Hi all. I've browsed the tags and such before posting this question. I've been using my lunette for about 4 months. I've gotten a pretty good handle on it in that time, but I am still having some leaking issues. I will do the following and STILL it is prone to leaking.

1. Make sure it has fully opened.
2. Make sure it has properly sealed.
3. Make sure I cannot feel my any part of my cervix outside the cup.

It's comfortable. It's not full. But I still get leaking. Not your run of the mill slobber but actually leaking. I've checked the cup for holes or tears. Any idea what might be wrong, or what else I can do to ensure no leaking? I don't mind using cloth pads as an occasional back-up on my very heavy days, but I don't want it to leak when it is 1/4 of the way full!

I am a 24 year old who has never had children, using a small lunette. I do yoga and I am a not a virgin but I am a bit tight, so I figured it was the best bet. But now I don't know why to think. Does it sound like it is a fit issue? I would love my lunette to death if it didn't leak. It's comfy, not painful to insert or removal, and easy to clean. I'm hoping I might be missing something. Thanks so much to anyone with any suggestions!

I finally won one on EBAY;-)  I paid $19.99....Yay!!

I love my Diva Lg. but it tends to leak so I decided to try a ladycup. I 'kinda' did research but I didn't do any measuring...........I'm not SURE why my cup leaks SOME TIMES but anyhoo, I just wanted to try a new cup and this one is GREEN:-)   I hope to get before my period starts.  I'll be sure to tell ALL that happens:-)

I have been in talks with MPower about possibly stocking them on my website.
As far as I am aware up until now they have been limited to South Africa only.
I have a few concerns about stocking them and I don't think I will stock them - but would value your input on one issue raised.
I asked if they sell them in different sizes and the reply was that there is only one size available. The reason given is this - 

We only have one size - the two size cups are a marketing gimmick. This size is good for most women. We are bringing out a teenage size , smaller and more rounded on the top so as to appear less scary for the younger market.

My views are firstly that this is an outrageous comment to make. Cups come in different sizes so that they can fit different women. This company doesn't appear to understand women's needs and the market that they are selling to. They also contradict themselves by then saying that they are bringing out another size. Also, are the younger market scared of cups!!??

 

I'm planning to move to the UK in a year or two, and I also want a Lunette or Fleurcup. Could any one of you tell me how long it would take to pay for itself - cost is 25 GBP, from what I've seen.
FWIW, I have a really light flow - I use about 5 XL ultra pads, and 5 liners per cycle.

Edit: Basically, my question comes down to - how much would 5 XL ultrathins and 5 liners cost in the UK?

(I love love love cups but it's really hard for me to justify buying another just 6 months after my first!)

I was having a lot of trouble with my size 1 Diva. It wouldn't go in, I was certain it wouldn't fit, and I was just sick of trying. Tampons give me panic attacks (TSS symptoms immediately upon insertion), and pads are itchy and smelly, but it looked like I was going to have to go back to disposables anyway. I was ready to give up, but then with the help of a number of people from this community, I caved and ordered a small LadyCup from eBay. It should arrive in a couple of weeks (it's coming from the Czech Republic and I'm in central Canada), but I'm excited to try something smaller that may actually work for me.

Before it arrives, does anyone have any advice for a first time user...a 19 year old virgin?

So, I got my replacement Divacup in the mail today (the first one had a crack near one of the holes). And it turns out that the replacement cup has almost the same exact defect as the first one! There's a deep and very noticeable tear in both the inside and outside of the rim above one of the holes.

I'm not even going to bother anymore with trying to get a good Divacup. Iherb.com has fantastic customer service and I know that this is the fault of the Diva company and not iherb. It seems as if Diva sent out a whole batch of defective cups or something, because I have no idea how else this could happen twice to me in a row. I mean what are the odds? And it's interesting that there have been other people on this same community with seemingly the same problem.

So I have to say that just based on the quality of the product, I like my Keeper Mooncup better right now.

Maybe instead of a Divacup, I'll get a Lunette when I have the money and when they become available in the US again.

