Diva Cup users

Brie2010

Hi everyone.  I mostly lurk here but have gotten a lot of great ideas for going greener, so thanks!

I just started using a Diva Cup a few days ago and even though I already love it, it started leaking a little bit on the second day and has been leaking quite a bit today.  I'm pretty sure it's inserted properly, as I've turned it once, but I think one of the four air holes at the top of the cup isn't working properly.  I tried filling it with water and pushing the water out the holes, and 3/4 are fine, but one hole won't squirt or leak water out of it.  I know it's open and it's clean, because I can stick a needle through the hole, but nothing comes out when I fill it with water.  Could this be why it's leaking?

Any suggestions? 

SuperGreen

Hmm.  As long as the air holes are clear you should be fine.  When you insert it, are you sure it's open?  A single turn usually makes it pop open for me, but I've had times when I have to turn it multiple times to get it to pop open.  Put your fingers wayyy up there and squeeze the cup, you should feel some air within the cup, the cup feels "firm" and full to me. It shouldn't feel concave between your fingers.

It could also be that it's overflowing.  Are you emptying it twice a day?  Maybe you need to empty it more frequently.

ETA:  Don't get discouraged!  Once you figure out insertion it's the best.invention.EVER.

Brie2010

Thanks!

I think that this morning, when it was leaking a lot, it may not have opened fully.  I tried reinserting and it seems much better now, but there's still a tiny bit of leakage.  It doesn't need to be emptied--I cleaned it this morning and it was maybe 1/4 to 1/2 of the way full.

And I'm definitely not quitting!  Even with a teeny bit of leakage, it's a million times more comfortable than tampons.  

sunshine_day_dreams

I had the same thing when I first started using mine.  I'm not sure how great of an idea it is, but I used a toothpick to make that particular hole big enough for water to get through.  Just be careful that you don't go too crazy and make it ginormous.

I still have a small amount of leakage, even when I know I've opened it fully, on the days when my flow is heavier.  I'm not sure if it's just that it has trouble suctioning to the walls or what.

Lisa78

It took me a while to get used to it - so you might just need a little more time practicing. Doesn't sound like it's the holes - when I have leaking problems, it tend to be because I have inserted it too vertically (like a tampon) and it needs to be more horizontally.

Hope it works for you!

peachypear

Based on my experience, it's leaking because the 4th hole isn't compeletely opened. I wiggled around a needle to open one of mine a little.

Making sure it's fully inflated after insertion is crucial as well. Sometimes I just have to reinsert. I don't know why sometimes it won't inflate (when all holes are clear).

GL!

MrsOjoButtons

You can try different folds to see if any of them open easier for you. A 7 fold works best for me, but the punchdown is also pretty effective.

msmerymac

What size are you using? If you're an A, maybe you need to og up a size? (I have a Keeper, that comes in 2 sizes, and I *think* Diva does too.)

Kaylakuma

That could be why, or not. It takes a bit of fiddling from time to time with cups. It might also be that your flow is a different level or consistency on those days that it leaks. My Lunette only leaks on my second day when I'm off birth control and never in any other situation.
Also is it an actual leak? Do you have a heavy flow? It could be residue coming out from the outside of the cup and not actually from your cervix.
It definitely could be that air hole though. Try using a different fold, and wetting the outside of the cup to make sure it fully expands and that any outside residue will come out easier. If all else fails, on those leaky days use a back up cloth pad.