Hello everyone. :) I started using my small Divacup for the first time on my period over Saturday night. So far I really like it, but I do have some questions and would appreciate if anyone had any suggestions/answers/experiences/you get the point. :P
 

( My Q's )

 

I've had some interesting revelations lately regarding my vagina (could be a bit TMI), and thought you would enjoy hearing them, as well as a bit of brand comparison.

I purchased a Divacup (size 1) about eight months ago and have been pretty satisfied with it. I have never had any problems with insertion or getting it to pop open, and can easily get my finger in alongside it to "swirl" it.  The only problem I've encountered is that I apparently have a short vagina, and the Diva has always been too long. As per the recommendations here, I flipped it inside out, and while it still sticks out of me it's not really uncomfortable. I have considered getting another shorter cup and when I saw the trial Ladycup offfer, I got a small bluecup. I've used it for about a week and a half now (waiting for my period to come, and for my period) and it hasn't split yet. However, it appears that the diameter is just too small for me. While having a bowel movement a few days ago, it POPPED OUT of me into the toilet. I was really suprised, as this had always been a concern for me while using the Divacup, but had never actually happened. After fishing it out and cleaning it up, I reinserted it and went on with my day. I figured it was just a fluke, until the same thing happened to me AGAIN this afternoon. The first time, I kind of felt it when it when it happened, but this time, I didn't even know it had fallen out until I went to take it out to empty it and it WASN'T THERE. I pictured my vagina as a waterslide, with my cup sliding happily out of me into the toilet.

So, I really like the length of the Bluecup, the softness as compared to the Diva (thought it does make a bit more slippery and difficult to remove), and the huge, easy to clean holes. I'll probably continue to use it along with the Diva, depending on the day. I guess my vagina is just short and squat, which is not something that seems to be a problem with most people here, but maybe some of you can relate : )

I really don't know if cups are for me. I had a diva cup for 6 months or so, and it never worked for me. I'm pretty sure it was way too big for me. A couple of months ago I got my lady cup. My first period with it was okay. After a couple of times I could get it in right. The first time, however, it leaked, and I have no idea why. After that, it was okay. So my period is "scheduled" to start tomorrow and since I usually get it in the really early hours of the morning, I was going to go ahead and stick the cup in so I wouldn't have to worry about it. I also planned on wearing a pad as a just in case. I thought I had gotten it in right, but apparently not. I could feel it sticking out of me, which is so weird because last month I had absolutely no problems with it poking out. I love the long stem, it makes it so much easier/cleaner to take it out for me, and I really don't want to cut it. Could it be I just didn't have it in right? And it might be a little TMI here but it also, like, blocked me from being able to use the bathroom.
On top of it poking out, I can't get it to pop open. Is it supposed to happen right away? Because I had this same problem with my diva cup. I've tried the C fold, 7 fold, and the punch down fold. None work for me. The way it worked for me last month way me putting it in using one of the folds, then pulling it out just about all the way so that it would fill with air and seal. Then I had to try to push it back up inside of me. And that is PAINFUL! So help is appreciated, if not, I might just go back to pads. I'd rather use a cup, but I feel like it shouldn't be this difficult.

Edit: Just in case it might help any of you in giving me advice... I usually put the cup in with one leg up on the counter, and standing on the other. The only other way that I have found that works for me is laying down, and I can't do that in a bathroom.

I'm mad. Last month, I tried my newly delivered LilacCup, and after 24 hours use it split. LadyCup sent me a replacement very promptly without my having to return the old one.

My period started this morning, and I popped LilacCup2 in. I had to remove it a few times, as it wouldn't stay in for BMs, plus I was trying to readjust it as wanted to sit very low and kept poking me. Then as I was reinserting it this evening, I realised somehing didn't feel right, took it out and discovered a huge tear. That's less than 12 hours since I put it in. Again, not enough time to get the hang of it.

I don't know what to do now. Do I ask LadyCup for a differently coloured cup (maybe clear, or blue or pink?) to reduce my chances of getting a faulty one? Or do I ask for a refund from Leastore and try a different brand?

I'm annoyed that I hadn't even tried trimming the stem, so I have no idea if that would have solved the poking problem. So I don't even know if the large LadyCup will work for me, or if I need to look for a shorter cup (I do seem to have a low-hanging cervix). Aaaaagh! I'm so fed up!

Any advice? Or comforting words?

(I want to apologise if I do anything wrong, put this in the wrong place - am not even allowed to post this at all! This will be my first post ever on LJ, and I'm very, very unfamiliar with this sort of posting.)

