Thought I would chronicle my first time divacup usage live for all your enjoyment. lol

AF just arrived. By that I mean just barely, barely had a streak on my TP which was so exciting I had to run and get my divacup for my first use (usually AF is not exciting at all.). So for the next week you guys get to hear all the icky details of using my divacup.

First insertion was so awkward. It was huge. And my fingernails are abnormally long so I had a difficult time reaching up there with those as well. I found the rim difficult to fold and hold because the silicone was so thick. I used a little bit of lube around the edge to help it go in easy but, I can still feel it - then again I could always feel tampons too - you know the ones commercials say you can forget about because you can't even feel it (what a joke.)

I followed the instructions and managed to get it in properly, but I had a difficult time rotating it and have no idea if it is fully open or not (i did rotate according to instructions) but the stem is very irritating. I'm considering cutting it off.

Also, when I sat down, I could definitely feel pressure in that area!! Actually bending at all I can feel quite a bit of pressure, I am not too sure about this, lol!

I plan to wear it tonight and see if it leaks in bed. Because if I can get to sleep w/ this thing in and it won't leak, I'll be happy just using it at nights because I HATE having to worry about leaky nighttime pads or possibly staining my undies/boxers/sheets. I'm wearing a pad additionally tonight, just in case this divacup thing ends up being a disaster on par with the gulf oil spill. lol

Okay. After ten minutes of having it in I had to take it out, clean it off, and cut off the stem.

Taking it out was super easy with the stem!!

Glad my flow was just starting and it hadn't collected anything yet because the slippery little thing popped out of my hands and rolled across the floor. I'm glad it did this while empty, now I know to be careful.

Cleaning it was really easy too, just warm water in the sink with some mild hand soap. DH cut the stem off with his pocket knife.

I had much more difficulty reinserting it without the stem... I had to try five times, because I didn't think it was opening (and i am still not positive it is fully open and sealed but I think i got it). It was harder to grab also without the stem, but doable because there are little grippy lines at the bottom of the cup. Part of the reason I had trouble getting it in properly is because the instructions say the stem should be at the vaginal opening - well that worked well, until I cut the stem off. So then I was guessing at how deep to put it in, and was afraid of going "too deep" and it getting lost, so I kept putting it in too shallow, lol! I know that sounds ridiculous. Anyway, I finally got it in.

The good news is the stem is not poking me anymore and it's now comfortable (other than the fact i can still feel some pressure).

Sorry, but I am LOL. Great thread, definately as good as reality tv. ;)

So woke up this morning and no leaks!!! :mrgreen: Although having to sit on the toilet and dig the cup out was not so fantastic first thing in the morning. I managed to get it out fairly easily, though. A little had collected in the bottom of the cup. Less than I had expected. Maybe my flow is not that heavy yet... it's hard to tell since none of it is making it to my pad.

I don't like the "suction" feel of pulling it out... you have to pull it side to side & out to break the suction. I am like "is this suction going to damage my cervix/etc?" I know that is probably dumb, b/c it's hardly any suction, it's just slightly weird/uncomfortable.

It was, again, easy to clean. One downside is that I am taking longer to wash my hands before AND after each trip to the bathroom lol!! slight inconvenience but not really - I don't want to get an infection after all.

Also, the pressure I talked about in my first post is gone. I think I just needed to position it farther up. The first time I followed the instructions about having the stem at the opening, but actually I think it needed to be pushed a tiny bit farther up - because now there is no pressure, but I can still get it in/out.

I do seem to have to pee lots but I am not sure if that is from the cup or from losing water weight that I gain during PMS. lol

We are about to leave for bible study so I emptied it so I won't have to deal with it there... i am still wearing a pad just in case. No leakage at all so far this morning.

It seemed farther up than I remembered putting it in, but that could be my imagination. I managed to get it out fine. It was 1/3 full, it's been in all morning. There are measurement lines on the side of the cup, which as I understand it, can come in handy if you need to tell your doctor how much your flow is.

When I pulled it out, some more came out behind it which was kinda gross, but I guess that's to be expected while I am flowing heavy. It's kinda gross to have to reach up in there to get it out and everything. Ick.

