I don't know if my cup popped open....

[kathy182.livejournal.com]

So this is my first period with a Diva Cup....Yay!

I usually get my period on wednesdays (I'm on Alesse and it almost always comes wenesday or thursday) Last night I put it in just for a trial run and it was great, I didn't really have problems putting it in or taking it out.

Tonight I put it in as I am about to go to sleep because I don't know if my period will be there when I wake up (I kind of want it to be so I can deal with cleaning and reinserting it at home rather than fussing at work!.  But anyway, I'm not sure if the cup popped open. And I know I am supposed to rotate it one full turn and I think I did but I couldn't really feel it moving, and it wasn't a fast turn it was kind of resistant. Also I keep pinching myself with my nails! And they aren't even really long! but ow!

So basically how do I know if it is popped open? am I supposed to feel it turning AND how to I stop nicking myself with my nails?!

Comments

[pinkdagger.livejournal.com]

I could never get my Diva to turn, or get my finger far enough to feel where the rim of the cup was. What I do instead is bear down once the cup gets into place so that I can grab at the base of the cup and give it a tug (without bearing down). If it comes right out, it's obvious it hasn't popped open all the way, but if there's resistance, I know the seal/suction has formed. Unfortunately, I have no advice on the nail front. I have long nails, but I think I've just gotten used to maneuvering the cup with them so they tend to not get in the way. It's when my nails are short that I encounter problems. :P

[kathy182.livejournal.com]

yeah they are a medium length and I am able to masturbate, use tampons ect without problems so I guess it's about maneuvering around the cup. Thanks

[https://users.livejournal.com/-rainbow-bright/]

I've never been able to turn my diva cup, but I can feel it pop. It just took a couple (three I think) cycles before I was able to really know. Most of the time it takes 10 or so minutes after I get up to pop and then there's this "pop" in my vagina and I know I'm good to go. Rarely do I get it to seal upon insertion. It takes patience. I got it in the summer, and this is the first cycle where I've had no leaks at all. But, it was SO worth the trial and error. If it wasn't for the cramps I would completely forget my period existed with this thing :)

[kathy182.livejournal.com]

oh okay, I'll need to buy some liner until I'm sure. thanks

[https://users.livejournal.com/-rainbow-bright/]

yeah, that's what I did. It's not like i leaked excessively or anything, it just wasn't as perfect as it is now.

[oopsiedaisies7.livejournal.com]

I've got a diva, and when it 'pops', I usually get a really weird and distinctive feeling. Kind of like being punched, but it's not really painful. I never turn my cup once it's in, but I put my finger up there and feel the sides of the cup. If they're indented, it hasn't popped; if it feels round, then it has popped.

[kuradi8.livejournal.com]

I have never been able to spin a cup as per the directions.

I let the cup open while it's still fairly low, only "mostly" inserted. Then I nudge the stem so the opening points to my cervix and kegel the cup into place. That way I know it's open and theoretically will wind up in the right place. Since using that method, I haven't had any leaking problems -- either because the cup wasn't open all the way or because it was misplaced.

If you haven't already, carefully poke the anti-suction holes around the rim with something like a toothpick. They are notorious for not having been punched all the way through at the factory. If they are all open, it will make popping and removal a little easier.

Have you been to the Cups List yet? http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/

[airenwoodmoon.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I can feel when my Diva has popped open, and that's usually when it does pop with a little violence and I can feel it, and other times I have no clue. I use the punch down and fold method (punch down one edge halfway and then fold like doing a c-fold) and I've noticed that if I squeeze the bottom of the cup once I get it in I can tell if it hasn't popped open yet.

That said there will be times I still can't get a seal, and it's resistant to rotating with or without the seal. So the final thing I look for is to see if I'm comfortable moving around- bending, stretching, walking- and if I'm not, it's not in the right place. Because I have an oddly tilted vagina it seems like (tilts to the left), if it's not in place and open it'll pinch the right wall of my vagina.

And there are some days where it seems I'm too stupid to get it right, and some days where it does it perfectly. I always wear a light cloth pad in case it leaks (I got used to this with tampons because no matter what they always leaked).

As for the nails I always clip my index and thumbnails on my right hand so I don't pinch or scratch myself fussing around with the cup. But I also play guitar so I don't worry about having perfect or even length nails. One hand is always long and the other is chopped short. :D Hope that helps.