This amazing community both informed me about menstrual cups and persuaded me that it was worth getting one. After hours and hours browsing this place, comparing and checking, looking for any side effects, reading techniques and personal experiences I decided to buy a Mooncup.

My first period using it has just ended and I want to share my experiences with it, both as a detailed (hopefully) guide for newbies to what it might be like and as one of the positive stories. I remember reading some worries that there weren't many success stories, which were soothed by the reminder that not many people posted when things were going fine.

( Down to the actual business! )

Using my Diva Cup for the first time.  Overall have been happy with the experience.  Occasional spotting (commented about this in another memeber's thread) but nothing major.  I do have a questiong regarding some leaking while using the facility.  I have noticed a couple times that while bearing down/having a BM I had leaked blood into the toilet....I assume this is simply because the contraction of all the muscles in that area caused the cup to overflow???  Anyone else experience this??

P.S.: I have used the Instead disposable cups recently and noticed that with BM it would overflow; I had read this could happen and was normal; a friend who I found out had been using Instead for a couple years now had also experienced this...by the way I'm going to try to get this gal to convert to a reusable cup!!! ...loving Diva better than the Instead...not quite as messy especially when removing/emptying it out.

I've found you people on this list so helpful in my menstrual cup learning curve I'd like to share some of my experience in the hope that it will be helpful to others.

I'm 50, have a very heavy flow (fibroid problems) and I think I'm looking forward to menopause!  I've had one child (vaginal birth).  I've bought and used Diva (too strong suction for me), Mooncup UK (fantastic but too small), Lunette (pretty good but not very comfortable) and LadyCup (the best so far for me). 

I've found that two circumstances will make the cups leak for sure:
1.  flow with small clots, which block up the small holes at the top of the cup, and
2. just before and/or just after a BM. 

Where the leaking is because of the clots I've tried making the holes larger but it doesn't seem to help much, although the Ladycup holes are set differently to the others and the cup carries on holding even after the holes get a little clogged up.

Where leaking is before or after a BM I think the shape of the vagina changes and the cup only sits right when the regular shape restores itself.  So if I wait a bit after the BM before inserting the menstrual cup it's less likely to leak.  This may just be connected to my advanced age (!), I don't know.

A comment about the Lady cup - someone on the list recommended using the C-fold for insertion (something I haven't been able to use for any of the other cups), inserting the back of the C facing the pubic bone, pushing the back of the C up the vagina gently until it goes past the bone and then inserting the rest.  I found this advice very helpful, worked like a dream.

Thanks again to all the listees out there!

I got my diva cup about 3 weeks ago, and about a week after getting a mirena IUD inserted.  At first I was afraid to use them together, but reading the tags and memories gave me confidence, and I haven't had any problems.  Although my doctor trimmed the strings VERY short, to the point that I can have a hard time finding them.

Anyway, I wanted to add my experiences to the general knowledge of the group and any future members.
 

( cut for lengthiness )So, I know that's a lot of info, but any info anyone feels might help me is appreciated.  Otherwise, it's nice to find a safe and supportive place to share!

First off: I'm 20, have not given birth, and technically sexually active (assuming penis-shaped objects count...haha).

( cut for babbling )

Basically, my vag is cutting off the entrance and it's hard to get the cup out. Oh, and pushing isn't working like it used to because I can't seem to isolate the right muscles. BM pushing was working, but now it's only working for, well, BMs...

So, any ideas what's going on? I might be tense, I have to remind myself to breathe. I hold my breath when pushing, which is why I gave up on the pushing. But on my dry run I could just push a little and it would pop out enough for me to grab it. Even when i was breathing and feeling pretty relaxed, I had the same problem. Help?

And yes, even after that incident, I popped it right back in. So now I'm having the same problem...

Hi, I have the smaller Mooncup UK and the larger Miacup. I am new to cups, so haven't had a period with them yet, but I am trying them out while waiting for it to come (due any day or week now, unpredictable). Anyway, with the Miacup in, I feel pressure on the bowels as if needing to do a BM, but I don't feel this pressure with the MCUK. I think I have acheived seals with both of them, but won't know until my period comes and I have leakage or not. Do you think that it is because the Miacup is the larger size that I feel this pressure? Will it go away as I get used to the cup, or be different during my period?

I'm sure I've read some posts on this before while looking around, but I couldn't find them just then, looking at the BM tag section. 

Edit: Actually, having gone to the toilet, it's feeling better! I'm a dill!

