Hey everyone,

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

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

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

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

Yay!!! :)

Hi everyone!

Though I'm not entirely surprised by this, I am EXTREMELY excited that REI carries Diva Cups! Check this out for reviews:

http://www.rei.com/product/779113

I'm busy provisioning for a 5-month journey through New Zealand, and came across the Diva on their website! I'm so glad it's there for outdoorsy ladies to see, because I honestly cannot imagine camping (or anything else, really) without my cup...

LOVE!

Hi, I've been around a while so you've probably seen my leak problem posts.
I've decided to try yet another cup to see if I can find the 'perfect' one for me:-) I'd like your help this time as last time I didn't ask for help & I'm still in the same 'boat'(still leaking w/lg. ladycup).

My 1st cup was lg. diva. It leaked badly. When I turned it inside-out it got better but still leaked.
I figured out my cervix sits low & I always felt the diva was long so that's why I tried the lg. ladycup.

It leaks also! I'm thinking w/the holes so low on the cup + my cervix sitting in it, the capacity just does not cut it.

What do you think?

I'm considering a fleurcup b/c of it's larger capacity & higher hole placement, but I live in the US.

Thought about a Yuuki but it's long.
Considering a lg. Lunette....tho capacity isn't much more than lc.

? Would a shorter w/larger capacity cup work better than my lg. ladycup if the holes are placed high? Reason I ask is, it seems w/my cervix in the lc & the holes being low it leaks. If the cup could hold more, & the holes are higher up than the lc holes, but shorter.....ummmm, what do u think?

And what about a narrower cup? I've read somewhere if it's too wide the walls of the vagina may put pressure on the holes causing it to leak. So would a narrower cup like the MPower lg. work better even if the capacity is the same as the ladycup?

I never thought I'd think this much over my MOON:-)
Sorry this is so long..........

Thanks for your help in advance,

Hello there!

I just bought a lady cup on eBay, which I'm really excited to get, but I'm just wondering, for those of you in North America who've bought one on there, how long approx. did it take to get to you?

Thanks!

First of all, I'm new to this community (I've read a lot but I have never posted) and so far I love all the support that I've seen!

On to my question...So I've been using my Diva Cup for almost a year. I always rinse out my cup in the sink whenever I remove it, however my sink has recently started smelling like the contents of my cup (I know, gross!). Whenever I turn on the water in my sink, the smell comes up and it's not overwhelming (it actually took me a while to identify the smell), but I don't like it!

Has anyone else had this problem and if so, how did you solve it?

Hi everyone!

So I've just started my third period with my cup, and I'm a devotee. I have noticed a few things though:

1) My cup has taught me a lot about my body - where my cervix is, for one. I was using the punch-down until yesterday, actually, and it was agony. I had to wait for the cup to pop open or try to pop it open by poking and prodding it, after which it would brush and jar painfully against my cervix as it popped open. Finally I tried the origami fold which (thank goodness) seems to have solved the problem.

2) Onto my real question: On the first full day of my period - every cycle I've used the cup - I have this weird problem with fluid. The cup doesn't leak. But I get that gushing sensation that is tell-tale of the cup leaking, but when I check, I've just leaked out TONS of this clear, watery, odorless fluid. It's not such a big deal, I just stick some toilet paper in my underwear, but it's nerve-wracking because it feels EXACTLY like the cup has leaked. And there is so much of it. Anyone have any ideas what this is/if there's anything to do about it/similar experiences/etc? It only happens the first day of my period and then nothing, the seal of the cup has not broken, and there are no cramps or symptoms associated with it. I'm so confused!

Thanks!

Off subject? I was reading the Instead post below this, and she liked the Insteads because you could have sex with them. I wouldn't try it with a cup, though I have read a post here that a girl was doing that...but to each their own. So my question is:

In your experience, whom, if either, is more bothered by period sex? The woman or the man? Why do you think it bothers anyone if sex is messy anyway? The color red vs the clear/whitish color of plain discharge? Stains?

I need a cup that is shorter and wider than the diva. Any suggestions?
my diva leaks and there is no hope for it.

This is only my second month using the cup (I use a rubber keeper that I've owned for ages-got it before i even knew there were other options) but I've discovered both times that it goes in fine for most of my period, but when it comes to about the last day, I just CAN'T get it in. I probably could if I forced it, but it becomes a lot more painful and more of a hassle so I don't bother. Will this get better over time as my body gets use to me using a cup? Or should I just expect this to happen?

Forgive me if this is redundant; I wasn't able to find quite the same problems in the archives as I am having. I began using the Diva Cup on my last cycle, and on a couple of the days it managed to work its way so far in I've had trouble reaching it to remove it. I'm not sure how to remedy the situation.

