DIVA Cup Model 1, (for Medium to Heavy Flow)

I am 30 and never had kids. I got model 2 as recommended and it works very well. What I want to say to all of you who just started using it or who already gave up is something that I read somewhere-GIVE IT ENOUGH TIME and DON"T GIVE UP after one period. Here is my story. I got it in May, I think, and only last month I was able to go out with it in public. So May, June, July...at the end of my period in July I finally figured out what's the correct position of the cup in me!!! In August I was for the first time able to use it in public and not freak out. In May I only used it at home. Dry runs didn't help cause you not gonna know what is the right way and how it won't leak. In JUne I also only used it when I was home, expecially, on my days off, it was nice to see what works and what doesn't and monitor the leaks. Here's some tips on INSTALLATION (as I call it): -the rotation 360 is not necessary for it to work. Once I put it in (I use punch down fold, the fold facing my back side), not too far yet, I stick a finger up each side....this seems to create a seal. Then I push it further. It sits just behind my pubic bone, a bit off center to the right. It will sit in you the way it wants to (like many others already said). What was confusing to me at first is that I expected it to open up and right away take this round shape but this is not so in my body. It seems to be sort of weak and bent front and back....so I thought it won't work. Also, as I push it up, once I ran my finger on all sides, it bends....this, I thought, isn't gonna work but it works! I insert it in parallel to the floor, by the way.....with the fold facing back side.But then it does become the proper shape cause when I pull it out hours later it's fine and round. So don't be too concerned with the way it feels at first. It took me 10-15 min to install it when I was learning, not it takes 5. -I couldn't sleep with it cause I thought it would get lost in my. Well, believe me, it won't get lost in you. Even in times when I pushed it too far, I was able to fish it out but it takes longer. -at first your fingers and hand are gonna be challenged since you are not used to fishing this thing out of there but once you figure it out, it will be easier!!! At first I thought that it was crazy and slippery and all kinds of things! and freaky! I was a tampon user with big pads at night (double protection) on my heavy days. Once, I got to know diva cup, my first successes were nights! I could sleep all night with just tiny daily pad and then wake up even 10 hours later -no problem. If it was heavy , it would start leaking once I got up and went to pee. - You gonna have to find your own way to fish it out. When I was learning, I had to check myself every second to see if it's leaking (when I was experimenting at home). Some of the sensation is different....the air will come through and to me it feels like it's leaking casue that's what it is like with tampons....once you feel that, you better run to the bathroom. This is not the case with diva cup....it just the way it is. My last period I haven't used a single tampon. This is the trend this time too :) I am pleasantly surprised and I am still getting used to this thing. Please, do not give up on this because you see how long it takes? This period I even lost touch briefly.....The first day I couln't get it in properly but then I got a hang of it again. I used to get up in the morning, change a tampon, go get ready etc for work, take shower.....waste a perfectly good tampon (cause it was only 2 or so hours before I had to pull it out)...then put new one in right before leaving. Now the set up has changed. I get up and go about my business. I do empty and reinstall the cup about 30 min before I have to leave so I can see if it's leaking. Usually, if it's not installed properly, it will leak within 30 min to an hour. You can tell if you go pee and wipe and there's pink. But when it's properly installed, it's crazy!!! It's like you have nothing going on, there are no reminders! No strings to hide or worry about or move out of the way when you pee (or properly put it in your underwear so if tampon leaks, it leaks in your daily pad), nothing is pink...it's really crazy. You can take shower and wash yourself like nothing is up , it's really nice. Before this last period started, I was even thinking that it seems as though I haven't had a period in a while....cup made a difference. On my lighter days I can go for 12 hours without emptying it. Heavy days...maybe 4 hours. My advise is to not fiddle with it if it's not leaking. My middle days I can go for 6-8 hours without having to mess with it. I now carry couple of individually wrapped flushable wipes in my pocket in case I have to empty the cup. That's better than carrying tampons around. I never liked having to grab a purse and go to the bathroom, I used to carry couple of tampons with me at all times during my period. Now if I know I have to empty it, I go into handicapped stall with the sink. I either wash my hands or use sanitizer. I advise you to watch some youtube about using and removing diva cup. It helped me. Once I grab the cup, I gently rock it and pull it out. I dump it in the toilet while I am still sitting (pulling it out easiest when I sit on a toilet, and I put it in standing up, with my legs spread apart and hips tiltting forward a bit), then carefully wrap toilet paper around it so it doesn't drip on my clothes, stick a piece of paper b/w my legs, and wash the cup out, making sure nothing is stuck in those little holes (at home I use toothpicks to clear them and unscented soap to wash the cup), then I wipe myself with the wipe and install the cup, then wipe some more. I agree that some of the leaks may have to do with some of the blood being on the path as you are installing the cup. I think with me it helps that I swipe my finger on all sides, that helps get rid of some blood so it doesn't leak later. Please, try it. I have yet to travel with just this cup as opposed to loads and loads of tampons :) and it's so much easier to live during those days when the only thing you need is inside you :) I will write more if I think of it later. UPDATE 5/1/2013. NOw I manage to wash out this cup in the shower in the morning as I am getting ready :) That is my "wash" after the night. That feels so good to be able to do that without any mess. Then I just scrub myself like normal. I do manage now to go about 9-12 hours with one cup (I am not on my natural period now, so it's lighter than it used to be). I did have to change/wash during lunch before on my natural period esspecially if it's day 1 or 2) which is pretty nice. This is one of the great things I did for myself in life. Good luck everyone. This is totally worth it. I do still manage to insert it wrong from time to time when it leaks within 1-2 hours :) I hate when that happens!

