? for Diva Cup users

[maksmom]

I hope to not need one for a while, but when my period does return, I am considering going to the Diva cup. My question is what do you do when you are out and about, say in a public restroom and your cup is full. Do you just remove, dump and reinsert? Do you have an extra on hand or does one work fine? Does anyone use the sponge tampons I have seen?

I am a life long tampon user, and I hate pads. But I am getting concerned about the health effects of commercial tampons.

[_Gypsy_]

I carry a small (8oz) bottle of water for this purpose.

However, only my first few days would I need to empty it in public, after that I just do it daily in my shower.

[kathryn6]

how do they feel though? I wondered how the stay in etc.

[pawprint]

Everyone I know loves theirs. I won one is a silent auction at an lll event last summer and tried it once. I couldn't master it and it's still in the closet. One day I will have another go at it though.

[kathryn6]

where do you buy them?

[daniela]

You know, I have never had to empty it in public. Just once in the morning in the shower and again at night. If I had to I would bring a small bottle of water to rinse it off.

Kathryn6, it's very comfortable to me. Once I got past the learning curve; getting it inserted correctly, snip the tail, I don't feel a thing.

http://organicpharmacy.org/search.php?byName=Diva&prodSort=&byProdName=&searchterm=Diva&orderby=price_high&gclid=CKvj5a3h_5kCFZpM5QodzF-cFA

I've seen them cheaper somewhere else, but this is the first link on google.

[Michele]

I got mine at Whole Foods. I love it. It has a learning curve, but it is worth it. I try to dump mine 2-4 times a day. I put it in at home, and I dump once about 6-7 hours later. If I am in a public restroom, I wash my hands and grab a couple of paper towels--one damp, a couple dry, dump the diva in the toilet then wipe it off if I need to, then I reinsert. The paper towels go in the pad-trash in the stall. If no paper towels are available, then I just dump and reinsert and wash it once I get home. It is easy once you get the hang of it.

[Earthmama]

Can I add a question?

If I fully dilated with DS, but ended up with a c-section anyway - do I get the one for post-vaginal birth or not?

[MrsKitty]

Earthmama -


The Model 1 cup is 1 11/16" (~4.3 cm) in diameter and the Model 2 cup is 1 13/16" (~4.6 cm) in diameter. Both cups are approximately 2 1/4" (~5.7 cm) in length in the body of the cup, with another 3/8" (~1 cm) stem (2 5/8" total length). The stem may be trimmed to adjust for comfort.

There is a small difference between the two sizes (Model 1 is 1/8" (~0.3 cm) smaller), but it is important to use the recommended sizing to prevent leakage.

We recommend Model 2 if you are 30 or over 30 years old, because as we age, our hips naturally widen and the vaginal muscles lose elasticity. Because the vaginal muscles hold The DivaCup in place, it is important to use Model 2 if you are over 30, even if you have not had childbirth.


I love it! Best choice I ever made ...well ... in regards to menstrual health. I would never go back.

A few times I have had to use a public toilet I have done what others have done, dump, reinsert, wash at home. There are usually those public toilets though, for families or single occupancy bathrooms. I might be inclined to walk a bit further to find one of those and just use the sink in the private ones.

[_Gypsy_]

EM, you would get post birth. It's the weight of the baby and pregnancy that causes the need for the larger size.

I got the miacup at www.rethinkthetampon.com

[Sputterduck]

I can't imagine them being comfortable. I assume they are wider than tampons, and tampons are very uncomfortable to me.

[Meredith]

Sputter, I think it's more comfortable than a tampon, but that's me. Tampons feel scratchy to me, but cups are smooth. I think that makes the big difference. There was definitely a learning curve, though. That's for certain.

OP, I bring baby wipes with me everywhere, and I use those for cleanup, and some paper towels/toilet paper, too. My hands were the main thing (I know not everyone can use them around their vuvla due to sensitivity, but it doesn't seem to bother me as long as they're unscented).

During that first real period, I couldn't empty it without my hands getting messy. I had to empty it every 2-3 hours, several times in a public restroom. Since then, I haven't had a period heavy enough to require frequent emptying. I can wear it for several hours. Overall, you probably won't have to empty it in a public restroom very often at all.