I was thinking of purchasing the shewee (the  "moulded plastic funnel that provides women with a simple, private and hygenic method of urinating without removing clothes whilst standing AND sitting" for camping. My question is if I use it, would my cup leak? I know tampons sometimes leak when I go to the bathroom. I don't want to use it and soil my clothes! I'm purchasing a lunette, if that matters. I looked on the instead website (which I'm planning to use for cup back up and it says "You may notice some leakage when going to the bathroom. This is because when you void urine or your bowel the muscles "bear down" and can push the rim slightly forward, allowing some fluid to leak out and into the toilet." Well, I dont have that option! If have used instead, did you experience this? The company said it was rare, but if it was rare they might not have it on their site!

Any advice you could give would be helpful!

so i asked over at vaginapagina and they told me to come here so...here i am!

right i'm interested in menstrual cups cos i've sorta looked stuff up about them but um...yeah...i'll ask my questions:

1) when i'm wearing a tampon and i (i'm really sorry i don't know the technical terms for this and i'll sound really vulgar sorry!) poop it's often really painful like it's squeezing my vagina on the way past or smething, and my mum said this was normal and she used to feel like that too sometimes, but what i want to know is with a menstrual cup will the be worse better or about the same?

2) also 15 & virgin, will my vagina be too small (or the hymen not broken enough or whatever) so i won't be able to get it in?

3) and also i couldn't find out if you need to wash ti between each time of putting it back in or just emty into the loo or what, being at school most the time i'm actually on my period it'd be realyl difficult to wash it in the middle of the day, so does it need washing or will i be okay until i get home?

thanks

Émie

Hi, I've been doing some research on menstrual cups, trying to find out which one is right for me. Reading this journal and surfing the web has made me convinced, but I have one question: How/why would a cup tip over inside of you? Has this ever happened to you? I was prompted to post after reading "Depending on the cup you use and your particular anatomy, sometimes the entire cup can tip over inside of you-triggers of this can include coughing or exercising the abdominal and pelvic muscles." The foot note reads "not surprisingly, passing a large or constipated bowel movement can cause this as well." @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4481732 . I contacted a menstrual cup manufacturer about this and they said they never heard of this phenonmenon. I believed them, and figured that someone just wrote that to mess with someone, as the article had been edited by someone! Then someone wrote about their cup tipping over in this community, so I'm confused! The article sited its sources, but it didn't tell you where the author got that specific information.  Whatever information you could give me would be extremely helpful and apreciated! 
Thank You!

Before this month's cycle I bought myself a cup (I had used one years ago, but decided it is time, once again, to try it out). I am having A LOT of leaking issues, but one thing I would like to discuss that I didn't see anywhere in the memories/tags is I notice that I leak A LOT as I am getting ready to have a bowel movement. Anyone else get that? I don't think it's a seal issue, as when it's finally time to take it out, there is still suction. What else might be causing the leaking during this time? Is there any way of avoiding it? I have at least one bowel movement a day, sometimes two, sooooooo this is really annoying... :( BUT! This is only my first cycle with it, and I would like to try some of the other folds to see if that might help. Hahaha, at least I have no problem while I'm sleeping with leaking, which is weird. In the mornings, when I wake up, I find that it's made its way further up and makes taking it out much harder. Do you think that maybe I should be putting it up that high all the time to avoid leaking? I know that most of this will just be trial, error, and patience, but I would like some input. There should seriously be local support groups all over the nation for the use of menstrual cups. I'd go!

P.S.
I am using a DivaCup model 1, if that matters.

I got my Lunette cup last month right after my period ended.  I'm usually not excited about getting my period but for the 1st time, I'm excited because I want to try my cup.  Period comes this weekend so I'll keep you posted.  

Update

I finally got a chance to use my cup.  Insertion was no problem but had to trim the stim quite a bit otherwise it was uncomfortable.  Decided to use a pad overnight but plan to use the cup tonight.  The 1st day was great.  Today was not as great.  Flow was heavier so I had to empty it more often.  Had 2 BMs and used my finger to hold it in the 1st time but probably should have taken it out because started leaking shortly afterwards.  Decided to take it out the 2nd time which was a good idea because the cup was pretty full (probably why I was leaking).  Was surprised it was so full since I'd emptied it earlier during the day.  At least now I know that on the heavier days, I'll have to empty it more often.  I'm not sure if it's because I know it's there or if I can actually feel it but I swear I can sometimes feel it dripping.  Removal has been no problem.  After reading the different tags, I tried the bare down and then fold method and that works great for me.  I may have to trim my nails though because I'm afraid of scratching the "cookie".  

