diaphragm help!

[calledmara.livejournal.com]

So I have a diaphragm and have used it fine the first two times. This time it's stuck. It's been in for close to 12 hours now. I can feel the rubber middle, but can't get ahold of the ring. I've tried bearing down and haven't had any luck.

Any suggestions? I'm getting really nervous.

Comments

[happy-texas-mom.livejournal.com]

I once got a tampon stuck (forgot it was in and had sex, so the string ended up in there). I could feel it, but couldn't get a grip on it from the angle from which one is forced to retrieve such things. I had to get my husband to get it for me. I was totally embarrassed, but I kept imagining myself in the ER, and that would be far worse.

Can you get your partner to help you? I'm assuming you have one, or you wouldn't have had the diaphragm in in the first place.

[ridyourselfofme.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I would say get your parnter to take a look. We lost a condom in me once and he was really just at a better angle to get it than I was.

[calledmara.livejournal.com]

yeah, I'm going to have to do that it seems. The only bad thing is that I have a class til 9:45 tonight, so it will be close to 11:00pm by the time I get to his house. At that point it will be well over 24 hours. I've tried everything else!

[kiteless.livejournal.com]

Try squatting while bearing down. Or maybe try in the bath?

[calledmara.livejournal.com]

Our bathtub is unfortunately far too disgusting for me to ever sit in. No luck with the squatting. Thanks for the reply though!

[auroracrystal.livejournal.com]

Try to use your middle finger, if you aren't already, that finger is longer and you might have a better shot with that. And don't forget to remain relaxed, otherwise you are going to tense up for and make removal even harder.

[calledmara.livejournal.com]

I think I have really short fingers! With my middle finger I can feel the ring but can't get a grip.

[3-black-cats.livejournal.com]

Sometimes when my mooncup has worked it's way up pretty high and is hard to reach, I find that squatting down so I'm resting my butt cheeks on my heels really helps to shorten the vagina and makes it easier to reach in there. Maybe that will help retrieve the diaphragm?

Good luck!

[calledmara.livejournal.com]

no luck, but than you for your suggestion!

[3-black-cats.livejournal.com]

Sorry that bit of advice wasn't more useful for you!

I hope everything comes out ok. (Pun intended.) Also, you can visit any doctor or an emergency room, and they can easily help you out with this. It happens all the time, from what I hear, and is no big deal to those in the medical profession. :) Wishing you luck!

[pinkgatorgirl06.livejournal.com]

isnt it unsanitary to use the same diaphragm more than once? I've never used one...enlighten me! lol...i dont even know what they look like!

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Nope! Diaphragms are meant to be reusable. In general, a user might need a new one because of certain changes to her body (weight gain/loss, pelvic surgery, for example). You can check out these links for more information:

Feminist Women's Health Center (http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/diaphram.htm)
Palo Alto Medical Foundation (http://www.pamf.org/teen/sex/birthcontrol/diaphragm.html)
Planned Parenthood (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/birth-control-pregnancy/birth-control/diaphragms-caps-and-shields.htm)

:)

[pinkgatorgirl06.livejournal.com]

ack...looking at the pics and instructions scares me! What is the advantage over a condom or BC?

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Well, different people have different priorities, but I'd imagine the advantages go something like this.

Some women are sensitive to hormones and/or cannot tolerate the side effects that come with HBC. Also, depending on how much they pay per pack, a diaphragm may be less expensive in the long run, though couples using diaphragms are generally instructed to use spermicide with it, so they'd have to keep purchasing that.

As for advantages over condoms, again, diaphragms are reusable while condoms are not. Also, since the diaphragm is inserted inside the vagina, it lets the woman be a little more in "control" of the contraceptive method, if you will. Also, the diaphragm can be inserted up to 2 hours before sex, so it may pose less of an interruption to the act itself.

In addition, diaphragms can be used with other methods, so for some people, it isn't a case of diaphragm or condom/HBC/other contraceptive method but rather, diaphragm plus one of those other methods.

But I'm sure someone who's actually used the method can do a better job of telling you personal benefits she experiences with a diaphragm; these are just my guesses. :)

[amyrebeccah.livejournal.com]

"But I'm sure someone who's actually used the method can do a better job of telling you personal benefits she experiences with a diaphragm; these are just my guesses. :)"

*raises hand* Sorry a day late, but I just thought I'd chime in, since my ilk seem to be rare. I use a diaphragm and condoms. I can't take any hormonal birth control containing estrogen because of family history of blood clots (directly tied to BC). I tried depo-provera and hated it, horrible mood swings and decreased libido. I tried having an IUD inserted, but I've never borne a child and my uterus is too small (this isn't always the case, it just was with me).

Once I was practiced with inserting the diaphragm, it was no trouble at all. In my former relationship, my SO hated the lack of spontaneity that stemmed from it. My current SO of three years doesn't mind it at all, however, and he's happy that I'm so happy with my method. My only drawback is my increased risk of UTIs. Long-run, I think it's worth it and I'd love if I could manage to never need hormonal BC.