monthly flow 'quantity' and diva cup

[allinyerhead.livejournal.com]

OK, so I was wondering what the average REAL woman's monthly flow was, measurement wise...Ive always kind of considered myself 'heavy flow' for the first few days, especially since I have PCOS, and I don't get it every month..but when it rains..it pours...
So I have my diva cup, and was reading the insert, the diva cup holds 1 oz and it appears that 'average' amount of fluid lost in a cycle is about one ounce...well...heavy d over here managed to fill up 4 diva cups in about 2 days...is this typical for someone with PCOS? I mean sheesh, I feel like I should probably go on a warewolf diet with all that iron ive lost1

Comments

[ninabrujaha.livejournal.com]

I don't have PCOS (to my knwoledge, at least) and I fill up my mooncup at least 4 times in 2 days, as well. I feel like that would be a very light or short period to only lose one cupful per period.

[onlyforever10.livejournal.com]

Okay, personally, I've always thought those "average" period blood loss statistics were shit. I have (well, had, before my Mirena IUD) a fairly normal period flow - definitely wouldn't consider it heavy by any means - and I've filled up way than one Diva cup full per cycle. Maybe half a cup or so a day on average over four or five days? Maybe a little more on the 2nd or 3rd day.

[nickelshoe.livejournal.com]

I use a small Keeper Moon Cup, which has a smaller capacity than a Diva Cup, but I can fill it in an hour on my heaviest day. Usually not for several consecutive hours, but still. At least six changes a day the first couple days. I never feel weak on my period, so I've never really worried about iron, personally.

[archangelbeth]

If you ever have fatigue issues -- and I say this as a minor fanatic akin to the whole thyroid thing -- do get a ferritin test. It's like pre-anemia, and a friend of mine was getting various tests and found out she had it. It doesn't get caught by anemia tests normally; she was donating blood and no one knew! So I asked for a test, and what do you know, I was below the normal range -- and for a normal range that goes from like 10-200 or so, that's saying something! (I'm a vegetarian, so it's understandable I'd need more iron than my multivitamin was giving, I guess -- but my friend is perfectly carnivorous omnivorous...)

And, much as I had to ask for a thyroid test, I had to ask for a ferritin test. It just boggles me how many doctors go, "Fatigue? You must not exercise enough." O:p

[nickelshoe.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I just went in for an obstetrical screening this week, and was happy to hear the lab technician tell me one of the vials of blood was for thyroid testing. So I will make sure to ask my numbers, but I'm glad it's part of my OB's routine testing.

So technically I haven't been getting periods at all for a while, and I eat my share of beef, but I will keep ferritin in mind if I do have trouble after I have periods again. I know my mom was diagnosed with anemia around my age, so it's something I should think about.

[allinyerhead.livejournal.com]

yes! this! yeh, i dont exercise enough because everytime I stand I faint due to loss of blood, so thanks doc!
its always funny too when they tell you that YOURE the one thats overweight...meanwhile they are more overweight than you!

[kuradi8.livejournal.com]

The good thing about the Diva is that it has a couple of measuring lines on the side. If I'm not mistaken, the first line is 7.5ml. The second line is 15ml. Guesstimate if you go beyond it. Chart your cycles. Write down the time and how much was in it each time you empty it. Keep track for a couple of months. Then ask your doctor about it. It might just be "normal for you." Or it might indicate an issue. S/He will probably recommend HBC to minimize or regulate your flow. Google your options beforehand and take it from there.

For comparison, my average is about 58ml, which is just under two ounces.

[knox-y.livejournal.com]

On my heaviest days (usually about 2) I will fill a Diva Cup every 3 hours. If I don't change it I leak after about 3 1/4 hours. The rest of my period is fairly light. I could probably get away with only changing it once or twice for the rest of it (3-4 days).

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

These (http://community.livejournal.com/vaginapagina/19384517.html) are my compiled numbers, but I don't pretend my uterus is "average" in terms of menstrual flow. I don't pretend that my uterus has even ever looked at "average" with a telescope. :P

[hairballsplat.livejournal.com]

i don't have PCOS...but my hormones are messed up. i can fill my lg diva in under an hour...usually about an hour though on flood days. my avg when i kept track when i first got my diva was between 180-240ml per period. i eat lots of cream of wheat, shredded wheat cereal, meatloaf and hamburgers before and during my period...along with Vit. C to help with absorption.

[saraf3m.livejournal.com]

Since I got a copper buddy my period has extended from ~4-6day to ~7-10 days

I have heavier days 2-4 and can easily fill my cup 1-2x each day/night (which alone is ~2-4 oz in just those 2 days)

1 fl oz (US) = 29.57353 ml (SI), my menstrual cup holds 29-31 ml

Bear in mind that average also takes into account those on hbc, just starting/ending menstruation and often based on polls which are not mandatory to provide info, even if from a diverse pool.

Also, there's an advantage for cuppers (cup users) for visual measurement of menstruation then for other methods like cloth/regular pads...

For those who use tampons and want to give measures:

Light tampon holds ~4-6ml
Regular tampon holds ~6-9ml
Super tampon holds ~9-12ml
and Super Plus holds ~12-15ml

This will vary by brand, check your box to be more exact

(I only mention this because I used tampons before my copper buddy and could easily spend $20-30/mo between tampons and back up pads...)