Diva cup help?

[mama2004]

Ok, so I haven't used applicator tampons since I was about 12. I have used sea sponges before. I have been trying the diva cup (off and on) for over six months now. Consistently for the last three cycles. Every time I try to use it, there is about a 90% chance that it will not open properly. I have begun to hate it because it honestly takes me 15 or 20 minutes in the bathroom, washing it and my hands, folding, trying, fishing it out, rinsing, folding, trying, fishing it out, lather, rinse, repeat.

I have seen (and bookmarked) the web page that describes different ways of folding it and have tried them all. I have tried it on the toilet, in the shower, tried to be really aware of relaxing/shifting my body subtly to try to get it to work. Thing is, even when I think it's in correctly, it is still leaking enough to stain my undies pretty well.

I want so badly to love this thing and for it to work. The one or two times that it performed well, it was really wonderful, but I just don't trust it, and I don't have the dedicated bathroom time/privacy to troubleshoot any old time. Today, I just gave up and went to the store for more tampons.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I had ds nearly three years ago and am over 30, so I have the larger size or whatever it is...

Thanks!

[jessica_s]

The only thing that really helped me was flipping the thing inside out. I still have some light leaking with a really heavy flow (but I have that with tampons too) so I'll take it. It leaked like crazy before I turned it inside out though.

Sometimes if I can't get it to pop open I pull it down (but not out) and usually it pops then I just push it back a tad. You really have to point almost back toward your spine with it, just pushing up usually gets leakage as well.

HTH

[blessedwithboys]

twist and pull down and wait for the pop

[mama2004]

Thanks for the replies--I've tried pushing it up and down a bit, but nothing seems to happen. When it unfolds, it just opens to a squished flat position a lot of the time, as if you were holding it in your hands just squished in half or flat.

I'll definitely try angling farther back next go round, maybe that will make a difference. And it never occurred to me to turn it inside out, I'll have to try that, too.

[Oonah]

are you inserting it in too far? That was my problem when I first starting using it. I pushed it in too far and it never would unfold properly. Now I insert it just just about 2/3 of the way in and let it unfold then push it in the rest of the way.

[mama2004]

Originally Posted by Oonah

are you inserting it in too far? That was my problem when I first starting using it. I pushed it in too far and it never would unfold properly. Now I insert it just just about 2/3 of the way in and let it unfold then push it in the rest of the way.

Maybe that's it. I do usually try to keep it folded until I have it all (or almost all) the way in. So you let it pop open before the bottom (say where the rings are on the bottom, not the stem) are in, or maybe a bit more than that? I was thinking that the times I could get it all the way in and open seemed to work best, but since my best is only about 10% of the time, obviously something is off. I'm definitely going to give that a try before I get to bed. Thanks!

[russsk]

I've had this problem. Usually if I kind of stand up a little or squat way down while twisting it will pop open. I don't try to keep it folded all the way in, though. Just kind of fold, insert, and hold near the bottom. It will open up a bit but still be squished. Then twist and squat/stand.

[pastrygirl]

Just seeing this thread now. For me, if it feels folded/indented once inside, that means it will leak. I have to make sure it opens before it gets all the way in. I also have to make sure that it spins freely once inside. If it doesn't, it leaks.