The suction does not initiate pain, but the stem is slippery and it is rather difficult for me to get my fingers far enough to reach. When I insert it, it stays close to the opening as per the directions, but it somehow migrates while I'm wearing it.

Has anyone else had trouble with this? I figure it may take me a few cycles to get it right every time, but it's frustrating (and messy!) to play tug-of-war with my vagina.

Thanks :-)

I am having TOTAL confusion here.
I watched Melissa's video about where the cervix is located and she said that it's sort of on the side (with a demo even) and that you can feel it when you stick your finger in your vagina.

However, when reading some of the posts and looking at the pictures of where your cervix is located, it looks like it's at the back of the vagina. How can you make your cup sit (O) around your cervix if it's where it is located in the video that I watched?

WHERE IS MY CERVIX AND HOW CAN I FIND IT?

Also, how am I *sure* that it's actually my cervix and not what I THINK MIGHT be my cervix and is in fact something else?

blargh! all your base are belong to us!

I have only been using the Mooncup for a few days, and I've managed to get over most of the initial problems, like inserting and leaking. I really want to get the hang of this as I have polycystic ovary syndrome, meaning my periods are unpredictable, long, and heavy, so the cup would suit me so much better than anything else. Also, I have never found tampons all that comfortable, and it's such a relief to realise that other people have this problem too - I had just assumed that there was something wrong with me, rather than there being something wrong with tampons themselves.

Anyway, my problem is removal. I have been trying some of the advice posted on here, but nothing seems to work. Each time I do it is horrible and painful, because the suction seems SO strong. By the time I get it out I feel so sore and battered that I can't bear to put it back in straight away. Basically, in order to break the suction I have to somehow get the base of the cup out (a combination of bearing down and painful tugging), then with one hand hold on to the stem, and with the other reach up to the rim and try and bend it in. I've tried 'walking' the cup down, and I've tried folding it inside me, but the suction just won't break unless I really wrench it.

Can I make the little holes in the cup bigger, or will this ruin the cup? Also, I have cut half the stem off, and think all of it needs to go, as it rubs and contributes to the soreness. But because of my removal nightmare I daren't, as dragging on the stem is the only way I can get it out.

Thanks, I'd really like to learn how to make this easier!

Hey again everyone. I posted a couple weeks ago its about 4/5 posts down if you're looking in the leaking and spotting section...
so.....
I am DOUBLE CHECKING that my cervix is indeed in the cup
I am using the punch down fold instead of the C fold [which i prefer]
I am trying EVERYTHING IN MY POWER to ensure that i am inserting this thing exactly right and i am ready to take it out and throw it RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW! the thing is leakin leakin leakin!

i used to be excited reading all the success stories and now they just DEPRESS me, :(

This is my 3rd period with the DivaCup. I have never worn it alone [thank God because that would be a disaster every time], i still have to wear a pad with it. And I'm just thinking to my self, "am I really buying pads right now?? the one thing I am trying to ELIMINATE from my life?" SIGH!!!

I need some help and encouragement, because I am ready to give up on this thing! :(

PS. I can't buy another brand/size right now and for some straaaange reason it did not leak on the first day [only] of my period this month giving me hope and then SNATCHING IT RIGHT BACK! :(

This will be a bit of a ramble, so bear with me.

I've tried lots of different types of cups, none of which I have now (sold or binned). The first was a MooncupUK, which I found peculiarly uncomfortable. I next tried a Lunette, which was just as uncomfortable. Then I tried a Diva cup, which was softer and worked well if I turned it inside out. Then I tried a small Ladycup, which seemed to work the best out of all of them, but the capacity was too low because of the low holes.

I had P.I.D a few months ago, and have other gynaecological health issues which means I get very painful and heavy periods, and internal sensitivity for the first 1-2 days. I wasn't planning on using a cup that I buy for the first day or so.

Anyway...I need to choose a new cup and the amount on the market now is overwhelming me. I'm an experienced cup user, so am confident I would never have a problem with opening or leaking. I need a cup that is soft and narrow, preferably without a stiff rim. I've been drawn mostly to either the Fleurcup because of the shape, or the Meluna because of the different 'stem' option, as I've always found the stem the most uncomfortable part of a menstrual cup and always end up cutting it entirely off.

I have had a baby, but it was by emergency c section. I am 25 years old with a long but narrow vagina, and girl parts that don't particularly like/react well to being stretched outside of sex situation. I need a cup with fairly decent capacity, but that isn't stiff. I think because of my flow, my age and my 'birthing status' I need a large cup (the small Ladycup did tend to wiggle about too much really, compared to the large Diva), but I'd like a 'small' large cup if that makes sense.

I'm a bit sleep deprived, so I apologise if this post is a bit rambly. Can people make suggestions as to what cup might be good?