On the upside it's much nicer than having a pad full of ickies pressed against you all day, lol.

I still struggle to get it in... I guess that just takes practice. It doesn't take TOO long, I just have trouble rotating it to make sure it's fully open. I'm sure eventually It'll be easier to put it in. I find putting a tiny bit of lube on the rim does help it slide in initially better than without it.

I'm washing it with warm soap and water, but what i'd like to see is flushable wipes to wipe it with. They have a "diva wash", i haven't bought it, it seems unnecessary. They say you can wipe it in public restrooms when you don't want to carry it to the sink, but wipe it with WHAT? Unless they are talking about TP, but i can't imagine TP being very good in that regard.

Apparently I am doing the wrong thing!!

from the divacup FAQ:



Q. Can I use a water-based lubricant to insert The DivaCup?
A. Some lubricant ingredients can be damaging to the silicone, so we suggest using only water as a lubricant! Otherwise, the silicone may be compromised and may ruin the cup.


while I doubt I have ruined the cup any, maybe I should try inserting it without anything next time.

Well guys I am about to hit the sack.

It was outstanding success with the Divacup today. no leakage at all... very comfortable... couldn't feel it. I even did the 30 DS with it, and it was great.

A few notes though:

1. I'm a little irritated down there, I think it's because I was having to insert/remove/reinsert it so often b/c I am inexperienced. Normally, you only have to change it like every 12 hours or so, so I don't anticipate the same "rubbed raw" feeling of many insertions.

2. It was a tiny bit more difficult to get past the initial opening without lube, but doable.

3. The flow did drip/string out behind it during removal both times, kinda icky, which I had to wipe thoroughly so it wouldn't dirty my pad/panties.

3. Weird smell coming from down there currently. I think it's the normal (clear) discharge but with an odd smell - not quite normal period smell but not "normal" either... definitely period-like but not as strong. Maybe I just need to take a shower because I sweated a lot during the 30DS, lol. I'm gonna do that right away.

4. Otherwise I'm really happy with the Divacup, if the rest of the week goes as well as today I'm ordering a 2nd one.

Thanks for all the replies girls. :-) LOL

Woke up this morning.... no leakage all night... no having to rush to the bathroom because you get a surge when you stand up after being horizontal all night and your pad might leak (if it hasn't already) lol!

Took care of business... It was 3/4 full... easy to remove, clean and put back in place (got it in properly on the first try! yes!)

I did want to mention the lube i was using earlier, DID say not to use with silicone condoms (which i didn't know at the time), and the Divacup is silicone. I don't think I damaged it only using it twice, but i'm not going to use it anymore, even though it is a little bit more uncomfortable to get in, lol.

I'm thrilled with how much cleaner it is, especially at night... I can hardly tell I'm on my period at all. lol.

Wow! That is a great update! Are you usually a heavy flow-er? I have a heavy flow for a couple days in my cycle (when I have AF, this is typical), and this was partly why I never tried the diva cup. Thanks again for sharing so much!


My first 2 days are my heaviest and then I usually am much lighter for the next 3-4 days or so. So yes that would be my heaviest... so at my heaviest, overnight, i still only filled it 3/4 full, which is a surprise, but then they say your average period is like 3 ounces total, and the divacup does hold a full ounce... I don't know how heavy I am compared to other individuals, obviously. lol.

I'm looking forward to emptying the cup only when i wake up and when I go to bed... i mean come on... with a pad i'm having to change it several times a day so it doesn't get too smelly lol!

What is surprising is what seems like a lot on the pad, doesn't seem like so much in the cup... lol

Oh. I also wanted to mention that you don't have to touch the flow, really. Because it is in the inside of the cup, and you're only touching the outside when you pull it out. I've had very little, if any, contact with the actual ickies (other than regular clear discharge.) Which is one thing I was concerned about b/c I don't want to TOUCH it - but i'm finding I touch it much less than I would with a pad or bloody tampon string, actually! way cleaner.

