, between getting a bit on your fingers when you insert it, and then pulling it out and rinsing it in the "clean" toilet bowl before wrapping and disposing. But honestly no worse than a tampon, in my experience.

I don't know how much the reusable ones cost, but you can get a sample pack of the disposable ones for $2.50 with free shipping if you want to try it out for a day.

Lucky sends love to Miss Gabby!!