Hey Ladies!

I just have a quick question for you all. I took a look through the tags but didn't find exactly what I was looking for. So here we go. I've had my cup for two cycles. I wear my cup overnight, take it out in the morning to rinse/clean, and put it back in for the day. Every night I take it out and rinse/clean it and reinsert it before bed.

My question? How on earth do I clean out those little holes? I eventually get them clean after a lot (I mean, a TON,) of rinsing, but I could really go for a suggestion of an easier way to clean them. Also, should I make sure they're cleaned every time I take the diva out? Any input on this?

One more question I guess. Normally I use the "punch-down" fold when i insert my cup, but I've been having issues with leaking. Not totally full blown leaks but I'd rather.. well, no leaks. Any suggestions or tricks on how to make sure the cup is sealed and to make sure that it won't leak?

I'd really appreciate any comments you have! Thanks in advance, everyone! :)

I like the punch-down fold for insertion.  And I've found that if I face the punched portion DOWN during insertion, it opens easier.  (My less successful attempts faced UP.)  Since my finger is kinda in there anyway, I slip it in with my fingerprint facing the punch and swing my finger so the nail side opens the vaginal wall just enough to let a little air in to fill the cup and open it.  Ta-daaaaa!  Even the notoriously difficult Diva opens easier that way.  :o)

i have only posted comments on this community so far but i thought it was time now to post an entry.
thanks to everyone here for sharing your experiences, it's really helpful to be able to read up info on here!

my name is Annina, i'm 25 years old, no virgin and have not had any children.
i found out about menstrual cups on a random lj userinfo of someone who had put a link there that said "i love my divacup" and it lead to the divacup site. i thought it was interesting but i was also a little chicken to try it out. after a while i went for it though, i had looked for a shop here in Sweden and found one online and got myself the Diva size 1 (smaller). i mainly went for that one because the onlineshop offered a 3-months-return guarantee. this is the shop by the way, in case anyone from Sweden is reading and wants to know.

i have used my divacup for two cycles now and i really like it now. at first i found it a little big for me and i was unsure if i should get a smaller cup, after seeing the size chart here i thought i should have gotten the small ladycup instead. but i wanted to give my diva a second chance and now after having used it for my second cycle i'm really getting the hang of how everything works, and i don't feel like i need a smaller cup.

i know there are pictures of the folds already in this community but i took my own ones showing how i fold my cup to insert and remove, here they are:

( under the cut )

Hey everyone,

I'm seriously considering buying a Diva Cup because of all of the great things I've read about them, but I guess I'm hesitant because of the few negative/neutral things I've read too. I was hoping I could post a few questions here so you guys could ease my mind a little :)

Question 1: Considering I'm a 19 year old virgin, have a somewhat heavy flow for the first couple of days of my period, and use the largest sized tampons, do you think I would have a lots of pain my first time using it?

Question 2: How do you REALLY use it? I mean, I've read the basics about how to get it in and out, but I've read so many stories about ladies having to "bear down hard" and lay down in the shower and on their beds every time they take their cups out or put them in... I don't think I'd be too comfortable doing that. I'm all for doing everything over a toilet, but any other way or place just seems kinda weird, especially if I'm in a situation like staying the night away from home. I'm also in college, so if I have empty it at school, I don't want to take a long time getting it in and out.

Question 3: How would you compare it to the convenience of a tampon? For example, with a tampon, all I have to do is open it up, put it in, toss the trash, and then after a few hours take it out with not much fuss or mess cause I have a little method to it. Its really quick and easy. Is there a quick and easy option with a Diva Cup?

I'm really hoping that I'm just overanalyzing everything, because I really want to be able to use a Diva Cup... they seem so much healthier and so much better for the environment.

I know this was a REALLY long post, so THANK YOU all for taking the time to read this!! I really do appreciate it :) :)

I ordered my Keeper Moon Cup on www.southcoastshopping.com (type "menstrual cups" in the search box, without the quotes, of course) last week, Friday to be exact, and it arrived today! *I'm dancing around joyfully!* I'm new to this community, but I've been reading the public posts for a while now.

Anyway, as far as insertion goes, I had no trouble getting my cup in and positioning it properly. However, I did cringe a little when I took the cup out of the box it came in for inspection. I got over the initial shock, though, once I boiled it and tried it out. The only thing that may be an issue is the stem, but whatever. I can cut that if it bugs me too much. I used the C fold, in case anyone really wants to know. The way I made it work was by gripping it tightly between my thumb and forefinger, and turning it so that it resembles the letter U, with the bottom of the U facing back towards my butt, and sliding it in. Note: I had to maintain the tight grip on the cup while it was folded this way, because it had a very strong inclination to pop open before it was inserted all the way. This may not be the best fold for someone with limited hand dexterity. And the best part of it all is ... I may have started my period today. Yay! Don't think I've been excited about being on my period before ... LOL.

