TMI!

[soc_puppet]

Socchan: *sticks hand through bellybutton*
Socchan: *rips out still-bleeding uterus*
Socchan: *snatches recently-purchased DivaCup (plus bag and instructions) from near-by shelf*
Socchan: *throws aforementioned into a lockbox and turns the key*
Socchan: AND STAY IN THERE UNTIL YOU CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT.
DivaCup/Uterus: *from the box* ...Was it something I did?


Yeeeaaaah. Just tried to use the DivaCup yesterday! Tried twice. ...Did not particularly succeed at inserting. DivaCup does not want to unfold. The one time it may have unfolded, it was too far up, making removal QUITE difficult. Am quite pissed. $30+, potentially down the drain. Stuck with disposable pads and an unusually messy period.


Next potential options:
* The Keeper; same price, but lasts 10x longer, has longer stem for possibly easier extraction
* Cloth pads; available in town at the same store that carries the DivaCup
* Birth control of some sort that would make the issue a non-issue (shot preferred to pills)
* Bribe uterus/body into going through menopause early

So far, I'm liking the third best, followed possibly by the second, but I'm definitely going to have to do more research. In the mean time, it's back to work in clean pants.

Comments

[arabesque]

I had some trouble with the DivaCup at first; it takes practice, which is why I think they suggest you try it a few times before you actually start your period. IIRC, there are useful posts on LJ communities for subjects like this (vaginapagina and menstrual_cups are the ones that spring to mind). Basically, this is a "faito faito" comment, though I completely understand if you don't want to keep trying (also I always wear a pad with it anyway, in case of leaks/not being able to change it in time).

[soc_puppet]

I kept meaning to try it out before the blood started to flow, I just. Kept forgetting. And putting it off and then forgetting again. And then my period did start, and I was all, "Well fuck. Guess I'll have to try and learn as I go." Which yeah, not so much :| I've got at least one of those comms bookmarked, too; I just need to look around it more ^^a

I'mma keep trying, I think! At least another month or two. (Good plan, that, 'specially while I'm starting out. Maybe I'll get cloth pads for that...)

[dagronrat.livejournal.com]

Meeep.

What the hell is that thing?

[soc_puppet]

You put it inside during your period, and it collects the blood. Then you flush the blood down the toilet a couple times a day. Then you wash it and re-use it. Good for a year! So it's money-saving and more environmentally friendly than disposable pads and tampons ('specially the tampons we've got over here - they're all individually packaged with inserters and stuff).

[lightbird777.livejournal.com]

Ouch.

Good luck.

[soc_puppet]

Thank you T^Tb

[rhymed.livejournal.com]

DivaCups and the like gross me out. I'll just keep on being environmentally unfriendly and use flushable tampons.

Also re: birth control. The shot results in spotting in a large number of women, at least when first starting out on it, so you won't be entirely blood-free.

[soc_puppet]

XD If it doesn't also gross you out and you feel like being less environmentally unfriendly, you could try the tampons that don't come with the inserters and stuff? There's less to throw away and all.

Bah. I'll get the washable pads for that. And spotting = far superior to five days of bleeding, IMO.

[rhymed.livejournal.com]

My period is one of those things where i don't care much about my impact on nature. NATURE MAKES ME BLEED, NATURE CAN DEAL WITH WHAT THAT MEANS FOR MY ADDITION TO LANDFILLS ETC.


or something like that

[soc_puppet]

XDDD Okay, that is like. The best justification for this I have ever heard, ever. Case closed, you win!

[rhymed.livejournal.com]

\o/ VICTORY TO ME AND MY TAMPONS

[soc_puppet]

ALSO! While I am linking stuff, you might find this to be right up your alley so to speak *shot*

[rhymed.livejournal.com]

YES.

THANK YOU.


FUCK YES.

[soc_puppet]

There is a whole list of tampon and pad related rants and so forth here, if you are interested :3 Most of them are downright hilarious ♥

[ysabet.livejournal.com]

It's things like this that make me think about how guys called us 'the weaker sex' for centuries... and then I want to laugh hysterically. They would DIE if they had to put up with this sort of stuff. Die dead, absolutely. 'Weaker sex', my ass. **headshake**

[soc_puppet]

Well, aside from the intersexed people to whom exactly that happens, at least. On more of a general, "make (cis-)men spend one month as women" scale/idea.