This review is about two years in the making, I kid you not. I am a cautious woman. I was very intrigued by the Diva Cup to be a convenient, more eco-friendly, hassle-free option for when I am on my period. However, I also was scared of trying anything new and seemingly very "invasive." Would it be comfortable? WOULD I BE ABLE TO TAKE IT OUT? Would it leak? I did a LOT of research for many months and finally committed to this one, cup 1, at age 27, no childbirth. The first time I tried to put it in it took me 15 minutes. BUT I did it and had no leaks and it was totally comfortable. It became a psychological game--is it in too far? And the ever-present fear of will I be successful at removing it if it's sealed so well. I figured if everyone else can, I can too. I had a near panic attack taking it out. I read the tips and was a nervous wreck, getting to know the depths of my vagina better than ever before, but still not being able to break the seal. I feel like I can never (still) get a good grip on the stem so I don't know what I am doing wrong there. But truly, the first time I tried to remove it was horrifying. I tried for about 20 minutes, sweating and eventually crying, with no success. This thing would not break the seal. So I naturally assumed it's stuck and I inserted it wrong and I have to go to the hospital, but I decided to check online first since I am SURE I'm not the only terrified one here. Lo and behold, this seems to be common for first-timers and the pro-tip was to push down like you're going to poop and it really helps bring the cup down enough so you can grab the stem and break the seal, then I grab the base of the cup and it just pulls right out. SO, I didn't have to go to the hospital after all. Hallelujah. I knew it. The trauma was enough for me to be too scared to use the cup again for about 6 months, but then I decided I gotta figure this thing about and try to get the hype. I was able to insert it quickly, maybe just a few seconds this time, and it was comfortable all day. I had anxiety about removal yet again, but knew at least I would be able to do it. Positive self-talk matters here, friends. The time came and I was still a nervous wreck, but I was determined. I got it out in "only" 10 minutes this time, still sweating and exhausted, but triumphant. I knew I could get to where the people who are good at this are, so I kept trying. Long story short, I finally, FINALLY love this thing. I can get it in securely in a few seconds and MY NUMBER ONE TIP FOR REMOVAL is to sit on the toilet and push like you're trying to poop and just grab the stem/base. It comes out in no time flat (I'm talking SECONDS from a person who spent 45 minutes trying). Then of course clean the cup and do what you need to do, but this finally is worth it to me. It's WONDERFUL not feeling it, not worrying about leaks, and not having to change it for many hours (I change it every 12 ish but it's never even halfway full, but my periods tend to be light--shoutout to birth control). IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, I feel you. I still wholly recommend this product and just read all the tips for how to make this successful for you. I'm finally over alternative period products and totally sold on this--it just took me a lot longer than most!

When I first heard of the cup years ago, I remember thinking to myself: "Eeeeeew, no thanks!" And yet, I'd spend all that time fussing with nasty pads and annoying tampons whenever I had my period. Now that I think back to sitting in a gross dirty pad for hours at a time, all I can do is shake my head at myself for thinking it was the CUP that was the gross option! No more leaking, no more duck waddling to the bathroom in the morning to avoid "flood panic", no more changing a tampon every 2-3 hours (seriously they claim those things last for 6 hours and I think that's bunk unless you've got a really light flow.) and no more feeling like my activities are constantly restricted while I'm on my period. Does this sound appealing to you? Then for pete's sakes, get a cup! What the other reviews say about a learning curve is very, very true. My first time using it I got very frustrated because I had problems getting it in and out. And if you are doing it improperly, it's probably going to hurt/be messy and nobody ever wants that. Follow the instructions on the pamphlet to insert it. The trick I've found it using the fold over method. The idea is not to jam the thing so far up that Indiana Jones wouldn't be able to find it - you have to gently insert the rim/main portion and let it expand a bit before pushing it a bit further up. It's not meant to be inserted as deeply as a tampon. Despite how big the rim looks, the material is such that it molds to the inside of your body so you do not feel it as long as it's in right. You should know immediately upon standing up that it's in properly. If it's not in right, you'll feel either the stem or the suction. (You can tell the suction is wrong by clenching your muscles. If it hurts, it's not in right.) There's no correcting it once it's in wrong. You have to take it out and try again. Taking it out takes some getting used to as well. You should NOT grab the bottom of the cup and pull. Suction, remember? Think about a plunger when it gets stuck to a surface. If you try to pull it out before breaking the suction it will cause you an incredible amount of pain. If you're not comfortable with your body, get over it. I had to. The easiest thing to do is insert a finger to the rim to break the suction, then gently pull it out with that same finger/hand. It takes practice, but with time you can start getting it in and out win under a minute. I also did my reading ahead and cut the stem off the cup before I even inserted it the first time. Even without it I have no problems getting it in and out. In fact, I think the thing shouldn't even have a stem because it misleads women into thinking they should pull on the cup to get it out, which is a major no-no. It's not a tampon. As long as everything is done properly, I never feel the cup, unlike tampons - which had me feeling gross any time I had to clench down there. On my regular days I can leave it in for 6-8 hours. I usually just leave it in for a full night (8-12 hours) as well, and can I tell you? Being able to get up at night and go pee without the grossness of a pad or a tampon is just so worth it. It's so freeing. The length that I can keep it in means I haven't needed to clean it in public yet, so I can't give any opinions/instructions on that. But I kinda consider that a good thing - since I no longer have to deal with the CRINKLE CRINKLE of tampon/pad wrappers in public bathrooms. There's nothing like going to a movie and basically screaming, "HEY YA'LL I'M ON MY PERIOD!!" to the entire women's room because you have to sit there and open a tampon wrapper that's louder than a bag of fritos. I will sing the praises of the cup until I die. If I could flip off the pad/tampon industry for lying to me for years about how periods are meant to be gross, disgusting and shameful things that need to be covered up by awful smelling bleached tampons or pads, I would. I'm glad I never need to give them another cent of my money. Obviously the cup isn't for everyone - but this lady right here is so, so glad it works for her.