I haven't removed it yet, but hopefully it isn't a disaster. Don't want the bathroom looking like a crime scene.

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!

 

Hello, ladies! I've looked through the 'folding' tag and haven't found anything really similar to my fold (I'll call it the Diamond), so I thought I would post some pics for you :)

( a girl's best friend! )

I love this fold. It's pretty quick to accomplish, and very slim and easy to insert. I haven't really had any issues with a delayed pop... if it takes a minute to open, you should be able to just wiggle it a little and it'll be fine. :)

Also, I only have a Divacup, so I don't know how the Diamond will work with any other brand of cup. But if any of you try it out, I'd love to hear how it works!

Hello everyone!

I noticed recently that the awesome post with folding pictures is dead.  All the photos don't work.  So I took it upon myself to take some pics for everyone.  I know I missed the labial fold, but I can never get it to fold right, and there are already pics of that, and one more recent one.  Maybe we should tag those posts?

Anyway, in case someone who is not a current cup user stumbles accross this post, here are a couple pics to give you an idea of how big the cup is.  It is a smaller size DivaCup, as I am 15 and a complete virgin.  Excuse the zany bedsheets.  Haha!  My room's colourful. :)



There you go!  If I've forgotten some vastly important fold, comment me, and I'll edit this entry and add it. :)  

EDIT:  I've added pics on how to do all but the C-fold, as that is self-explanatory.  If you think I should add text to the how-to, comment. :)

Hope that helps some.  :D

God bless,
Sheila

Hi all. I've been reading over the memories and the group getting info as needed. Some of it's been really helpful; I'm really glad I found the community! I do have some questions, though. I just got my Diva (a day after my last period ended, ARGH!) It's a size 2; I'm going to be 30 in April. I haven't had any children, vaginally or otherwise, but there are other factors involved that made me decide on the slightly larger size.

At any rate, I'm confused about checking the suction. I'm in the middle of a 2nd dry run - the first was just insertion and removal. Right now I'm wearing it for awhile to see how it feels in the longer term. The first time I used the standard c-fold, which popped open so hard it actually hurt and formed such a strong seal it felt like it was pulling my intestines out of my vagina when I was trying to get it low enough to release the seal. See, I'm all about all you folks who say that they can run their finger around the rim inside themselves to either check or break the seal, but I can't. I'm overweight, not very flexible, and have short fingers. ;) I simply can't reach it unless it's so far down that it's mostly not inside me. This time around, I used a punch-down fold, which was a HECK of a lot more comfortable. The body position I'm in doesn't seem to make a difference -- sitting on the toilet, standing with one foot on the toilet lid, squatting -- once it goes in, just so the end of the (untrimmed) stem is flush with my vaginal opening, I can no longer reach most of the cup. I've tugged on it and there's a bit of resistance. I can only hope this means the suction's there.

Additionally, this means I can't turn the cup at all. The first punch-down insert didn't open -- when I inserted my finger I could feel the fold in the cup, and I couldn't get a grip on it to turn it so I pulled it out and tried reinserting it. The second time, I got a quarter-turn out of it before I couldn't turn it anymore. I didn't feel any major divits in the part of the cup I could reach, but that doesn't mean there isn't one further up that I can't feel.

Also, once inserted, the cup is supposed to open all the way and be round, like it is when it's not in? Because mine doesn't. It remains sort of oblong -- no obvious folds, but not round. Does that mean it's opened as far as it can and has formed a seal, or that I did something wrong?

Help, O Goddesses of Gaia-Friendly Menstrual Solutions! :)

So I started using my Diva Cup like a year and half ago which is before I was aware of the million different folding methods people have come up with
BUT
I came up with a twist on the C-fold which I basically call "The c-fold, yank down, and push up"
So I fold my Diva into the C-fold as normal
I then insert it into my vagina
Now here's where most people (including me) have trouble with the C-fold, the flipping thing will not pop open! It will unfold but not pop open
So i release my fingers from the fold and pull the cup down to the base of my vagina (but not all the way out!) at this point it pops open
I then glide it back up to my cervix (for some reason if it's already inside of you it stays open ) and twist to create my seal!
I know this sounds kinda complicated but it takes me all of 30 seconds and to me is simpler and more intuitive than a fold with a million folds

I remember that there was somewhere online you could go to see different folds other than the c fold for inserting your divacup. Can anyone tell me where it is i can't find it =(
-thanks

Hi! I'm 17 and technically still a virgin. I've always hated pads; the cost, the waste, the 'limp rag' feel, and haven't ever really tried tampons. The risk of TSS and the way the fibres 'stick' has put me off somewhat. So I heard about the UK Mooncup and thought, 'wonderful! Freedom!' and ordered it in what I'm sure is the smaller size (it's a 'B'). It arrived, my first period came around... and god did it ever hurt. I tried 'stretching' myself on the recommendation of the lady who sold it to me and at last managed to get the hang of getting it in and out, but while it was up there there was a really intense, sick, crampy pain, low down in my stomach. This happened almost every time I used it over two periods and I couldn't keep it in for more than ten minutes.

