I can't believe I didn't try the Diva Cup earlier!?! - Page 2

[angela&avery]

im on day one with mine

i put mine in last night and all went fine, then it leaked bit so i took it out and cleaned it and reinserted it... i was fine for 2 hours and it leaked, so i took it out and cleaned it and reinserted it (it wasnt full)

question... i think this time i got it in right, but wanted to ask... it seems that i tried to keep it folded too long, this time I let it open JUST behind the vulva... and pushed it up by the tip... does this seem right?? it definately seemed to spin easier and i wonder if this creates a better suction??


sorry if TMI.. i have my pin on one of my backpacks!!!

Also.. funny story, I was telling my Bƒƒ about it and when i said Diva cup she goes.... oh those mugs at hallmark??? LOL. i was like... noooooooo

[angela&avery]

ok, it leaked again, so i think i may have been inserting it too far? does this make sense? how easy is it supposed to be to spin.... i know its opening up all the way bc it kind of snaps open right behind the opening as im putting it in...

well i tried inserting it lower this time.... so the tip is even sticking out.. maybe my tip needs to be trimmed.....

[EnviroBecca]

Keeper vs. Diva: I had a Keeper pre-pregnancy and got a Diva after. I used to have occasional leaks with the Keeper and have had none with the Diva, but that may be more about my personal details or changes from giving birth than a difference between the two brands. The main differences IMO are appearance, smell, and position of the tiny holes. Because the Diva is transparent, you can see when you get it clean, whereas the Keeper is dark brown and I often found myself squinting at it to look for dried flow in the crevices. The Keeper smells like rubber (like Converse sneakers!) whereas the Diva has no odor; I'm not saying that while you're using the Keeper the smell would be noticeable to people around you or anything, just that it's noticeable when you're handling it and it's kind of weird. The tiny holes, which are there to help break the suction when removing the cup, are in the very top rim of the Diva but underneath the lowest part of the rim of the Keeper. Part of the leakage I had with the Keeper was from very tiny amounts of flow getting through those holes once the cup filled that high. Overall, I prefer the Diva, but the Keeper is an excellent product too, way better than tampons or Instead!

Clots: First of all, compared to using tampons, you probably won't have as many clots because the cup's gentle suction helps to pull the flow out of the uterus, whereas a tampon blocks up the vagina and clots tend to form on top of it. If you do have clots, they'll just be in the cup; no problem.

Public restrooms: Just wipe and reinsert. I WOH and have to empty every 2-3 hours the first 2 days, but it's not a problem. I just wash the cup with soap and clear the little holes once a day at home. I've never had an infection or anything that would indicate the cup was not clean enough. In fact, I've had FEWER urinary tract infections than I used to when I used tampons; I don't know if there's a connection or it's just a coincidence.

: Happy cupping!

[proudmomof4]

That sounds great - I have been considering getting one and I just read on their site that you also get it in Germany. What is the most convenient place to mail-order it from the U. S. (to China!!!)?

[ChinaDoll]

OP - it took me a couple of years before I finally caved; I love mine!

proudmom, I ordered from MooncupUK and had it delivered to China (Gansu) with no problems.

[KittyDanger]

I can't reach my cervix. Would I have trouble breaking the suction to get it out?

[ChinaDoll]

it might take some practice, but you can break suction by pinching the bottom

[JElaineB]

Originally Posted by KittyDanger

I can't reach my cervix. Would I have trouble breaking the suction to get it out?

No, it sits very low - lower than a tampon.

[SeekingJoy]

How long should a cup last? I read on one site that sells Diva cups that it should be replaced annually. I'm not sure that would ctuallt save me money or help the environment.

[prescottchels]

Diva cups so rock! Woo Hoo!
I've used one, the same one for 3 or 4 years w/o replacing, so replacing annually sounds silly to me, but maybe it depends on how it's cared for?
Here's a story for ya'll! I have to replace mine, cuz I killed it. Sometimes, even with regular soapy washings by the end of my period it has a funky smell so I'd boil it on the stove, but I walked away, got distracted and well it kinda ran out of water and didn't exactly melt, but some areas did get weakened and eventually cracked so out it went, but otherwise I wouldn't have had to replace it for who knows how long.

A note on public restrooms... some places have a family restroom (one toilet and sink w/a larger space to accommodate strollers, wheel chairs and several people) Look for those! They're great! A whole big bathroom all to yourself to do what ya need to do!

Angela&avery-it's not possible to insert it too far UNLESS you've got it up so high and/or to one side so that your cervix is outside the cup or only partially aligned w/it. And definitely make sure it spins easily and is open all the way. There's a learning curve for sure. Stick w/it! It often takes a cycle or 2 before you get the hang of it.