I tell ya, I don't think I've ever touched my cookie this much in one day. Overall, I'm still impressed and will continue to use my Lunette.  Hopefully the overnight will be successful too.
Thanks again for all the support and help everyone has given.

I got my Lunette -2 cup yesterday.  I'm soooo excited.  It's not as big as I envisioned which is a good thing.  Unfortunately my period just ended on Sunday but I guess I'll just have to do a couple of dry runs to get some practice. 

Quick question.  One of my co-workers has a divacup and really likes it.  She and I are trying to convince our other co-worker to buy a cup but she's concerned about BMs with the cup.  She and I both tend to go several times (our other co-worker waits till she gets home) during the work day and don't really want to deal with having to empty and reinsert the cup while at work.  Has anyone every had a BM while doing a dry run?  Her decision will be based off my experience with using the cup with a BM.

Hello Community!

I'm a new DivaCup user.  I've been using it with my period while lurking on this community for tips on cup types and insertion techniques.  After three days of frustration and practice, I finally think I found what works for me and I wanted to share:

I use the punchdown insertion method.  I find that "punching" one side of the cup's rim into the middle of the cup allows for easier opening and sealing.  I insert the cup with the "punched in side" facing down (simply b/c I'm better able to reach a finger on the backside of my vijay-jay than on the front side to check for leaks).  Once inserted, I'm able to pinch the base of the cup 2-3 times.  With my thumb and pointer finger I can feel the punched in rim moving upwards and out of the middle of the cup.  I then use my finger to feel the side of the cup on the backside of my vijay-jay.  If the side feels smooth, I know it's fully opened.  Then I push the base up a little to seal it. 

Unlike what the DivaCup directions mention, I haven't been able to rotate the cup to ensure a good seal.  I also think the directions are a little misleading in that the picture shows a fully circular, open cup inside the vagina.  Well that's nice, but my vijay-jay is not a hollow, round structure!  Mine is more flat on the front and backside (or top and bottom, whichever you prefer) and rounded on the sides...kind of oval shaped.  So I figure that even though the cup can hold 30 mL when fully open & circular, mine is always a little bit pushed together (oval-shaped) due to my shape.  So mine can really hold about 15-20 mL before becoming full.  (Fill up your cup with 30 mL of water, then squash it...yes, it overflows!)  I keep this in mind in my changing schedule (on my two heavy days, I can flow 15 mL every 3 hours).

Also, be forewarned: if you have to take a #2, don't hold it, go to the bathroom.  I tried to hold it and my cup started to leak.  This makes sense anatomically since the rectum is right behind the vagina.  I think my big bowel movement stretched my rectum, pushed on the vagina, and pushed on my DivaCup (I also don't think it was sealed right at the time, since this was trial day 1). 

Good luck to all!

I've been using my cup off and on for a few months (had some chafing w/one cycle) and have noticed that when I'm using my cup, I get constipated. Now, I know that it is a bit uncomfortable to poo while I'm wearing it because it feels like it's going to fall out, but I think that this mild fear has turned into a psychosomatic problem. If I'm wearing a pad, or even a tampon, I can still poo, but with my cup, I can't. *shrug* I was just wondering if anyone else was experiencing something like this... ~ Mandy

haha, fantastic subject I know.
just out of curiosity, would the divacup (or any other menstrual cup, really) interfere with any female genital piercings? hood and such probably wouldnt be a problem, but things like a fourchette or princess albertina could pose a problem, it seems. and what about having sex with a guy who had any piercings down there? you'd obviously have to be careful, but I'm just wondering if anybody has any such insight, haha.

hmm, second question. do any other women around here have trouble pooping with the cup in? that's one thing I've noticed on my last few cycles, I'm able to but not as.. freely as without it in.

oh I swear I had another question, but I seem to have forgotten. .. well, those are the two for now--anybody?

Things I was wondering:

1) The cup is kinda big (I have the smaller one) ... Is it gonna stretch out my vagina and make it 'looser'...I don't want it to make sex less pleasurable if ya know what I mean...

2) Is it possible to push it out while having a bowel movement?  I just seemed to push down so easy when I was 'pretending' to have one that I would be scared that during an actual one (ok, TMI, i know, lol), if it was an erm, tougher one, that the cup would just fall out!

Now some background:

Just got my divacup in the mail today, and it happened to be day 3 of my period, so I figured I should try it!

