When you fold the Divacup, are you doing the double fold that they show you on the website, where you just fold it in half, and then in half again? I have never gotten that style of folding to work.

I learned this "7 fold" from another forum:


This way there is only one edge that you have to sneak in there. The vaginal canal has a tight muscle encircling it near the entrance, and then it opens up further in. The trick is getting the top rim of the cup past the pelvic floor muscle before it unfurls. Also, try to hold onto it so that it doesn't unfurl so abruptly, man that hurts!

The way I insert it:
1. Be in a squatting/spreaded position. I can't get my cup in when I'm standing, I have to be squatting. Once you are more confident in your cup skills you can do this right on the toilet, but if there's any danger of dropping it I suggest you practice away from the toilet. A relatively discreet way to do this in a public restroom is to bend forward at the waist and stick your booty out, this achieves the squatting effect without actually squatting in the stall.
2. Use the non-cupholding hand to spread yourself apart a little.
3. Use lube on the cup if you are dry.
4. Make a conscious effort to relax your pc muscle as you're inserting the cup. Remember, if your jaw is clenched the other end clenches too!
5. Insert the cup and keep it folded until it is close to the proper depth.
6. Gently loosen your fingers and let it open. Wiggle it around to make sure it has sucked in enough air to fully unfurl so that it isn't suctioning your cervix.
7. Rotate it 1/2 turn to ensure it is seated and won't leak. Sometimes I'll finish off with a kegel.

Removal:
1. Push down as if you're pooping it out. A friend from another forum always says "Check out my mad birthin' skills, yo!".
2. When the tip approaches the outside, pinch the base of the cup to break the suction. Make sure the suction is broken!
3. Carefully and slowly pull it out, I find that a slight twisting/wiggling motion works well.

Lastly, you may find a MoonCup to be more comfortable. I heard that DivaCup improved their cup design to make them softer and more flexible, but the DivaCup that I owned and used for a year (purchased in spring 2004) was considerably stiff and hard. Also, the MoonCup is a little bit shorter and that seems to work better with my anatomy.

Hope this helps.