Hi all!
I recently bought a small (Size B) Mooncup UK (I'm in Europe), and I already have a Divacup, which I discovered works just fine. My sister had mentioned that she wanted to try a menstrual cup, but when I offered her the Mooncup, she declined. So, out of curiousity, I did a "dry run" for maybe 5 minutes in the shower, and then I took it out and cleaned it very well, and soaked it in peroxide. The price on the Mooncup site is 20 GBP, which is about $32. I'm willing to sell it for $28 including shipping. I am also willing to haggle or trade! The Mooncup came with the yellowish color, which I've heard they do, so I had nothing to do with that, haha. Oh, I also trimmed the stem a little bit because I got ahead of myself, but it's not much at all.

( Pictures! )

First things first:  I bought the Diva Cup... I didn't even realize there were other brands out there available in Canada until I had already bought it.  Little freaked out about the size, because although I got size one and I am not a virgin so have had much larger things in there (TMI, I know lol!), it just seemed so big compared to say a tampon.  Plus, the first couple times I had it in I could definitely feel it... it felt almost like a constant cramp.

I switched to the punch-down fold, didn't insert it horizontally (well, that wasn't even an option with my vaginal canal, I had no idea what they were talking about lol), but still used the turn to seal like Diva cup recommended.  Now I can barely feel it (it sits lower, so I do notice it if I am thinking about it).  No leaks the past two times, but I still wear panty-liners out of habit from the tampon days.

I never thought I would be one of those people to say I would never go back to tampons/pads, but seriously, unless I absolutely have to, I won't be going back.   I was so tired of trying to pee with a tampon in.... holding that damn string and making sure I wasn't going on myself and trying to figure out how to wipe without dirtying the string, etc, etc.  How gross!

On a brighter note, I have officially decided that if I ever have to teach sex-ed (I am in the education field), at least now when I have to do the "entering puberty" lecture with the girls I can show this option.  They may not be ready for it then, but if it is shown as a normal, not weird option when they are pre-teens, they will be more comfortable with the idea once they do want a better option.

So, just thought I would share my success!  Thanks so much to this community.... I would have never known about the different folds without it, which was the key to my success!

so i have been using my DivaCup for about...7-8 months now, and after I finished my last cycle, I was super itchy and dry for the next four or five days afterwards. i thought it might have been a yeast infection, but i didn't have any of that yeast-scented discharge, and it went away without my having to use monistat or anything like that. i was reading in the tags about itchiness associated with cup use and how it might have something to do with how often i use soap on it. i have been using the same soap, Aveeno Baby wash (unscented) for the entire use of my cup, and it has never affected me before, so I thought it was strange that it would start creating dry, itchiness in my vag this time around. i don't think i did anything differently this cycle, so what could it be? is it a one-time fluke? should i switch what i use to clean it (even though its worked well in the past)? is it sometimes just "normal" to be very itchy and dry sometimes at the end of a cycle, and i've just never experienced it before?
all advice is more than welcome!!

So first time with the menstrual cup thing (I have the Diva Cup), and this has probably been answered, but I read through and still am not sure if it has.  Anyways, I have two questions....

a)  I tried my cup last night... 9 hours, some leaking, and it wasn't even close to overflowing.  Second time I put it in, I decided to try the seven-fold instead of the C-fold that was recommended in the instructions, and I had a ton of leaking with that one.  As in, I don't think it was blocking anything lol!  After about 45 minutes, I took it out (see second question for main reason for take-out), but I plan on trying again before bed... maybe the punch fold this time.  Should I be able to feel if it is "suctioned" in?  I mean, it feel suctioned on removal, but not really while it is in there, although when I put my finger around it as much as I can, it feels as if it is unfolded.  I tried the turn thing recommended by the Diva Cup instructions, and I also tried kiegels the second time (which seemed tougher than usual with that in there, so maybe I need to work my muscles some more), but obviously it wasn't sealed the second time, and the first time it might have been, but it didn't feel any different then the second time.  So should I be able to tell if it is suctioned in well, and if so, how do I tell?

b)  I always get cramping with my period, but I noticed when I have the cup in, I get a pain in the front of my abdomen.  I don't think it is anywhere near my cervix, despite being the longer brand of cup, since I tried checking with my fingers.  That said, my fingers are on the stubby side.  However, I figured maybe I am inserting it wrong, cuz I totally do not get how to insert something horizontally into my vaginal canal.  It isn't horizontal!  I mean, slightly tilted towards my tailbone I can do, but not horizonally like the instructions said.  So I am thinking I am totally missing something, and maybe wrong insertion is what is causing the pain (andpossibly the leaking too).

