Have you tried this thing in place of tampons?
http://www.divacup.com/
I thought I'd post a "what happened," but I found my original post was so far back I may as well post again.
OK- I did get one this month ($21.00 at Healthy Approach's 20% off day) & after messing up the initial "installation," I got it right the second time around. As one poster noted to my original question- Yes! You do get "well acquainted" with your nether regions using this little device. It is a touch less convenient than just tampons, but as I got to explain ad nauseum to my 5 & 8 year old girls tonight... 1) Inserted correctly (& I could tell a difference between correct & incorrect)- It doesn't leak. 2) Water or excess blood doesn't run down the string to stain your underwear. 3) The $21 device will last a number of years...up to 10?- Saving at least $100 in organic tampons/ year. 4) It doesn't go down the toilet to clog plumbing or in the trash to become a landfill biohazard. OH! and 5) When you have a BM, it doesn't push it out, thus wasting a tampon that may have not been ready to be replaced! Check it out!!
IUD info from the Diva Cup Website...
Can The DivaCup™ be worn with an IUD?
The DivaCup™ is worn low at the base of the vagina and is away from the cervix, it should not interfere with your IUD.
As recommended, always check your IUD cord after inserting and removing your DivaCup™ to make sure that it has not been dislodged. Many of our customers are IUD users as well and have not reported any problems.
CAUTION: Since there is a rare chance that it may dislodge your IUD please use The DivaCup at your own risk as we cannot assume any responsibility if your IUD is dislodged.
Janet - there is a HUGE difference between in Instead cups from the store and the Diva cup. Instead have a rigid ring, but the actual pouch is like a plastic baggie - hence the mess when emptying and difficulty removing. The Diva cup is made of a semi-rigid medical grade silicon, so it holds it's shape when removing and doesn't spill.
I have been using a MoonCup (basically the same as a Diva Cup) for the last 6 months, and I love it, love it, love it! I had to trim the stem down a lot to get it comfortable, and I had one time when I didn't get it in right and had a big leak. Other than that, it has been fabulous. I will never go back to pads or tampons!
I'm looking forward to the day when I can give this a try...as they are not safe for those with IUD's :(
D.,
I had tried the one you can get at the store a while back, but I had a problem with emptying. It was so messy, I just got frustrated and gave up. How is this one?
I got the Diva cup about a year & a half ago. I do think it's better than tampons, because it avoids that dry pulling feeling you get on the last day or so, when it feels like all the tampon fibers are being left inside. I had to cut most of the tail off though, because it did bother me when I sat down. But great after I did that!
