I've had my Diva for two months, never successfully inserted it, and I'm a virgin, but I've become a hundred times more aware of my body just learning more about my cup. The thing is, with this new knowledge of my own anatomy, my sex drive has increased an unbelievable amount. It's sort of frightening at times, actually (haha). Has anyone else experienced this, or am I the horniest person alive?

We all know the wide variety of reactions that cups seem to bring up.

Probably one of the more interesting ones has been my husband's. He's gone from "omgz, that's horrifying. It's your body do what you want, but please don't tell me anything about this terrifying device," to actually liking the thing. I seem to cramp less, not that I cramped much before, and (probably a decent motivator on his end) am *much* more into sex after my period has ended. Disposable pads were leaving me tender and making my skin peel, which let me tell you *that's* all KINDS of sexy **eyeroll**.

Anyway, I was just wondering, how many of you ladies had experienced "turn arounds" with your significant other or someone else close to you?

I've posted on here before regarding my overall difficulty and dissatisfaction with my small Diva Cup, which I diligently used for 6 months before giving up. I am 24 and have a tilted cervix. It appeared that the Diva was getting pulled up past it, causing constant leaking. Nothing I did seemed to remedy the problem (and believe me, I tried everything). This community convinced me not to give up and just try a different cup :).

Today I received my LC in the mail, and although I'm not on my period (will post again once I've used it then), I had a few observations for comparison:

Insertion - holy CRAP this is easier with the Lady Cup, even though it's larger in diameter. It seems actually designed to go comfortably into my vagina. The LC becomes warm and bendy to the touch and slides in smoothly, whereas the Diva always felt like a hard, sticky, ridged dome of plastic regardless of temperature.

Popping open - some on here have found that it's harder to get the LC to pop than the Diva, but I found the opposite- and I tried several different folds, all of which worked immediately! Because (a) the air hole are distributed in a kind of zig zag and (b) the rim is stiff, moving the cup around just a little bit with my finger caused it to pop open within moments. I always had a hell of a time getting the Diva to pop, resorting to bizarre insertion positions combined with squatting, Kegels, drowning my sorrows in ice cream, etc. Even then, sometimes I just couldn't do it.

Suction - once I insert it, the LC has a death grip on wherever I put it in my vagina. This may be due to the larger diameter, but it seems to be more than that. I think I get way better suction with it than with the Diva, period. Sometimes just tapping on the Diva would make it lose its seal. I think this has to do with the fact that the cup is softer and shorter, which allows it to more easily maneuver into a position in my vagina in which it can open and suction. Because the Diva was so stiff, I couldn't get it into a good position.

Comfort - although the LC is softer than the Diva, I can definitely feel the difference in diameter, and so far, I'm not a fan. It feels uncomfortable, not just "present." Then again, I always felt the Diva too, which was super uncomfortable at times because it always made me feel like I have to pee. So the jury's still out on this one.

Removal - yep, the LC lives up to its reputation as being very difficult to remove because it is softer and therefore the seal is much harder to break. But on the plus side, it is worlds more comfortable to remove, again due to the soft material.

Based on my experiences so far, the LC might be a superior choice for women with tilted cervices and/or who experience consistent, unexplained leaking with a stiff cup like the Diva. Jury's still out until I have a leak-free day on my period, though!

The other observation: does anyone else get g-spot stimulation from wearing a cup? I walked around while wearing the LC for a while, and I nearly had an orgasm. Maybe it's because the cup sits lower in me than the Diva, but hahaha, I have to say, I wasn't ready for that surprise!

This is my first post, and I'm diving right in!  I'm assuming that arousal fluids come from the cervix (?).  Is that correct?  If yes, how does everything stay moist during sexual activity if you're using a cup?  Or maybe I'm wrong about where arousal fluid comes from.

Thanks in advance!

So I am a virgin who has recently discovered masturbation. I use a menstrual cup and was wondering what, if any, effects the cup will have on orgasming and masturbation in general? Any personal experiences, positive or negative?
Thanks

I realize this isn't a new topic and others have posted before; I simply wanted to report my personal experience.

( Read more...abt my experience )

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

Is the Diva Wash worth buying? Or is it just a gimmick and a waste of money? I like the current body wash that I am using, so I would only be using it for my Diva Cup. I feel like washing with just water is enough, and it isn't really necessary to boil it for 'ultimate cleanliness', but I thought I'd try to get some opinions on it before I decide whether or not to get it. Or is there maybe something else good from iherb.com?