The pain isn't anything I can't deal with... seriously, taking a tylenol for it would be overkill, but it is noticable, and paired with my first question, it makes me think I am doing this wrong.  So basically, any tips on knowing I have it sealed would be great, and also any information on what they mean by inserting it horizontally (do they just mean towards the tailbone?)!  Thank you so much!!!

I've had a keeper for a while, but never really liked it.  I want to replace it and I"m looking for advice for which cup to go with.  Here are my problem's with the keeper:

Itchiness:  It causes external itchiness.  I've had lots of medical care and never had a latex allergy issue, so I think this is just from the rubbing, but it causes my labia to itch.  Do any of the other brands glide better?

Firmness:  The keeper is pretty stiff.  I've seen that the lunette and the ladycup are softer, but I couldn't find any comparisons between the two.  Are they about the same?  Any other suggestions?

thanks,
Sonia

Hi There!

This is my first time on Livejournal and with my Diva Cup so I'm really excited!

So anyways, this is my first time with my diva cup and I'm 14 years old.  

( Read more... )

And from the time I've been wearing my cup, I get light to medium cramps and usually I don't get cramps. Could this be because I'm not used to my cup yet?

Apologies if this was asked already (I couldn't find it in the camping tag), but I have a question about using a cup while backpacking in the wilderness. What exactly do you do with the blood? I was thinking about digging holes in the dirt and burying the blood in those, but was worried it could attract bears (we'll be in grizzly bear country). Does anyone know, or have any other ideas???

I got an email today from DIVA responding to the email stating that I needed my cup so I would no longer be sending it back. They said they would send a new cup out so that I would not have to wait. I had to email back explaining that I had to modify the stem and the hole that was not punched so I understood that it was not returnable. They were very kind and are still sending the new cup because of the issues that I have been dealing with over the last month. I also do not have to return the modified cup that will fail soon enough. Apparently, they were very interested in this cup because the manufacturing issue was something that they don't normally experience.

I am happy with the resolution and the fact that they acknowledged that since the email showed the issue that my new cup should have been in the mail with a return shipping envelope for return. I figured if I posted my issues with the customer service that I should let everyone know the outcome

Mooncup UK  Ad right there at the top of my LJ Friends Page! Awesome!

Okay, so I've started my period and I've been unable to use my cup so far because...

The water heater in my house broke and they won't be able to come and replace it for the next few days! So while I would normally wash my cup with each removal using hot water from the sink (or shower) with soap, I am unable to do so now.

My question: Is there a convenient and effective cleaning method I can use for the next few days until the water heater is fixed? I browsed through the cleaning tags, and I know that there are solutions that people mix up to clean their cups but those seem more like "between cycle" cleaning methods, not "on the toilet" cleaning methods.

I hope someone has some kind of temporary alternative for me because I do not want to go back to tampons after all the chaos I endured learning how to use it correctly. I'm a germaphobe so cold water doesn't really sound like it'd do the job.

Okay, so I know that the cervix changes positions during the cycle, but how much?

I put my lunette in last night, and the stem was sticking out considerably and uncomfortably.  It wouldn't go up any higher, so clearly my cervix was quite low.  This morning, when I got to take it out, it's so high that  I was in past my first knuckle to get a good grip on the stem.  This makes it inconvenient in that I have to leave the stem on in order to take it out (I could probably trim it a little more...), but for the first part of my period, it's sticking out.

