29 November 2009 @ 07:06 pm
Irritation-free period!
Hey everyone,

Just wanted to share a quick story in case anyone else experiences a similar problem:

I love love love my Diva cup but have often experienced irritation starting around day 3 of my period. I made the mistake during my first cycle with the Diva, which caused major irritation, so now I just rinse with water. I do make a point of washing my hands before insertion/removal so I don't get nasty germs in my vagina.

Anyway, I kept getting this irritation and was kind of just chalking it up to hormones or irritation from insertion/removal. This cycle, though, I made a point to wash my hands VERY thoroughly to get all soap residue off....and it's worked! No irritation at all.

So if anyone is getting frustrated with some irritation when using the Diva, remember that it's not just about soap on the cup, but also soap on your hands. I know it's been said elsewhere, but this was definitely my experience. As a rule - if I can still smell the soap on my hands, I rinse more. And I make the water as hot as I can take it.

Yay!!! :)
07 November 2009 @ 05:27 pm
Little tear after Diva?
Hey guys,

A couple of people said in a thread that they feel like they've slightly torn their genitals when using the Diva. I think I may be experiencing that! I have felt localized pain for the last few days (period ended about a week ago) and today I checked it out with a mirror. I noticed a very thin red line, about 1 cm long, very near my vagina. It only hurts if I touch it, or if urine or hot water runs over it in the shower or something. 

Any advice on how to handle? I put a tiny dab of neosporin on it, hoping that would help it heal. It's not that painful, but i really want to have sex with my husband and I'm afraid it will cause irritation. Will this just go away on its own or should I call my doctor?

Thanks ladies!

xoxo
06 November 2009 @ 11:39 pm
Some Diva Cup questions
Just got a Diva Cup as a birthday present from my best friend, who has been using one for about a year now. She rants and raves about how awesome it is, and how my first period with it will be the best period of my life. My period is due in about two or three days, and I've been wearing the cup since yesterday, just for practice putting it in and removing it, and to make sure that it feels right and all that. I'm not sure if I'm doing anything wrong or if it's just a matter of continuing to practice, but I'm still waiting for it to be completely comfortable. Unlike tampons (which I have used until now), I can still feel it, especially if I tense my muscles (it's my quick and dirty test that I do to make sure I've inserted tampons correctly and comfortably, I figure it's transferrable to the Diva Cup as well). The issue is that it pinches mostly on one side, and it's the same side every time. I cannot for the life of me figure out why. I'm also a virgin, so I'm not sure what effect this has on how much I should or shouldn't feel the cup.

Also, does anyone else have discomfort with removing their menstrual cup? Once I've gotten up to the rim of the cup, I'm not quite sure how to make it small enough to be comfortable removing. It kinda just ... pops out, and it's rather painful. I don't want to squeeze the edges together because I'm afraid that, once I'm using it for my actual period, everything will spill.

Basically, I just need some help. I'm so confused and PMS is making me frustrated to the point of tears with this thing.
 
 
Current Mood: annoyed
09 August 2009 @ 12:17 am
First time cup user
OK... I have a slight problem.I bought my mooncup a cople of weeks ago and this is my first month with it. I'm not at the end of my period yet and the damned thing is so unconftable. Normaly it's fine but as soon as I forget about it and think its all fine something sticks where it's not ment to. The stem which I keep trimming seems fine at first but it goes off to the side and pokesall around in places I dont think its ment to. It woudnt be so bad if it wasnt so sharp.It seems no natter what I do with it the edges of the snip on the stem are sharp. The anoying thing is I can take it out and put it back easly I was gettong over the feeling it might fall out, The lack of big builky pads and the waste that causes, the fact theres no mess and i've never felt so clean during that time of the month and I might have to go back to all the problems I had before if I cant get this daned cup to stay still and not need to be squiged back. Well I am now desprate and want to keep this lovely clean feeling but get rid of the feeling i'm being poked from the inside out.

Help!

