I am using my Diva Cup for the first time, and it's been OKAY.  The first day I had some leaking, but today I didn't have any, however, while I was at work I kept freaking out that it was leaking so I felt like I wanted to hide in the bathroom the entire day!

I have a few questions:
1.)  I've read that some people have a problem with not being able to reach the cup when its inside them, my problem is the exact opposite.  My cup's stem almost sticks out, its an inch or two shy, does this happen to anyone else?  I don't want to cut the stem because I use it to insert it.

2.)  How do you really know that it's sealed?  I blindly insert it and push up, almost like a plunger and more or less hope it's okay.  I can't do the circle or turn thing to make sure its sealed.

3.) Does anyone else experience pain when using a menstrual cup?  The general area of my lady parts hurt whenever I use the cup.

4.) How do I get the cup to completely open once inside me, I kept feeling that one side of my cup was folded in?

I reaaaaaally want to be able to use my cup but I feel like giving up!  If anyone has any tips or suggestions please let me know!

Also, I am in a club, the ______ College Women's Center, and was planning on having a meeting where I lead a discussion about alternatives to one time use pads and tampons, anyone have any ideas as to especially important things I should cover?

I also use pads from party pants pads WHICH I LOVE, but I am trying to use the diva cup as to cut down on having to buy more and wash pads.  I started out using Instead Cups, which I think really helped.

I would love to be able to use my cup without fear of leakage or having to use a pad as well, and as today went well with no leaks I am feeling somewhat more hopeful.


Also, I am verrrry new to live journal, so forgive me for any mistakes and my lack of a photo/icon.

ps THIS COMMUNITY IS FABULOUS.

I have a story and a couple  questions.

This past Thursday I saw Wicked and my peroid hit right after the group of us finished dinner.  I didn't have anything with me for my period- and all those tampon dispensors in public bathrooms were empty.  I must have asked ten women for a tampon before I found one who had a tampon.  When I got home I saw that my diva cup wasn't where I left it- and took all of ten minutes to buy a new one.  I was freaking out-cause I don't have enough tampons for a full period around anymore.  And last night I found my diva cup.   When I found it  my friend dani was here- who thinks Cups are disgusting- and I was dancing and all excited about finding it.   I think Dani nearly vomited at my excitement.   SOOO!  I'll have 2 cups soon.  Wooo!  haha.

 

Anyway my question- When I put it in I feel pressure down there for maybe 15 minutes after its in.  Does anyone else feel pressure?  Or is it just me?  Is there anyway I can avoid it?
 
I don't know if anyone else can do this- but combined with mycycle.com I can tell where I am with my cycle by how my cervix feels- does that make sense and can anyone do that?

I hate those months when, no matter how many times I adjust it, I cannot get the cup in right. Happens about once a year.

Gah!

Hello!
Sorry in advance, this post is pretty long...

I just had a pretty awful experience with my cup.  I don't want to scare off future cup users or anything, but I'd like to know if anyone else has experienced something like that...

I've been using a DivaCup for about 3 years, and 3 or 4 months ago I switched to a Lunette.  I've been happy enough with the Lunette so far.  I got my period last night, so this morning, I put in my Lunette, and all was dandy, until later when I took it out and put it back in.

All of a sudden, it was ridiculously painful.  I figured, from posts here, that the cup was hitting my cervix.   TMI, but I tend to be slightly prone to constipation, and it was the same feeling (could it be that that feeling is from my cervix and I never realized?  I do eat a lot of fibre, after all).  

I tried to take it out, but I couldn't, it hurt too much.  It felt like it could be the suction that was making it painful (even though I usually never feel suction), but the weird thing is that the cup wasn't open, it was folded in half, so I don't know where suction came from?

I tried to move it around the release the suction, pull on it, do something, but it hurt too much.  I tried to walk around to give it time to open up, but I started to feel really sweaty (as can happen when one's in pain).  I kept alternating between standing, sitting and trying to get it out, but nothing worked, the pain was too strong, especially when I tried to get it out.  Then my hearing got all fuzzy, like I was under water, and I was shaking a lot, and I could tell I was about to faint. 

I don't know if the panic was enough, or if the pain stopped, or if I just got numb (I was completlely out of it, my hearing and vision were odd, I was sweating and shaking, I couldn't stand properly), but the cup, thankfully, came out.  I almost instantly felt better and lay down, and now all's fine.