Have you read If Men Could Menstruate yet/recently? It's totally delicious ♥

[violetsquirrel.livejournal.com]

It took me a month to even get a cup in me consistently, so I'd say you're actually doing pretty well orz. It's like contact lenses, it takes a while to learn to do it right but once it's right it's awesome. That said I'd suggest trying it when you aren't actually on your period, or when it's just tapering off. Or in the shower :|a

[soc_puppet]

See, I totally meant to try it out before the bleeding started! And then I kept putting it off. And forgetting. And then the bleeding did start, and I was up the red creek without a paddle, so to speak. But the other suggestions also sound good :|b

[violetsquirrel.livejournal.com]

Doing it in the shower helps with the lubrication issue, and well, at least you know that you need practice now, so even if you don't get it before this period ends it's not like there won't be another one XD That's what kept me trying until I got it right, the fact that I've still gor something like another 25 years of this so it doesn't matter if it takes a while to get it right now XD;;

[hakaisha.livejournal.com]

Okay, I have a Divacup myself; I back it up with pads but frankly, the Divacup is the best thing that happened to me re: my periods.

Tips (not sure if you've tried any of this):

1) LUBE. Lube, lube, lube, and did I mention lube? It's a lot easier to insert it with a fold appropriate for your body when you've lubed up your cup as opposed to just cramming it in. Comfortable insertion makes for a lot easier popping open later.

2) How are you folding it up your cup? If you're folding it as per the instructions it came with...eh, that one totally does not work for me. I bend one of the edges down all the way into the cup so it forms a tapered shape; that's super easy to fold (as opposed to origami folds I see out there) and works like a charm for me. Again, you might vary. Experiment.

2b) I'm told that having the cup cold (as in, run it under cold water) may increase stiffness slightly and make popping open easier, but I haven't found any real difference for myself.

3) menstrual_cups is a gold mine for cup related information, with pictures from folds to...well, everything.

Hope some of this helped!

[soc_puppet]

1) I thought about that while I was trying the second time, actually! "Boy," thought I, "This would probably be hella easier with lube! Too bad I don't actually have any of the artificial stuff, and the natural stuff is probably not gonna happen at the moment!" I should probably go purchase some. Or make some in advance.

2) Just the instructions so far, since it didn't occur to me that there were other ways to fold it. I shall look into this!

2b) The theory seems sound enough, but yeah, I don't know that I'd notice a difference, either.

3) I shall look around there for a while, then :3b

[hakaisha.livejournal.com]

Also want to add: menstrual cups, once properly inserted/unfolded, tend to sit pretty low. Some do have it sit higher, but most users have them low. I'd imagine your extraction troubles would lessen greatly once you've gotten the insertion down; at the very least, even if it does ride high, it won't be to the point that you're struggling to dig it out.

And clenching of appropriate muscles pushes it down, anyway.

Okay, I'm done TMIing. ^^;;

[soc_puppet]

That is what I imagine, also!

XD That's about how I managed to get it out, actually. I mean, there was some pulling involved, but. More pushing first.

This post was TMI already, no need to stop on my account X3

[violetsquirrel.livejournal.com]

The pamphlet that came with my cup contains the phrase "for help using your vaginal muscles, see the troubleshooting section". I think the joy that phrase brings me alone was worth the purchase :D

[soc_puppet]

I don't think my pamphlet has that line! I am now quite disappointed. (They probably cut it out to make room for the three other languages they included...)

[violetsquirrel.livejournal.com]

I've got a UK Mooncup! So I imagine our pamphlets are entirely different. That's why I can't give you specific advice on getting it to unfold right, because mine is one of the stiffer brands that doesn't have an issue with that orz.

[hakaisha.livejournal.com]

If I recall correctly, Divacup is actually one of the stiffer ones. At least it was when I made my purchase 2+ years ago; since then at least 3+ other brands of cup have sprung up...

Another nice thing about using (water soluble) lube is that you'll know exactly how to slide it in carefully and not cram it in. Unpleasant experience is if you shove/cram the thing up by (not under) your cervix and it won't open, and/or it springs open and hits your cervix on the way. The latter is a special sort of pain I really do not recommend.

But yeah, lube! And patience. It took me about a month or two to get insertion and removal down (granted, I was rather ignorant of my own physical anatomy back then, so you might be quicker), and I practiced when I wasn't on my period to lessen the "argh, stress!" factor. But once you have it down it really is a godsend. The only time I ever needed a pad for backup is overnight; otherwise, it is so much better and more comfortable than pads. And less messy.

[ningen-demonai.livejournal.com]

O-oh honey. D:

[soc_puppet]

Y-yeah /)_(\ At least my period will end soon so I can get more practice before the next one...?