Also, I've only used the Diva Cup for 1 cycle, but my bf noticed a difference in how loose I was and I didn't even tell him anything about switching to a cup. Which is kind of amazing that he just mentioned it. I used to be really tight though, but I don't know how that affects anything. For the first couple days of wearing it, I felt it pushing on my bladder a little bit. Anyone else experience something like this? I didn't see anything in the FAQ.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I always have a lot of white discharge and sometimes I get a lot of clear discharge the day after I have sex. The problem is that this is making me very uncomfortable and I need to wear panty liners almost every day.
I've been wondering about using the cup for this purpose which would also help me see exactly how much of it actually comes out. Has anyone tried wearing it for discharge?
Any help is appreciated. :)

Hey gals!  I had an interesting experience the other day, and I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience

( Cut for goo )

x-posted to vaginapagina 

In xredefinex's recent post about Instead use & sex, lintilla brought up some concerns about whether or not condoms could safely be used while wearing an Instead. I checked both the Softcup website's FAQ & their Ask the Doctor page, but neither addressed the issue, so I took the opportunity to "ask their doctor". Below is both the exact wording of my question & the reply that I received earlier today:
Q: "Can I safely & reliably use a condom as contraceptive, while the INSTEAD® Softcup® in place?"
A: "Yes, you certainly can use Instead with a condom. Since the Cup has no sharp edges, it shouldn'’t increase risk of condom breakage. However, as you probably know, condoms do break or leak occasionally anyway.
If the vagina is excessively dry below the Cup, it would probably be prudent to use a lubricant to reduce potential friction. I'’m pleased to hear you are using a condom when having intercourse during menses. Some couples don’t realize the there is a risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, even during the menstrual period.
If you normally use a spermicidal insert (foam, cream, jelly, or film), I suggest you place it before inserting the Cup. If the insert goes in first and has a chance to dissolve and spread around, there shouldn'’t be any reason the Cup would decrease the effectiveness of the insert. However, if you use the contraceptive sponge, I would be concerned that the Cup would displace the sponge from the cervix (or vice versa). There really isn't enough room for both to be positioned properly.
Sincerely,
Barbara North, PhD, MD
Medical Director, INSTEAD"

I have to admit that I'm not entirely sure why DR North addressed other forms of contraceptives, but I suppose extra info is better than not enough. :)

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?

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

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!

Howdy folks!

So lately I've been trying to figure out a good way to avoid post sex leakage because hopping off and then rushing to the bathroom is sort of annoying. So I thought, "Oh! I'll use my menstrual cup! Badabing!" And its pretty much working great so far. But I did think about it and I'm curious... Would this increase my chances of pregnancy? Not that I'm worried, I have the Mirena. But once thats out in a few years... Could I potentially use this as a tool to help me get pregnant?

Thanks.

Last night I accidentally had sex with my cup in. I didn't realize much of a difference, other than that his penis had a hard time getting inside. We were drunk so I didn't think much of that.. but his penis was probably having trouble while it pushing the cup further inside me. I don't feel hurt, rubbed a little raw maybe, but I've felt worse after having rougher sex without the cup. My husband said he didn't feel any different before I told him I accidentally left the cup in, but afterward he freaked out and said the tip of his penis felt sore from being bumped up against the mostly clipped stem. I don't know how much he felt, it seemed like he was just freaking out, but either way I don't think there's any lasting damage.

Edit: It's a small Lady Cup. I understand it to be the smallest and most pliable of cups (bounces about a foot if I drop it!) so I imagine it would have turned inside out a little while he was inside me. I'm surprised I didn't notice because it usually sits so low inside me that the bottom of the bell sticks out a little... not so much to be uncomfortable, but not enough to have room for company. I wasn't flowing at the time so I couldn't tell you if it would be a good way to control the mess while having intercourse on your period. (I had finished my period a few days before but sometimes it comes comes back and surprises me a couple of days later, so I kept the cup in.)

Over the past few days, I've been having the most amazing orgasms during sex while using an Instead softcup.

So: I was wondering if the angle & position of them has done any wonderfully orgasmic work for anyone else (especially during sex!)

I have decided for various reasons to buy a cup. I'm expecting AF Wednesday or Thursday, but I won't be able to get a cup until Saturday when I go to Birmingham. I figured I would jump start everything by using the instead cup until then. I'm very excited, but I have a few questions. I have already tried a dry run for the instead, and although it was short, it was comfortable and actually easy to get out, but it felt like the cup part pulled up, so I would think it would spill a lot on taking it out. I also plan on using the Instead for sex, and I'm concerned about the cup shifting since my guy isn't exactly small. Has anyone had issues with either of these? I have never been heavy enough to need the towel, but I don't exactly like having to see blood all over us when we finish which would be the only reason I would use it.

I will be getting the Divacup next Saturday. I'm extremely excited and I want to be able to start with it straight away. Is there any quick way to clean it before use away from home? I want to know if I should get the large or the small size. I am younger than 30, no kids, but I do have a heavy flow sometimes, and as I've stated before, my guy isn't small so I don't know if that should factor in at all in choosing a size.

Thanks to anyone who helps me out. I'm so excited for this period to come so I can try it all out.

 I am a regular user of the Divacup and it works great.  Like many women, the idea of having less-bloody sex during the period has caused me to look at the Instead.  Here's my problem.

They work like a diaphragm, right?  Well, I could use a diaphragm well enough, until after the birth of my second child (I had C sections, not sure that matters).  Anyway, something happened and my cervix changed positions.  Next time I tried to use one, it got stuck behind the pelvic bone and I couldn't grab it.  It came out in the emergency room, after a huge amount of trouble (and no small feelings of trauma on my part).  12 years later (this was just this year), I tried to get fitted with a diaphragm again, only to have the same problem.  The nurse practitioner managed to get the fitting-model out, but refused to prescribe one, obviously, saying that my anatomy wasn't right for it.