P.S i'm dyslexic and almost blind. My spelling is teribble.
03 August 2009 @ 01:19 am
Vaginal Soreness


hello again everyone!
With my last period I started to notice that the opening to my vagina was becoming quite sore, even after I had stopped using my cup, and my period had ended. I usually don't fold up my cup to get it out, I think I might be kind of narrow, so it's hard to actually reach up and fold things, so I'm forced to just try to slowly yank it out basically. Does anyone else experience soreness after using their cup? Is this entirely normal?

Thanks for any answers!

 
 
Current Mood: curious
28 July 2009 @ 11:32 pm
hey everyone! this is my first post to this community. I just had a period where I used a menstrual cup for my very first time - (I bought a Diva Cup at the local Mother Earth). I liked it a lot in comparison to tampons BUT I feel as though I would be much happier with something else, but with so many brand options I am feeling really overwhelmed. I thought maybe if I could tell you all some of my complaints you all might have some recommendations for me!

First off I need to say that I had no leaking which was great!

My problems: (with diva size small)

1. difficult for me to get in - I tried every fold imaginable and it still felt like I was jamming something up my vagina.

2. once I got it in I assumed it popped open (I did not hear anything or feel anything like my friend told me she hears when hers pops open) - I know it says to turn it once it is in, but it WILL NOT turn

3. It feels like it is pushing out against the walls of my inner vagina and gives me almost like a second area of cramps

Any suggestions?
23 July 2009 @ 09:00 am
Going Back To Cups Now...

Ok, so I'm all healed up and I think I'm ready to try going back to cups now...  But I also wanted to give out some advice on being super gentle with your body during your cycle when using cups, because being too fast / rough appears to be what got me into trouble...  

Read more... )
09 July 2009 @ 10:32 pm
more flexible than the keeper?
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
07 June 2009 @ 12:38 am
First time user! (Yay!)
So I got my large ladycup months ago, but only now am I showing signs of getting my period. *sigh* The good thing is that I've had plenty of dry runs.

I've noticed that there's a wide range of discomfort (depending on where my cervix is) when the cup is right side out, but when I inside out it, it just feels a smidge big.

I also noticed that it suctions itself so that it's waaaay at the top of my vagina, against my cervix. Granted, my cervix is always low (and lower) but is it normal?

I think I'm gonna get a small ladycup though. The bottom of the cup sticks out a few milimeters so it doesn't pop right.

Here's hoping I actually get my period.
22 May 2009 @ 06:59 pm
First Cup - Cutting the Stem
 Hi all!

Firstly I'd just like to tell you how useful this community has been for me in getting my first cup! I ordered it last weekend and have been using it for a few days now as I was on my period when it arrived. So far using the regular C fold seems to be working, and I'm not having too much trouble removing either, which I'm crediting to this community and its bountiful amounts of knowlage which I sat and read through! However I have been having some slight problems with the stem of my cup!

When I first tried my cup I used it as it arrived, but after a little over an hour I realised the stem was WAY too long and cut some off! Since then I've had another little trim and now its not a bad legnth, but I've been having some small irritation with it. Sometimes its fine, but othertimes I can feel it pressing on a piece of skin near the entrance to my vagina. I'm terrified of cutting it too short though! I can live with it how it is, but I'd prefer not to feel the slight irritation I am at the moment and while I think trimming the stem might help ...... I dunno! Its a Femmecup if that makes any difference? I hear they have a slightly firmer stem than some other cups?

I was just wondering how the rest of the ladies here dealt with trimming stems and whether in past experience its been better to live with it ever so slightly too long as opposed to accidentally cutting it too short!

Thanks
^_^

Update: Thanks for the advice all, I eventually took the plunge and shortened it a little bit more, and it seems to be ok now. Though if it starts to hurt again I might just remove the stem all together as I think I might actually be ok without it! 
10 May 2009 @ 06:51 pm
First time with Lunette (stem and overflow issues)
Well first of all, I want to thank you all for this wonderful forum. I wouldn't have had the guts or the knowledge to go ahead and purchase my Lunette, size small, without this website. So, thank you!!!

