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.

[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.

[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).

[asunlitrose.livejournal.com]

And this is the last time I'm adding on I PROMISE, but I hope your mom's gyno knows something about cups, and doesn't dismiss them outright. A lot of gynos, usually the more old school types, still know absolutely nothing about them and have the same misconceptions your mom has. That would suck.

[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.

[beachbanshee.livejournal.com]

My gyno had only briefly heard about them. I gave her the diva cup website and she was going to look into it. She is about 35.

[remey.livejournal.com]

yar. my mom made me call the gyno to ask about the cup, and they had never heard of it. :/ so, she has to do some looking around before she lets me buy one...

[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.

[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. :)

[fourwordsapart.livejournal.com]

ouuuch that just sounds like it hurts. did it?

[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.

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

yeah, it wasn't great. would've been better if i had managed to pull it out entirely and not have it hanging out of my cervix for a few hours. here's my story about it: http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/526803.html

and i'll add my standard disclaimer here: this was ENTIRELY my fault and does not have to happen to you, you can successfully use both a mirena and a reusable menstrual cup, you just need to be more careful than i was.

[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.

[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?

[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...

[portiasreign.livejournal.com]

If you're interested in cloth pads, check out the community called cloth_pads. There's tons of info in the memories and the ladies there don't mind answering anything. Most people carry a wetbag when they're out (i use a waterproof makeup bag that i got for free with a makeup purchase). They put used pads in there and then soak them when they get home. It is a little more work, but most of us in that group are VERY happy with cloth and wouldn't dream about going back to disposables. If it's too much of a hassle to have a wetbag and stuff, some people just use cloth at night and at home.

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

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

[brooklebee.livejournal.com]

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