TMI warning: Ok, if you didn't think the previous posts were TMI, this one will be. lol

So I had a bowel movement with the DivaCup in (i know, TMI right?) I was a little afraid to do so, because I thought it might pop out in the toilet, lol, or it would hurt, but the brochure said it was ok.

It was fine (other than my apprehension), but I will say that while I was pushing it traveled down (quite a ways actually) and I could feel what was left of the stem poking me! And I was scared that it had become displaced or knocked sideways and was going to leak...

But it didn't, so after I finished, washed my hands, etc, I went to check it and it was fine, back in place it was supposed to be - and wasn't leaking at all.... It wasn't painful, but since the stem did poke me which was uncomfortable... the rest of that sucker is coming off... (i only cut to the topmost line on the stem. I'm going to have to round it off completely)

So it felt a little weird since I could feel it moving... but nothing bad happened and... again, much cleaner than a pad, lol! You know how it is going #1 and #2 with a pad!! ugh!!

Also... I think pushing like I'm having a bowel movement is going to be very useful in removal instead of having to get way up there for it, lol, since it does come down quite a bit.

TMI over... lol

Try removing/replacing in the shower. I find that makes a huge difference! Been using mine for four years now!

Hmm... interesting reading your experience. When I tried it, I had lots of the same issues that you had... but hearing that you have sorted out all those issues for yourself, maybe when AF returns I need to have another go at it.

So, I hadn't emptied it since I first woke up around 8:30 am.... around 6:15pm I noticed what was left of the stem was poking me and it was starting to travel down as I was walking... so I went to check it out and fix whatever the problem was. The problem was that it was full and about to overflow, lol!

Thankfully, NO LEAKAGE - and it gave me a *warning*? Awesome. It only took me 2 tries to get it back in.

Well I went out to visit with a girlfriend - and I didn't wear a pad... and no leaks... haha. Yeah wearing a pad the past 2 days was rather useless b/c there wasn't a drop on it. I love this divacup thing, lol

Thanks so much for posting this...I've always wanted to try this! So now once I need it again, you have given me just the push I needed in that direction. This will be the *good thing* about AF returning:mrgreen:

I was thinking about trying it too, but was super reluctant because I could not stand tampons. I could definitely feel them. knowing you were the same way, but this doesn't feel as bad helps. Still reluctant.. I don't know if I will or not. Maybe some day, but I just started using cloth pads. One step at a time I guess.

[thankssign] Great thread! Thinking I will try someday.... :-D

ok, so no leaks this morning, and the cup was almost empty.

5pm and since it was full around 6 yesterday i went to empty it but it was only 1/2 full. :-)

It's so much cleaner. it's like not even having a period. lol!!!

The most difficult part has been getting it up there far enough... if it's too low I can feel it... once it's up there (and it's always needing to be farther up than i think), I can't even feel it. I think a major difference between tampons is that they are fairly stiff and long, but once this warms up to body temp., it is very soft and flexible, so you can't feel it like a tampon.

Not much to report today. It was empty this morning. It started travelling down around 4:15p, letting me know it needed to be emptied again... lol

No leaks. Not a drop on my panties as long as I wipe well after emptying / reinserting it. I like to use a flushable wet wipe, LOL!

I will report that after a bowel movement it had moved down too much, so after I was finished washing my hands I shoved it back up to where it was supposed to be. But that's minor, really, and I still think better than a pad, and it's not like you have bowel movements all day every day. It doesn't move at all when I pee and you don't have to deal with a ton of blood/mucus while you are using the potty, so having to reposition it once in awhile is not a big deal to me.

nothing new to report. no leaks. flow has slowed considerably.

i'm going swimming in the public pool tonight with it.

thanks for sharing your journey with us! I have considered this but wondered how it would feel. Since having kids I hate using tampons...so uncomfortable for me. I think I might invest in this so I don't have to keep buying pads.

no leaks at the pool, no leaks at all... my period is almost over (yay). I'm ordering another one right away b/c this is way better.... :D

i didn't check it last night before bed. i figured i was on the tail end of my period and it wasn't necessary. this morning there were only a few brown bits in it with nothing but clear stuff coming out, so i washed it and boiled it (as per instructions) and put it away until next month. so this concludes my review. but this is definitely at the top of my list for "womanly" products!! (followed by my cloth pads ;)

Thanks for your review Cheese! Looks like you've helped a few folks.

