'small' vagina and keeper/instead troubles

[unearthlyfaerie.livejournal.com]

So, a while back I used to post to VP regarding my frequent troubles in removing insteads... No matter WHAT I did, they exploded as soon as i tried to remove them. (explode in the gush of blood-before-the-instead-was-nearly-out type) It never occured to me that the problem might be the size of my vagina. My theory is, that removal is SO messy due to there being absolutely no where for the blood to go as i'm removing the cup. There's barely enough room for me to pull it out comfortably. I just bought a keeper last week, and, I know if takes practise to insert, but i can't even get in in at all. It's almost as if i'm a child trying to put a large triangle block into a small square hole. I'm going to keep trying at it, but i don't see how it's possibly going to fit.

Now, I haven't, as of this time, ever had any vaginal-type experiences with anyone but myself soo... I have no idea if i truely am 'smaller than normal'. I haven't had sex in over 6 months, and even when i did, it was usually VERY painful. Perhaps if there are any other people out there with such problems, we should band together and create some sort of keeper applicator. (if there was some sort of rounded point, it might work a little easier)

of course, all of this might just be somehow related to my giant fibroid tumor, but, well, hopefully not.

thank you for reading!

Comments

[balmofgilead.livejournal.com]

sometimes it's easier to get keepers in if you fold them differently...it's hard to explain, the best way is to join the yahoo! group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheKeeper/, and in their "photos" section, go to the picture of "insertion"...there's this thing they call the "7-fold" that can make it easier to get in...

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

That's why I can't use them at all. My arthritis makes holding the fold impossible. But I love my Insteads.

(The original poster's biggest issue, though, seems to be with feeling too small for them. I'd wonder if tipping the Instead cup towards the back as she pulls it out, or rather, guiding the open side up along the front of the labia would help, allowing the blood to run out the back.)

[unearthlyfaerie.livejournal.com]

thank you, i'm still trying to mess around with it and trying to see if i can do it another way. I still use them despite the mess and the leakage. I've tried tipping it, but really, as soon as i even touch it to bring it out, lower it from the pelvic bone.. splish slash everywhere! I don't mind too much, it's kinda fun. It would just be easier to avoid it sometimes.

(i am in super crazy heavy first few periods while having a 5 month (due to fibriod) though, so it's filling up amazingly fast and constantly leaking. I think i might just be doomed)

and thank you, i always recognize you here on VP and you're just so helpful and informative! (aka, you rock)

[unearthlyfaerie.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I'll look at the photos as soon as i'm (hopefully) accepted for membership. Regardless, i'm not giving up with my keeper before my 3 months is up!

[puttysan.livejournal.com]

I've never used the Keeper, but I've tried Insteads, and they were always very uncomfortable. I would actually cramp up as they pushed against my body from the inside, and I've never been able to wear them for long. I don't remember issues about making a mess removing, but I was on the Pill at the time and my periods were really light.

I know I have a smaller vagina though, and I've always attributed the pain to that.

[ourika.livejournal.com]

One way to see if the Keeper is really too small to fit into your vagina or if you're having problems with the fold "popping" open before you've got it in would be to fold it tightly and measure around it with a string. Then, if you can fit something that doesn't have a "pop" of that inside your vagina, the problem may be with holding the Keeper? (Maybe measure around the outside of the folded Instead with the string and see what the size difference is... it hasn't seemed that much of a difference to me, but I've never actually measured it.)

As far as Instead goes, I love them, but they are always messy (for me) to take out. It's because that when I "hook" my finger under to pull it out, it pushes all the blood up and over the edge. Also, it's got to become refolded to get back out, which pushes the blood over the edge (again, this is how it works for me, at least.) With the Keeper, once you manage to get it in, this mess won't be as bad (at least it won't be once you've gotten used to it, my experience was that I made a mess during the "getting a hang of it" phase!)

[mooseloon.livejournal.com]

i use insteads, and, if i tilt my hips forwards when i pee and squeeze i can empty out most of the instead by just squeezing it internally. Somtimes it takes a bit - especiaslly if my flow is particuarly thick. You may want to try this - its also helpful when you're flow is heavy, as you dont have to change it nearly that often - you just go and "pee" it out. As you're not taking it *out* you're not contaminating it with outside germs. You may want to poke a finger in there after you're done to make sure its slid back into place - sometimes i'll dislodge mine to the point where it needs a little readjustment. This - imo is actually one of the coolest aspect of insteads.