A diva cup journey. This post is filed with gory details, successes and failures, blood,sweat and tears. I bought this with hesitant hope. Could there really be something that worked and eliminates the use for expensive pads and tampons, annoying leaks, drawers full of "period panties", and sneezes that resulted in that inevitable race to the toilet? The answer is yes, yes there is, and it's glorious and gross, but so worth it. It took me three days to figure out how to use it, and then a full two periods to completely master it. Here's my journey: Day one: sheer excitement, easy insertion, I followed the directions and all seemed well and good. An hour later I felt a leak. Slight irritation, I put on a panty liner (do this until you master it) and reinstated after further consulting the directions. I realized it may not have opened up all the way once inserted, therefore not creating the necessary suction seal. This time I was sure I had it opened up in there and properly suctioned. I inserted my finger and ran it all along between the outside of the cup and my vaginal wall. (You have to be comfortable with putting your fingers in there). I felt it pop when it opened, so I was sure it was right! I went to bed, woke up and had to toss out my undies and my sheets. It seriously looked like a crime scene in there. At this point I was frustrated and convinced I had wasted my money. Then the learning curve hit me. Day 2: frustration, and yes, A few emotional irrational tears. I put on a panty liner and then reinstated the cup. A few hours later I had a small leak, but when I removed the cup I was rewarded with 1/4 of it filled with blood, goo, and slime! I was stoked. I realized that the tiny bit of blood probably came from the vaginal wall that was closer to the entrance of the vAgina, after the area the cup was suctioned too. I inserted the cup and later that day had a huge leak. I began to think I just wasn't made for this cup. I decided to give it a last try. Day 3: lightbulb I read the directions for the hundredth time and I realized something I missed. The directions say to insert horizontally and then turn 360 degrees. The turning is nearly impossible, I just wiggle and tug on the end until I feel it suction. But the horizontal mess? I never had inserted a tampon horizontally. I quickly realized that this was the secret. I had been having leaks, because by inserting it straight in, it was in my vaginal canal at an angle. Creating gaps for the blood to crawl through. While sitting on the toilet, I found that inserting it horizontally was quite easy. Once inserted, I tugged upward on the end so that the tail end of the cup was facing almost forward when I stood up. Get it in horizontally and fully opened, and it should work. For me this was the secret of this glorious revolution, and I'm never going back. Once you figure out a way that works, remember it and be consistent with that method!

Do you bleed on a monthly basis? Tired of wasting your money on tampons and pads? Don't want to harm the environment by disposing of feminine products? Then have I got the perfect product for you! Please, take a trip down memory lane with me as I recount my year-long journey to find the perfect apparatus to catch my body's monthly tears because I have, yet again, disappointed it for not becoming pregnant. Y’all. We're talking about periods, pushing a silicone product into your body, and later dumping and washing blood out of said product (the horror!). You definitely need to be open to discussing, reading, and doing these things if you are going to get a menstrual cup to work for you. I bought the Model 1 (pre-birth) Diva Cup over a year ago and I think it's a great one to start with. It isn't too soft or too firm, or too big for that matter. You may want to watch some YouTube videos about cups to find the right size and length for you. (One good way to determine this is to measure where your cervix is). You will also want to take into consideration if you've had children, how heavy your flow is, and how small you are. While it took me a few months to get the right fold, I never had an issue with the cup being uncomfortable once opened because of my small size. I tried the C-fold and the 7-fold, but the one that works best for me (regardless of the type of cup) is the punch-down fold. Word of advice? Use lube. This makes insertion so much easier. I like the ones by Aloe Cadabra and Sliquid. This is my process for insertion: Fold the cup using the punch-down fold and hold in one hand, apply a small amount of lube with the other and spread on the cup, take a wide stance, insert the cup fully, perform a few Kegel exercises to move the cup and make sure it's inserted fully, bear down again and use 1-2 fingers to ensure the cup is opened and is in the proper spot. Emptying: The first two days my flow is medium, sometimes medium-heavy, and I change it once in the middle of the day and once at night before bed. The final 2-3 days are light to light-medium and I only change once per day! To remove, simply perform a few Kegels to get the cup lower, grasp the cup with one hand, fold it into the C-shape with the other (this makes it easier to remove), and dump the contents into the toilet. This should definitely be done while sitting on the toilet because this does cause spillage. If you're in public, you can simply rinse with water from a bottle over the toilet and reinsert. At home, I use a simple soap (I think it's the 365 brand from Whole Foods that has maybe 2-3 ingredients) and not the premade ones offered by Cup brands. Other Cleaning Advice: Some people boil their cups, and if you want to do that, I'd look to other reviews. I don't want to ruin mine and I think cleaning my cup after each use with a basic soap (that doesn't have ingredients they specifically say shouldn't be used) is sufficient for me. Brands: Like I said, the Model 1 Diva Cup is what I started out with. This has more of a V shape. I bought the Lena Cup in the small size maybe 4-5 months after purchasing my Diva; this one is a bell shape. The Lena Cup is a bit more firm and might work better if you're having trouble getting the Diva Cup to pop open. Lena also has great customer service and when I thought the larger size might work better for me, they sent me one free of charge. The larger Lena was the first large size I tried and it was slightly uncomfortable the first 5-6 times I wore it. I just don't think the bell shape worked best for my body. I just recently bought the Model 2 Diva cup, even though I haven't had children and I'm under whatever age they specify, but it works better for me on my first two days because of my slightly heavier flow. Unfortunately, find the right cup for you is a bit of trail and error. However, like I noted above, Lena's customer service is awesome so if you feel like you got the wrong size, you should be able to try the other without having to purchase. Leaking: I have tried the two sizes by Diva Cup and Lena Cup and all three of the aforementioned folds. I know my cups are open and in the proper spot. I however can't stop slight leakage (basically spotting quantities) from happening. I bought period panties from THINX (second best period companion ever!) and that allows me to (a) not ruin my underwear and (b) not purchase disposable and uncomfortable liners. I noticed I had the most leakage with the larger Lena Cup. Again, I think this simply because the bell shape isn't what is best for my body. Stems: On both cups, I feel like the stems are useless. I don't have a high cervix, so they aren't helpful to pull out the cup and they are just plain annoying to be honest. I read other reviews and took their advice: snip with scissors and then use a nail filer to make the edges smooth. Problem solved. Overall: While I do primarily use my Diva Cup because the shape is better for my body, I still wouldn't hesitate to recommend Lena. It's much easier to open (so you're less likely to have leakage issues) and I did appreciate the wonderful customer service. All in all, I just want to get people to try menstrual cups, period! If you made it this far, congratulations! Cups have a learning curve but once you master them they are amazing. No waste. Not uncomfortable. No TSS. No nasty chemicals. Less changing. Way more affordable! Please leave comments if you have any questions at all.