Does anyone elses's cervix change positions so drastically?  Do you just deal with the poky stem when your cervix is low?

My guy friend said he was going to get me a menstrual cup with Thor's hammer emblazoned on it...which I thought was pretty sweet. That is, if customizable cups existed. Which begs the question, if such cups did exist, what image would you want on your cup?

It was mentioned in an earlier post about when the MeLuna XL would be available and also the other colours.
I emailed the company and have had a very quick reply.
The MeLuna XL will hopefully be available by the beginning of August, the colours by mid July - soon, then!
I am waiting on the English leaflet before my order can be processed. The leaflet will be ready about the end of July.

I know you are all anxiously waiting....

Teresa
http://www.femininewear.co.uk
Washable Menstrual Products

Fleurcups are now available on the Feminine Wear website. However, we can only post to countries within the European Union.

http://www.femininewear.co.uk/fleurcup-m-37.html

Hi all! I have been reading THE community, and I have to say it is amazing and just great! I found the answers to all my questions! This is my second period trying to use a cup and I am so excited, I really want to be able to use it, I don't ever want to put a tampon on, but something is not right!

I had a large Diva last month, and I experienced a sensation of light pressure and tickling on my throat and light pressure on my head, and light nausea and dizziness. I read here that too much suction or pressure on the cervix could cause this reaction; however, in the entries I read the reaction was really bad with pain and fainting, I never experience any of this.

After reading up I enlarged the Diva wholes, and cut the stem (so that it would not be so high up) and this helped a bit. But I still had the reaction so I got a beautiful Large LilacCup, I thought squishiness and larger wholes would put less pressure and suction. I tried and it was fine, then when I took it out (5 hrs later) and put it back in the reaction was really strong! ;( I could not leave it to sleep with. I tried again this morning and I have the reaction very light, I think I have to put it in a way that does not push or suck up so badly on my cervix. The thing is I don't experience any pain or discomfort in my vagina! And it is a lot better than with the Diva, but I cannot reach that high up to check if it is pressure or suction.

I have tried to pinch the bottom and suck the cup up a bit with my muscles, move it to the sides to let more air in so the suction or pressure will be less (mind you, the pressure on my head and throat), but I cannot accomplish it. My finger won’t get all the way up to the rim to let more air in...

So my questions after a long story...

1 - Has anyone experienced this, does it go away? It is not really something I want to get used to.

2 - How else can I get more air in the cup to release the suction? Is it that I am not doing the pinching, sucking, and moving for long enough?

3 - How would you check if the problem is pressure or suction if you can get your fingers up to the rim (and I can get at least 6 cm in) to check where the cup is with respect to the cervix? Never had any leaks so the rim is all the way around the vagina walls

4 - Maybe I am putting it up too high? How do I know that is high enough (just at the entrance of the vagina?) I would like to wear it as low as possible. I already cut the stem off the LC

5 - Would a stiffer cup help?

Thank you so much! And sorry for the long post!

I know people often ask, "Did anybody switch from cup X to cup Y?" so here's my switch if anyone wants this particular story.

When I first got a cup, it was either Diva or Mooncup UK - those were the only ones. I went with the Mooncup (small) because it was supposed to be softer and shorter.

It took me about 3 months to get comfortable using it.

Then, a while ago, I LOST it. Fell out of my bag. I felt so stupid, before leaving the house, I saw it in there and thought, "I should put that away." Of course, I lost it somewhere that day. I took lots of papers in and out of the bag. It must have fallen out sometime. I guess someone at work will find an interesting item on the floor.

So - I would have replaced it, but Mooncup UK stopped shipping here and wanted me to buy from the local dealer which was super expensive. So I branched out. Considered a color cup but never quite won on ebay, and it was just before all those other companies started coming out with them.

Finally I got a Lunette from Sarah-May on ebay.co.uk. I wanted a Selene but they didn't have them in small in stock and I was desperate. Customer service was excellent.