Does anyone know what happened?  (I'm sure no one knows for sure, but if anyone has an opinion, I'd love to hear it.)  Was it the beginning of toxic shock syndrome?  Was I about to faint because the cup was cutting off blood flow or something, or because of the pain, or  just because I panicked?  (I have fainted once before, and it was after feeling VERY slight pain --a small cut on my arm--, so I'm not sure what happened then either.)  And the scariest thing: what would have happened if I couldn't get the cup out?  I would have fainted, and then what?  Would there have been permanant damage?

Should I stop using a cup?  I definitely won't use it again this cycle, but after?  I would be so sad to give up cups, but I definitely do not want to go through this again, and it's likely that I will be too stressed to put it in next time.  Maybe I should switch back to the DivaCup?
And a last question, I was thinking of getting and IUD in a couple of months, do you think this experience means I should leave my cervix alone for a bit?  I usually have a high tolerance for pain, but this doesn't seem like a good sign.

Thank you so much!

Updates: My third day of dry run. I got over it easier than I thought. But here's the problem....It is poking me!!! And it's the smallest cup on market LOL. I am not on my period but I guess my cervix is always low. Should I cut the stem now? I feel it inside me just because of the stem. :(

Updates: Removal took forever because I don't want it to hurt like the last two, I managed to fold it when half of it came out. My only concern is when I DO have my period I do not know if I can fold it. Blood will surely spill out and probably every where on my hands, seat and perhaps my pants. (This is if I do i outside home)

Before I go into the question, I recently posted my first time (scary) experience with the cup. I am not planning to try it again for awhile because it hurts down there right now. What happen was I tried it again next day and the insertion was not that bad but still uncomfortable. The removal was painful,still, or even more.

Note that I could only insert one finger in there (after the first application I could fit two fingers more easily but still not manage to make use of it besides making the path way a bit wider)

I push the cup down with my muscle and tried to pull the stem when it sticks out. I break the seal with my index while holding on to the stem with my thumb and middle fingers. What happened was I had a hard time to get it out because my hymen was in the way which hurts like... I could not fold the cup while it's in there because if I let go of the stem it will go back in, plus I could not hold to the base instead of the stem because the base would be inside and I could not put three fingers in there. Only my index was pushing the cup to not make it seal. I could not take it out easily. I had to pull it knowing that it will hurt and there was no other way at the time. It came out creating a seal right when i was almost out and made a "pop" sound. OMG It hurts like I would never try it again...I really want it to work but I would need more time for it.

Today it is very sore and hurts all the time :( ...


Question for the future use

I think I have quite a heavy flow the second day.I don't think it's a good idea if I will be having to empty it when I am not home. If I use pads with it to help when it leaks and I cannot empty it, would that be OK? Or it's goign to make weird noise.

I have a small lady cup.

Hi,

I got my Diva cup back in December.

My first time trying it was unsuccessful, I tried a full two hours. I couldn't get even a little bit in before it popped open (like the corner was barely in). Suffice it to say it hurt, a lot. There was also a lot of bleeding, which really frightened me and I called it quits after that.

The next month I decided to try again, but, surprisingly, the area where it popped open still hurt and after a good half an hour I decided that I wasn't going to get it to work. I tried a ton of different folds, but they all threatened to (or did) pop open before I got them in, which scared me.

I tried again the next month, but after that I just gave up and decided to go back to my tampons.

Does anybody have any advice, because I really don't want to give up on my Diva Cup, I'm going away for a year and don't want to fill a suitcase with tampons to drag around with me. Are Diva Cups good for long periods of travel?

Should I be concerned about the bleeding, as there was a lot of blood and pain?

(Also, I don't know if this is relevent, but I am a virgin.)

Update: So after reading comments I think I don't have the microperforate hymen. I Have a normal but "stubborn" one...talking about hymen with personality LOL


And the story begins...

My Ladycup arrived today. I don't have my period but I wanted to try it to get comfortable...

I tried two times...after starting out with my finger to get it open a bit more. I could not put two fingers in. I tried punch down fold...it was too large to go in there. I didn't have lube so I use water. It still couldn't go in.

Then I tried the triangle fold. This got a better chance but my hand started cramping. It did not go far in. I had to get ready to go to work so I stopped it there for then.

After work, I tried again, still using the triangle fold. I was  standing  with my legs far apart and pretty much relaxed. It got in OK but stopped when I got to the wider folded part. I tried it again and again until I decided to do it on the toilet.

I tried until I was close to getting it. I had to turn it around a little then it finally went in more. I continued to insert. It got more painful when I got to the wider part and until it totally went in. And when it did, it hurts like....OMG it was pushing its way in trying to open. I had to push the cup in higher...then the pain was gone. I stood up and nearly blacked out. I grabbed my stuff and tried to get to my bed because I felt nauseating almost vomiting; then everything was dark, and my ear just kind of shuts off I could not hear anything.