I also had problems getting the thing to unfold; half the time I had to physically unfold it myself and it hurt so much I stopped bothering and took the it out again. I tried the C-fold and couldn't even get it in, the seven-fold and couldn't straighten it out properly and the punch-down fold which was okay some of the time.

Sore, angry and disappointed, I gave up and returned to the pads I loathed. Fast-forward several months to today, when I decided to try Tampax on a whim. Was amazed to find that, using a 'regular' size (I'm fairly heavy and couldn't get away with less) I got a similar pain; a much less intense version of the discomfort I suffered with my Mooncup. Could this be something to do with me? I'm not at all nervous about either of these products, the tampons especially, and I took plenty of time with each to relax myself. The only thing I can think of is that I have mild IBS which can flare up badly during my period, but it hasn't done so for quite a while!

Please help. I really do want to be able to use my Mooncup, or if not that then another type of menstrual cup! Thanks :)

ETA: Well, it's in. I tried the origami fold and that... sort of slipped sideways. Painfully. Then I tried the punch-down fold again, and after quite a lot of pain (caused by the suction, I think) securing the seal, I did it. It feels... uncomfortable, but not agonising in the way it did. I can live with it and hopefully it'll get better as I adjust.

Hi! I'm a happy Diva cup user. I think the fold I use is the one you guys call a C-fold. I fold it in half and then half again. Here is the part where I admit that I didn't read anything that came with my Diva....just sort of shoved it in and it worked out. From time to time it's a little bit of a struggle to get it to sit properly, but only like once a cycle or so. I keep seeing folks who say they like the origami fold, tho. What does that mean? Maybe a different fold would help on my off days!

Hello Everyone,
I just finished my first cycle with a divacup. When I insert it, my cervix is a little way inside the cup. Also, when I put it in, I am using the c-fold, and when it tries to open, it is flat, like the first part of the c. It was leaking a little after four hours, and I have moderate flow. Does riding at an amusement park affect the cup any? Finally, is it ok not to boil it? I live in a college dorm, and there is nowhere to do this. Thanks for your help.

can i use the C Fold when inserting Instead? i'm not sure....

Today, upon first insertion, I got a great seal, no leaks and everything was grand. Then I started getting killer cramps, much owrse than I have gotten in over 6 months. Could this have anything to do with returning to using the Diva after being off it for so long? Also, I am not sure yet, but when I put it in the second time, I don't think I got a seal. It is open, but I think it is leaking. Why does this keep happening?

I'm in the middle of my second cycle using the DivaCup, but it feels like I've been using it for a lot longer. I did a fair amount of research beforehand and have been really excited about it for several months.

Anyway, it was really helpful to read about people's experiences here, so I thought I'd share mine before asking a question.

( Read more... )

Hi there!

This is my very first day ever using a cup. I got a Diva Cup and didn't have any problems inserting it. But! When I went to take it out just now I had a really hard time getting a grip on it. Is it common to have to work so hard to get it out? I couldn't even get a grip on the stem bc of the angle it was at. Did I do something wrong when inserting it? I folded it in half and half again like the box said and then sort of shoved it up there until it felt like it was going to stay. Is there something I can do to make it not shift like that? It freaked me right out.

Also, I'm fixing to head to bed and am a little nervous about sleeping with it in. Is it safe to leave it in overnight? I don't have any cloth pads atm. :(

Hi all,

Just wanted to let you all know that I was finally able to test the new folding method explained here on my newly acquired Lunette and Mooncup UK. The instructions have been edited to reflect this. Also,new Mooncup photos have been added to the bottom.

The Lunette may be easier to fold than the Divacup (and is now my new favorite!)

The Mooncup requires a slight tweak, but thanks to its sturdy rim, it popped open just fine. It was also very comfortable, as many have said. (My preference for the Lunette is due to its less rigid shape which I find easier to remove.)

Enjoy!

After months of waiting I finally got my hands on a Diva Cup! I got my period and was so excited to finally be able to use it, except I couldn't get it in! I was really smart and threw out the directions because my friend showed me how to fold it on hers, and I'm wondering if they had any special folding techniques on there that I'm missing out on now.

I'm generally pretty tight (it took me about twenty tries to get a tampon in the first time. To this day, I still have issues with cardboard applicators from time to time), so I'm wondering if anyone else in a similar situation has any special folding ideas that might work.

I'm slightly concerned because when it didn't fit last time I got frustrated and used tampons again, and I'll have started my summer job away from home by the time I get my next cycle.