The difference is that the Lunette is much, much more flexible than the Mooncup - the Mooncup's big rim gives it a lot more shape. I tried it, and for me, it was really hard to get it to pop open. I had this even a little with the Mooncup with the stiff rim. It was hard for me to get it in and mess with it - I tend to tense up when I'm messing with a cup.

But it did open and all. I am sure I'll like it, but I'm afraid I'll have to go through the learning curve all over again (hopefully faster since I've done it before). Anyone switch cups and have the new one be very different?

I always thought I wanted the softest cup, easiest to insert...but didn't consider the popping open - so keep that in mind. I guess I'm glad I didn't go with a color cup, because they are supposed to be even softer. Lunette seems slightly smaller, and is easier to clean. I had cut the stem off the Mooncup totally, but the soft tab stem, I might be able to leave on, at least partially. It's a pretty cup. The Mooncup is much thicker and sturdier feeling, the Lunette is delicate. Hopefully I'll get used to the change.

So that's my input. Love to hear from others about switching cups. Wish Mooncup hadn't done the shipping thing or I probably would have gotten another. I'll update when I use it a few more times and tell how long it takes to get used to the Lunette.

EDIT UPDATE: I use the regular C fold on the Lunette, which never would have worked with the Mooncup, which I had to punch-down...but the Lunette won't open that way. It is softer so if I fold it that much, it doesn't open. It's also harder to break the seal for me, but it works just as well, and adjustment was a day or so, not like starting over.

*mod approved*

I found this contest to win a free Keeper menstrual cup and I thought I'd pass it along. I personally use one and love it! It doesn't look like there are too many entries, so you may have a pretty good chance. Good luck winning!

I lost the unbleached cotton storage bag that came with my Mooncup. Is there any way to get another one without buying another mentrual cup? It doesn't need to have the Mooncup logo or anything- just anything with the same functionality would be great. I was given to believe that storing it in a plastic bag would be bad. So far, I've been storing it either on a cloth on my desk or in a cotton sock- but the residual detergent in the sock/dust in the air can't be good. Plus, neither method is terribly attractive.
Any suggestions? Thank you!

I've been using my DivaCup for about a year, and have been on HBC for about 4 years. I've never had unprotected sex and both my partner and I are STD free-untested but no symptoms. Last august I got switched to a low estrogen HBC(without me knowing, yay!) and developed a yeast infection-but, the thing is, my body has a really, really high pain tolerance, and is very adept at hiding infections, so I didn't know. It didn't really bother me, occasional itchies but it would go away before becoming a concern. I wasn't sexually active at the time, so I really didn't detect it.
A few months ago when I met my partner and became sexually active again it started really hurting and causing pain. After the first two or three times I couldn't have sex, it was too painful, and the yeast infection came full force. I treated it with Monestat one day (NEVER AGAIN), it was disgusting but seemed to work. After I got my next period- my first after switching back to my High Estrogen HBC-I got another yeast infection, not as bad as the first, though, but by now I had learned to spot the symptoms my body was trying to hide. I started using tea tree oil on my cup before insertion(Again, HIGH pain tolerance made this bearable, it barely hurt!) and it went away. The next period I used the tea tree oil the entire time and didn't get one. This period, however, I ran out-and was on vacation in a spot which isn't exactly well stocked. I had a little I used sparingly, but not enough to fend of a yeast infection. I managed to find a new bottle, but it was too late and the infection had set in. I used TTO and it BURNED like never before, really hurt, I couldn't figure out why. Today I got home and looked with a mirror-there is a sore just below my labia, which is what I'm assuming the oil hurt. It looks like a pimple-not a canker. But this is coupled with soreness of my vagina, made worse I think by having the cup in.
I'm sick of getting an infection after every period! Is there anything I can do about this? I soak my cup in hydrogen peroxide and water for a day or two, and boil it every few months-and lately after every period which is followed by a yeast infection. The infection seems to start when I start taking my HBC pill again after the week of placebos(which I don't take). The tea tree oil works, but ever since the stinging and sore I'm worried abotu using it again?
I'm planning on seeing a natropath, since my doctor will just prescribe me something to bandaid the problem, but is there anything I can do in the meantime?