Diva cup users.... help!!!

[basset]

I have been using the diva cup (size 2) for one cycle so far.... I have no problem with insertion, or removal.... but leaking is another story. What am I doing wrong? I do the fold, insert, turns easily... feels comfy (now that I have slightly shortened the stem!) and still, leak, leak, leak!!!! Am I the only one who has this problem??? Any suggestions? This has to work for me. Cloth is not an option as I swim and spend time around water. Help!?!?!

[yelloq]

I like to pinch the base to make sure there is suction after insertion.

Are the holes clean? Some people find they have better luck by enlarging the holes, but I have no experience with this.

Could your cervix be outside of the cup? Are you inserting it almost horizontally or vertically?

[basset]

I aim for my lower spine. How would I know if my cervix is lined up with the cup? I would think that since I can turn it with ease then it would indicate that it is open and sealed, no???? Hmmm, I didn't do so well in anatomy I really want this to work as I have tried cloth and i can not handle feeling soaked (semi-heavy flow) and I am a crunchy gal. Could having 4 children vaginally make the cup leak? I am using a size 2 so I can't see that being a problem, right?

[Siennaflower]

I might be the odd one out, but when my Diva is in right I can't turn it easily at all unless I pinch it to release the suction. I think it sounds like you haven't gotten a good seal yet. I have issues with relaxing those muscles enough for the diva to settle into place and get a good seal. I have to insert it and relax doing something else for a while and then recheck it.

[cornflake girl]

How would I know if my cervix is lined up with the cup?

Reach in with one finger and feel around. I do this every time I insert it and way too often, sure enough, there's my cervix outside of the cup. At that point I can just push the cup into the right position. It'll feel kind of like a donut, but the hole in the middle is closed up.

[Contrariety]

The only time my diva has leaked at all is when i've been super active for a few hours and it worked its way deep in there, IYKWIM... maybe you are placing yours too far? the far reaches of the vag have a tendency to balloon out, if you will, so you need to keep it low in order to avoid the deep end of your vagina ballooning out and breaking the seal your cup has.

make sense??

[basset]

Thanks for all the responses. I have a tough time finding my cervix. I think it's about time I learned!!!! Like I said, I need this to work for me....and Mother Earth!!! If anyone has other suggestions, please feel free to leave one! Oh, can having 4 children affect the ability to use a Diva???? Again, Thanks!

[conniebonnie]

no, haveing 4 kids shouldnt effect it at all... i meant, your cervix is still your cervix, and although its slightly enlarged at the os, if thats inside the cup then its there .. you know?

[DevaMajka]

Originally Posted by cornflake girl

Reach in with one finger and feel around. I do this every time I insert it and way too often, sure enough, there's my cervix outside of the cup. At that point I can just push the cup into the right position. It'll feel kind of like a donut, but the hole in the middle is closed up.

That's what I do. It really hastens that "learning curve."

Your cervix will feel like a little nub.

[anotherKatrina]

If I don't get a good seal, mine will leak. To check the seal, first I twist it a few times. I make sure it's not too high. Then I put my finger on the stem and bear down as if I'm trying to push it out, but I use my finger to push it back in. Then I'm usually good to go. Your tweaks may end up being different that this one. Be patient and willing to experiment a little and you'll find what works for you.

[Ruthla]

I had leakage problems the first month- I used disposable pads as backup (since I'd been using dispsoable bads exclusively before that) and figured I'd get cloth pads for backup in the future. But the following month, there wasn't any leakage, so no need for anything for backup, so I don't have any cloth pads.

My suggestion is just to keep playing around with it. Are you around water all day, every day, or can you play around with it when you're able to be dry and wear tampons when in your swimsuit, at least during the learning curve?

[I-Love-Alaska]

I used the Diva Cup for the first time this cycle. At first I seemed to be putting it up too far, but even when I tried to leave it lower it seemed to sneak up higher. I feel like I need longer arms/fingers to get this buggar in and out. Any tips?

I hope by next month I'll get a better feel for this (no pun intended)!!

[yelloq]

The Diva tends to settle where it's right for your body. At least that's the hope To get it out, I sit down, try to relax (making sure your bottom jaw is loose can help), then bear down a few times.

[brogansmomma]

Mine needs to be high. My cervix actually needs to sit inside the rim of the cup (as far as I can tell).

[Funny Face]

I'm having problems with it leaking too. I insert it and can spin it a few times but it still leaks. Not like all of my flow is running straight out but it must be spilling around the edges or something. I can't imagine it being lower because the stem is pretty much even with the opening to my vagina. I'm hoping I can figure this out somehow... so far it's a mess.

I too leaked all over my swimwear today. :

[laoxinat]

One thing I noticed is that if I don't dry the cup before reinserting it, it will leak. I once had to walk out of the University library with my briefcase banging against the back of my legs so as to hide the unsightly, very LARGE stain.... :
But, drying the cup well seemed to do the trick. HTHs!!

[Contrariety]

Originally Posted by moodyred01

I'm having problems with it leaking too. I insert it and can spin it a few times but it still leaks. Not like all of my flow is running straight out but it must be spilling around the edges or something. I can't imagine it being lower because the stem is pretty much even with the opening to my vagina. I'm hoping I can figure this out somehow... so far it's a mess.

I too leaked all over my swimwear today. :

I had to cut my stem all the way off so that it could sit low enough not to leak. The stem was super irritating, so I just hacked it off. It's all groovy since then.

[snitker79]

I too had leaking problems and had never resolved them. I gave it up a few months ago, but will try it again using some tips I have seen here. It's hard to be patient with the darned thing when it's still leaking, causing a mess and everything already during a "trying" time of the month.

:

[Maluhia]

agreed - I cut off the damn stem and it helped

[I-Love-Alaska]

Wow- I swear I'd lose that thing of it wasn't for the stem!! Mine seems to go up, up and away!!