That being said, this is my first cycle with the Lunette and I'm having a few issues. I'm OK inserting it (c-fold) and even getting it out, which I'm pleased about. (No doubt i found success thanks to all the info on the site).. But, I actually think the cup might have overflowed! I left it for 5.5 hours and it started leaking and when I took it out, it was really full and a bunch spilled into the toilet. Does this seem like an overflow? I am pretty sure that it is, because I checked to make sure the cervix was "inside" the cup. (I also used it earlier that day and checked after 3 hours; no leakage and I just dumped out and re-inserted).  Does this mean I should have gotten a larger size? I'm 24, but not sexually active. I didn't want to go with the larger size for my first cup, but I have to say that I'm pretty disappointed that the Lunette only lasted as long as a super tampon... Will a larger cup fix this problem, or am I just going to have to relinquish the idea that a cup can stay in and hold everything for hours and hours?

Also, I need a bit of help regarding the stem. It was poking out past my folds, so I trimmed it (a little at a time, as suggested), but my nail file on my clippers aren't sanding the edges, so the stem is really sharp! Any other suggestions for how to smooth out the sharp corners? Also, I remember someone drew a diagram of how the stem tip should sit, like this (( | )) not (( -- )). My problem is that it sits like this: ((| )). It's always rubbing and poking on that one side more than the other, and I can't seem to move it over. I think it must be the way my vagina is shaped. I'm a little scared to take off the stem entirely. What would you suggest?

Also, how much of the cup are you really supposed to feel? I feel "full" in there  - is this normal? It also makes me feel like my bladder's full, which I'm disappointed about, since I thought the Lunette was supposed to be a good one for bladder sensitivity. What do you think about this?

Thanks in advance for your help! I really have learned so much about this stuff from reading the site, and I'm determined to make the whole menstrual cup thing work, but I know it can take a few cycles to get the hang of it....
04 April 2009 @ 11:30 pm
 In the spirit of the previous posts about finding the right cup, I think we should add a "smoothness" rating for people who are sensitive to things like ridges or writing on the outside, maybe sort of like the size charts.  It might be hard to actually rank them, but I think it would be cool to have all of the information in one place, because it can sometime be hard to tell from the pictures.

I'll start:
The small Lunette has (from top to bottom):
writing:  "Lunette" and "made in Finland"
a small rim, not very pronounced
two measuring lines
three grip ridges
grip ridges on the stem (I'm not sure how many, since I cut most of my stem off)

The small LadyCup/ColorCup has:
no lines or markings except for some grip bumps at the base and on the stem
[I only have the trial one from their promotion a month or two ago, so correct me if the "real" one is different.]

This could also help people who are not looking for smoothness but are looking for measuring lines or grip lines.
10 March 2009 @ 10:19 pm
Diva Cup Length?
I have recently become interested in menstrual cups. The idea has been coming into my head more and more often. I am sick of stained underwear. I am also about becoming more environmentally friendly. I therefore went out and purchased a Diva Cup. I enjoy the "clean" feeling while on my period, but it isn't all that comfortable for me. I also loved that it was at most 3/4 filled after 11 hours. The first time I used Diva I was in pain as the stem was definitely sticking out of me. I trimmed it a little every time I emptied it until I was left with no stem. Having no stem is not a problem for me. I don't mind sticking my fingers up my vagina. Even without the stem, the cup is still migrating its way out of my body. I don't feel it in my body, but I feel it at my vaginal opening. Should I invest in a shorter cup? Which one? Is there anything else I can try? I have tried shoving it up as far as possible. Thanks so much!
16 February 2009 @ 10:21 am
Success Story! Yippidedodah! (and a few questions)
Hello everyone,

Thank you *so* much for all your help.  Even just mainly lurking, and checking out old posts through the tags, I learned a ton.  The best part is that now I can finally use my divacup.  (It seems like lots of people don't like the divacup as much as others, but I think it's great, for what it's worth--not that I ave tried anything else.  But the diva is also easier to find, at least in the US, because they sell them at Whole Foods.)