I used reusable cloth pads & the Keeper menstrual cup for about 2 years before I got married and now that I'm finally back to having periods regularly after having babies I'm using cloth pads & Diva Cup. I would never go back to disposables. [thumbsup]

Perfect timing for this review Cheese. I think my first ppaf is *trying* to come. My guess is that it will be here in the next few weeks. So where did you order yours from?

i ordered mine from lunapads only because i didn't know where else to order it from.... they aren't my favorite company because they are pagan, but i just pray for them when i order lol. [whatwacko] oh well.

some drugstores in the states might have it on their shelves, and i think the divacup's website lists some retailers too.

Because of your posts...I'm definitely gonna try it. Thanks for all the info!

Well, you convinced me! I got my Diva Cup in the mail today and will be using it when AF returns! :) I'll let you gals know how it goes!

Yay! Another convert. :D [rofl] [cheer]

I put my diva cup in a pot of boiling water, to clean it as the instructions said and forgot about it. ::snort:: I probably just compromised the integrity of my diva cup. I cannnnnot believe I did that! It was actually STUCK to the bottom of the pan. LOL! I don't normally do that kind of thing, ladies.... Oy. I don't know where my head is!!

oh my goodness. was the water gone? they say as long as there is water it's ok?

Really? You're supposed to boil it? I've used a menstrual cup for 2+ years and never boiled it and I survived. :lol:

Yup.... water was alllll gone. But, amazingly, the cup looks fine... we even squished it and such and it seems okay. Guess I'll know when I use it, eh? it was literally STUCK to the bottom of the pot... hub had to yank it off. ::snort:: We both laughed soooo hard. He came in from work and found the diva cup smoldering on the stove... I came in to find him with burnt diva cup in one hand and smoldering pot in the other... he's like, "Whatcha cookin?" ::snort:: LOL!

Ha ha [girlsmiley] So funny Jen! That is totally something I *would* do more than once. :-D So glad you have such a funny man there. [claploud]

[rofl] :lol:

Too funny Jen!

Aww, he's so sweet!! lol. Hopefully it's still ok.

thats awesome! I am so happy the diva worked out well for you! I've been using the keeper/diva since high school and I also have never boiled it and I am still alive. :mrgreen:

thats awesome! I am so happy the diva worked out well for you! I've been using the keeper/diva since high school and I also have never boiled it and I am still alive. :mrgreen:

Yeah, honestly one reason why I never boiled it is that I wasn't sure how I would boil it. I mean I'm not going to stick menstrual products in my normal cooking pots. [rofl]

Jen, I *literally* LOL! dh in the other room was like, "what?" I said..."nothin"...

ha!

Yeah, honestly one reason why I never boiled it is that I wasn't sure how I would boil it. I mean I'm not going to stick menstrual products in my normal cooking pots. [rofl]

Well... why not? I washed mine before hand, and my pots are stainless steel. They come clean. I wouldn't boil it in cast iron though!

Well... why not? I washed mine before hand, and my pots are stainless steel. They come clean. I wouldn't boil it in cast iron though!

I suppose that I could sterilize it in the dishwasher. It's just the whole idea of it. I guess that I'm selectively squeamish. :lol:

Nicole, I just wanted to say thank you!! If not for this thread I would not have gotten one, and your tips were extremely helpful!! [loveyou] I think I'm going to be on my period when we go to Kings Island next month and after practicing with it this cycle, I'm not worried about it anymore. I did not want to take pads to an amusement park or have to change them in those public restrooms or anything. But my cycles are light enough that I can dump it before and after and be set the whole time we're there. So I'm not worried.

Let me just say you are brave for cutting the stem off so soon. I'm not yet comfortable enough getting it in and out to risk that. But I can barely feel it (most of the times can't) and probably couldn't feel it at all without the stem. So maybe in a few months I'll cut it too. (we'll see).

Anyway, thank you so much! :mrgreen: