Hello ladies!
I just wanted to introduce myself real quickly, and ask if you guys maybe had some tips for me. I'm almost 20, and (maybe obviously) have never given birth. I have been having sex for a couple of years, and have been on birth control from when I was about 15 'till I was 18, when I switched to the NuvaRing. I've been wanting to order a cup for a while but kept postponing it. Last week I ordered a meluna in S (with a ring instead of a stem), and a ladycup in the smaller size. I have since tried both (I'm still having my period), and both are not really perfect for me.
The MeLuna seems too small, in both width and capacity. It hasn't moved while inserted, as far as I could tell, which is a pro. But I can't wear it during the night because it leaks, simply because it's too small to last the +/- 9 hours I sleep. It's pretty easy to insert and remove, even though it sits very low. Though I think that's got nothing to do with the cup, my cervix sits very very low during my period too.
The LadyCup I just received today, so I haven't slept with it in yet. I chopped off the whole stem, because, sitting so low, it kept poking me constantly. Even now the stub pokes me a little sometimes, any way to get it a little softer? It's a lot easier to fold than the MeLuna, but also seems to shift more while inserted, it tilts a little. I'm not sure if I should be bothered by this, I'll keep wearing it until tomorrow and we'll see what happens, haha. I'm not sure if this will hold more blood during the night, since it is 5mm longer than the MeLuna but the airholes also sit a lot lower.

Anyhow, using a cup has not yet been a perfect experience for me, but also not much worse than using a tampon. I haven't had any leaks apart from the aforementioned leaking during the night. I did however have extreme cramps yesterday, the first night and day I used the MeLuna; though I don't think it has much to do with suction, since it seems to have quite little being so small. It could just be a random horrible period, haha. It's been better today, even though I also wore the MeLuna for the night and until about 3pm.
I'm thinking about ordering a MeLuna in M, for the mere €12 it's not that much of a loss if it turns out to be too big.

/blabla long story! Any things I can try to make it more comfortable / make the cup sit a little higher? I use the origami fold, the others (C and punch down) didn't seem to open that easily and this was nice and compact to insert.

Hello! I am brand new to the community and have been considering getting a menstrual cup for some time now. I recently had an IUD inserted and so I've been looking around for something that will hold my heavier Paragard flows (that I am expecting.) Part of the reason why I wanted to get a Paragard was because I wanted to get in touch with my body and know when I ovulate, exactly how far apart my periods are, etc. I've kind of always been "grossed" out by my own body (which is sad!) and especially my insides (i.e. vagina.) A big breakthrough was when I got the Nuvaring (which I loved for convenience, but hated for its side effects) and I got to inserting it. Literally, it was one of the only times I would ever touch the inside of my vagina. My question about menstrual cups is, if I can insert a Nuvaring, I should be able to insert a menstrual cup, right? Are they similar in how they are inserted? I'm a little embarrassed, but I don't exactly know where my cervix is and I just hope that I will be able to place it in correctly.

I've read this commmunity for a while now, but just recently officially joined and this is my first post.

I discovered Instead cups about a year ago and used them for one cycle. I didn't have any problems inserting or anything, but if I moved (bent over, walked around, normal movement) it would bend the ring and spill the entire contents. Not good. So I bought a Diva Cup (Size 1, never been pregnant and at the time was a virgin). I had no problems at all with it and continued to use it for about 5 months or so.

Then I started using the Nuvaring. I stacked my rings, so in the 6 months I was on the Nuvaring, I had like 1 period. I don't think I used to cup. I also became sexually active. On the ring, I started getting chronic UTIs. I never had a UTI before this. I finally switched to the pill because they discovered that the ring was causing some sort of reaction and making my cervix inflamed and irritated.

Since being on the pill (since January), I haven't have anymore UTI problems/symptoms. I figured it was the Nuvaring irritating the area. They said the the severe inflammation can cause your bladder to not fully empty and pinch off the urethra, causing infections. However, I started using the Diva cup for my last period. Everything seemed to be okay. Then I woke up with UTI symptoms, a few weeks after my period. I used the Diva Cup again for my next period (this past week) and towards the last day or so, I noticed some irritation, like a UTI was starting again.