Looking for an alternative to the OB Ultra or suffering from Fibroids or Menorrhagia? This may be the solution you seek. OK...to summarize what will be an extremely long evaluation, let it just be said that I absolutely love my Diva Cup. I also love Amazon for carrying it and having the "genius"/"recommendations for you" program that automatically suggests products based on what you buy or search. Otherwise, I might not know this product existed or be able to experience a sense of freedom that I haven't had in more than 8 years. Now for the longer, more information than you might really want, version of my review. I'm including details that might be helpful to anyone with similar medical conditions which I'll get to discussing a little further in this review. To start, let me explain that I'd previously been introduced to the concept of an internal menstrual cup a while ago. Unfortunately, my experience then was vastly different than my recent experience with the Diva Cup. To be specific, several years ago, I tried the "Instead" product and found it to be a very good idea in theory; however, it proved to be very, very bad in reality. The "Instead" device was reminiscent of the Ortho-All Flex Diaphragm (contraceptive device) only it was too large so it kept popping out of place and zooming out of me creating an unpleasant mess. The Diva Cup is not as flat or frisbie-like. It is conical and has a longer, less rubbery reservoir which works much better for me than the disc-like shape of the "Instead" device. While it does take some time to get used to insertion and removal of the Diva Cup, I figured it out in a few hours and it proved to be a lifesaver during a recent 7 hour flight to London from the US. A little background history on me is that I have fibroid tumors and menorhagia (extremely heavy bleeding) as a result of the tumors. This basically means that my cycle lasts about 20 days with about 2-3 extremely heavy flow days (heavy flow = changing a 18 gram capacity OB Ultra tampon [product now discontinued] every 1-2 hours), 3 normal flow days and another 15 days of light flow and/or spotting. Yes, this is a nightmare for which I've had 3 unsuccessful surgeries; however, I have finally found a little freedom from my cycle through use of the Diva Cup. I'm no longer trapped in the house or confined to places like work with private or semi-private restrooms nearby. While my flow is so heavy that I must still empty the Diva Cup every 2 hours on heavy days, I'm not constantly trying to monitor the flood that is my cycle and wearing both a maxi/overnight sized pad and an ultra tampon. I'm no longer attracting attention to myself in public restrooms with noisy plastic wrappers or squeaky disposal devices. Given the fact that OB discontinued their Ultra sized tampon and I would have otherwise been left without sufficient protection to allow me to travel from my house to work (about 45 minutes), my discovery of the Diva Cup was a lifesaver. It arrived just prior to my London trip and extended the amount of time I have between trips to the restroom by another hour. That is almost double the time allowance that I had with the OB Ultra. Given that I'd once been threatened with Homeland Security arrest when I asked to be allowed emergency restroom access on a flight caught in runway limbo (detached from gate and on the runway but awaiting clearance to take off such that no passengers were allowed out of their seats), I wasn't sure whether I'd survive a transatlantic flight during my menses. Although I still had to use the restroom about 3 times during the flight, I wasn't arrested or threatened by insensitive flight attendants which was a major accomplishment. Now, I can once again travel by plane and only worry about the condition of the aircraft and training of the pilot like most people. Although this has been mentioned in previous posts, it warrants mentioning again. If you are squeamish, the Diva Cup may not be for you. Because of my experience with leaky tampons supplemented by icky maxi-pads, I may be somewhat desensitized to the mess; however, unless you happen to somehow manage the unlikely act of spilling the contents of the cup on yourself instead of into the toilet, it is far less messy than dealing with tampon/pad related "accidents". Here are some helpful hints/general thoughts that I picked up from google searching "menstrual cup reviews" and "menstrual cup folds": - Keep extra tissues with you since it is sometimes difficult to access sufficient paper from rolls in public/office restrooms. I'm boycotting Johnson & Johnson and its subsidary, McNeil-PPC, Inc., for the unexplained shortage and discontinuance of the OB Ultra tampon, so it seems appropriate to mention the non-J&J products that I keep handy. This is my list so you should be aware that the Diva Cup manufacturer doesn't recommend using anything with lotions or non-Diva brand cleansers: (1) Puff's Ultra Soft and Strong - Travel Pack tissues; (2) Always's Always Clean wipes and (3) Cottonelle Fresh Flushable Moist Towelettes - If you are on-the-go, it is good to pick up a small, inexpensive bottle of water or travel with a Lavette/Perineal Bottle (which you must fill with clean water before entering the toilet stall) for your in-stall rinsing needs. While you can simply use tissue to clean out the cup, I prefer to rinse the cup as well as my perineal area with clean water prior to reinserting the device. - There are tons of different types of insertion folds or at least a lot more than you'd expect. Since I didn't really like the two that were recommended in the Diva Cup instruction manual, I googled "menstrual cup folds" and was rewarded with various options. I actually prefer the "origami" fold. Once inserted, I rotate the Diva Cup to ensure a proper seal. If you have a heavy flow, fluid may leak down and coat the canal walls in between the short period of time it takes to remove, clean and reinsert the Diva Cup. If this occurs, you may have some light leaking so you should wear a panty liner or light/thin pad as protection. - If you view the Diva Cup as an environmentally friendly way to handle your cycle, you may also be interested in purchasing washable (and organic) menstrual pads. I just ordered some so they haven't arrived yet; thus, I must reserve my opinion. Still, they sound like a good idea so I'm excited to try them. - Although