what ABOUT the menstrual cup?

[eth_stew]

I tried the Instead cup just recently. I had a bit of difficulty with insertion and placement at first, but was ok after that.

I will agree that I couldn't remove it without spilling it. I actually prefer pads and tampons, for the most part. If I plan to have any sexual activity though, I will use the Instead cup.

[Brandye]

Do not ignore the reuseable cups. My partner and I both use Diva and I had used the Keeper for seven years.

[eminatic]

the divacup looks WAY too big for me and im scared of using it lol
i already had trouble removing the instead cup, and thats way smaller haha

[michelle2004]

The diva cup is amazing.....although I will admit that when I get aroused and I have it in I notice a little leakage....but that might be because I am still new to using it.

[funinthesun]

Asking on behalf of gf who doesn't have internet atm-

She recently tried Instead Cups and apparently is too short when not aroused. The back end of the rim wouldn't go in more than .5in from the entrance.

In the diagrams, the Diva Cup appears to stay more in the canal than the fornix. Her vaginal muscles are in pretty good shape and are fairly tight, however she does fit me which is about 7in circumference at times. She would like to know how rigid the silicone Diva Cup would feel in comparison to the Instead rim and also if anyone has had a similar problem with Instead and fixed it with the Diva or Moon.

Her cycles are very heavy, lasting up to a week, and the tampons make her very raw and sore during and a few days after it's done. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks a bunch.

[sera300]

Originally Posted by funinthesun

Asking on behalf of gf who doesn't have internet atm-

She recently tried Instead Cups and apparently is too short when not aroused. The back end of the rim wouldn't go in more than .5in from the entrance.

In the diagrams, the Diva Cup appears to stay more in the canal than the fornix. Her vaginal muscles are in pretty good shape and are fairly tight, however she does fit me which is about 7in circumference at times. She would like to know how rigid the silicone Diva Cup would feel in comparison to the Instead rim and also if anyone has had a similar problem with Instead and fixed it with the Diva or Moon.

Her cycles are very heavy, lasting up to a week, and the tampons make her very raw and sore during and a few days after it's done. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks a bunch.

Brandye has more info about the types, they are not over abundant here in the US.

It sounds as if the positioning of them is more of an issue for her; she is not getting it to grip in the right positions or she might have ordered the incorrect size. If properly positioned, there should be no issue.

Or she can get the old type of cervical caps which have been used for birth control and menstrual cycles; they still make them. When they are placed properly no moving/dislodging them. Just have to be cleaned more frequently daily.

[Brandye]

With the Instead, she is not inserting it correctly. We are all deep enough to get them in. The rim should encircle the cervix so it requires some learning to get it in and positioned that deeply. Instead are not sold by size and I suspect that is the reason they work better for some than others. As sera indicates, it is very much like the cervical cap contraceptive device. I even know of women who use them as such but that is not what they are sold for. When I have tried them, it took a few times to get it right. I do not use them as a rule because I prefer the reuseable cups. I presently have a Diva.

The reuseable cups - Keeper, Diva, Luna - are placed in the canal above the muscles that we squeeze in doing Kegels. They are folded as per the diagram on the websites and placed about as far as she can reach. They come in two sizes. One for non-parous women (no vaginal births) under thirty and one that is slightly larger recommended for "older women" and those who have had children. They are daunting until she gets accustomed and they cannot be felt when in proper position. The extracting ring will be just out of sight. The silicon of the Diva is quite soft. I assume the Luna is about the same. The latex Keeper, which I used for seven years, was a bit firmer but manageable. They are firmer than the rim of the Instead but, for me, more dependable.

Believe me, any woman can use these cups. It does take practice. When I received my first one (a Keeper), I practiced mid-month and then wore a pad for my first period to make sure I had gotten it right. When my Diva arrived, I just started using it the same as the Keeper.

I have the same issue with tampons leaving me a bit raw and sore. My periods are very heavy but quite short. I have never had a failure and have worn the Diva twelve hours and more.

[funinthesun]

Just to be certain we're on the same page-- it's bent like the diagram, and it goes in, but only so far to the point where the rim stays bent and the back end of it is only 0.5in inside. You're saying that it should be able to go in further, but is catching on something that is not the back of her? Would it help to add some lube to it to see if it slides more to her shape? She said that she could feel it hit her cervix, but could that be the front of it and it needs to drop down to go around it? She fiddled for it for about 30min this morning and couldn't get it to go in further.

[sera300]

Originally Posted by funinthesun

Just to be certain we're on the same page-- it's bent like the diagram, and it goes in, but only so far to the point where the rim stays bent and the back end of it is only 0.5in inside. You're saying that it should be able to go in further, but is catching on something that is not the back of her? Would it help to add some lube to it to see if it slides more to her shape? She said that she could feel it hit her cervix, but could that be the front of it and it needs to drop down to go around it? She fiddled for it for about 30min this morning and couldn't get it to go in further.

Tell her squat to try to put it in until accustomed! Lube? Might get a flying object! It should adhere without difficulty if she positions herself correctly. When first using a C. Cap? Took a long time to get used to self-placement! Then it was really easy.

[Brandye]

The rim of either the single-use or reuseable cups do not contain a spring as does a diaphragm. The Instead is quite flexible and is solid polyurethan. Not very strong or rigid. The Instead fits over the cervix and holds itself in place by natural adhesion.

The reuseable cups are either latex (Keeper) or silicone (Luna, Diva) and are less flexible than the Instead. They are still quite easy to fold twice. They are held in place in the vaginal canal by muscles and are sealed against the walls with annular seals around the outside rim.. Look at their websites for a view of them in place.

With the problem she is having, it needs to be pushed in much further and the rim then distributed around the cervix. This takes some digging. Lube will make the problem worse. She is not clearing the muscles around the vaginal introitus.