After a few frustrating tries, I FINALLY got it in.  I followed the instructions inthe manual...the only thing I was having trouble with was 'rotating' it.  I really cannot tell if it is actually rotating...it 'seems' like it is, but it was tough to know for sure.

I went for a run with it, and wore a pantyliner just to be safe.  When I got back, there was a few spots, but I am not sure if that was leakage or if it was just extra stuff that was already ya know, coming out before I put the cup in??

Anyways, I got really scared b/c I could not even feel the stem AT ALL, so I decided to take it out...once again following the instructions...it seemed to come down no problem! Cept when It was nearing the opening, it was hard to get a good grip, and it kinda popped back open, and was rather painful - felt like I scraped off part of my inner wall!!  This is really gross, but on the outside of the cup, there was some chunky stuff...since I had felt like I scraped stuff off...I was kinda scared that I literally did do that...or am I just being paranoid, and that is just 'old' blood?

I washed it and put it back in and have been wearing it for 2.5 hrs.  So far so good...The stem doesnt seem to be an issue at all...so I am not sure if I am wearing it too high up, but it kinda just got sucked up there, LOL!  The only thing I am noticing is a very mild burning sensation...the same thing that I get if too much soap gets up in there in the shower...so I dont think it is anything to worry about??

Thanks :) :)  I think me and this divacup are gonna get along :p

Hey everybody!

This is my first cycle with a cup (Diva Cup).  The first day I had it in I wore it overnight, and everything was fine; no leaking, nothing, it was perfect!  But, the second day was a lot more trouble.  It kept leaking, and it got very frustrating having to go to the bathroom to fix it ever 45 min!  Today (the third day) was a little better; I wore a pad with it just to be more comfortable.  When I got home from school I had a bowel movement and put the cup back in.  I think the seal has been better ever since.  Has this happened to anybody else?  Or does this even make any sense?  I havn't noticed any leaking since I put it in last.  I would be so happy if this turned out to be the case!  I would hate to have to switch to another type of cup (I'm quite cheap :) )

thanks for all your help, and this site has already been extremely helpful for me.

I currently use a divacup, and from the memories section I know im not the only girl who has trouble urinating and having a bm when its 'in wrong'. Could this be fixed by buying a different cup, like a moon cup or a lunette? It seems to only happen when its not in quite right, or sitting in my quite right, but that happens more often than not. I still love my diva, but it gets to be a pain in the neck when you cant pee or have a bm with it in!

I'm new to the DivaCup (my second cycle only) and have a weird question- can you poop with the cup in, or do you have to take it out? It feels like my muscles are pushing it out, so I've been removing it anyway, but do I have to?
Thanks :)

I hope this makes it to the right place (this is my first time here). 

I've been the owner of a Diva Cup (smaller size) for about a year and a half now. The first few months were totally awesome, and I was so happy to find something other than wasteful and expensive tampons! Then I started getting cramping. I usually get abdominal cramps during my cycle, but when using the cup, I started to get them in my rectum. It's not always associated with bowel movements, but sometimes it is. If I do have to do a BM, the cramping certainly makes it difficult and extremely painful. Even passing gas during these cramps is almost impossible. They seem to be aggravated when I do a lot of walking as well. 

Has anybody here heard of this or experienced this? Any suggestions? It seems so weird that for the first few months, there wasn't a hitch at all. I've tried the cup a few times since then, but the cramps always drive me back to tampons :o( 

I'm so glad I found this community and I hope there are some answers out there!

Well, I just got my Divacup on Friday, and introduced myself to the community yesterday (here) and decided not to do a dry run. Well, I guess I must've really wanted to try out my new cup, because my period came just an hour after I made that post!

I went in the bathroom, got the cup, did the "7 Fold", which looked easier than the origami and the punchdown, put it in, rotated it a full turn, and voila!

Perfect execution!!!!

I read through a lot of past entries and was afraid that I would have problems with insertion or taking it out, suction, leakage, cup not opening, etc.

I didn't have any problems whatsoever putting it in or taking it out, it did leak a bit this morning, but that's probably because it's my second day which is my heaviest and I left it in overnight, it was full all the way to the top when I took it out. I am sooooo glad I decided to buy a cup, but now that I have it, it feels like I've been using it forever, as cliched as that sounds.

The only question I have is this: Does anyone feel a lot of pressure in the rectal area, as if they have to go poop? It's not painful or anything, it just feels a little strange. Is there a way to alleviate the pressure?