I've only actually tried the Diva Cup (size 2), I have also purchased the Moon Cup (size A) and the Lunette Cup (Selene/Blue - Model 2) as back-up alternatives to my Diva Cup because they are very similarly shaped and I didn't think it was necessary to commit to one brand when there are several on the market. I've only experienced one cycle using the Diva Cup; thus, I haven't tested the Moon or Lunette Cups yet. I just wanted to have more than one Menstrual Cup and since the reviews for the other two brands were just as positive as those for the Diva Cup, I thought I'd purchase one of each. Because the Lunette is actually a european brand (I think it is French) and the Moon Cup is the version of the "Keeper" marketed to Americans, I purchased all brands via Amazon to avoid issues with foreign sellers. In the spirit of full disclosure, I'm an Amazon Prime member so most of my on-line purchases for non-clothing items are through them. Clearly, I have a very specific medical condition which one might think would make the Diva Cup or a similar product less advantageous; however, the contrary has proven true for me. For those with a normal cycle, I suspect the use of a Diva Cup would be an all-around slam dunk. Try it and you may like it. If you are concerned about the cost, start calculating how much you spend on disposable menstrual supplies in 2 months. I suspect that will cover the annual Diva Cup cost and that once you graduate from the trial and error phase of insertion techniques, you will also love the Diva Cup.

***UPDATE 6/15/14*** I decided to keep going with this one instead of trying a different brand cup. I learned that if I start the cup sitting very low (so low that it sticks out quite a bit when I'm sitting on the toilet; my muscles pull it in to where it needs to be as soon as I stand, or I adjust it while standing), I don't have any problems with hitting the Vagus nerve. Not to mention I pretty much never have any leaks either! Changing my rating from 4 stars to 5 now, this thing is great, and it's so nice not having to wear any pads in the summer! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So, today I discovered a new term: vasovagal response. And let me tell you ladies, if this happens to you, REMOVE YOUR CUP IMMEDIATELY! I've had my Diva Cup for around 3-4 months now, and though it took a bit of getting used to, it works *very* well when I put it in right. I know that sounds very conflicting, but I'll explain why, please read on! A little about myself: I am a 34 year old mother of one, and after a natural, uneventful childbirth I developed vulvadynia that was musco-skeletal related. After a year of physical therapy and medication (and after weaning my daughter at 3, all of which happened around the same time), the condition had resolved for me. But, some things remain. I seem to dry out very easily during my period, especially with the use of pads and tampons, which sometimes results in these very painful skin splits in the crevices of my labia; and my period is now much heavier and much longer in duration than it was before I had a baby (which can happen). My cervix is also tilted to one side. That last thing and the pain I would experience wasn't really the result of having a baby, it was actually the result of putting a thick wallet in the same back pocket for many years (messed up a good number of my pelvic muscles!), and having a baby and extended breastfeeding actually exacerbated the issue (though I do not regret my decision to breastfeed that long, but that's a whole 'nother discussion for a different kind of post!)! Anyway, after reading up on menstrual cups, I thought I'd finally try one out, especially when I saw high praise of them on a vulvadynia recovery forum. And, aside from a few hiccups on getting it to sit right at first (and I mean, I really only had an issue with positioning it correctly on the first day I tried it), it was a godsend! No more drying out and painful splits, no more changing pads or tampons and feeling that gross damp feeling, no smell, and I barely felt like I was having my period, aside from the painful cramping I usually get the first 2 days. Hell, I could even sleep without undies, and not have a single accident, and the first 2-3 days I have a pretty heavy flow! But then I'd notice something weird happening on the first and last days of my period. I would get very dizzy, and nauseous, and my thinking would be fuzzy. Last month, that happened when I was trying to go to sleep while I was away on a trip. I started feeling SO sick though, that I thought maybe I washed the cup wrong, or thought maybe the tap water of the state I was in was bad or had minerals or something that my body wasn't used to, so just in case I took it out and put a pad on, and figured when I got home I would wash the cup more thoroughly. I promptly forgot about the incident, since it happened on the last day of my period. Fast forward to today. Woke up and got my period, so I put my cup on. After a few hours, I started feeling VERY nauseous and dizzy, but this time also feverish and I was very very visibly flushed, to the point where my 4 year old began to get worried and asked me if I was ok. It got so bad, that while trying to play with her, I had to keep lying on the floor to keep from throwing up or the world from spinning. In the midst of my haze, I tried to think of what I did differently earlier in the day. After eliminating all of the possible things that could be making me feel so ill, I realized the one thing I had done differently today was put on the cup. So I quickly went to the bathroom and took it out. And sure enough, within minutes, my very severe symptoms suddenly vanished! After I felt much better, I decided to Google my symptoms in relation to menstrual cups and see if anyone else had experienced similar things, and came across the above phrase in a Livejournal community for menstrual cups. The phenomenon itself though seems somewhat rare, and occurs in women with low or tilted cervices, or on the days of your cycle when your cervix is naturally low. It's very frightening, because I learned that had I not removed the cup, I may have fainted, and had I fainted in a way where my head was still upright, I may have had a seizure! I'm here alone all day with a 4 year old, so that would have been a very terrible thing to happen indeed! The reason I am