I just posted yesterday, but I need some more help.

Day 2 using the Lunette and still having a lot of problems. I removed the entire stem, but it's not helping much. I can only seem to insert the cup while lying down. Once I finally get it inserted, I start walking around and getting sharp pains. I don't know what is causing this. I just inserted a tampon, and I'm not having any problems with it. I'm wondering if the Lunette is just too large for me. I think my issue is that I can't seem to insert it high enough, and then it's sitting too low. The stub of where the stem was is sitting outside of my vagina.

I think I'm getting more frustrated because I really want this to work for me. My mother thinks I should bring the cup to a gyno and see if she can measure and figure out if it's too large for me. She says they do that usually with diaphragms.

Do I just need more practice? I almost want to give up.

Today was my first time using the Lunette I bought a few weeks ago. I should start off by saying that I always hated tampons, and the whole inserting business, but I really wanted to give a menstrual cup a try. I do not want to go back to using messy pads, I want this to work for me.

I am having a really hard time trying to fold it and insert it. It seems like the silicone is very tough, and the fold pops open before I can fully insert it. I tried a few times, and I feel like I'm not inserting it high enough, but it's painful. I find that I do experience some discomfort when my husband is inserting and removing during sex. I also experience discomfort during insertion and removal during a regular gyno exam. My doctor said my vagina is sensitive. So what's up? What can I do regarding the cup? I just can't seem to get it inserted without any discomfort, and then once it's inserted, it's not high enough. I can feel the little stem if I walk around. Also, removal is very painful.

Do I need to just work on this more? Is the lunette too large? Help. I'm just started my period, and I really do not want to use pads.

** EDIT **

I finally successfully inserted the Lunette, but I can only do it while lying down. This isn't going to work for when I need to drain it at work. I'm getting so frustrated. I keep trying to insert while sitting in the bathroom, and I am having no luck. It is so painful no matter which way I fold. The 7 fold is the only one that works. I managed to insert it twice, and somehow the lunette turned upside down when I inserted it. I was so upset, and thought it was going to get stuck in there. I ended up having to pull it out from the rim. I don't know if that makes sense. Anyway, it just feels so painful, like it is just sitting too low. I can't seem to push it up anymore because the rim on the cup is so thick. :( Should I try the Mooncup UK?

Edit** Originally done with Divacup, I have tried this with Lunette and Mooncup UK which I have now purchased. NB: Please follow regular instructions for Lunette (it's actually easier)and scroll down for slight differences in Mooncup method.**

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I think I just invented / reinvented a fold that works better for me than anything else I've tried so far, and wanted to see if it's useful for anyone else. I think it pops open easily (for me at least) and has a more uniform profile down its length than some folds. Does it work for you?

The LABIAL FOLD: a double punch-down

General Description / Divacup and Lunette Instructions
Do this with two hands (I had to hold the camera): hold cup in one hand and with the other, pinch a corner of the cup and push down towards about the middle of the opposite side, much like the punch down but with an extra fold.


From the top, you get this disturbingly "labial" shape...


Side view
Squeeze the sides together to hold it all together, like this:


Top view (On a Lunette, only the outer folds would be visible, and the tip can be made more pointy.)

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Mooncup Instructions
The basic method is the same, but the folding proportions will be somewhat affected by the Mooncup's thick rim. Sorry about the crappy photos; I had to use my phone because my camera died the night after I took the originals.

1. When punching in, punch all the way to the bottom of the cup:


2. Scrunch the cup so that one of the "labia minora" crosses over the other:

Insert!

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Notes:
1)I should add that if you get it just right, it is possible to maintain the fold squeezing near the base (under the bulky part) without popping open prematurely. Then you can use the other hand to squeeze the tip smaller for initial insertion :-) after which the vaginal muscles help to hold the fold together until you let go.
2)Popping open: depending on when and where you let go, the cup may not pop completely open right away. If this happens, flexing the muscles usually does it for me. A sucking inward flex seems more effective than a pushing one. A dull thud indicates that the cup is open. Of course cup twirling works, too! Also, not pushing the cup as far in before letting go of the fold helps too. Let the cup pop open, and then adjust position.
3) For the punching down, I find it easiest to hold the cup sideways in the non-dominant hand, in the space between thumb and forefinger, facing out.

P.S. Props to those who discovered this fold independently (see comments below)!

Hello :-) I've been learning about the different folds, and I have found pictures of the following:

1) C-fold: Fold flat, then in half.

2) Punch-down fold: Push one point on the rim in, then fold so that the point exactly opposite it is on a pointy end.

3) 7-fold: Like a C-fold, except then take one end of the C and slide it below the other.

But what is the origami fold? I can't find a picture anywhere.

Also, a couple of times in the archives people have referred to a U-fold, like saying "more of a U-fold than a C-fold." How can those 2 be different??

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,
Lib