I lied down and it started to feel like cramping inside but very mild. It did not hurt any longer but I was feeling nausea and like going to faint. I rested and fell asleep.

I woke up about an hour later. At this time I didn't even want to bother getting it out but I had to. I inserted my finger in soon to found out that I couldn't find the stem!!!!

I had to sort of "dig" in and I could not find it. Then I notice that the surface where I am touching was the upper part of the cup!!!!!!!!! It was close to the rim. Then I felt the rim, it formed a seal on the side.

I dig and dig and dig!!! I was like this can't be happening to me. How am I going to get it out?

I tried to hook the rim open and take it out but it wont move.

The cup was in a wrong position. It kind of was in side way. I soon found the stem on the left side and the rim was on the opposite,

I still could not get a good grip on the stem because it was folded and squish to the side. I try to move the stem with one finger to get it in a right position. I could only put one finger in there so it was impossible. I could barely touch it.

I was not panicking but I was thinking that  I had to get a doctor to get it out!

I tried to put two fingers in there but it was not helpful because two fingers were really stuffed in there and I couldn't move them.

After 45 minutes I tried to push the cup at the rim so it gets to the right position. After pushing it quite violently it started to turn to the right side. I finally got got it positioned.

Now.. the next scary part....How it's going to come out.

I push with my muscle (Probably like giving birth) until the stem sticks out. The seal is still there. I had to use my finger to push the rim to break the suction. I pulled....

Now it HURTS!!!! I wanted to stop but I had to get it out. It was very painful to get it all out. I tried to fold it but the rim part probably came out fully opened. But thank goodness it's out!!!

I am relief now but I am very scared to try it again. I think I won't have problem inserting too much. But taking it out was very painful.

I do not think I ripped anything...which is good, I feel real sore down there though.  :(

Hello, everyone.

I got my Diva Cup in the mail last week. I had no clue when my period would start (I'm irregular), but luckily I started a few days after receiving it. I was so excited to try it out.

Now I'm just raaaaaging. I've tried inserting it every time I go to the bathroom. I've tried four different folds and several sitting/standing/squatting positions. All of them have been epic fail thus far.

( some info that's a bit tmi-y )

I am so frustrated. I know some people say it takes awhile, but I've tried at least 3 times a day for the past 4 days and I feel like I should be somewhere further than wanting to throw the damn thing at a wall.

Advice? All comments are appreciated!

I picked up a pack of instead cups today and followed the instructions to insert them.  I pushed down and back as far as I could, while sitting on the toilet, slightly leaning forward.  I pushed it in so that the outer ring was back behind my pubic bone, but as soon as I sat up straight it slid back out.   I tried to insert the damn thing about 2 dozen times today.  I didn't feel uncomfortable, but it leaked all over the place.  I know it wasn't in there right.  I ended up taking it out and wearing a regular pad.  I was so frustrated  that I can't get this thing in, I was almost in tears.  I would like to get a Diva Cup, but I can't even insert the Instead Cup.

So, I have a DivaCup and a MCUK. I tried the DivaCup, and fell in love with it right away. It was easy to use, and everything. Still, I decided to give my MCUK a go, and decided this was the period to do it (36 days since my last period, can  you believe that?).

( Details of the Illicit Affair )

Ok, so I still haven't tried to get cup in again. Was wondering if it was fold that was problem. For a small person is it better not to use the 7 fold? I have no problems getting my tampax pearls in. I do have problems with blunt cardboard applicators. Should I try the small lunette selene? I want this to work but not be painful!!! It won't ever happen if it doesn't get better.

Ok, so I started today and thought this is the day that my cup will work. I used lube and properly cleaned everything. I used the extreme 7 fold and attempted to get my ladycup in. It would go in 3/4 of the way and was painful by the way and seemed not to go any further. I tried twice and was quite sore so I put in a tampon. I thought I had the angle right. I will wait and hopefully have the guts to try again tommorrow.

Hi--I've looked around in the archives, but as I have so many different problems with this cup, none of the answers seem to solve it. I've been stubbornly using the Diva Cup for about a year now and am getting so fed up and upset with it that I am on the verge of throwing it in the garbage. I'm 39 and usually used tampons with no problem at all, although I used a sea sponge when I was younger, also with no problems. I've had 2 children but not vaginally. I'm told my uterus is tipped. I think I bought the larger size Diva Cup because that was what was recommended for women over 30. I really want to make a cup work but it just makes me cry every single month! Anyway, here are the main issues:

1) It is very painful to insert. I use a C fold and can make it rotate a little bit once it is in but it is painful to make it do that and there is just no room to get a finger alongside it. It certainly doesn't twirl easily. Am I too dry? Too small? I read about people having sex with a cup in and...I just can't see how on earth that is humanly possible?