[Babyhellfire]

I got mine at Whole Foods. I love it. It has a learning curve, but it is worth it. I try to dump mine 2-4 times a day. I put it in at home, and I dump once about 6-7 hours later. If I am in a public restroom, I wash my hands and grab a couple of paper towels--one damp, a couple dry, dump the diva in the toilet then wipe it off if I need to, then I reinsert. The paper towels go in the pad-trash in the stall. If no paper towels are available, then I just dump and reinsert and wash it once I get home. It is easy once you get the hang of it.


this.

I get terrible cramps if I use tampons.
I do not have that problem with a diva cup. In fact my periods seem shorter.
I love it

[tata]

I hate, hate, hate tampons. I love, love, love the Diva cup. I do what Michele does, too.

[Michele]

I can't imagine them being comfortable. I assume they are wider than tampons, and tampons are very uncomfortable to me.

I hate tampons. They seem uncomfortable to me since I had kids. If your Diva is in correctly, you will not even be able to tell you are wearing it. It is soft, pliable, and fits the contours of your body. It is not drying like tampons so it never feels uncomfortable at all. It comes out easily w/o pulling of discomfort no matter how little or how much your flow may be at the time. I was in the pool all weekend with it on as well. No leaks, no discomfort. I go to the gym--no leaks, no problems. I sleep w/it in all night--no leaks, no discomfort in the morning. I can even wear my "good" undies on my period as well now. I love it.

[Camille]

I love it! Best choice I ever made ...well ... in regards to menstrual health. I would never go back.

A few times I have had to use a public toilet I have done what others have done, dump, reinsert, wash at home. There are usually those public toilets though, for families or single occupancy bathrooms. I might be inclined to walk a bit further to find one of those and just use the sink in the private ones.

This, exactly!

[TaraBear]

I hate tampons as well. I love my diva.

My only problem with them is that I got the next step because I was pregnant and dialated to 9 but then had to have a c-sec. But I'm still having issues with leakage. I never had problems with leakage before I had DS.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Meredith]

Do you mean that you got the larger one or the smaller one, Tara?

It's not supposed to matter whether or not you gave birth vaginally, because the pelvis widens from pregnancy itself, and it widens with age, regardless of parity. The smaller one is for women under 35 and/or women who have never given birth, and the larger one is for women over 35 and/or women who have given birth (regardless of whether it was C/S or vaginal). That's how they worked when I got mine.

ETA: Ah, I see it's 30 and not 35. My error.

[maksmom]

So, with a normal flow you only have to empty it 2-4 times a day?

[TaraBear]

I've had my period twice since having DS. The first time I used the #1 cup and then had leakage. So I figured I needed the #2 cup and still had leakage problems with that.

It's popped open and turns and everything.

[TaraBear]

So, with a normal flow you only have to empty it 2-4 times a day?

On a heavy day I would say 3-4 times on light days 2-3

[maksmom]

On a heavy day I would say 3-4 times on light days 2-3

Wow! that is great! I'm sold. Now I hope I get really lucky and don't need one for like 2 years! :hugegrin:

[ima062002]

Everyone I know loves theirs. I won one is a silent auction at an lll event last summer and tried it once. I couldn't master it and it's still in the closet. One day I will have another go at it though.

Same here. It feels like I can't get it in enough.

[jessiehannan]

I have been thinking about getting one of these, but it is an awful lot of money to shell out again if one of the kids tear it up. (And they do. No place in the house is capable of keeping them out of stuff)

[Michele]

Tara--chances are you have it in too far. You should be able to feel it kind of sticking out a bit when you are sitting on the toilet. If you push it in until you can no longer feel it at the opening of your vagina, then it is in too far and will leak. I made the same mistake the first couple of cycles I used it.

[Babyhellfire]

I have been thinking about getting one of these, but it is an awful lot of money to shell out again if one of the kids tear it up. (And they do. No place in the house is capable of keeping them out of stuff)
I was going to say I can't imagine why you couldn't keep such an item somewhere far away from a childs reach
- but then I remembered the dog ATE one of mine once- got it out of the sink :o!!

