Divacup

[nightdrivee.livejournal.com]

My mom is scared for me to try a Diva Cup even after reading the Q&A & Testimonials.

She is worried they aren't safe, sterile, or "the best" and she is going to ask her gyno about them at the end of this month.

In the mean time, has anyone had any NEGATIVE experiences with it?

Comments

[whenautumncried.livejournal.com]

i lost mine.

thats the only negative experience i have had.

[smudgepuss.livejournal.com]

hehe me too! At least I got triple Boots points when buying the replacement!

[asunlitrose.livejournal.com]

You could mention that tampons and pads are not sterile either. There's no risk of TSS, and it's sure a lot safer to use a product that doesn't leave fibers behind in the vagina. They're made of medical grade silicone (stuff that is sometimes put in the body for YEARS) and can be boiled for sterilization. Can the same be said about tampons? Eh, but I'm sure you've already told her all of this.

I haven't heard of any negative experiences, only that some people have trouble at first getting used to insertion and suction. I didn't. Have you checked out menstrual_cups?

[asunlitrose.livejournal.com]

And that first sentence doesn't seem worded right. Tampons and pads are not sterile, and plenty of women (including her I assume) use those. Cups ARE sterile, as I'm sure you know.

[quiltingdragon.livejournal.com]

I don't have one, yet. But I am looking into getting one. I haven't found any negative experiences with it in my research.

Divacups are made of medical grade-silicone, the same stuff that silicone stuff used in hospitals is made of. If they are taken care of properly, they are much more sterile than other options. And pads/tanpons made of toxic chemicals are the best? I don't think so.

I direct you/your mom to www.moonhutnaturals.com - there are lots of reviews of pads/cups/etc. Hopefully your mom will realize that you know what you are talking about! My mom resisted me trying cloth pads for 14 years for the same reasons - sanitation/etc. When she read some of the articles about what is actually IN disposables, she became much more open about it.

[wanderingstars9.livejournal.com]

Actually, I am curious about cloth pads.
So when you have one in, and you go to school or work or somewhere else you are going to be for a long time, where do you put it when it's time to change it? How do those details work? It sounds like a good idea to me but then carrying around a blood-soaked cloth in my purse all day seems like a hassle. Is there a convenient way to handle that?

[sexxyful.livejournal.com]

I love my cup! It's never given me any trouble, and I love how I can leave it for 12 hours and it doesn't dry me out. And you can sterilize your Diva Cup, by putting it in boiling water for 3-5 minutes (but not any longer than that, as it might damage the cup).

[beanrows.livejournal.com]

They are certainly safe and sterile as long as they're cleaned and/or boiled properly, much more so than tampons.

I have had a mostly negative experience with my DivaCup so far because my cervix is only about an inch from my vaginal opening during my period -- the DivaCup pretty much refuses to do anything other than latch onto it. Ow. I'm thinking of trying a Mooncup UK (http://www.mooncup.co.uk/) (not to be confused with this (http://www.keeper.com/aboutmooncup.html) Moon Cup) because it's shorter and has a more rigid rim.

[http://users.livejournal.com/drama_/]

Can I ask what the difference is between the two Mooncups?

[danalea83.livejournal.com]

I love love love mine! I'm so glad I heard about it and got one. I feel soooo much cleaner with the cup than I ever did with tampons. With the cup there's no smell, there's no wrappers and junk to dispose of. Its great. I hope your mom's gyn has some info on them and can help her feel more comfortable about it. I know when my daughter gets her period (she's not even 2, so it will be awhile) I'm going to buy her a cup and explain how to use it.

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

i screwed up with mine (pulled it out too fast without breaking suction) and thus pulled out my IUD. that was totally my fault, but i did blame my diva and 'punish' it for a month by not using it.

[fourwordsapart.livejournal.com]

ouuuch that just sounds like it hurts. did it?

[imindiaunajones.livejournal.com]

No negative experiences at all. Well, I shouldn't quite say that, but most of the only negative experiences stem from me using glycerin lube (angry vagina!) with the cup and causing some mild yeast infections. I love my Diva Cup. I would never, ever trade it for anything...ever. :)

[nephron.livejournal.com]

I don't have any really bad negative experiences, but I've had my Diva for a bit more than a year now and occasionally (every couple of months or so) I can't insert it so it feels comfortable. For that reason, I still keep a stock of pads and tampons.