So basically, could the Diva cup be causing the same sort of irritation as the NuvaRing did? Even though I didn't have any problems with the cup before I became sexually active?

I've also read that the Lady Cup is softer and better for people that are prone to UTIs. Anyone made the switch and noticed less irritation?

Thanks for reading/commenting.

Any tips for using the Nuvaring with a cup at the same time? I know it can be done. I just can't get my ring high enough, it always overlaps with the rim of the cup just a bit and I get some leakage. Is my vagina too short? I use the Divacup, by the way.

For the two periods since I started hbc and having PIV sex, I've noticed that inserting my Divacup has become drastically more difficult. I started using a menstrual cup three years ago (!!!) and haven't had problems since the first few months. Now though, it hurts a lot and won't unfold easily.

I use the punchdown fold without lube and either insert it standing or in the shower with one leg up. Today I had to use a good dose of water-based lube to help things along. For the record, when I started having non-penetrative sex a year ago, I didn't notice any change in ease of insertion. Removal isn't nearly as problematic as insertion, but it might hurt a little more than it used to.

This is half a rant, but I'm also curious. Could the PIV and the NuvaRing be working my kegels to the point that they're actually making me functionally smaller? Could I be expecting penetration of any sort to feel a certain way and thus be tensing up? The Ring increased my discharge, but maybe it changed the consistency so it's really less of a lubricant. Could the Ring or sex be making me more sensitive?

Ideas? Has your method of insertion ever just stopped working?

Hi, I'm new here and wanted to ask some questions about Instead. I've been to their website and I've checked the memories, but I still had a couple of questions:

I use Nuvaring, so inserting stuff isn't that big of a problem for me. However, I am afraid that the Instead might be too big. I know how to tell, but I guess I'm curious as to how many people tried Instead and how many found it was too big for them. I mean, a women who's had three kids might find it fits her fine while a virgin might not even be able to get it in, so I just wanted to see how that works out. I do want to eventually get a Diva Cup, but the last time I checked they were like 20 or 30 USD or something whereas the Instead is only 8 and can, if nothing else, give me an idea of what a menstrual cup will be like. I have always either preferred nothing or a pad of some kind (I like to make them, weird I know, but hey, no one else has a pad with little bunnies and cats on it).

So if anyone wants to just reply with your age, the kids factor, and if it was too big for you, it would be much appreciated.

Thank you all!

( I'm curious how you get both to work )

I had meetings most of the morning at work yesterday so, paying attention to the little grummbly feeling heralding imminent shark attack, I put my new MCUK large size in before starting to bleed, so I wouldn't have to jump up and run out in the middle of a meeting. Whooh! I have never had so much trouble putting my old cup in! I definitely think it is a combo of the lack of blood lube more then the additional size. After much twisting and imagining the squeaking noise of tightly fitting rubber, I got it in.
It is worth mentioning that this is my first bleeding time after going ont he Nuvaring, which I took out friday. Upon emptying it last evening, it looked like I hadn't really started bleeding, but there was this totally gross (sorry in advance) brown mucus stringy stuff in the cup and on the outside, too. I know one of the things the ring does is increased mucus as part of the birth control, but this was totally yuckers!! Anyone else have this experience? I also leaked a little, but I thought it was more due to not getting the cup in before stuff started moving.
I actually started to bleed today, and leaked. Not as much as the smaller size, but still enough that I am thankful for my cloth pads. I am guessing I need to tweak my positioning. I have not really gone on the cervix safari yet, so I think I will start with that. My question is, once i find it and make sure it is positioned in the middle of the cup, should I try to push the cup higher? Just keggle it?
Still feeling a bit frustrated because it is much harder to get in and has not opened once without me having to swirl the finger around it. I am sore!! But I think I should be able to solve it with this one, hopefully.

I know there have been some topics if and how to use a menstrual cup with the Nuva Ring and if it was possible. I have been using the two together and thought I'd share how i do it without worrying about if the ring is *in* the cup, and thus not fully in contact with my vagina walls and if that was compromising my protection.
I use the 7 fold and insert my cup first. Before I turn to get suction I inset my ring ensuring that is in full contact with my walls. I have had no problems with leaks this way. It times I do feel rather *full though* and that can cause some discomfort, esp. if I have to have a BM. I'm wondering if one of the softer cups would solve that problem. Does anyone have any experiences with that?
Have a great weekend!
-K

After cycle 5 still being leaky, but a lot less crampy then the last one (thank the bleeding gods, since I had to fly back from Atlanta the day I started it) I have finally gotten the money in my bank account to order the A (larger) size from their website. They said 7-14 days, so I should get it in plenty of time before the next shark week. I just started the Nuvaring and I hope I put it in the right day to keep my cycle about the same. Even if it comes early, I should have the new one in time. I will be offering my small one up for sale one I do. Thanks everyone for your support and help!

I am a sexually active, monogamous, 20-something, menstrual cup and nuva ring user. I had my last pap smear around February.

I have had an odd issue recently. Sometimes, when I go pee, there is a brownish mucus gunk that comes out of me. The best way I can describe this is as something like bloody snot, but more brown than blood and not as thick as snot. This started before the last time I had sex, at which point I had my nuva ring in. It also sticks to the ring or the cup. This does not always happen. I have started my period since this happened, and have had the brownish gunk since then - on my cup, for one thing. It washes off easily. I have had no pain associated with this, and I don't think I have a fever. It could be some sort of infection, but I'd expect a fever with an infection.

Any ideas on what this could be?

cross-posted

yay for menstrual cups!

i converted, to my knowledge, five ladies on another site to the cup!  i had originally posted a thread on that site inquiring what do they use for menstrual protection and though the males on the site kept stumbling in and 'blacking out', i had really different responses from many women.  i tried my best to pass on as much knowledge i could about the cup.  so, i'm very happy to have converted five to the cup.

however, i will mention one thing.  a classmate, turned minor internet celebrity, had originally been appalled/freaked out/disgusted when i first mention the cup to her as an alternative to the pad/tampon.  but on my thread, she recently posted saying that she has "always been interested in using the cup"...  yep, sure girl...  i hope she does try it though.  it just peeved me a bit to read her post because it is untrue and i feel like she said that because the thread is/was so popular and the recent posters were all [converted ]cup users.
 
question though.  i can't find my divacup!  should i buy another one or just use my leftover tampons until i can find it?  i also just started the nuvaring, are there any complications with the ring and the cup?

thanks!

I know this question has been kind of tossed out before, but the link to the answer won't work for me (it keeps coming up with an error message) so I'm hoping that someone would be able to answer. 

It's been a few years, I'm thinking about going back on HBC (Sidebar: am I the only one who read HBC the first time and thought, "Why the frack are people talking about the Hudson's Bay Company here??").  I never remember to take pills and I'm wary of the Patch because of the law suits I've read about/my girlfriends who say it falls off sometimes, so I was thinking NuvaRing.  Now that I've discovered the wonderful, revolutionizing world of shoving Anastasia Beaverhousen up into Ladytown, I like the idea.  

Anyway, I noticed on here that sometimes the cup- and ring-wearing overlap and I was wondering what experiences people have had with it.  Are the cup and the ring mutually exclusive?  Has anyone talked to a gyno that had informed opinions about both?  Does it affect the delivery of the hormones or impact the silicone of the cup?  I have an appointment with mine next week, but I thought I'd ask here in case she's never heard of the cup....