Keep on Diva Cuppin everybody!
Cheers,
Chelsie

[homewithtwinsmama]

I just got AF

after 23 month without (pregnancy and nursing), but I have the Diva Cup for me and one for dd when hers comes (all signs are its gonna be soon). I didn't use it this month because it came and I hadn't reviewed the directions for a while. Good to read all these hints. Next time I will be ready. Yeah for a tampon free pool season!!!!

[saimeiyu]

I got a lunette b/c I read somewhere that it's smaller than the Diva... and yet I still think it might be a little big... I am fine using it for the first day or two, sometimes even three, but by that third or fourth day, I think I'm swollen or something because it's just impossible to get it in right. Plus I think the little tabby thing irritates me, but I can't use it without it.
The thing is, I like it a lot better than pads-- it's SO much cleaner... and I like Insteads, but they leak for me. :sighs: I don't know what to do.

[AFWife]

Okay, I was considering it...but after reading this thread you guys have me SOLD!

I'm definitely buying one soon. We're still BFing so I hope I wont' have to worry about it for several months. But I'm DREADING the return of AF...partially because I have a really heavy flow and it gets messy.


On public restrooms...if you can fit a little peri bottle in your purse couldn't you do that and rinse it out that way? I mean, if you aren't using that space for pads and tampons why not?

[proudmomof4]

I just ordered one via a German pharmacy (will get it on my home visit in July). As I just turned 40 it maybe won't be that much longer but then I started late, so who knows?

[HybridVigor]

I use the Diva Cup, and I will never go back to pads! :

I have little to no cramping compared to using other disposable products, I feel cleaner, I can go swimming or do other active things without worry, and I LOVE IT. It took me 3 or 4 cycles to get comfortable enough to use it without a back up pad, but it was worth the learning curve.

I have a heavy flow, and I have to change it every few hours on heavy days, but it's still less of a hassle than anything else. Besides, it's so GREAT as an environmental alternative...:

I have two so that (if I'm out) I can empty the bloody one into the toilet, put it in a wet bag and insert a fresh one. When I get to a sink (and won't gross anyone out) I rinse out, dry it, and store it for the next time.

If I can reach a sink and have privacy, I don't even need to use the back up (but I could if I wanted to).

[KittyDanger]

I got mine over the weekend and I LOVE it!

[Starflower]

I've used one of these for over a year now. This last period was really heavy and I had a couple of overflows. That mainly means I need to change it out more often. Because I have a very heavy flow with clots, sometimes it is a bit of a pain having to change it out more often, but it's really no worse than having to change out tampons.

Once my heaviest days are over, the cramping subsides and I can actually almost forget I even have my period! And when I get tired of having something "in there" toward the end (I have a long cycle) I just use a Glad rag for a day.

They sell it here now at the natural food stores, but I ordered mine mine about 3 years ago from the Diva company website and it was shipped from Canada.

[proudmomof4]

Originally Posted by Starflower

(...) Once my heaviest days are over, the cramping subsides and I can actually almost forget I even have my period! And when I get tired of having something "in there" toward the end (I have a long cycle) I just use a Glad rag for a day.

And if you want to you could still use something cloth for a day or two. (That's what I am doing right now - combination of tampons and cloth. I must have saved a significant amount of disposable pads in the past 10 years.)
You really got me curious - I hope it works out for me!

[pixiekisses]

I love my mooncup!
It's so comfortable, I usually forget that I have my periode, I don't get dry "in there", and it doesn't hurt like with tampoons. And I feel clean and good. It's fantastic. I can also go on vacations, and visits, without worrying at all.
You can also go in the pool with it, and don't have to change between every bath like you have to with tampoons, because it doesn't suck up any water making it a good place for bacteria.
I've never had any leaks (I did with tampoons), and I've used it for many years now.

I've had one that's like the Keeper earlier, made of rubber, and it didn't think it was as comfortable as my mooncup made of silicone. The mooncup is softer, and it doesn't smell weird.

Re. public restrooms, I always have a water bottle with me (I need to drink a lot of water) and I used that the one time I had to empty it in a public restroom. I emptied it and rinced it with water from the bottle before inserting again. And I also have Antibac (hand sanitizer) with me always, so I took some of it on my hands before going out of the stall so I could actually wash my hands right away and not gross myself out.

However, I usually just empty it when I get up in the morning and when I go to bed at night. That's enough for me, I don't have a heavy flow. It's never more than half full. And I wash it in the shower every morning. When my period is done I wash it and then boil it for a few minutes before I put it away. (It has it's very own, small cooking pot used only for that. Kept out of kids reach. )

And re. clots, I used to have clots with tampons, now I don't have any.

[azedazobollis]

I love my Diva Cup!!!!!