Well, anyway, Its 30 bucks, even if you use it just a couple of months it will be the same amount of money you would've spend on a few boxes of pads/tampons.I have also heard they are returnable, but I can't imagine doing that

[TaraBear]

Tara--chances are you have it in too far. You should be able to feel it kind of sticking out a bit when you are sitting on the toilet. If you push it in until you can no longer feel it at the opening of your vagina, then it is in too far and will leak. I made the same mistake the first couple of cycles I used it.

I suppose that could be the issue. I will have to try pulling it down a bit the next time. Thank you!

[AuLait]

I love my Diva! The cup holds quite a bit, so unless you are having very heavy flow you shouldn't need to empty it much. I usually do once in the morning and once at night. On my first day, which is the heaviest, I may do it at midday. If I have to do it while out in public, I pull it out, empty in toilet, reinsert and use toilet paper to unlock the stall door. Then wash hands of course. You don't really have to rinse it each time you use it (though I do when I'm at home). If I have my purse with me I have wipes so I sometimes will wipe off my hands right away before leaving the stall.

Two of my sisters cannot use the Diva but they both have problems with tampons too and no longer use them. One of my sisters didn't even have sex for 5 months after getting married because she was too narrow and the pain was too bad. She needed to have medical assistance to loosen up that area. My other sister claims that people who haven't had sex just can't use it, which I think is BS, but I also wonder if she might have the same problem as the sister who was so narrow she required medical help.

I know a lot of people don't like it because they think its messy and such, but the mess seems less to me. Yes, I have to touch the cup, but I'm only doing it twice a day, as opposed to changing a tampon or pad more regularly. There is no trash, no smell, no need to tote more crap around in my purse. I find it way more easy.

[sweetkisses]

I'm pretty sure after this pregnancy when I get my period back I will try the Diva cup. You ladies always say such great things about it.

Can I add a ?

Does it ever smell? Like when you are needing to empty it or when you do empty it?

[SingingMom]

Mine never, never smells. If you empty it every eight hours it shouldn't smell. If it did (or more correctly, the contents were smelly) I'd put the cup away and use a pad for the remainder of the period. Just in case.

Actually, the lack of smell and mess is one of my favorite things about the Diva cup. The other thing is the lack of messing with it. Since I often have less than two minutes to pee, it's really nice to not have to change a pad or tampon in that precious two minutes.

[Mommy2Ella]

Mine wasnt a Diva Cup, but another brand, but I dont remember. My flow used to be super heavy. I tried it one weekend and went out for a few hours. I ended up overflowing the cup and having a huge bloody mess in a public restroom. I threw it away then and there.

From listening to your posts, I am quite interested in what you are saying. Once I get my Mirena removed I might try one of these Diva cups, but I am still scared.

[tata]

I have no problems with smell at all. Obviously, blood has a very irony odor, so when I empty the cup there is that smell, but otherwise there is no smell which is less smell than with pads or tampons.

I also had the issue of (learning curve) trying to insert it much farther than needed (like one would do with a tampon). I've had my Diva cup for almost a year now and can't imagine ever going back.

[Meredith]

I know a lot of people don't like it because they think its messy and such, but the mess seems less to me. Yes, I have to touch the cup, but I'm only doing it twice a day, as opposed to changing a tampon or pad more regularly. There is no trash, no smell, no need to tote more crap around in my purse. I find it way more easy.

I always made a mess with tampons anyway, and when my flow is average-light, the cup isn't messy at all. When it's heavy, I don't think it matters what I use - it's just gonna be messy for me. I usually get blood on my hands and stuff.

I never noticed a smell in my Diva cup, either.

[Camille]

I hate tampons as well. I love my diva.

My only problem with them is that I got the next step because I was pregnant and dialated to 9 but then had to have a c-sec. But I'm still having issues with leakage. I never had problems with leakage before I had DS.

Anyone have any suggestions?

The same thing happened to me my first PPAFs, but I think it's because I was actually filling the cup and it was overflowing. I just wear a pantyliner to catch overflow. It hasn't happened since November (first PPAF was September)...