giving this product 4 stars in spite of my experience, is because it does work very well for it's intended uses, and if I had the average cervix, I believe I wouldn't have these issues at all. For some women, it also seems that simply taking it out and re-positioning it correctly is all that's needed to eliminate these symptoms, since what is happening is you are irritating the Vagus nerve in your cervix, and some women have this extreme response when that occurs (others just feel a little bit of cramping and that's it). The solution, it seems, is to use a shorter menstrual cup, like the LadyCup or the Mini Classic Meluna cup, so it sits lower in the vaginal canal and can't reach the nerve to irritate it. I will try this next and hope for the best, since I really loved the benefits of a menstrual cup. However, if I experience the same symptoms again, I will throw in the towel and admit defeat! (and be very sad!) I don't write many reviews, but I wanted to get this info out in case anyone else was experiencing the same issues! I don't wany anyone to go through what i had earlier today! So, I hope this is useful to those experiencing the same issues! Thanks for reading ^_^

After a 7 year battle with tampons, I've decided to give menstrual cups a try. Since switching to commercial tampons, I've developed some feminine health issues (increased bleeding & Uterine Fibroids), which I am certain now, was caused by the use of commercial tampons because they occurred a few years later. I have a gut feeling it's the cause of a lot of issues with women's health in general. I mean, how much does the average woman knows about what goes into making tampons? Yet, we so willingly place one after the other, month after month, into our bodies without any thoughts as to how they are made and whether or not they are safe. I tried the natural cotton tampons a few months ago and they were okay, but I was tired of the frequent trips to the bathroom on my heavy days (once an hour) and the expense. Not to mention, lugging around my Ant Flo gear. With that being the case, I decided that I've had it with tampons all together and there was no way I was going back to pads, so I decided to get a DivaCup (size 2). Not sure what being over 30 had to do with anything, but I got the size 2 more for that fact that I know I flow heavier and that size 1 was not going to do anything for me. When I got my cup, I gave it a test run to see how it will work before my period. I wanted to get as much practice as possible. Let it be known that you will have a learning curve with this product, as you will with any menstrual cup; and you will need to erase your tampons tendencies from your head as this is not a tampon and cannot be treated like one :) On first handling of the cup, I noticed that the rim was a little stiff. It wasn't hard, but I found it a little difficult to hold and insert with one hand. In fact, my hand started hurting, so I had to use both hands, which made things more awkward. But I was willing to keep going. It took me about 3 tries, but I was able to insert using the "C" fold. Yeah, the second fold made a smaller insertion point, but it was a little more challenging to get the cup to open up once inside. Really, it's something you will have to figure out for yourself, as our bodies are all different. Once inside, I found that the 360 degree turn is something of trickery. It is possible, but it was not until I very slightly pulled down on the stem that I felt it pop. From the base, I slowly turned to make sure it was in place and then moved it more inside. I let it stay on for about 45 minutes. On removal, I experienced a little challenge, and found the stem to be a little short. I had to bear down with my butt to my ankles in order to get it. Once I got a good grip on the stem. I slightly pulled until I can pinch the base to release suction. It slide out okay and I felt good about trying it out when Ant Flo arrived. Once I began spotting, I immediately inserted my Divacup. Insertion was easy, and I was glad that I tried it out before my period to get a feel for it. I had the cup in for about 8 hours and wanted to take it out to see what going on. By the way, I didn't feel it or anything, which made me really curious what was going on. It took me about 20 minutes to get it out the first time. It was mostly due to me not really being able to get a grip on this the stem. I had to constantly bear down. I never given birth before, but I would imagine that type of bearing down would be required. As a side note, if you have to use the facilities in any way, I found it to be helpful to do that first, before removing the cup. Finally, I was able to get a grip and from there removal was easy. I would recommend using your other hand to hold on to the rim of the cup as it will do kind of a "popping" out thing once removed. I believe that was from the rim being kind if stiff. It was about 1/4 oz of fluid and I was feeling pretty good about the cup. I mean, sure there are a few minor challenges with removal, but I was pretty happy. Then, my heavy flow came! I experienced a lot of leakage and was changing about once an hour at my peak times. This was no fun at all. If there is leakage, the whole thing is just a mess. I thought about putting a tampon in, but I said no and I stayed with the cup. I feel that the cup works very well on my light days and I don't even notice I have it on. I mean, I have to remind myself to check. But on my heavy days, Diva is just not for me. I would totally recommend this product to anyone, but feel it's just not right for me. All-in-all, I found the stem to be too short, which made removal exhausting and messy on my heavy days. I have little hands and fingers, so I need more stem. Also, the cup was prone to a lot of leakage on my heavy days, so I need more capacity and better leakage protection. With my flow and body design, I must say that I will be looking for another cup. I am very glad that I gave it a go and appreciate the experience because now I know what to look for in my next cup. I say try it. If anything, you will get a better idea of your body's needs and what you really want in your menstrual cup. Who knows, Divacup may be your cup! In any case, a menstrual cup is the way to go. You just have to be patient and find one that works for you. It's definitely a safer and a more environmentally sound choice.