Read more... )

I actually *like* my cycle now--I look forward to it!  This is totally different from how I felt before.  I used to hate it with a passion!

Also, an interesting note: I think I'm cycling in tune with my close friend from school.  It's actually really coll that women bleed together, in my opinion.  (But this friend does *not* enjoy her cycle at all--she uses disposable pads and can't stand the thought of anything goind inside her.  Ah well, maybe someday...)

Again, thanks so much!

Adios!
 
 
Current Mood: excited
31 January 2009 @ 12:06 pm
I don't mean to be spamming this community (I'm really sorry if I am), but I searched through the community links on the side and couldn't find anything about this.

I used my small Lunette yesterday successfully (successful insertion *and* removal). This community is of amazing help - I haven't had any problems at all with removal. I didn't use it overnight (I want to get used to using it during the day first) and I inserted it in the shower this morning (minimal difficulty - three tries + lube). I felt it pop open and went about my business. Getting dressed, I felt a little stinging down there, but attributed it to three tries for insertion.

However, it kept hurting as I went about my morning - hurting *inside*. Well, that was no good. I need to go to the studio this afternoon and grocery shopping and things - nothing I want to do with extra pain. So I felt up there and I realised that the cup had gone further in than yesterday - I couldn't feel the stem. I bore down and oh my god, there was pain. I felt around and found the stem - pushed to the side, scraping my vaginal canal as I bore down. I removed the cup - not as easily as before, but it was twisted and I was tense from pain.

As far as I can tell, the cup angled to the side somehow and the stem was poking me, causing the pain. I'm still a little raw down there (and rushed to get out to the studio), so I'm currently using a pad. I'd like to try again later, but I was wondering if any of you had had this problem in the past - and any ideas on how to avoid it?
 
 
Current Mood: sore
23 January 2009 @ 06:17 pm
Halp :/
Hi all! First time poster, of course. I tried looking through the tags, I really did, but while I came close to answering my question, none of the responses hit the nail on the head. So here I go. If this HAS been answered, feel free to link me.

This is my 2nd cycle with the Diva Cup size 1. Each time I've used this thing, I've hated it :( it seems to push really hard against my urethra and that wall of my vag is general. I feel semi-nauseous with it in and always think I need to pee, which of course I don't.

Not to mention removal- I don't have any issues with suction, but since the cup has popped open, the diameter of the rim makes it hurt a hell of a lot as it leaves my body- it seems to be much wider than I am. I can't fold it because there's not enough room in my vaginal canal to insert a finger if the cup is in.

I've tried different folds, different postures & tricks for insertion and removal- it's just so uncomfortable. Length is OK - it tends to ride up and so not poke out at all, but even when it does stick out it doesn't bother me. It's just the width. For context, I'm 22, not a virgin but have not given birth. Also, my vag is pretty tight on any given day- can't fit two fingers.

My question is, is it possible that this particular cup is just too big around? Does that happen? Do you think these problems would be solved by a smaller diameter cup? I really want to use cups, but if my problems would continue regardless of brand or size, I'd rather shell out the money for tampons forever.
 
 
Current Mood: frustrated
Current Music: Fall Out Boy - w.a.m.s.
01 December 2008 @ 12:38 am
Mooncup UK removal problems, what about LadyCup?
Hello! I've been searching the comm for hours now, but couldn't find the answer, so here goes. Apologies if this *has* been answered before!