[sealy]

Besides the fact that it's re-usable, how is it different from the Instead Softcup (http://www.softcup.com/product/what_is_softcup.php)?
I've always liked Instead because you can have sex with it in (no crime-scene sex!) and am not sure how the Diva Cup is in comparison. I can't find anything on the website about sex & the Diva.

[Babyhellfire]

You can NOT have sex with a divacup - it sits much lower than the instead.

[jessiehannan]

I was going to say I can't imagine why you couldn't keep such an item somewhere far away from a childs reach
- but then I remembered the dog ATE one of mine once- got it out of the sink :o!!

Well, anyway, Its 30 bucks, even if you use it just a couple of months it will be the same amount of money you would've spend on a few boxes of pads/tampons.I have also heard they are returnable, but I can't imagine doing that

I found DS on top of the fridge earlier, and that is the highest place in the house. Eek! Nothing is safe from him... I could just imagine him walking into my bathroom using it as a cup, drinking water from it. Oi. That boy is something else.

[SingingMom]

Besides the fact that it's re-usable, how is it different from the Instead Softcup (http://www.softcup.com/product/what_is_softcup.php)?
I've always liked Instead because you can have sex with it in (no crime-scene sex!) and am not sure how the Diva Cup is in comparison. I can't find anything on the website about sex & the Diva.


I like the Instead product. But now that I have a Diva cup, I'm not going back.

The only real problem I had with the Instead was that if I sneezed, or laughed really hard, or pooped, the dang thing would move and leak.

I never have that problem with a Diva cup. When I was trying out the Diva, I would wear a pantiliner just in case. I don't need to do that anymore.

However, there is no having sex with the Diva cup. No way. There's just no room. But then, I would never have been able to pull off sex with Instead, either.

[Meredith]

The Instead cup has a silicone (I think) ring with a plastic baggie-like material attached to it that catches the blood. That material is much more flexible, so it doesn't interfere with sex, whereas the Diva Cup typically does.

[AuLait]

I found DS on top of the fridge earlier, and that is the highest place in the house. Eek! Nothing is safe from him... I could just imagine him walking into my bathroom using it as a cup, drinking water from it. Oi. That boy is something else.

Yesterday? I found DS with it in his mouth! Luckily it had just been washed and sterilized in boiling water. I'd put it on the stairs to take to our bathroom. Imagine my surprise when I found him chewing on it! When I explained to him what it was he was horrified, even after I told him it was clean and all that. I don't think he'll ever ever touch it again :)

[Sputterduck]

Besides the fact that it's re-usable, how is it different from the Instead Softcup (http://www.softcup.com/product/what_is_softcup.php)?
I've always liked Instead because you can have sex with it in (no crime-scene sex!) and am not sure how the Diva Cup is in comparison. I can't find anything on the website about sex & the Diva.


Holy Crapola that is Huge! The cup on the pic on that link I mean. How in the world does it fit?

[pawprint]

Holy Crapola that is Huge! The cup on the pic on that link I mean. How in the world does it fit?


It's not quite like a diva. I watched the video. Yeah I have no life.

[Sputterduck]

Okay. It says the Instead is too large for some.

"If the discomfort occurs right after inserting the Cup, it may be inserted incorrectly (see question on "fit"), or it may actually be too large."

"Typically we find that if the INSTEAD® Softcup® does not fit then most likely your vagina is too small. If this is the case, you will know right away because the Cup will not stay in place behind your pubic bone. If after insertion the Cup tends to slide out or you cannot get the rim behind the pubic bone then the INSTEAD® Softcup® is probably too large. "

I don't have some freaky anatomy then. :p Good. My eyes totally bugged out when I saw the picture. lol

[AlrightyRoo]

The Instead is huge. Too large for me. It always always leaked for me. I love love love my Divacup. I have never once had to empty it in public. Tampons always dry me out, especially on light days. The Diva is much more comfortable. I also like that I am not putting a bunch of chemicals up in my hooha.

I haven't used it in about 8 months and I hope not to have to use it for a couple years. ;)