[cbackson.livejournal.com]

It didn't really work for me--I couldn't ever really get it to fit properly.

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately some people will refuse to believe cups or cloth pads are better (healthwise, financially and environmentally) no matter how much info you give them. Your mum sounds like she may be one of these.

Is there no way you can buy your own cup?

[starthieving.livejournal.com]

It's hard to get used to at first, but no more than tampons. There's a learning curve for everything, but after you get over that (within your first period, most likely) you'll most likely love it.

[cfoxrun.livejournal.com]

My mom wouldn't let me buy a diva cup while I lived at home. She swore up and down it would cause an infection. I just waited till I left for college. No "infection" or anything bad yet lol. I adore my diva.

[sawyerlove.livejournal.com]

I haven't used it yet but I'm getting one soon. My dad wouldn't let me use his credit card to order it and thus, I was screwed. It's my vagina and he has no say what does or does not go in it. Oh, the best part? He told me to do it the "old-fashioned way". Tampons and pads AS WE KNOW THEM are more modern than the cup! I hope your mum lets you try it.

[the-fee-fairy.livejournal.com]

The only negative things i've had happen with my cup (UK Mooncup, which i've had for about a year) are:

1. I failed to clean it properly and gave myself a yeat infection.
2. I dropped it down the loo at work 9took it out and cleaned it in the sink and reinserted it, mind).
3. I lost it completely!
4. i lost the bag.

That's it...

On the positive side:

1. i've spent less money than ever on sanitary products (i use thin cloth pads during the heaviest times because i'm worried about leakage).
2. i have had les syeast infections than ever (only the one mentioned above).
3. My periods have got shorter.
4. My periods have got a lot less crampy, now i only have horrible pain once every 4 months or so, rather than every time.

I spoke to my doctor about it, and she said that they sounded a lot more halthy than using tampons or sanitary towels (napkins/ pads?) and that after looking at the website and getting one for 'medical research purposes' she might end up keeping it...

[brooklebee.livejournal.com]

my biggest problem was learning how to insert it- it hurt a lot at first!

[rockingsheep.livejournal.com]

I've had my Divacup for about 5 months? It took me a day or two to get used to it. No complaints yet. Tampons used to always dry me out.

[tailypo.livejournal.com]

The only negative experience I had was learning to put them in. But I had trouble learning to put tampons in too! I actually never used tampons before the cup because they gave me such trouble -- and a lot of pain! I've used tampons since, but because of all the health risks, it really bothers my boyfriend when I do. He doesn't want me putting poison into my body. :P

Cups don't have the risk of toxic shock syndrome, they are something you can sterilize by boiling or running through the dishwasher (tampons and pads are NOT sterile and you can't sterilize them), and they don't contain the chemicals used in the bleaching of tampons and other cotton products.

[rockstarbob.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiosity, since I've never heard of being able to run menstrual cups through the dishwasher--which cup do you have? The Diva Cup site (http://divacup.com/) (the cup I use) mentions boiling it, but says nothing about the dishwasher.

[ever-abstract.livejournal.com]

I got pregnant and will have to buy a new one after I give birth.

That's the only negative thing I have to say about mine.

Seriously, I love mine. I clean it using very hot water and mild soap. I've never gotten an infection, irritation, etc. After I learned to insert it and after I figured out that it really was OK to trim the stem off it became my best friend. I love it. I feel so much better about my body and my cycle since using it. Tampons aren't sterile, or particularly safe.

[nightdrivee.livejournal.com]

CONGRATS ON BABY!

[burntbuffalo.livejournal.com]

I really love my divacup. I've only had it for 2 cycles, but I packed up all my old tampons and pads after the 3rd day of the first one because I never wanted to touch them again. I now have my cup and a stock of homemade cloth pads, and I have found I've gotten a better respect for my body and cycle now. It might sound silly, but it is actually a very empowering feeling because I know I'm doing something much more healthful for myself and for the Earth. My mom turned up her nose at the idea of the cloth pads, but she had no objections to the cup (I'm 21 and am staying at home between college and job so I'm probably in a different boat than you are).