I bought myself a Mooncup UK about a year ago, and it worked fine the first period I tried it out. The second time, though, I got a Candida infection. I got a bit worried, because I had pretty bad chronic vestibulitis for several years when I was younger, but had been trouble-free for quite a number of years. Anyway, I managed to get rid of it with creams and suppositories, and boiled my Mooncup thoroughly before using it again, the next period (the third with the cup). Lo and woe, another Candida infection. After that I haven't dared use it again, but have gone back to my usual homemade cotton pads and occasionally a type of tampon we can buy here that contains lactobacteria (they work very well for me, but they are quite expensive). I've had no yeast infection since I stopped using the cup.

Anyway, I think the reason for the yeast infections wasn't really the Mooncup, but the fact that my mucous membranes are still pretty sensitive after that horrible period when I was younger (I'm pretty fair and I have sensitive skin in general). Insertion went pretty well; I managed to fold it well enough to insert it with no particular discomfort, but when I removed it I had more trouble. My fingers are pretty small and short, so I found it very hard to fold it up before removal. I had to pull it out best I could, and kept hurting myself. My theory is that when I removed the cup I got tiny (possibly microscopic) ruptures, and that the Candida got its toeholds there and got happy.

My question now is about the LadyCup. From what I've been reading, it appears to be softer than the Mooncup UK, and more squishy. So those of you who have tried both, and had trouble with removal of the Mooncup, do you find the LadyCup more trouble-free? I'm asking, because I'm thinking that a cup with a softer rim, surface and general texture might be more gentle on my tissues, which could be what would make me dare try again. I think the cup is a great invention, and I would really love it if I could make it work... Any thoughts on the matter are welcome!

(Apologies if any terms I've used seem strange, but English isn't my first language and my vocab might not be really up to par in this context... XD)

EDIT: Oh, and in case it matters, I'm 42, no kids, and so used the large Mooncup.

EDIT 2: What I want to know is if people find the LadyCup easier to remove than the Mooncup! I appreciate all tips for curing YIs, but my goal is to avoid YIs to begin with! ;)
08 November 2008 @ 09:13 pm
So this is my first entry. I've been using a keeper for about 6 or 7 months now with ups and downs. My husband found it on the internet bless his heart. He suffers right along with me. Very heavy periods, rotten p.m.s, many, many pads per month and don't even bother with tampons.
I waited with bated breath for my keeper to arrive having read all the success stories. Actually being able to leave the house without fear of flooding! Oh the joy!  It arrives with days to spare and off we go. Way too over confident in it's ability I went pad free and lucky I was at home. Ok so maybe I didn't put it in right? More attempts and 7 cycles later I still have 'leakage' which I have learned to live with. One to two pads a day is way better than 5 or 6. I found the '7' fold to be more successful. The first two  days of my period I seem to be emptying it around 4 times a day and then it tapers off. I wouldn't go with out one now. It's given me much more confidence to go out on 'those' days and most of the time it's out of mind out of sight. Now for the bummer...... I'm pretty sure I have an irritation to latex after reading other journals. Thrush like symtoms appear during my period and continue for a week or so after. Itching, burning and very sensitive around my genital area with tearing skin.  Thinking back I always blamed the pill for giving me thrush but once hubby had the snip - no more condoms, no more pill and no more thrush. Could have been the condoms.
Usually the week after my period is 'on' week and these symptoms have put a dampener on that. Poor husband wants to trade me in for the updated model.  So after much reading I have ordered the silicon Moon Cup. Just finished my cycle so I wont be able to test it when it comes so I'll wait patiently..........
24 October 2008 @ 08:32 am
external dryness/irritation?
as all of you probably know all too well by now, I'm on my first cycle with the pink cup. Last night, I was feeling a little frisky and noone was around so I "got down with my bad self" and had some fun before going to sleep. Now, with the cup still in, I am having external dryness and a bit of itching--what can I do to make this go away? is the cup supposed to dry you up externally? I just feel as though if I had some lube or moistness in my front part, I'd be all better, but I don't know what's safe to use there and I'm feeling annoyed.
Thanks guys!
15 August 2008 @ 01:07 am
cup falling out?
So my co-worker got a DivaCup and she is very confused.  So I told her I would ask the experts. (that's you all)

She is 38 and had a child last year. She got the Size 2 DivaCup (over 30, post birth)  and she says it feels like the cup is falling out of her.  She can't tell if it's just the stem sticking out or if the cup itself is actually sticking out.

I have suggested that she try wearing the cup inside out (so the stem won't be protruding) to give her a better idea of whether it's the stem or not.  I also suggested that she do some kegels and see if that seemed to help with this falling out problem. 

I looked through previous posts, but I didn't see this issue (Or I didn't know where to look)

She really wants to love her menstrual cup and has asked me for a review of my lady cup as soon as it comes in because she is considering getting a different cup, but I don't know what to say in the mean time.


Any thoughts?
06 August 2008 @ 02:22 pm
Success at last and a question
Thanks to everyone's suggestions here, I finally can say I'm converted.  I have a lunette, larger size, and it has taken me at least 6 or 7 cycles to get it to work for me.   I have a little more determination than most I think, but to those of you who are ready to give up after a month or two, don't!  Try to work through each problem and you'll find something that works.  I just want to post the few things that were key to making it work for me, hopefully it will help someone else.

1.  Folds.  I found pictures on this community of the various folds.  The c-fold that comes with the package is so not comfortable.  I use the punch down fold.

2.  Know your cervix.  Someone here made the point that the cervix should be in or at least above the cup.  I was having ridiculous leakage, so I decided to learn how to find my cervix.  Now, I check it's position periodically during my cycle, and "aim"  for that with the cup when I insert it.   I've also learned to feel around the cup to make sure my cervix isn't sticking out.  I couldn't do this at first though.  This helped me with positioning and took care of the major leakage problems.

3.  Itchiness/Burning.  I was getting an itchy/burny feeling around the entrance to my vagina, a few days into my period.  It was not yeast, and I finally ruled out that it wasn't irritation from insertion.  It didn't matter how diligently I washed my hands and cup, or what soap I used.   I had this problem even on the month I went without the cup (I had an IUD inserted that month and since the first IUD I had expelled on it's own, I didn't want to take any chances of aggravating it the first month.)  The non-cup month I still had my hand up there checking for the IUD strings every other day (I was paranoid about it expelling again), and that seemed to be enough to cause the itchiness.   I finally decided it must be an imbalance of bacteria and I stumbled on a solution.  I had a squeeze bottle of water, to which I added a 5-10 drops of a concoction I had on hand.  The concotion is called Advantage liquid concentrate from Wisdom of the Ages.  The ingredients are Distilled Water, Citrus Seed Extract (Grape seed I believe), green tea, and jasmine tea.  It is supposed to have antibacterial/antifungal properties.  I was using the mixture in the bottle to rinse my cup before reinserting it, but one night I was so uncomfortable I decided to give myself a little rinse with the bottle.  I woke up the next morning and the itchiness was GONE.  I was ecstatic.  Now, I rinse the cup and myself with the bottle whenever I empty the cup at home and I have no more discomfort.  I've also found that the rinsing after inserting the cup helps remove any residual blood around the cup without having to use lots of over-drying toilet paper.  This helps reduce spotting.

I'm now a happy convert to the cup, though I still have trouble with my lunette beginning to leak any time the contents reach the lowest measuring line.  I'm thinking the angle at which the cup sits causes the contents to spill over when it reaches a certain fullness.  Any suggestions that might get me a little longer between emptying on heavy flow days?  When I remove the cup, it sure sounds like it's "sealed", but that doesn't seem to stop the spillage.  Also, my activities don't seem to have any effect one way or the other, like if I'm lying down or really active.

I'm tempted to try the Lady Cup (larger size), thinking the softer material might be easier inserting and removing.  And since I can't seem to actually use the full capacity of the lunette, I wouldn't really be giving that up.  Anyone tried both the Lunette and the Lady Cup?  Any comments one way or the other?

Good luck to new cup converts and thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 
01 July 2008 @ 07:24 am
Really sore after using diva cup?
I used the size 2 diva cup for my last cycle I am over 30 and have had 3 kids, but I was really sore like bruised feeling inside after just 1 day of using it- Should I try another brand, should I try the smaller size.  I have used a diaphram before so I placed it similar to that. I really want this to work please help!
15 June 2008 @ 08:47 pm
Pain
So I've had m DivaCup for three months now. The first month I only used it for maybe 5 minutes because I didn't know if I did it right. The second month I used it for two days. This month I went to put it in and it just... didn't feel right. It hurt whenever I walked. I thought maybe I didn't get it in right and tried numerous times. I know it was sealed because (despite the pain) I kept it in and there was no leaking. It just ended up being unbearable pain and pressure. It's not too big of a deal except tomorrow I'm planning on going to a water park and wanted to use my cup. But if it is going to be too painful, then I probably won't. So any ideas why it hurt or what might help?
09 June 2008 @ 04:12 pm
Unpredictable Lady Cup Burning and Shifting?
So I guess the background details are, I’m a 19 year old virgin, and I'm new to menstrual cups.  I started with the Small Diva Cup (which I hated and thought was too large and painful and had death suction and even laying down didn’t help insertion--I could never even get the thing actually inside me), thought I must have a tiny vagina, panicked, then read rave reviews about the tiny Lady Cup, and bought one (in the Small size), even though I’m a broke college student.

I feel like I must be doing something wrong! Everyone else seems to RAVE about the Lady Cup, and true, it’s VERY soft (MUCH moreso than the awful painful Diva Cup) and foldable and tiny and inserts so easily.

But...

02 March 2008 @ 09:21 am
pain after a year's use?
guys i don't know what's going on!

i've been using the diva cup for a year and a couple of months. i've been meaning to switch because i still leak after trying multiple folds, moving it around, running toilet paper's around the opening to make sure excess blood isn't there, and all that jazz. but i haven't yet.

just wanted to give background that the first 3-4 days have always sucked for me. but this is the first time it's hurt so much that i don't want to put in my cup again.

yesterday(day 4) during the middle of the day my vagina hurt around the part that was at the end of the cup. it felt like it was being poked by sharp finger nails or something like that. it also felt like it was really dry despite the fact that i'm bleeding. i took it out in the shower and after i wiped myself in the shower it felt dry down there. i have some lube so i figured maybe if i put some on that'd help, i put it on and it felt kinda rough compared to normal...kinda because it wasn't extremly rough. during the middle of my period sometimes i stop bleeding for a couple of minutes/hours and then it starts up again, and since it 'stopped' i figure to not wear it.

my bleeding started again(like normal)this morning so i figured i should put it back in, but it still feels really dry and somewhat sore.

anyone expereince this? what's going on?!

some extra info:
1.i tried different folds once but not really the whole period..this period i've been constantly using the punch fold.
2.i had to change in public twice this period, whereas i usually haven't in the past.
3.after i take it out, i get toilet paper and wipe around my vagina to take away the blood in hopes that this will decrease the amount of bleeding on my underwear. also whenever i did see some bleeding come through i took a toilet paper and ran some of it around my cup/vagina area to make sure there's not any remains from there while the cup was still in me.
4. i had sex multiple times without lube 2 weeks and a couple of days before my period. the last time this happened it was my first time having piv sex and it ended up leaving my vagina irritated and it had a tear. this time i did it without lube because i ordered some and it didn't come in and i didn't want to spend money when i knew i was getting a big sampler pack in a couple of days. after that i didn't notice any bad effects the week after, so i figure if i had a tear or anything like that that would irritate my vagina i'd already know(the last time it happened a couple of days latter). but just want to put it out incase that could have been the case.

these are the only different things i can really recall about this round of period. so can someone help me, it hurts :( and i don't want to stop using a cup just because it hurts and i don't want to put it in! i defiantly can't(would really hate to)go back to the regular pads/tampons out there. thanks for help/suggestions.