i bought my divacup about one week ago and i started my period 3 days ago. Before my period, i tried my divacup several times it was hard at first but after a while it seemed okay. But when i started my period I also started my nuvaring. at first i was unabled to put my cup because it was blocking so i deciede to put the ring to the side. After almost 50 tries, i could finally get it in. but the problem is that i cant get in in properly. Everytime i put it, its leaking all over. There is blood almost all over the sides except in. I,m pretty sure its because there is no succion, but i cant turn it and when i touched with my finger, its seems suizz but open! Can anyone help me so i cant get it the right way to use it because after almost 100 tries i fell a little bit depress :(
thank you
P.S. sorry for my english i'm francophone .. I come from Québec !!!:)

Hi ladies
I've been using my Mooncup for about 9 months now, and it had slowly started turning a yellowish color, but I was knew this was normal and it was discoloring so slowly I really didn't notice. However, after my last cycle, the upper third of the cup has dark brown smudge-ish stains all over it. So my questions are
(1) What can I do to get rid of the stains? I tend to show it off to people, but if it's got these gross stains I'm a little less inclined. My girlfriends think my cup is gross as it is. I tried a dillution of rubbing alcohol for a few hours today, but that didn't seem to work.
(2) Why did it stain all of a sudden? My two hypothesis are, a) I just started on the Nuvaring (I think I posted here about it several weeks back) so I don't know if perhaps there is a chemical reaction or b) I boiled it for the first time just before my last cycle, because I had run a workshop (lol, I posted about that too) and lots of people had touched it.
Thanks in advance!

EDIT: After this cycle, a mild soap scrub and a 1:2 hydrogen peroxide soak worked like a charm. She looks just like new! thanks again.

Hi ladies,
So, here's my issue. I've been using my Mooncup for about 9 months now, and I'm in love with it. I've also been on the pill for about a year, but I've just switched to the Nuvaring because I'm terrible at remembering and my hormones fluctuate like woah. However, I have really long periods, so I went to put in my Nuvaring today, and I'm still bleeding, which means my cup is up there too. I'm not uncomfortable, but I've got a lot of stuff floating up in there, and I'm slightly concerned. I also don't think I pushed the ring up as far as I could, so it might be interfering with my seal. That's going to be fun when I go to the gym later today. Anyways, does anyone else use the ring and the cup? Are they going to work together? I mean, a fair amount of women must use tampons with them, right? *sigh* the thought of having to use a pad a day or two out of the month is enough to make me cry. :( Help!

Well I have been thinking about getting a cup for a while. I am sick of having to wear a tampon and a pad at the same time because no matter how much I am bleeding I leak around the tampon! My husband thinks cups are gross and won't even look at them. I told him how much money it would save since I have to wear both t&p's together. I told him it is my body and that was the last discussion on it. I am just worried about spending the money on it and then having it not work for me. I have been on birth control pills for seven years and decided a month ago to try the ring. Well that didn't work well for me at all. I couldn't keep the thing in no matter what I tried. It would fall out during sex, during my jog in the morning and when I would get up to walk to the front office at work I would have to stop by the bathroom on my way back to my desk to shove it back up there. Needless to say it lasted only two weeks and back on the pill I went. I am just worried that since I leak around tampons no matter what I do, I couldn't keep the ring in no matter what, that the cup won't stay in either. I am also not sure which one to try. I am only 22 and don't have any children. I have very wide hips, which I read on one of the cups' websites that as you get older your hips get farther apart so that is why they recommend the bigger one. I am just undecided........

What have been some of the experiences with it?

I just got the Nuva Ring today, and am kind worried about it. I took the pill as a teenager and hated it. It made me crazy. Mostly I'm wondering how it does with the cup, though. I might just take the rings back to Planned Parenthood since the side effects I keep reading about sound scary and common.

Also, I gave a little demonstration of the Lunette to three female doctors who asked about it. They thought it was really cool so I may have made some converts. At the very least now they know about something that's becoming more popular.

I just finished checking the NuvaRing section of the memories, but I still was left wanting more information. Pretty much all I could find was "be careful to not lose your ring" and "usually the ring sits higher than the cup" as well as multiple statements from women who are lucky enough to have their period finish before they're due to put in their new ring. I was wonder if there are any better (less vague) tips for someone on the NuvaRing and using a Divacup?