I know you weren't looking for the good stuff, but a lot of women have reported a similar feeling of empowerment, and that's very important.

My worst experience was user error and my cup didn't fully open so I leaked, but I had expected it and had a pad as back up so I was fine.

[angelicalangie.livejournal.com]

No problems, no soreness of being dried out like Tampons managed, no rubbing like with pads. I am healthier and a lot happier.

And you would have thought considering the history of menstrual cups (centuries of use, in one shape or form) that healthcare proffesionals would know about it. But it just goes to show how little menstruation has been talked about (whole taboo thing) I can completely understand how, when the whole taboo broke down, companies who advertised in 'hygenic' and 'cleanly' and disposable products took advantage in the lack of knowledge. Its a shame that, really it is

[mizzpyx.livejournal.com]

Negatives:

It took me a couple of months to get used to putting it in and taking it out. But even then, I've never had leakage problems or anything like that. (I have a Mooncup UK, btw. I love it!)

Once while we were painting the house, someone spilled paint cleaner on it, so I had to buy a new one and use tampons while I was waiting for it to come in the mail. Using tampons after a year with a cup is no fun at all- really made me realise how much I loved my cup!


Positives:

Not only is it cheaper, but my vag has been far, far healthier since I started using the Mooncup! Before, I was very, very prone to yeast infections. I'd get one almost every month, and they'd take a long time to get better. I've been using the cup for 2 1/2 years now, and in that time I've had.. two YIs. That's one a year, as opposed to one a month.

As well as not getting YIs all the time, with the mooncup I just feel so much.. better. It doesn't dry me out like tampons did. It doesn't feel so chafe-y to put in- it goes in smoothly.

In terms of cleaning and sterilisation, the cup is FAR better than other kinds of menstrual products, because you can boil it. I wash mine with soapy water and rinse well every day when I'm using it, and then every month I boil it for ten minutes, which sterilises it completely.

[maggiewatchie.livejournal.com]

I have major UTI issues. At first, when inserting and removing took a little more time and pulling/pushing, I would get UTIs. Also, if I don't get it positioned just right, it presses on my bladder. So I only use it on heavy days. But it's far better than tampons!

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

I'm very interested in someday using the cup I have, but the major negative experience I've had with it so far is that I've never been stretched with anything more than a couple of fingers and that sucker just won't get in there. I suspect there'll have to be a slightly bloody experience for that to happen, and it's just not worth it at the moment.

[metalkprtty1day.livejournal.com]

I don't know that you'll end up with a 'bloody experience'. My vagina had seen no action other than tampons before I started using my diva, and I had no problems with insertion. That said, I can understand your being hesitant. It's possible that my lack of trouble is because I may not have had a hymen anyway. (sorry if that's tmi) You know, exercising and the like can take care of the whole hymen thing before a penis ever gets involved. :P Also, some girls aren't even born with them. And even if you do still have yours (and I may still have mine), my understanding is that hymens are of a rather stretchy nature.

If you're not comfortable, of course, don't try and force it. Being nervous certainly isn't going to help the insertion process anyway, but as for me, my experience was super easy. (So just in case you were in want of a success story.)

Anyway, in response to the original posting, I LOVE my diva....wouldn't give it away for the world. No bad experiences here.

[halfling-rogue.livejournal.com]

I know this is kind of outdated, but thought I'd put my two cents in anyway.

The only problems I've ever had with my Diva was a) I'm pretty sure I broke my hymen while inserting it once. Which wasn't really a problem, but it hurt for a while.

b) It sometimes leaks a little bit. Mind, I get ridiculously heavy periods, and said leakage only tends to happen on my heaviest days while I'm sleeping (I also sleep for long periods of time; if I can convince myself to get up in the middle of the night and empty it, there's no problem). Wearing a panty liner can easily fix this problem.

c) ...I forget I'm wearing it sometimes. Thankfully you can wear the cup for long periods of time without having to worry about much else except overflowing (on heavy days), but you're technically not supposed to leave it in for longer than... I think it's eight hours? Regardless, I sometimes have to leave reminders for myself to empty it.