Blog Update!
For those of you not following me on Facebook, as of the Summer of 2019 I've moved to Central WA, to a tiny mountain town of less than 1,000 people.

I will be covering my exploits here in the Cascades, as I try to further reduce my impact on the environment. With the same attitude, just at a higher altitude!

Monday, August 4, 2008

DivaCup 2008 wrap-up

DivaCup Challenge 2008Oh, it's been another successful DivaCup Challenge this year. I'm so proud of all of you who faced your fears of "The Cup" and gave it a try.

I know a number of you have fallen in love with it and it's changed your lives forever. Some of you are still struggling with getting it right and hopefully you'll eventually get it working for you. If you are still having problems, here's another opportunity to get some help, so post your concerns in the comments.

And, now's a good a time as any to have a poll on the subject...

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

Haven't tried it yet cos I don't know if it's worth it if there isn't a whole lot flowing... y'know? Isn't it kinda uncomfortable if it's a "light" day??

*blushes*

sorry to be so graphic

just ducky said...

There's no category for those of us who have no reason to use it...so I can't vote. I am uterus-free as of 10 months ago! Some hysterectomies are sad---mine has been cause to rejoice! :)

contessa20 said...

I REALLY want to try the cup. I looked for one in the local health food store a few weeks ago but they only had the pre-pregnancy size. I'm still a little hesitant though. I mean, if I don't like it not only is that about $30 wasted but it's also one more plastic thing that won't be used again. It's not like it could be returned or Freecycled; who wants a used menstrual cup. Eeew.

I do love my cloth pads though. With all my heart.

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness this is one I don't have to worry about! I had a surgery that eliminated my periods for good. No more waiting for menopause to kick in!!!

Anonymous said...

I bought mine, but have not had had chance to use it yet. I am excited and think I will like it.

Becky @ BoysRuleMyLife said...

mazzajo~

Nope, not uncomfortable at all! Even on light days... don't know it's there. Promise. In fact light days are great because I only need to empty it when I wake up and right before I go to sleep. I love not having to worry about it throughout the day.

I highly recommend the Diva Cup!

Michelle said...

Loving my new Diva cup! I am going back to it after 5 years or so of no cycle (pregnant and/or nursing) and have moved up a size and after he first uncomfortable month of getting "reaquainted" I love it again! Tried the alternate insert position and even like that better!

Anonymous said...

i tried it after greenpa convinced me on vanessa's comments/conversation last year that silicone couldn't interact with my body. but apparently my endometriosis-tender body doesn't like it; made my entire abdominal region spasm -- first the pelvic floor and then the diagphragm. shockingly, shriekingly painful. i'm very happy with my lunapads.

Anonymous said...

It is on my list of "good things" to purchase. Until then, I love my cloth pads I bought on ETSY, and I bought my cousin some, too. Yes, I push my green religion on friends & family.

Anonymous said...

I liked the idea of it and all, but I think I haven't gotten the hang of it yet. I could feel the darned thing *all* the time.

(Where do people get cloth pads that don't cost a mint? I don't have, and unfortunately at this time cannot borrow, a sewing machine.)

Jenn said...

Never. Going. Back.

I have a friend who uses Instead plus tampons, and uses Instead for contraception (says it's great for holding spermacide) but that whole idea just ooks me out.

Sara said...

I should get to try mine for the first time...tomorrow. Yay!

Anonymous said...

So, I've started using the DivaCup and I love it, except that I continue to struggle to get it in just right ... seems like it's not opening like it's supposed to and I can't turn it like the directions say I should be able to. Suggestions?

Anonymous said...

I've never tried the diva cup but am hesitant to try it because I've tried other cups before and they don't work for me - the seal always gets broken and I have an icky mess.

I'm weird though - I have trouble with tampons sometimes as I have a tendency to "push them out" (sorry to be so graphic), especially when cramping, which means wear both a pad and a tampon to deal with things.

EBT

Anonymous said...

I have been using my diva for over a year now and LOVE it! I bleed like crazy and the diva cup has allowed me to get out the house during my crazy heavy days. I use cloth liners as a back up and cloth pads on my light days. I can't imagine going back to tampons ever!

mudnessa said...

Mazzajo- I find the cup amazing for light days like
Becky @ BoysRuleMyLife said. you can just put it in and forget about it for the whole day. great for any spotting you may have and if you know "its" coming you can pop in the cup and go about your day without worrying about starting while you are out and about.

i love the cup and am seriously pissed at anyone i know who knew about this and didnt share this with me.

Glenda said...

I continue to use mine (bought it early spring of this year). I wouldn't say I *love* it, but I haven't wanted to go back to tampons or pads enough to give up the cup.

I really like using it during the first, heavier days of my period. But the latter days . . . not feeling the love so much during those days. That's when I tend to have more problems with getting a good enough seal to not have a bit of leakage, and also when it's a struggle to get the darn thing to pop open easily after insertion.

