[chickenlittle]

hey, all-
i've had my diva cup for a few years now- i LOVE it and won't ever go back to tampons or pads, no question- but lately i feel like i'm not getting it as clean as it could be. i soak it in warm soapy water, i boil it occasionally and even soak it for a few minutes here and there in a vinegar/water combo. Anyone have any suggestions for getting it squeaky clean?
thanks!

[entropy13]

I have short fingers and a big belly so I have a hard time reaching up inside myself. I think that might be an issue for some. It was certainly the issue for me. I could never get the diva cup to work for me. Maybe I'll try again this month. I always seem to blow a gasket with that thing and end up having to rush home to change.

I have the same problem (short fingers) and I had a lot of trouble at first. For whatever reason the damn thing always works its way all the way up, so it's absolutely unreachable with my lamentably short little fingers, and even pushing didn't make it reachable enough, though I could just *almost* grab it. One memorable time... well, let's just say if I was living alone I'd have had to seek medical assistance.

So I gave up for a while. But then I had a brainstorm, and tied a piece of narrow cloth ribbon VERY tightly to the stem. Voila. No more problems. Now I love it and it works just fine. The string lets me get it down to where I can reach the stem. I do boil it to keep the string situation from getting gross.

Posting this in case someone else might find it useful info.

[.eilleen.]

So I forgot to update at the end of my cycle on Sunday. Let's just say I'm hooked. Goodbye tampons forever. I had no problems with it at all. I am 100% satisfied.

So my first Diva Cup just came in (just in time for me to start tomorrow). I tried it out, and I couldn't feel it. Wow. Well, we'll see how it holds up during my first cycle with it. I've become tired of buying and using tampons (pads are out of the question), so I've decided to try DC. I would have went with the Keeper, but I do have a latex allergy.

[BustiRubi]

oo I wish I could quote a lot of what everyone is saying.

The DC is working perfectly fine with me now...the first day was a tad bit scary. But noting that I am more sexually active now it does feel a lot easier to take it out and put in hmm.

AND I have noticed the gunk in the little holes I'm so glad I read all your methods of clearing them out it was getting so tedious cleaning it everytime.

the DC has changed my life I feel so much more conscious, comfortable and confident no matter what those pad and tampon ads tell you about their products.


A lot of my friends kinda don't get it when I try to explain. I enjoy this board very much.

[elizabethan]

Good to know others are dealing with the DC hole issue--the palm idea is nifty I want to try that too.

[kittenb]

I'm enjoying the comfort...it wasn't comfortable at first but i think it was in too deep??? idk but is it wrong to pull it from the tip cuz i kinda had to do that.....but..i think i'm afraid of it being too deep..hmmm...

I found that when I had it in deeper than needed it didn't work as well. So now when I push it in I just sort of feel it in the right place, almost like a physical pop or click. It then works its own way up to a good location.

As far as pulling it out, it is uncomfortable for me to just yank it out. I have to push it out w/my muscles, pull a little w/my fingers and then fold it to pop the seal. Then it comes out easy.

[humanist77]

I just fill the cup with water, and place my palm flat over the top of the cup, forming the best seal I can and then with my other hand I squeeze the bottom of the cup so that it forces water out the holes.

[mouse]

i think i use the same thing, elizabethan! i use soft picks--they work great. a needle or toothpick will do too in a pinch.

[elizabethan]

I have been using my Diva Cup for two years now--I bought it and found this thread on just about the same day. The advice here--particularly about cutting off the stem--was fantastic. In the past year I have mastered the one hand technique for public bathrooms. Very proud of myself.

The sole remaining issue is how to clean out those little holes? I can't believe they do anything since my are always gunked up. (TMI) I finally found some miniature bottle brushes (that I think are intended for dentures) and they work.

How do other women deal with this?

[.eilleen.]

So my first Diva Cup just came in (just in time for me to start tomorrow). I tried it out, and I couldn't feel it. Wow. Well, we'll see how it holds up during my first cycle with it. I've become tired of buying and using tampons (pads are out of the question), so I've decided to try DC. I would have went with the Keeper, but I do have a latex allergy.

[LoveMyPugs]

I have short fingers and a big belly so I have a hard time reaching up inside myself. I think that might be an issue for some. It was certainly the issue for me. I could never get the diva cup to work for me. Maybe I'll try again this month. I always seem to blow a gasket with that thing and end up having to rush home to change.

[mouse]

i've never had trouble getting mine out either. my biggest issue with it (tmi alert!) is that it's hard to empty sometimes, the contents are too viscous....which leads to messiness. but i don't care, it's the best thing that's happened to my vag since sex. i can't even THINK about tampons anymore, they always made me really sore and dry. and my cramps have probably halved in intensity since i started using it.

i'm kind of confused as to how getting laid makes it easier to remove the keeper...?

[candycane_girl]

I've never really had much trouble pulling out my diva cup. I don't know, I guess I'm just lucky but I've heard so many complaints about that and yet I've never really experienced it.

[EllaMinnowPea]

it wasn't comfortable at first but i think it was in too deep???

I doubt it was in too deep - your body will sort it out, BustiRubi. It can't go too far in there. There's just not a whole lotta space left.

I've moved back to tampons lately and must admit I don't regret it. When you're not sexually active, the Keeper's a bitch to pull out, man.

[BustiRubi]

woohoo I just bought my firt Diva Cup.

I'm enjoying the comfort...it wasn't comfortable at first but i think it was in too deep??? idk but is it wrong to pull it from the tip cuz i kinda had to do that.....but..i think i'm afraid of it being too deep..hmmm...

[mouse]

that's hilarious--and an adorable kitteh, too.

reminds me to keep my cup away from the houseplants...

[candycane_girl]

humanist, that's pretty funny, he looks completely fascinated. I guess I'm lucky that I don't have any animals that would be after my diva cup.

[humanist77]

HA! I found it! I have figured out the culprit, because one of them couldn't have cared less about the cup when presented to him.

However, Calvin was more than fascinated. Observe:



I let him have his cup-

-and eat it too

Here's to you, Calvin!

[humanist77]

It IS a funny story, even if it is going to cost me money that I don't have (although one of my roommates works at Whole Foods and he can get a discount for me; I only have to convince him to suck it up and buy a menstrual product).
Though the worst part is that I can't yell at the beasties, because they would have no idea what they did wrong. Especially because the first attack happened while I was sleeping, and by morning they'd forgotten. Then Calvin got away so quickly, with my computer on my lap, I wasn't able to run after him. And by that point, the thing was un-salvageable and meaning was lost. It's just another of the many toys-that-aren't-actually-toys around the apartment.

Meanwhile I'm still bleeding a bit, and I don't have anything to catch it. I hate TP pads : (

kitten, it definitely took me several tries to get it right; you'll figure out the best position for it. I'm glad you like it!

[kittenb]

Hahaha. I know that is a slightly expensive loss but that is kind of a funny story, too. So sorry humanist.

Well it has taken me a while but I think I have finally figured out the Keeper Moon Cup. I like it more than the regular Keeper and there is still some leakage but we are getting it. I actually called The Keeper Company and the woman on the phone pretty much told me, "Well, it doesn't work for everybody." Thanks. Thanks a lot.