2) It leaks. Sometimes (not often) it is ok, but I can't ever trust it as I never know when it is going to randomly start gushing. For the first 3 months I had to do washer loads of stained clothes and didn't dare leave the house. i finally gave up and wear a pad constantly now in addition to it, which rather seems to defeat the purpose. Occasionally it is ok, but it often leaks when it has next to nothing in it, when it's half full. It also seems to fill up ridiculously fast. I don't understand how it could be left in for 12 hours without emptying it; I have to check it every hour on my heaviest days. Overnight there is blood everywhere even if I have a pad because it fills up and leaks in a way that a tampon never did. I have no idea if I have heavier flow than most people; I would have to change a super tampon every hour or two during the heaviest days. Is that a lot? (ok, I just googled and I guess that is maybe a lot. Maybe that explains my very low iron levels...?)

3) It often seems to press on my urethra and I can't empty my bladder completely. On a number of occasions where I was several hours without access to a bathroom this has become excruciatingly painful.

4) Sometimes the stem sticks out and I simply cannot make it go any further up. Other times it migrates so far up I can barely get it out again. What is going on?

4) It is horribly painful to take out (I pinch it but it is awful getting the seal to break and the edges of the cup dragging along my insides is a terrible sensation) and when I finally get the open end out, it usually pops open and sprays everywhere (sorry, tmi!). Probably because I do it too fast because the removal process hurts. It is just horrifyingly messy. I never had that kind of problem with a sea sponge (or with a tampon unless there was some big clot or something but at least that is easier to contain).

You know, reading this I cannot believe I have persisted as long as I have! My sister has a different brand (Keeper, I think) and loves it. I so want it a cup to work for me. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do to improve matters? I haven't tried cutting off the stem. Sometimes that seems like it would be a good idea because it pokes out and then I end up having a 10 minute session next time trying to push the thing out and think, no, the stem is my only hope! Should I try turning it inside out? Do I need to try a different brand? This one was $50 and I can't keep spending money trying out brand after brand if it turns out i just have some weird and twisted anatomy where it won't work. I didn't even try using it last month because it is such a stressful and uncomfortable experience; I just bought tampons and it was such a relief knowing for certain that I wasn't going to be covered in blood after 2.5 minutes. But I don't want to use them if I don't have to. Help!

I just got the Mooncup. (Keeper, i guess? Got it from mooncup.com)

I'm on my 2nd day using it. Insertion is very awkward, I'm using the C fold at the moment. I can't seem to push it in far enough. I believe this is because I'm obese and my stomach is in the way. I also seem to have a little bit more flesh down there than most women so everything is kinda cushioned i guess. (I can't really explain it.)

When it's finally in, it keeps moving up until its almost completely inside me. I've read it's supposed to do this, but I can barely reach the stem even when pushing. (If i cut it, i would of been screwed.)

Removing it is pretty weird too. I have to pull on the stem pretty hard until i can manage to reach the cup. It seems like the rim is irritating me when i remove it. (I can't reach that far inside so i can't fold it.) The real irritation happens when i have to pee, it's not my urethra that's burning but the skin further down. I think the lack of moisture is screwing everything up.

Right now I'm using tampons because I'm afraid of hurting myself more. I'm not really sure what to do about the irritation problem. I've only used lube once with painful results, so I'm kinda afraid of getting an infection. Any suggestions for a water based lube or any other suggestions as to how to stop the irritation? I really want this cup to work, it seems like it would be great if i could get used to it, lol.

Hey! :)
So, this is the first cycle I've attempted to use my small size lunette.  I've been able to insert it almost all the way with a labial fold, all I have to do is push it in.  But it already hurts during insertion (I'm a sixteen year old virgin) and I'm afraid I wont be able to get it out or it'll be excrutiatingly painful.  Any tips?  Thanks!
 

Okay, so my period ended around the 13/14. I've been sitting on my hands, because after the initial dry run/end of period run, I learned that you can't put too much bank on dry runs because your cervix may move. It took me until now to break.

