Real embarrassing question

[Yasmin]

Dear hubby/husband.

Sorry....I thought it stood for "D...head". I've been exposed to Australian humour too long.

[Yasmin]

It's unlikely you'll find them in local shops, everyone I know has bought theirs online.

The Instead cups are not a durable device meant to last, I know some women who can reuse it several times but they rarely last more than a full period if they get that far. The Diva/Moon/Keeper cups will easily last several years, they are warranted for 10 but I can imagine with care and not doing things like leaving it in a car on a hot day it would probably last indefinately.

Also, the Instead's don't hold as much capacity, and some people experience discomfort with them because of the way they ride right against the cervix (as opposed to the other menstrual cups which ride lower in the canal and do not touch the cervix). One of the big advertising points of the Instead is being able to engage in intercourse without, erm, offending Mr. P, which I disagree with on so many levels.** Not to mention, Instead is an expensive disposable product which is not biodegradable since it is made of plastic.

**This kind of advertising just sends the message that menstrual flow is "dirty" and must be hidden from our sexual partners. My opinion is that if he can't handle a little construction dust then he should either stay off the worksite or wear a hardhat.

I agree. If we handle what comes from their (male) bodies, then they should be "grown-up" enough to handle what comes from ours. After all, it is the nutritional source for potential embryos.Can't believe that the executives at "Instead" actually print that. Sounds like someone on the executive committee has a problem with it.

[zoom-zoom]

OK, I haven't read the entire thread, but I, too, have had the tampon string irritation issue. It's really annoying.

So since my first century ride is in 2 days I picked up a box of Instead Softcups. They're a little uncomfortable to insert and remove (because the ring is such relatively hard and stiff plastic), but seem to work really well and I don't feel it at all once it's in.

But they aren't cheap and I hate how wasteful they are, so I think I will be looking at a washable menstrual cup in the near future. I also have VERY short cycles (22-23 days) lasting 10 days, so I'm sick and tired of buying box after box of "plugs" (cannot wait for menopause...because of this and endometriosis symptoms since puberty that were officially diagnosed when I was 30).

My question...I have a very tilted uterus and weirdly angled and pretty sensitive/delicate cervix--it always bleeds and feels tender after I have my yearly pap.

Is there a particular menstrual cup that would likely work best for me?

[OakLeaf]

I'd say you're better with a Diva Cup (silicone) than a Keeper (harder natural latex). Those are the only two I tried. The Keeper worked better for me, but then the dog ate it and I couldn't find a new one locally.

[zoom-zoom]

That would be my guess, too.

[Catrin]

I'd say you're better with a Diva Cup (silicone) than a Keeper (harder natural latex). Those are the only two I tried. The Keeper worked better for me, but then the dog ate it and I couldn't find a new one locally.

The dog ATE it? Of course he didn't know what it was and they will eat anything...

I am so glad I had that surgery two years ago and don't have to worry about this any longer

[channlluv]

Kirsten, I have a tilted uterus, too, and I've used the Diva cup with success. The only time I've ever had it fail on me was after a swim workout one day, I went to lie down on the bench in the steam sauna and the shift to a horizontal position on my back made it spill or something...whatever, I felt the gush and sure enough, it had emptied. Luckily, I was on a dark towel.

The only other problem I've had with it is the little knobby thing at the bottom that serves as a handle. It pokes me uncomfortably and I've read on this forum that some women clip it off, but I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to get the thing out if I did that. Opinions, ladies? Do those of you who have clipped off the little knobby handle thing have trouble inserting or removing the Diva Cup?

Roxy

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I am so glad I had that surgery two years ago and don't have to worry about this any longer

Some days I am THISCLOSE to going and having everything taken out. But they'd have to take my ovaries out to control my endo...and at 37 I am too young to be thrown suddenly into menopause...and HRT scares me. Plus I sometimes feel like my uterus is all that is holding my bladder in place.

[zoom-zoom]

Kirsten, I have a tilted uterus, too, and I've used the Diva cup with success. The only time I've ever had it fail on me was after a swim workout one day, I went to lie down on the bench in the steam sauna and the shift to a horizontal position on my back made it spill or something...whatever, I felt the gush and sure enough, it had emptied. Luckily, I was on a dark towel.

The only other problem I've had with it is the little knobby thing at the bottom that serves as a handle. It pokes me uncomfortably and I've read on this forum that some women clip it off, but I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to get the thing out if I did that. Opinions, ladies? Do those of you who have clipped off the little knobby handle thing have trouble inserting or removing the Diva Cup?

Roxy

Good to hear that you like it. I, too, have read of women cutting the stem--for the same reason. But I'd also be concerned that it would be tough to remove.

[OakLeaf]

The only other problem I've had with it is the little knobby thing at the bottom that serves as a handle. It pokes me uncomfortably and I've read on this forum that some women clip it off, but I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to get the thing out if I did that. Opinions, ladies? Do those of you who have clipped off the little knobby handle thing have trouble inserting or removing the Diva Cup?

Roxy

I cut most of it off and left maybe 1/4". It was no problem. Don't know how it would've been with less, though.

[OakLeaf]

I agree. If we handle what comes from their (male) bodies, then they should be "grown-up" enough to handle what comes from ours. After all, it is the nutritional source for potential embryos.Can't believe that the executives at "Instead" actually print that. Sounds like someone on the executive committee has a problem with it.

Well, there's no comfortable way someone could put a penis in a vagina when there's already a Diva Cup or Keeper in there. Plus it would dislodge the cup and be messier than if you weren't using anything.

Honestly, the older I got, the less I wanted to clean blood off sheets or towels, or get up immediately after sex to clean up and put my menstrual product back in/on. It wasn't the man's choice at all.

On light days I often used my cervical cap. Smaller and more comfortable than the larger cups, compatible with vaginal intercourse, and reusable. (Plus, hormone free, long-lasting effective birth control.)

This is all behind me now, but it hasn't been so long ago that I don't remember.

[badger]

since I'd never had one before, my first Diva Cup was uncomfortable. I cut all the nubby thing off, and I never had a problem getting it out - you just have to bear down a bit and quite a bit of it comes out so you just pull on it.

The second cup I got is much better (I cut off most of the nub on it, too). Not sure why, but I often had leak problems with the first one, and never with the second. I guess my first was a dud, but I used it for over 5 years.

[trista]

I used the Diva for quite awhile. I did cut the end off completely. It's not hard to get out. You just stick your finger in there to break the suction and bear down to shove it out.

I got the Mirena IUD about 18 months ago and haven't had a period in about a year

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I got the Mirena IUD about 18 months ago and haven't had a period in about a year

I've wanted to try this, but our IC won't cover this under any circumstances, so I'm afraid I'd hate it and be out $500. I don't generally do well with hormonal stuff, anyhow. Even the Nuvaring gave me unpleasant side-effects (primarily ZERO libido).

[trista]

I've wanted to try this, but our IC won't cover this under any circumstances, so I'm afraid I'd hate it and be out $500. I don't generally do well with hormonal stuff, anyhow. Even the Nuvaring gave me unpleasant side-effects (primarily ZERO libido).

The reason I chose Mirena over Nuvaring is because (from what I understand) Nuvaring's hormones enter the bloodstream; Mirena's [usually] stay localized to the uterus.