Es gibt schon so viele Rezensionen, die die Vorzüge und Nachteile von Menstruationscups im Allgemeinen abhandeln, dass ich dazu hier nicht noch mehr sagen muss. Meine Rezension konzentriert sich auf die Vorteile und Nachteile DIESES speziellen Cups, denn ich habe nun schon einige verschiedene Marken ausprobiert und hatte mir bei den Rezensionen mehr Infos zu den Besonderheiten eines speziellen Cups erhofft. Cups generell sind meiner Meinung nach super, allerdings muss man den für die eigenen Bedürfnisse und Anatomie richtigen Cup finden: - Da ist zunächst mal die Stärke der Menstruation. Der Diva Cup 2 ist einer der Cups mit der größten Aufnahmekapazität, die es gibt. Nur der Yuuki 2 ist etwas größer (einer der größten Cups überhaupt) Ich habe noch kein Kind geboren, hatte aber früher eine starke Mens und kann den Diva Cup 2 gut verwenden, besonders da er sehr weich ist. - Man muss wissen, dass die Kapazität auch durch die etwas längere Form des Diva Cup zustande kommt. Nur der Diva Cup 1 ist noch etwas länger. Manche Frauen - vor allem die mit etwas tiefer liegendem Muttermund (speziell während der Periode) haben Schwierigkeiten mit der Länge. Allgemein und besonders in diesem Fall gilt für einen guten und dichten Sitz, dass der Cup unbedingt um den Muttermund herum platziert werden muss, ähnlich wie ein Diaphragma. (Anders als auf der Packungsbeilage der meisten Cups abgebildet!) Für mich persönlich ist die Länge des Diva Cup ein Vorteil, da der Cup dadurch besser mit den Fingern zu greifen ist als kürzere Cups. Der verkürzte kleine Stiel reicht daher vollkommen aus und stört kaum. Andere Cups haben längere Stiele, weil die Cups selbst kürzer sind. Ein ähnlicher Cup etwas kürzer: Lunette 2 oder Mooncup A. Mooncup A ist allerdings deutlich kleiner, daher mit weniger Aufnahmevolumen --> öfter wechseln. Der Ladycup ist viel kürzer und dafür breiter. Allerdings hält er nur eine kleinere Menge Flüssigkeit wegen der tiefsitzenden Löcher unterm Rand. Mittlerweile ist der Lady Cup aber trotzdem zu einem meiner Lieblingscups geworden, denn durch seine Breite und den verdickten Rand geht auch an stärkeren Tagen kaum etwas durch. Außerdem ist er so kurz, dass man ihn überhaupt nicht spürt. Allerdings ist dieser Cup am unteren Ende nicht mit so dicken Rillen zum Greifen versehen wie der Diva Cup und man rutscht daher leichter mal mit den Fingern ab, wenn man ihn entfernen will. - Der Diva Cup hat keinen besonders ausgeprägten, dicken Rand (wie der Mooncup oder der Ladycup). Das ist beim Einführen und Entfernen für die meisten Frauen sicher angenehmer. Allerdings schützt einen ein dicker Rand auch etwas vor Aus/Überlaufen, da man das Gefühl hat, dass der Cup fest sitzt und an den Scheidenwänden abschließt. Ich merke beim Einführen keinen Unterschied. Kommt vielleicht auch ein bisschen auf das Alter der Trägerin an. Einer 14-Jährigen würde ich eher Diva 1 als den Mooncup empfehlen. Für sehr junge Trägerinnen ist sicher vor allem MeLuna eine gute Alternative, die gibt es auch in Mini und in verschiedenen Härtegraden. (Bei den Grö'en ist bei MeLuna darauf zu achten, dass da XL ungefähr dem Volumen des DivaCup 2 entspricht.) Das Material - TPE - fühlt sich ein bisschen rauer an als Silikon. - Der Diva Cup ist meiner Meinung nach einer der weichsten Cups überhaupt. Das bringt hohen Tragekomfort. Er drückt nicht auf die Blase und entwickelt keine so große Saugkraft, so dass das Entfernen leichter ist als mit anderen Cups. Der Nachteil: der Cup öffnet sich im Innern des Körpers nicht so leicht, da er nicht eine so große Spannkraft hat wie manch andere. Man muss oft ein wenig nachhelfen, indem man mit dem Finger um den Cup herum fährt und ihn notfalls noch einmal ein wenig rauszieht, bis er aufploppt und ihn dann wieder reinschieben. Wichtig ist hierbei die Faltmethode zum Einführen. Es ist individuell verschieden, welche Methode für die jeweilige Person die bessere ist. (Auf Youtube gibt es Instruktionsvideos mit den verschiedenen Alternativen.) Wenn ein Cup sich nicht voll geöffnet hat und die Öffnung des Muttermunds sich nicht im Cup befindet, sondern über den Rand rausschaut (mit dem Finger um den Rand herum fahren, um dies sicher zu stellen), dann geht einiges daneben. Weiß ich aus schmerzlicher eigener Erfahrung. Wenn man einen Cup sucht mit fast gleichem Aufnahmevolumen, der ähnlich geformt ist, aber deutlich fester vom Material her und der daher leichter aufspringt- vor allem besser für sportliche Frauen mit starker Muskulatur: Lunette 2 oder Yuuki. Spüren tut man den im Innern auch nicht. Ist vielleicht beim Entfernen nicht ganz so angenehm, aber auch da gibt es Tricks (siehe: Youtube) Der Mooncup ist auch aus angenehm weichem Material, springt aber etwas besser auf als der Diva Cup wegen des schon angesprochenen verdickten, festen Rands. Lunette, Lady Cup und MeLuna gibt es zusätzlich in mehreren Farben, wer das will. Manche stören sich daran, dass durchsichtige Cups mit der Zeit unschön bräunlich verfärben können und das sieht man bei farbigen Cups nicht so. Man kann sich bei Verfärbungen mit Gebissreiniger-Tabs behelfen, die auch desinfizieren. Allerdings sieht man die Verfärbungen immernoch deutlich, was speziell beim DivaCup problematisch ist, da die Luftlöcher unterm Rand im Vergleich zu anderen Cups winzig klein sind. Verschmutzungen bekommt man da fast nicht mehr raus. Auch der Schriftzug innen am oberen Rand ist eine Angriffsfläche für Verfärbungen. Aus diesem Grund bevorzuge ich mittlerweile den LadyCup, zumal ich klimakteriumsbedingt eine deutlich schwächere Mens als früher habe und mit dessen geringerem Fassungsvermögen auskomme. Es ist aber eine rein optische Beeinträchtigung, die viele nicht stört. Wenn man zwischen den Größen Diva 