Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

When I first heard of Diva Cups I thought it was the best thing I've ever discovered. Imagine a product that will last for years, you don't wear outside of your body like a diaper and no fear of TSS. I read post from women online about the Diva cup and even visited the website. I finally decided I HAD to have one. When it arrived I was so happy and decided to give it a test run as I wasn't due for quite a while. After so many tries I began to realize that I made a terrible mistake! I couldn't get it in to save my life! After about 50 tries I managed to slip it in and walk around, I didn't feel anything but the stem, which was annoying. Then I decided to take it out and OMG! I couldn't get it out! After maybe 30 mins I managed to get it out and the suction was so terrible it felt like my insides were being ripped out with it! Not to mention that fact that I cut myself trying to grip it and started bleeding. The instructions say that panic causes the pain but let me tell you, I believe the pain causes the panic! I never felt that bad taking out a dry tampon!! After that I was scared of my Diva Cup and placed it out of sight and out of mind. Unfortunately I also forgot to buy tampons so when my cycle came I was stuck with the Diva Cup and a few pads. I tried and tried and tried to get the thing in but kept failing and a part of me was glad cause I wasn't prepared for the feeling of ripping my insides out via my vagina. But a huge part of me was angry. The idea of wasting 30 bucks on a silcone cup was not happy! Finally I did more research and found a menstral cup community. (A reviewer here had already posted it) and I used some of the tricks and ideas and Finally got it in and out no problems! Here are a few tips from a woman who wanted to kill the makers of Diva Cups. Tip #1: Use lube. Maybe it was the fear but water alone will not do it. I recommend buying some KY or something with your cup. Tip #2: Make sure you have nothing else to do for the day. trust me! The headache this thing could give you the first time would make you not want to do anything anyway. Tip #3: Throw away the instructions that come with your cup. Useless! Tip #4: Wash your hands and run the cup under hot water. It makes the cup soft. Make sure the tiny holes near the rim are clean and open. IMPORTANT! Tip #5: Prepare to do more postions then a $10 wh**e. Sit down, stand up, lay down, squat. The postion that works for me is laying on my side using pillows and my elbow to prop myself up. It's the ONLY position that works for me. So I won't be taking this thing off at work. Tip #6: The U shape crap doesn't work! Read the community site for other methods, some are: 7 shape, C shape, origami shape, pinch method. I tuck one side in creating a smaller tip. I forgot the name for it but the pictures are on the site. Tip #7: When I get it in slightly I turn it a little but turning it when it's in all the way is impossible. I just make sure it's in past the "hump"(the part sticking out near the bottom when I tuck one side in), tilting it toward my tail bone, when the stem is trying to face up I push it to the back(not further inside) then stand up. I then go to the bathroom to urinate(cause it feels like I have to when I get it in) and when I sit down I loosen up to go. When I stand up I feel the air bubbles inside coming out. This lets me know that it's really sealing shut. Tip #8: I then wiggle my hips a little and do a hula motion (tip from site) it helps making sure it's sealing up properly. Standing up straight and relaxing completely helps in the sealing too. When the last of the air bubbles are out I know I'm good to go. I wore it overnight and I just finished working out with it in and everything is fine. Tip #9: While you're still in the bathroom. Wipe yourself with a tissue or you may end up spotting. This is cause some of the flow may have already gotten past while you're putting it in and sealing it. Removal Tips: Remember when I said "make sure the tiny holes near the rim are clean and open"? Well this is why. When I described the "ripping out the insides" feeling, it was due to those little holes clogging up while I was struggling to put it in. So constantly check those holes while you're putting it in. It almost happened again while I was putting it in but I manged to get it out and I checked the holes and some were clogged. I used a sterilized needle to poke in there and clean them. Tip #1: I have to sit down to remove it. Thank goodness! I can do this on a toliet. Tip #2: Wash your hands and prepare to give birth! Cause that's what it is, it's like giving birth to a tinnie tiny baby, not taking a crap. Someone called it "Birthing the cup" Tip #3: Use your muscles to gently push the cup down, Then grab the stem until you can reach up and pinch the base of the cup. Tilt it in a position toward your tail bone (Do not pull it straight out, it won't work) you have to tilt it. Tip #4: When you relax and push, you must keep pushing even while you have a hold on it and pulling it out. When I stop pushing it hurts a little so I push the whole way through! When it's out I clean it making sure the tiny holes are cleaned too. Stem Tip: The Diva is meant to be worn low not high, of course it'll ride up a bit but it never goes far up to where I can't push it out. If it's riding up too far, you might need a bigger one. Anyway the stem is annoying!! No matter if it rides up for not the stem will always poke you. When other women talked about trimming it I wasn't so sure. As I NEED the stem to get it out. But upon further inspection I saw that there is a alot of stem left at the bottom before reaching the first grip and since I never had a problem reaching the first grip I trimmed that open space of the stem off and what a difference!! I have it in now and I can hardly feel anything! So don't be afraid to trim the stem, but don't cut it off! Someone did and has no problems but if you NEED the stem like I do then don't take the chance. So that's all I have to say. I hope my tips and the tips of others help you out. Don't let my first experience scare you off the Diva Cup. I was going to come on and write a really bad review until I finally found a way that worked for me.