[solaria]

Hi everyone,

I've had my Diva cup for about three years, and about two years ago I had my first ever yeast infection. I didn't think it was there was a connection, but I sterilized it with boiling water everyday I was using it just as an extra precaution. Then the yeast infection came back a few times, like every two or three months and I decided to forgo internal "protection" altogether, and I've had no trouble since, which was about a year ago. Maybe I'm allergic to sillicone? I have a friend who gets the yeasties everytime she uses latex condoms. I use cloth pads exclusively but with summer coming up I'm thinking about trying a Keeper, which I believe is made of tree rubber. Has anyone else had this happen? Any advice?

[edie52]

Thanks, turbojenn. I'm in Canada (I was about to preface that with "unfortunately," but in general I don't feel unfortunate being Canadian!), so with the exchange rate and shipping it would probably be considerably more. The one I saw in the store here was $40, + tax, which would come out to over $45. Maybe I'll try trimming the whole stem off my keeper. Based on having felt them both, I would guess that the diva cup is superior- it's just so much more flexible.

[turbojenn]

Edie, I haven't used the Keeper, but I'd also recommend looking online for a Diva Cup if you decide to get one - they're about $20-25 online. I did have to trim off the whole stem on the Diva Cup, but I haven't had any real trouble in getting it out, either - just take a deep breath and give a good push with your muscles while you try and grab it. Also, I find that first thing in the morning when I need to empty it, it tends to settle in a little deeper overnight, but if I walk the dog before I empty it, it moves back down a little. So what I'm saying, is you should have a dog AND a Diva Cup. Logical, right?

[edie52]

Has anyone used both the keeper and the diva cup? (The title suggests yes, but I'm too lazy to read back pages and pages.)

I got a keeper about 4 or 5 years ago. I used it for a little while, it was fine for the most part, then I kind of stopped for a few years. My last few periods I've tried again, and I hate it. It is too rigid/rubbery for my liking, making both insertion and removal uncomfortable, and it always tilts to the side, so the stem pokes the inner wall of my vagina. I don't want to cut the stem off completely, because that would make removal even more of a bitch.

The other day I was at a store and saw a sample Diva Cup for the first time. I felt it; it was sooo soft and flexible! However, I'm wary of investing another $40-$50 on something I'll barely use.

[humanist77]

star I was excited to get it too the first time I tried the cup!
I was wondering about the colorful Ladycups-I sent an email to the company asking if they are known to be non-toxic, but no one has replied yet :\ They're kinda purty though, I like the purple one :)
I'm trying the sponges today-I think so far, so good. I was surprised at how soft and squishy they get after you rinse them-when I inserted it, it kind of squished into a little ball-it was hard to keep it spread out. So not sure if that will effect how much it will absorb. But I don't feel it at all :)

ETA: ooo i just took it out-it does expand again : )

[angie_21]

Yay Stargazer! Sorry for writing anything that might have scared people away from the divacup when it so clearly works for a lot of people. This may be TMI, but... I have finally figured out that the "tilted cervix" my doctor once mentioned to me actually makes my build much more unique that I had realized. My pubic bone is also "tilted," and kinda blocks the divacup from being easily inserted (though it holds it in place very well!). It actually can get in the way of a few different activities, but until recently I just thought everyone was built like that! You learn something new every day...

[stargazer]

i know this sounds odd, but i was happy to get my period this month so i could try the diva cup. i was anticipating some initial discomfort due to previous posts. alas, i had no issues. it was kinda anticlimatic for me. i used the cup on the first day of my period, did a yoga class, and removed the cup with no problems. i hope things continue smoothly with my use of the diva cup.

[jsmith]

Ah, that's just as well I guess. They had problems with the green ones cracking not too long ago, had to send everyone a new cup in a different color. I'd like a blue or a green, myself. But I already have two cups, lol!

[angie_21]

jsmith - I wanted to get the pretty yellow one, especially since it was one sale this month! But the plain one was just slightly cheaper on Ebay, and easier to order. Also the divacup website said something about colored silicone not being tested for safety in Canada, but maybe they have done tests over in Europe. If I like this one, I might order a backup yellow one Either way, I am jealous of how much variety they have in Europe for these products!

Thanks humanist, please let us know how it works out!

[humanist77]

Just got some sea sponges. I've used the DC for years, but I need something for lighter days.
Although one thing I liked about the DC is that it doesn't absorb moisture, just collects it-obviously not the case with sponges. I'll give my reviews once I've used them a bit : )

[jsmith]

Woops, forgot about this thread. I think you made a good choice there, ladycup would be the first one I would've suggested. I hope it will work out for you. You know, I've noticed that most women who have tried the diva hate it compared to whatever new variety they buy. They all say it's too stiff and too long. But I've never heard any criticisms about the ladycup (or the mooncup uk). Did you get a particular color?

[angie_21]

OK. well, I am attempting one last try at the cup - I just ordered a ladycup all the way from Europe. They are softer and smaller than the diva cup or keeper, so they just might work. If not, then on to trying the sponge!

[pollystyrene]

I bought some a few years ago because I was anticipating a vacation during my period where swimming would take place. Well, it never happened and I haven't used them. In the brochure that came with them, it said that the sponges are specifically created and farmed for this purpose, they're not just harvesting "wild" sponges (hee hee!) from the environment.

[angie_21]

cool. Thanks!

[auralpoison]

The harvesting of sea sponges releases their eggsies & spermsies into the surrounding water, that makes them a renewable & sustainable product.

[angie_21]

Has anyone tried the sea sponge? It looks like it could be really cool, and not cause the feeling of always needing to pee that I get with the cup.

Jade and Pearl sponge

It claims to be all natural and environmentally friendly. But I am wondering, how is harvesting sea sponges environmentally friendly? Does anyone know about this?

If no ones has tried them out, I think I will because I am getting pretty desparate for something natural but cleaner than reusable pads. So if anyone is interested, I will let you all know how it goes!

[lilacwine13]

I bought my Diva Cup online. I'm not sure about other varieties and how they compare, though; this is my first cup and it's held up pretty well.

And I can't tell you where else to buy them off line. My local food co-ops carry them and I think I saw the Keeper in Whole Foods the last time I was in one. They also carried Glad Rags too.

[tankgirl]

I use a keeper. When I got my first one, it was the only one that I had heard of and I had to buy it on the internet. They come in 2 sizes B and A. B is actually smaller because it means "before childbirth" and A means "after childbirth." I don't know how it compares in size with the diva because I have never used a diva cup. Maybe it is smaller? I know they go inside a bit differently, so who knows, it might work for you?

And they carry Diva cups and glad rags at my neighborhood CoOp. Pretty cool. I may get a diva as my next one just because I can actually buy it at a store!

[ketto]

Re: availability. When I bought mine over 5 years ago I had to order from the 'net. Now you can buy them at most shoppers drug marts here, the university women's centre, and many health food stores and organic food stores. Definitely gaining popularity...people are no longer as confused when I mention the words "divacup".

[angie_21]

No worries. I can totally see how you could have been a little suspicious! I am very jealous that you could use yours for so long, but also inspired to try again. I had the smaller size (1, I think) in the diva cup. I liked it because it was silicone. Do you know of any specific smaller brands?

I have always wondered if these things will ever be available at regular drug stores. "Instead" is only available at one drugstore where I live, and you have to go to cheesy health food stores to buy the diva cup. The keeper doesn't even exist here!