Menstrual Cup (Part II) - Page 9

eww · 08-06-2008, 07:13 PM

Well the instead cup is different. Are you sure you had it in right? Maybe it had to do with sperm getting up your urinary tract? I use a diaphragm for pregnancy prevention, have for years, and have never had a UTI that was caused by the diaphragm. Plenty of other things caused them though. From uncomfy undies to thrush to what have you. But not the diaphragm, so I'm not really sure what to tell you. Does the Instead Cup come into contact with your urethra? I don't think it does. Hm. Interesting. I'll have to ponder that for a bit.

Stacie M · 08-06-2008, 07:56 PM

So, I have had my Diva Cup for several months now and thought an update was due...

After my initial trial run, I completely trimmed the tail off, because it would poke out of me. Aside from that, it is much more comfortable than tampons ever were for me. I still occasionally use a tampon when in a pinch, but generally spend the next few hours whining about how uncomfortable tampons are.

So, my nice story of what my Diva Cup held up to... I went to Kings Island (amusement park) on Monday. My cycle was close to being over, but I was definitely still bleeding (NOT just spotting). I knew there would be a good chance that I would be getting wet from rides, I would be walking a lot, and I would be wearing it a long time. A tampon was not an option. So I put in my Diva Cup and went off to have a good time. I rode a ridiculous amount of rides (more than my 28 year old body could handle, I look like I got beat up LOL), including water rides and some wicked roller coasters. I had no leaks, no discomfort, and was thrilled that I didn't have to pack a few tampons around with me all day! I ended up wearing it longer than recommended (about 14 hours), but still had no trouble.

I have been very interested in comparing the absorbency of tampons to the amount the Diva Cup can hold since I first bought it. So, here is what I came up with (if I am wrong, please correct me).

Here are the standard measures for Tampax Pearl Tampons:
Light: less than 6 grams
Regular: 6-9 grams
Super: 9-12 grams
Super Plus: 12-15 grams

Why tampon absorbencies are in weight (grams) I do not know, but here is my breakdown... Blood has a density of 1060 grams per liter, and a liter contains 33.81 fluid ounces. So, blood would weigh about 31 grams per fluid ounce. That means, the Diva Cup can hold about twice (or slightly more) the amount of blood as a Super Plus tampon, or over three times the amount of a regular tampon. Definitely food for thought...

Mariela · 08-06-2008, 08:38 PM

Stacie,

Thanks for those equivalences!

I am also thrilled with my cup, I find myself very relaxed now when af is close as I just stick the cup in and forget about the whole checking and waiting and all those things.

I'd never go back to tampons.

calmwaters · 08-07-2008, 02:30 AM

Mariela - I do the same thing! It's so nice not to have to be vigilant about my period anymore.

Stacie- Thanks for the math, that's interesting to me... Now, what about those who have said they used to have a heavy fow with pads or tampons but their flow seems to be less with the cup? hmmmmm, interesting.

Stacie M · 08-07-2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calmwaters

Mariela - I do the same thing! It's so nice not to have to be vigilant about my period anymore.

Stacie- Thanks for the math, that's interesting to me... Now, what about those who have said they used to have a heavy fow with pads or tampons but their flow seems to be less with the cup? hmmmmm, interesting.

My guess is, it seemed much heavier with a tampon/pad, because you would be changing them much more frequently. If you bleed 1 ounce in a 12 hour period, you may have to change a super tampon (9-12 grams) up to 4 times in that time frame to deal with the blood. Just my guess though...

Jenn29456 · 08-14-2008, 10:28 PM

Hey Ladies,

So it is my third cycle with the "Diva Cup".

Even though sometimes I "Leak" days 2&3, because of heavy flow. Which I am fully prepared for with a back up pad! I feel so much "CLEANER" with this then I EVER did with ANY pad! The hole idea of going to the bathroom and not having Menstral flow on my fat thighs is an awesome thing lol. Plus it doesnt get on the toilet seat. UGH, I had no idea what I was missing.

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT, and this is from a heavy user!

aimes16 · 08-15-2008, 09:49 PM

I'm the same way, Jenn! After four or five cycles, I am so sorry that I didn't find it years ago. It is fabulous, and I don't have to wear pads ever, and I used to with tampons. This is definitely better for my body.