I did notice this last period that twisting while gently tugging down on the cup created, for me, enough of a seal that the cup didn't creep down, like it'd done in the past. I also figured out that, even tho you're supposed to wear it lower, it works better for me to have it inserted a bit higher up.

It's not necessarily the easiest choice of what to use, but overall, for me, it's the best choice.

Contessa20 ~ I think you *can* return it if it doesn't work for you. They don't sell it to someone else, so no worries about that. Check the return policy on DivaCup's site.

Anonymous said...

@Theodora, have you cut the stem all the way off? And tried inserting it in the shower? Those were lifesavers (cupsavers?) for me.

Getting ready for round 3 -- but round 2 pretty much persuaded me.

Anonymous said...

Dahlia, I had the same thing happen, and I have similar uterine issues - it was incredibly, awfully painful. But I had inserted it wrong. Once I got up the nerve to try again, I figured it out and I was fine. Maybe, if you can bear it, try again?

Anonymous said...

I used it before my pregnancy and I will definitely go back to using it when my period returns. I also use cloth panty liners from Etsy.

Anonymous said...

I found Crunchy's challenge after already having bought my DivaCup but was having problems with insertion and leakage. Finding new folds definitely helped, but I still feel like I'm only getting a proper seal about 70% of the time. Also, I have an IUD and extremely heavy flow for a few days every cycle that requires emptying more than a twice a day. Even with the less than easy aspects of the DivaCup, I love it and would never go back to tampons.

Anonymous said...

I have only tried it once so far and definitely didn't get the hang of it yet. I felt a lot of discomfort, had leaks, and it didn't want to stay put. But, I'll try again next month. Any other tips?

Donna said...

Crunchy,
I just finished my first try with the cup. It was ok. If I get more comfortable with it I will be a true convert. It was a little messy when emptying. Also, I don't think I want to try inserting in a public bathroom (Not yet anyway.) so next month I will try again and I hope to have it down pat then. I did like it though.
Kayjoe

Bev said...

Michelle - What was the "alternate position" you mentioned?

Did anyone else like me have problems getting it out? I felt like I had to stick my whole hand in there!

Katy said...

I was never a tampon person, but I gave the Diva Cup a wherl anyway. Its my go-to for swiming and other such activites.

For my everyday life I have swiched from desposable pads to cloth and I am LOVING them. You wouldn't think so, but they are so much easier to deal with 1,000x more comfertable.

lace said...

Will there be another challenge in the future?

Anonymous said...

I have used a Keeper (essentially the same thing as a Diva cup, http://www.keeper.com/ if you're interested) and have been quite happy with it for the past few years. The best part for me is that I don't really need to carry around menstrual supplies everywhere, which i always tend to forget (I don't generally carry a purse). Last month I went back to tampons/pads temporary since I was trying to be extra hygienic (don't ask), and dealing with the tampons and pads and their problems made me wonder how I used them so long in the first place.

Maggie said...

I just tried my divacup last month and I really liked it. It did take a couple tries to get it into a position that was comfortable. I couldn't put it in like I always did tampons, I had to stand instead and it was fine. Couldn't really tell it was there. I am sure that I will be very happy with it. It was nice not to be filling up the trash can! I had used cloth pads before which were very costly and I HATED them. Flannel pads don't go with Florida heat!! Also, I purchased my diva cup online for only $22 (including shipping). Not too bad!

Anonymous said...

I have to say, I've shed tears over how difficult this thing is to insert. I mean, I've gotten it right a handful of times. I tried four months in a row, every day, and gave up after that - it's been sitting in my bathroom cabinet since then. Sometimes I can tell that I got it right, and sometimes I can't, and a few hours later, there it is, slowly sliding out and poking me in difficult places. I was very disheartened. Maybe I'll try again with the standing-up-to-insert technique? I also found that no matter what, it needs to go in tilted to the left. I feel like maybe I've got a weird shape *down there*. And in terms of heavy flow, sometimes I have to change it every 3 hours. Yikes. Pretty difficult when I'm at work and have to use the shared bathroom. How do you explain to the woman at the sink next to you what you're doing, washing out this, um, very graphically messy thing? :)

I love the idea of it. The reality, for me, is a little harder to deal with.

Anonymous said...

A few questions/issues:
1) the first month i had a hard time getting the seal so i had a few leaks - pantyliner took care of that - 2nd and 3rd month it was better although i don't get a proper insert everytime. the new fold thing seemed to help.
2) i have not found a way to do a non-messy empty. i dump it in the toilet and then wash it out in the sink. i have to wash down my whole sink after and fear if CSI took one of those blue lights to it. how do other people empty when in public. do you just reinsert without rinsing???
3) the last time i seem to get a discharge that was similar when i tried the nuva-ring for birth control. it doesn't turn into an infection and is only present when the ring is in. not sure if it is a reaction to the silicone. i stopped the nura-ring because if it, but that stayed in all month. sorry if this is TMI.....but, it is a diva cup Q&A.....
4) i love that i don't have to think about buying tampons and worrying about it during the day. the 7am/7pm worked well for me.