1 und 2 schwankt, würde ich bei stärkerer Mens auf jeden Fall die größere Variante wählen, da der Cup so weich ist und beim Einführen und Entfernen kein so großer Unterschied zu spüren ist - anders als bei Yuuki 1 und 2, wo die Variante 2 deutlich größer ist. Diva 1 ist durch die etwas größere Länge beim Entfernen noch leichter zu erreichen. Alles in allem ist der Diva Cup ein qualitativ sehr hochwertiger, gut verarbeiteter Cup, der unter den oben genannten Voraussetzungen auf jeden Fall weiter zu empfehlen ist. Preislich stimmt auch alles. Ich hoffe, dies hilft ein bisschen bei der Entscheidung, welcher Cup der geeignete sein könnte und man muss nicht - wie ich - mehrere ausprobieren, bis man weiß, welcher für einen selbst besser ist. Sie haben alle ihre Vor- und Nachteile. Endeffektlich nehme ich mal den, mal den ... Tipp: auf Youtube gibt es einige Rezensionen zu verschiedenen Cups mit Vergleichen usw. Generell sollte man sich ein paar Zyklen Zeit geben sich an die neue Monatshygiene zu gewöhnen. Viele Nutzerinnen sprechen im Internet von einer Lernkurve bei der Benutzung eines Cups. Ich kann dies aus eigener Erfahrung nur bestätigen. Bei mir hat es ein paar Monate gedauert, bis ich den Dreh raus hatte. Also nicht gleich aufgeben, wenn es nicht sofort klappt.

Very safe and useful. It never leaked and I am saving so much on napkin and no rash and awful smell. Easy to use

Every. Woman. Needs. A . Menstrual. Cup! I needed to make sure that was read clearly because this product has changed my life when it comes to my period! If you're looking into getting one and you're not too sure; trust me on this...GET IT! The first few cycles might be a bit tricky because you have to get used to using it. I didn't "practice" between cycles so you get like 5 days a month to get it, but now it's a breeze. It's cut down on my cramps slightly, but the most important benefit is that I've gone from approximately a 5-7 day period (because there's always a little when you think you're done) down to a 4-5 day! I personally trimmed the stem on this more or less all the way down to the cup because it felt uncomfortable till I hit the right length. It's not cotton so it isn't absorbing your natural fluids, there's no worrying about any smell as the hours tick away, and while changing it takes some getting used to, it's not the end of the world! If you're considering getting this, here's a couple of notes: - be prepared to get to know yourself intimately (and why shouldn't you?!) - if you haven't already, learn where your cervix is/what it looks and feels like/how it actually works - when at work, I keep a water bottle nearby and just fill it up with warm water when I have to go change the cup. This is only really two days of my period when the flow is heaviest, because, for the rest of my cycle, I don't need to change for a full 12 hours. That's right 12, with low risk of TSS because it's medical grade silicone! So I keep a water bottle with me just to rinse it out before I put it back in. If you're too shy to carry a water bottle, don't worry, toilet paper works perfectly fine. I just find water makes it a little easier to re-insert. You can clean it with the Diva Cup cleanser or a mild soap if you don't want to spend the money. And every few months just boil it in hot water to sterilize or boil after every cycle if you're more comfortable with that. Get it. Trust me, your body will thank you!

È davvero lei , unica e sola, la coppetta che cercavo , dopo mesi di prove , video , misurazioni di cervice e tante coppette comprate, avevo perso le speranze ed invece appena Divacup era tornata disponibile su Amazon l’ho presa , l’ho messa e addio perdite. Compratela solo Divacup vi soddisferà.

I had to stop using my cup on doctors advice when I had a coil put in a year ago. Due to non-stop bleeding I’ve had to have it taken out and can now go back to using it. I have tolerated tampons and pads but really dislike them so finding this as a solution is amazing. Personally, I have found it very easy to use, inserting and removing it is perfectly fine but I have no problems learning and knowing my body and it can’t go anywhere so as long as you’re not stressing yourself out and you can hook a finger around the rim to break the seal your okay to go. I’d suggest though that if you have a high cervix to try different brands as some have valves or thinner silicone so that releasing the seal is easier. I only suggest that because unless you have longer fingers you may have to reach a little further and it can be uncomfortable for some. Benefits of using a cup with a lighter or medium flow is that if you can manage 8-12 hours without emptying it, just emptying it in the shower at bedtime and in the morning means no additional messyness. You can freshen up at the same time and because you’re reinserting it straight away towel drying after your shower means you don’t have to either swap to dark towels or have wash them every day for smears. I have used cups for years previously. No dryness or tugging or mess and my periods reduce by between 2 to 3 days due to the negative pressure. I have nearly no pain whatsoever and my first few days achy pressure is pretty much non existent when I use the cup. Again, I think my body just likes the negative pressure and responds positively. £30 for one cup that has previously lasted me 6 years before I stopped using it is pretty good going so I’ve bought the same one again now. Next is to stop using disposable liners on these days and swap to period pants. I will be scouring the internet for some good bargains. Bottom line is I feel so much better with my cup in now, I can’t feel it AT ALL and I feel so much more in control of my monthly’s.