One question for users, though. Is your period lasting longer since you changed to the cup? I have gone from 3-4 day periods to 5-7 days. I'm thinking that I still have a couple of light days that I count now since I use the cup, and I may not have considered them more than spotting days before? It's weird because I've always had pretty short periods, and I don't mind because the cup is so easy to use.

LaJaCynthia · 08-15-2008, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aimes16

Is your period lasting longer since you changed to the cup? I have gone from 3-4 day periods to 5-7 days.

Yup--from 4 days, tops, to 6 or 7, I've used the cup for the last 3 cycles. I almost rescheduled my hsg when af just wouldn't wrap it up, that was frustrating, but 7 days is still not that bad.

sapphirepl · 08-16-2008, 03:27 AM

I've found that it's actually SLIGHTLY shorter with the cup.
When I was 17 and first started using tampons instead of just pads, I noticed that the tampons seemed to make it shorter, too.

Italian Friend · 08-16-2008, 08:00 PM

hi! you can tell another 4 weeks passed beacuse you can here find my post THANKING CALMWATERS for introducing me to the cup!!!!

no way i'll turn back to pads/tampons, i feel so much cleaner and "periodless" lol!!

Stacie! your calculation is great! but i guess we should correct with a "x" coefficent the blood because i guess af blood is heavier since we have still a part of mucus.. i know. i'm such a scientific nerd sometimes..dont be too hard with me

aimes16: even though i really live my af days in a easier way since i discovered the cup, i can say the days of actual "use" of it are more than the days of actual use of pads/tampons. i guess is because i add the really low flow/spotting to the af days since i use tha cup (much more comfy) while i wasnt counting it with pads since i was using panty liner (is it the right word? you know, the tiny pads for everyday..). does this make sense in english?

eww · 08-17-2008, 07:24 PM

Makes sense in English Italian Friend! I'd say I use it more than I would pads or tampons too. Simply because it's not a PITA and I can up it in if I suspect AF will show up or for light spotting days.

calmwaters · 08-18-2008, 02:43 AM

Ditto gals! I used to have spotting days before and after my periods which I wouldn't use anything for, now I use the cup as soon as I notice spotting and while I don't consider them period days, the overall experience of having my period *seems* longer. I do, however, believe the actual flow days are fewer! I spot for 2 days prior which before the cup I would think nothing of, and have a 3-4 day period (which used to be 4-6 days) and another day of two of spotting. The spotting does seem be a sizable amount in the cup, so I don't know if it is true menstrual flow or not. I don't think so. I've never worn the cup on a regular non-period day, but I imagine there would be an equal amount of clear vaginal discharge on a daily basis as there is tan tingled fluid on my spotting days. IDK?

So happy so many of us have found menstrual freedom!! YAYYYYY!!!!!!

Does anyone bother to keep track of their periods? Here is a free website with which to do so: http://www.mymonthlycycles.com/?referrer=ggl_tmc_4

battlingPCOS · 08-18-2008, 06:37 PM

I love my Divacup too! So much better for the environment and for our bodies than tampons! I have a question, though. It leaked a couple times, because I didn't have a seal. I know you are supposed to twist it, once inserted, but I can't. It just doesn't move for me. Suggestions?

novachick · 08-18-2008, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by battlingPCOS

I love my Divacup too! So much better for the environment and for our bodies than tampons! I have a question, though. It leaked a couple times, because I didn't have a seal. I know you are supposed to twist it, once inserted, but I can't. It just doesn't move for me. Suggestions?

Totally---twisting does NOT work for me, either. Someone else on here suggested just pushing out from the cup with your finger, into you. That gives it more room to expand/allows more air in to create the seal. Roomie and I are both on the "run finger around the cup while pushing outwards" quick-fix for non-fully-inflated cups. Works every time for both of us.

Quick point #2: If your cup doesn't feel like an inflated balloon, or has dents once inserted, it doesn't have a good seal. It should feel smooth and round all the way around. If it dives in a little bit, it's not quite right.

Good luck!

LaTejanaFria · 08-25-2008, 07:21 PM

Tried the Diva one more time and decided that I just can't do it. I've placed my order for the Keeper MoonCup today. Since I've used The Keeper in the past, I know that I'll be able to use it.

Anyone know of an alternate use for this? It's not like I can post it on FreeCycle. . .