Diva Cup ? and TMI warning

everam01

I think I've been convinced to try this thing.

However, I have heavy periods/clotting.  If anyone else has this problem, does it make the Diva Cup difficult to use?  I have at least one day a month that is a complete nightmare due to blood clots. 

Sorry for the TMI. 

CDMay2006

You can still use it just fine; you'll just have to empty it more often.  The first time(s) you use it, i would empty it every few hours so you can get a feel for how long you can wait.

CurbsideProphet

I think it would make things easier. It holds more than a typically tampon/pad.

cheryl2006

I agree with the other posters. I'd also recommend using a pantyliner at first as you get more comfortable using it.

SuperGreen

Ditto PP.  Empty it every couple hours your first cycle until you get a feel for how much it holds, and wear a panty liner in case of leaks.  I LOVE my Diva.  I must have a light cycle, because I only have to empty it once a day.  It's great.  I've never had any leaks and I do yoga in mine.

jehan

I have a situation much like what you describe, and you will definitely have to empty more often.  I hated the Diva for that reason, since I had so much trouble with the process that I was not interested in having to empty it so frequently.  When I was in London recently, I bought a Mooncup UK, and for whatever reason, it works better in all ways for me than the Diva.  I *think* it holds more, and insertion/removal was MUCH easier.  I still need to use a pad for backup, but I no longer feel like the freak who can't get a menstrual cup to work for her

Kore!

I have heavy, clotty periods, and the DC makes them SO much more manageable. Tampons can't absorb clots, and it's gross to have a clot come out & sit on the pad til you have a chance to change it. The diva cup keeps it all contained til I dump it. Yes, I have to empty more often than others on heavy days (every 3-4 hours), but it's still a million times better than wearing a tampon + pad because tampons leak & can't hold clots.

daisygirl17

Kore!:

I have heavy, clotty periods, and the DC makes them SO much more manageable. Tampons can't absorb clots, and it's gross to have a clot come out & sit on the pad til you have a chance to change it. The diva cup keeps it all contained til I dump it. Yes, I have to empty more often than others on heavy days (every 3-4 hours), but it's still a million times better than wearing a tampon + pad because tampons leak & can't hold clots.

this exactly! my first two days are HEAVY...have to empty every 3 hours, but it's worth it to me. tampons were always so hit and miss and would leak all the f-ing time. i love my DC!

ksmeg78

I am like this too and have had issues my entire life with super heavy flow and clotting and Diva Cup is so fabulous at handling it. Like pp's say, you do have to empty it more often. For me this is every 2-3 hours on my heaviest day.  I will say there are two unideal things about it:

1) I don't like emptying it at work whereas tampons aren't that hard to handle at work. I can make it work, but I am not thrilled with emptying it when there isn't a sink right by me as I have at home. Tampons are much easier to handle because everything is built for that. But it's totally worth it because with tampons I had to have thick pads as backup and use two tampons at a time if I didn't want to go to the bathroom every hour, whereas this is way more manageable and I don't have to walk out of meetings or anything noticeable like that.

2) In the morning when I wake up, it is pretty much filled to overflowing on my heaviest day. It doesn't leak when I am laying down to sleep, but when I stand up, something about the shift causes a big leak at that moment. This is still better than tampons for me because it doesn't leak while I sleep so no issues with sheets or PJs, but I have to wear a pad (I use cloth. Love them) at night on my heavy days for the leakage when I stand up first thing in the morning. I just walk straight to the bathroom and empty it and then everything is fine. If you routinely wake up to use the restroom during the night, this wouldn't be an issue, but I do not and it isn't annoying enough to me that i would set my alarm to empty it in the night or something.

For me the first 1-2 days have these issues, but after that, it's requires no real thought or accomodation and I only have to empty it in the morning when I wake up and at night and it pretty much never leaks. I definitely recommend it.