So, I've been wanting to try the C fold for a while now. You know, I just never tried it because I automatically assumed that it was going to be too big. I've tried the origami and 7 folds, both with a small amount of pain/discomfort. I was bored this morning and I decided to give a dry run another go. I inserted my size 1 DivaCup like it says on the instructions, and voila! Hallelujah! The C fold went in with no pain at all, and I tried to swish around the cup (I couldn't get too far, only about halfway) after a few kegals, and it felt like it had opened completely. I only had the urge-to-pee sensation until I left the bathroom. I'm just so happy right now. n_n"

I'm thinking of cutting the stem off completely because I can feel it when I bend over, but I'll wait until my period to see if that's something I really want to do.

Has anyone else had hallelujah folds, or hallelujah moments with their cups?

Okay so I am a teen and have the small diva cup but cant get it to work.(been using tampons before now)

The problem is I cant seem to get it in far enough so that the bottom doesn't stick out, it either pops open and i cant push it in any further or if i'm holding it between my first finger and thumb i cant seem to get it all in. If by some miracle I get it in it wont pop open and wont seal. And then getting it out is painful , is there any way to do it without folding the cup up inside you??

Help!! need to know how to insert it the whole way and how to pop it open.

With so many suggestions to turn the Diva Cup inside out going around, I decided to see how it would work with my small Lunette. Turning it inside out kind of stretched the holes in a way that looked a little dangerous for long term use.

It was so much easier to insert! I use the extreme 7 or triangle fold, because it's the smallest tip, but usually it hurts a bit at the base when it goes in. I thought it was because the fold made it wider at the base, but now I think it probably has more to do with the ridges. The inside out Lunette went in very smoothly without pain. I didn't have any problems popping open.

I then went to class and left it in for several hours. I think I may have had a bit more leaking than normal. This could be because I left it in for too long, but I think the leaking was constant. On the other hand, it did not leak very much, and I have had some issues with it leaking when it wasn't inside out.

I was a bit worried about removal, but it actually went pretty well. Turning it inside out makes it flat on the bottom, almost flared out a tiny bit. I had some trouble getting my finger past the base of the cup, but once I did that, it was easy to pinch the base and get a good grip because of the shape.

So, I may be using my Lunette inside out from now on. I'll edit this post tomorrow or in a few days if I come to any conclusions about leaking.

EDIT:  ( Pictures behind the cut! )

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.

Let me preface this with the fact that I am a 16 year old virgin, in case it matters. I also can't find my cervix ever, and I'm not quite clear on how to tell if I've gotten the cup past my pubic bone. I've really tried to figure both out, I swear. Anyway, I ordered a Lunette last week thanks to this wonderful community. I was really excited to get to use it. I am completely dedicated to figuring out how to get this to work.

( The story so far )

Could someone help me figure out a fold that will pop open easily and not murder my nether bits? I think the origami might do the trick but I can't understand how to do it (it seems like the Lunette is too stiff to do it as it's done in the guide with all of the folds and it always pops open too early for me). If you recommend the origami fold, could you give me more in-depth instructions, as I can't seem to get it right?

This isn't a problem, I'm just curious--my period started today and, like always for me, it was accompanied by minor irritation around the labia and just sort of discomfort in the vag. Inserting my cup is always the toughest on the first day--I think my cervix is like insanely low or something, it always feels like there's just no room in there for the cup. This always goes away in about 12-24 hours and then cup insertion/removal is just fine for the rest of the cycle (I use the larger size Lunette).

I'm just wondering--does anyone else have a similar pattern? Anyone know why this is?

Hi, I am new and i've been reading this site for the past week to decide if i wanted a keeper or not, and i got one, it came today! but i tried it... and it was soooo painful to put in, to have in (i could only stand it for about 40 seconds) and i almost started crying when i took it out then i sat there stunned for a few minutes because the pain kept going. i really want to use it, but i'm scared of it for now... any advice? I'm a virgin and i'm 14 so i think it was because i'm really small and not stretched out at all. but i could barely get it up there, i can barely get three fingers up there at all, let alone two with a huge cup! its so big! and when i folded it, it kept popping back to its normal position.. i need help!

Poll #1343689 How do you lube?
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

So how do you lube to insert your cup??

So how do you lube your cup? I've tried doing the whole cup (except the inside)but it's just a mess and it slips away. I've tried lube'in myself but it's not enough. So I've given up on lube and have just been inserting with the water left on the cup after I wash it. It works but it still hurts a little. I cant seem to find a way to use lube without my cup flying out of my hand. So how do you ladies insert your cups? With or without lube? And which way works best for you?

I bought KY jelley today because it's water-based and you girls said it would be best to buy water-based so I wouldn't ruin my diva cup. WELL I sat in the bath room for a good long while attempting to insert my diva cup. No dice. Any suggestions?