Jamie D. said...

I've been using a cup (Lunette) for the past four months now, and I sympathize with those who have to empty it often on "heavy" days - same here. At work, I'll admit I just don't rinse it out. I wipe it out with toilet paper, and reinsert (it's the cheap paper that isn't "fuzzy", so no residue is left). I have seen wipes you can carry with you to disinfect it, but I just don't really feel the need. No infections or problems here, anyways, and it's quick and easy.

I do love that there's no need to carry anything else with me anymore...room in my purse for other things! I use cloth liners with top inserts for backup, so I can just flip the insert over if I need to before I get home.

I really can't believe this wasn't even presented as an option when I was younger. It would have saved me so much pain early on (from having to use tampons when my body didn't like them - I worked at a pool for 10 yrs).

Anonymous said...

Just took my first trip with Aunt Flo since I started the challenge. What a joy. Just in case, I packed just 3 of my leftover pads and 2 tampons for a 10 day trip 4 of which included Aunt Flo. I shared all of my diva info with my college roommate, but then left her with my "emergency" pads and tampons because the look on her face said "not quite ready to take the plunge."

Fresh and Feisty said...

I love mine. For those using a public restroom, I dump it in the toilet and then just wipe it down with toilet paper. I also had a blinding flash of the obvious last time I was using it. In order to get it to seal well I need it to be completely around the cervix. Yes, you have to be a little friendly with yourself but since I figured that out, it hasn't leaked at all. Everybody is different but I am just blown away at how great it is and how I don't get so frustrated about riding my bike (which I do for most transportation) or kayaking or hiking, etc. Just put it in and forget it! :)

Connie said...

I'd never heard of it before I read about it here. I at first was wierded out, then intregued, then procrastinated buying it. I had to mail order but the company was really good.

Now I've bought it and used it for a whole cycle and love it. I love that there isn't all that yucky garbage. Still doesn't get me all the way through the first night but nothing does.

I offered it to the girls but got a firm "No Thank You".

Lisa said...

I usually love it however I do have a lot of fiddling to do to get it right. But when it is right it lasts for about 8-10 hours before I feel it again. It is also better on heavy days then light...

Sarah said...

Converted DC user here - thought I'd add some thoughts:

Not sure where the shower hint was, but love that one and also I recommend washing in warm/hot water to soften up the silicone for easier insertion. I am able to insert straight from room temp, but I do have more "problems" when the cup is "cold."

Easy, mess-free washing: I wipe mine out with TP before I wash it in the sink (sometimes I don't have to - on my heavy days my discharge is more watery, on my light days it tends to be more sticky). I washed it in my small bathroom once and yes, CSI could have a field day in there now with the blue light. This was the day the wiping dawned on me to reduce splatter.

I have one word for slipping: KEGELS. Seriously, a few a day could make a huge difference. And I have also found I have to wear mine a bit higher, so this is an option if you have slippage. I do mine at red lights while driving.

Try other folding methods to help with insertion. After inserting mine I push and pull a bit while pushing down (like having a bm) and spinning the cup - kind of like finding the groove where it's most comfy and when I find it I stop. Then I use my finger to sweep around the bottom of the cup - I can feel when it's deflated a little (not positioned quite right)and when it's nice and round (perfecto!). If it needs some adjusting I do the push and pull again until it's better.

It has taken me several cycles to "get it" and I still have moments where I struggle and the kids are outside the bathroom door not making it any easier, but overall I'm thrilled. When I'm struggling I will sometimes just literally walk away and give it five minutes. Then I go back to the bathroom and do my finger sweep and if necessary take it out and try again from the beginning.

sarah said...

Thank you so much for the great posts about the diva cup. It inspired me to try it. I was a little hesitant at first. But I just finished my first cycle using the DIVA and I will never go back to tampons. Such a liberating experience!

Moriah said...

I was so glad to see this here! I've been using mine since January and I LOVE it. To mazzajo: Light days are the best. Sometimes I forget about it on light days, but that's okay since it's silicone!

For those struggling, this is a good resource: http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/453392.html

Genuine Lustre said...

Neat, but it's still "a product."

I've been using chunks of sea sponge - buy in a paint dept., cut into chunks, boil and let dry. At night, I take it out, rinse with vinegar and allow to dry while I wear a pad. In between cycles, I boil again and store in a zip lock bag.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Crunchy! I have been a blog reader for maybe a couple weeks, started from the beginning and got caught up. I decided to try the Diva Cup and it came in right before my Alien Invasion (the diva cup looks like a spaceship)

I was a bit freaked out by it, but after a couple test tries I became comfortable with it. Now I love it! It is so easy to use and so much less waste. I will never go back to toxic sticks (tampons)

I love your blog, it's very informative!

Anonymous said...

I missed the last challenge, but after reading the comments here decided to give the Cup a go this month and it works great! - I'll never go back. Thanks for the tip, Crunchy!