I just started back on the NuvaRing, and I love my Divacup, but last time I used the ring I always just used pads for the day or so that I kept bleeding after I put my new ring in. I'm almost out of the last packet of pads I'd bought almost a year ago, and I'd really like it if I don't have to go buy another one to keep on hand for ring/period overlap time.

Also, should I cross post this to nuva_ring? I checked the memories over there too, but there seems to be more NuvaRing users who comment/post here than there are menstrual cup users who comment/post over there.

cross posted to menstrual_cups and nuva_ring
( ring + cup = problem? )

Ok... I found this, which I already knew about the NuvaRing and silicone...

"We recommend using water-based, glycerin-free lubricants with the NuvaRing. Silicone lubricants are not recommended, since they could coat the ring and prevent the hormones from releasing properly."

http://www.a-womans-touch.com/article/14/326/I_use_the_NuvaRing_for_birth_control_Are_there_any_lubricants_I_shouldnt_use.html

My question is, can the Diva Cup fall under the same silicone category? Will it affect the ring? I know that if a silicone toy and silicone lube are used together, you're basically looking for trouble. So can you use the NuvaRing (which I belive is silicone) and the Diva Cup (which is silicone) together? I'm really debating as to whether or not to get one. This is a key factor in my decision.

Also, to the girls that wear both the Nuva Ring and a Diva (if it's possible)...is it comfortable? Can you feel the ring or the Diva Cup? When you pull out your Diva, will the ring pop out too? Please share some experiences with me! I'm really looking into it.

Thanks!

X-Posted to: VaginaPagina, Nuva_Ring, Menstrual_Cups, DivaCup

Tried to skip periods this month with the NuvaRing, which didn't really work, so now I've got ring + cup both shoved up there. Just for the record: it is indeed possible to suck the NuvaRing into your cup while inserting, so it's probably a good plan to swirl around and check that it's somewhere to the side.

This has been a menstrual public service announcement on your behalf. :)

I’m just curious, I’ve been digging around in memories and I was wondering if anyone has had problems with the nuva ring while using their cup. I’m currently not on any form of birth control, but I am considering the ring. I spoke with PP, they said the ring/cup interaction shouldn’t be an issue... I’d like to ask around here and see what other’s first hand experiences have been.

Also, are there any other LJ communities/websites where I could find out more information about this?

So I've purchased a keeper and it's not working out so well for me. The pull tab and the bottom of the cup stick out of me and it's uncomfortable. I trimmed the pull tab all the way off, but it still sticks out. I've tried to push it and prod it and shove it backwards but it just pops out again. Other than this, it's worked fine--held all the blood and everything. But I can't just walk around with a latex thing hanging out of me all the time.
Has anyone else had this problem? Or heard of anyone else having it?

P.S. Yes I am sexually active and yes I am comfortable with myself and I was relaxed when I put it in. Also I've tried putting it in lots of different ways--on the toilet, on my back, etc.

Also it just occurred to me--I tried the NuvaRing (intravaginal contraceptive) but it didn't work because it kept slipping out--could my vagina just be sloped strangely? Is it possible that the keeper might not work for me? And if so, does anyone know of a smaller menstrual cup I could use? I really wanted to use the keeper and I'm so disappointed right now I feel like crying.

So I had to go back to my home in New Jersey for the holiday break, and i cursed myself almost as soon as i got there because i forgot my divacup back at school.
I was, therefore, forced to endure the horror of tampons.
But, the thing is that the tampons didn't really bother me during my period, but i had to relive that the horribly uncomfortable itchy vag after my period that i endured while using tampons and has since gone away.
I did NOT miss it at all.
So i am once again singing the praises of my cup since this little trip into tampon land has reminded me of what i had to go through.
SO horray for cups!

Oh i had another unrelated question, I know that a few women here are on Nuva ring and i wanted to ask them if they've ever had any trouble with the ring staying comfortably in their vag. (it's been a problem of mine for like the past two cycles, very annoying).