I don't want to have to go to the E.D. to get my Instead cup removed, particularly since I don't have health insurance right now.  But if they're more flexible than a diaphragm, or different enough, maybe it would be okay to use one.  Anybody have any experience-based advice, or professional-based (such as being a midwife, doctor or nurse)? 

One more question... has anyone used a sea sponge during sex?  Perhaps that would be safer for me.  The "sex tampons" look interesting, but they also just look like sponges.

Hey everyone,
I bought a Diva bout 3 months ago, at first it worked ok, then during my second cycle it was terrible, it leaked everywhere and it wasn't even full, I checked everything.
I flipped it inside out, and it worked pretty great.
On to third cycle, and nope it does it again, leaks. So I fish it out and it has gone SIDEWAYS inside of me :S

Basically the only thing I can think of is both this cycle and last I happened to have fairly rough heavy PIV sex the day before my period (except this one, when I arrived a week early :S)
So I am thinking the heavy sexing is making my cervix move in weird places? Or something of that sort, am I going crazy, what else is going on?

I love the idea of the cup, my first cycle was awesome! But I can't keep having it let me down, today I cooped myself up in the house afraid to go out!

Last cycle was my first with my new Mooncup UK and, as some may recall, I had some leaking issues. I am looking forward to trying some things, like inserting before I actually start to catch everything right away, and maybe trying a little different angle, do fix this. I will still make a few pads to back up anyway. I am determined to make it work.
Anywho, the reason I am writing is to back up a statement I read while researching before buying a cup made by someone with vaginismis that using the cup helped to relax the issue and made intercourse more comfortable. I have had this issue for a few years now and have despaired of finding a solution for it so, when I read that, I was guardedly optimistic but skeptical that it would make a difference. I finished Shark week on Thursday and had sex for the first time after using the cup on Tuesday and IT DIDN'T HURT! Ironically, I was so floored by it that I think I was too distracted to actually enjoy the experience! I know it is not totally conclusive that the cup helped, but we didn't do more foreplay and I wasn't extremely turned on, so I think it may have. I am going to wait until we try again to make a solid connection, but I wanted to share something that is a huge deal for someone who has struggled with painful sex for years.

I am a regular user of the diva cup and I am happy with it, but I would like to have fairly non-messy sex while I'm on my period. I'm supposed to get my period this week and I've just washed my sheets so I definately don't want to get them messy and have to change them again. (I hate laundry with a passion)

Last time I had my period I was mostly having sex at my guys house and he's not squicky about getting blood on the sheets. I guess he didn't mind changing them as much as I do. But now lately we've been going over to his parents place when they're not home or my place.

I'm fairly certain shower sex would be dangerous for us considering he's 6'7 and I'm 5'2. So he'd probably have to pick me up which as we all know it is easy to loose balance in a shower.

Anyway enough background info.

I've looked in the memories and it was fairly helpful, but it didn't fully answer all of my questions.

First of all, where can I get them? Do I have to order them online? Or can I find them in a specific store?

Second, for those of you who have tried sex with insteads in can you feel them? can he feel them? Does it poke, pinch, etc?

And do they leak some from the bag being squished around? Is it just like a few drops? or would it make a small puddle? Should I still put down a towel?

Thanks I know that was pretty long-winded.

Okay so if you're under 18 or whatever, someone might not want you reading this.

BUT

How long do DivaCups usually last? I'm 25 and child-free. I've had my size one Diva for about 3 years and never ever had a single problem until a few months ago when randomly it started to leak the tiniest bit on heavy days. I've always been pretty "tight," for lack of a better term, but the leakage coincided to the time I started dating a dude with an impressively large penis. Like big enough that the first few times we had sex it hurt and I bled a little bit. It's not like I can notice a difference or anything, but I was wondering if maybe he, um, stretched me out a little.

Does anyone have any insights? Is my cup wearing out, or did I get "stretched?"

So. I've been using my Diva Cup for months now, and have had nothing but good experiences. Really, it's changed my life and I love it.

However.. yesterday was the first day of not-period (aka my first white pill, haha) and I noticed that my cup wasn't in, which was weird and unusual, especially since I always leave it in that day and couldn't remember taking it out. I figured that since I had taken it out to clean/reinsert it really, really early in the morning I had just misplaced it... although that seemed odd as well. Anyway, I haven't been back to the particular place where I had done that (I went out of town), so I'd been working under the assumption that it wasn't in. There was leakage, so I was sure of my forgetfulness. I even had sex under this assumption.

About three minutes ago, I went to the bathroom and IT WAS IN. It was down to its normal position.

...

Has this happened to anyone else before? Did my vagina try to eat my Diva? The only thing I'm glad about is that I guess this would explain the weird, almost crampy feeling I had this morning..

Should I be worried?

( Cut for those that don't want to hear about my sex life )