Diva Cup 1 slips – recommended replacement?
Hi! I use the Diva Cup 1. I am in my early 30s, never pregnant, average menstrual flow, average cervix height, slightly weak PFM.
If I’m mostly sitting, the Diva Cup works great! Stays sealed, no leaks, and stays in place. However once I start walking around or doing light movement activities, it starts slipping. I believe I have a good seal because I can feel the suction (I also run my fingers around the rim so I know it’s sealed around my cervix). It slips faster if it’s at least half full, which makes it impossible to wear for 12hrs moving around. What is my problem here? Do I need a wider cup, more narrow cup, a firmer cup, or softer cup? Would a wider or firmer cup be pushed out more easily? Would a softer cup have less suction and leak more easily? Would a more narrow cup slip more easily?
I’d love to hear suggestions on what features I should look for in a new cup. Any recommended cups would be great too!
The Diva 1 puts pressure on my bladder and urethra, so I wear it inside out. This decreases the discomfort, but the pressure is still there. I cannot empty my bladder completely until I remove the cup. Is this normal with cup use? I’ve tried multiple positions but even the best position still blocks some urine flow.
The length of the Diva 1 is ok (shorter would be better), but anything longer would be too long.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Thanks in advance!!
What is my problem here?
No one can say for certain why this is happening, but we can make suggestions on what might be causing it. Usually, when someone tells me their cup is slipping, it’s because it is either too big or too small. I know, not very helpful 🙁
If a cup is too big, bearing down can be causing it to get pushed out beyond the PFM. In your case, with a slightly weakened pelvic floor, it may not have the strength to keep it in place.
If a cup is too small, it just maybe that. Too small to stay in place and is easily pushed beyond the PFM.
However, since you mentioned that you experience signs of a cup being too firm; extra pressure and that you can’t empty your bladder, I’m thinking that the cup may just be too firm or the wrong shape.
A slightly softer cup that’s bell-shaped might stay in place. Since you have an average cervical height, you can probably get away with a bell-shaped cup with either a flared rim or without. If you have a heavy flow, I would opt for a standard rim over a flared one. The Venus Cup, LaliCup, MyCup, and Saalt Cup (soft version), are some good options.
If you have a light to moderate flow, all of the above will still be fine but you can also try bell-shaped cups with a flared rim like the Lena (sensitive version), Sckoon, LoulouCup, and Fleur.
Do I need a wider cup, more narrow cup, a firmer cup, or softer cup?
Wider cups cover more space and make better contact with the vaginal walls. Have you ever seen that video where the monkey grabs fruit from a jar? It can place its hand in the jar easily, but when he grabs the fruit his hand becomes too large to pull back out. It’s kind of like that.
Some people feel that softer cups move easier with their body movements and others feel that firmer cups are more secure when doing vigorous activities. That one isn’t as black and white but the majority say that firmer cups work for them better (when doing “extreme” sports).
Would a softer cup have less suction and leak more easily?
The seal a cup creates will differ from one person to the next. One person can experience a very tight seal creating a strong suction or vacuum when they try to remove the cup, while the next will only feel a slight resistance. Again, this one can’t really be answered with certainty.
What you can do is to pay attention to the size of the air holes.
Very small or no air holes can cause a cup to create a strong seal and in turn a strong suction during removal. Large air holes can cause a cup to leak sooner rather than later
The length of the Diva 1 is ok (shorter would be better), but anything longer would be too long.
All of the cups that I mentioned will be shorter or offer a shorter size than the Diva Cup Model 1. It’s considered a longer cup even if it’s the “smaller” size since the Diva Cups are all the same length but widen in diameter.
Since you mentioned that the length is only “ok” and that shorter would be better, it can be possible that the length is the only thing wrong. If a cup is too long, it can sit just below the PFM. While you might not feel the cup all the time, the PFM can’t help support it to stay in place. This might be why it feels like it’s slipping. I still think the cups that I mentioned above would still be better options for you.
I hope I covered everything and I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Good Luck! <3
Red Herring
@redherringtv
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