Do I want a menstrual cup?
I have never been able to master the tampon… no matter what I always feel it (or at least I think I feel it, it’s entirely possible that it is psychological). But… I swim regularly and when I get my period this present a problem! I have tried at various times in my life (I am now 29) and each time, I feel it when I sit. I know that I am getting it up far enough (and the right place) and I have tried at various angles.
So I have been hearing a lot of buzz about the Diva cup and menstrual cups in general, and I am curious how it compares to a tampon in terms of where it sits when you put it in. If I have yet to master the tampon, will I struggle with a menstrual cup?
I really don’t like missing three or four days of swim because of my period! Please help!
Hi MA! (hehehe)
Using a cup is going to be mostly different than using a tampon. However, obviously is still has to be inserted.
A cup can fold up to be about the same size a tampon or in some cases, even smaller. A tampon (or applicator) will most likely be dry during insertion, unless you use a plastic applicator and your body lubricates it on the way in or you use a personal lubricant.
Most menstrual cup are made out of silicone and usually glides in a lot easier. Again, you can use a personal lubricant if you need extra but make sure it’s a WATER based type.
You probably know all of those little details already so I’ll jump in to the menstrual cup….
There are SO many menstrual cups beside the Diva Cup. Sadly, cups are not a “one size fits all” kinds of thing. Well actually, it might fit and collect but comfort is the key.
So which one do you get? Diva Cup is a decent length cup. Great for people that have a medium to high cervix. It’s also a medium firmness. While it may work for a lot of people, some might find it too long or too firm to be comfortable.
It sounds like you might have a medium to low to very low cervix. The only way to be sure is the check.
If you do in fact have a low (or very low) cervix, then tampons might be stopping short and sitting to far near your vaginal opening causing you to feel it and be uncomfortable.
Bell shaped cups might be a better design for you if this is the case. They can sit higher around your cervix and the rounded base will (hopefully) not sit outside of your body. Also, there are some cups that are shorter than the “average” cup.
A few that you might want to look into are the small Sckoon, small Ruby Cup, and small Super Jennie. Specifically, there are some cups labeled for a low or very low cervix. MeLuna Menstrual Cup has a “Shorty” version. These cups are made of TPE so they might feel a bit different and for some, don’t have that springiness they’re looking for from a silicone cup.
If you have a heavier flow, you might want to check out the Super Jennie first. It has a good capacity even for a small sized cup.
If you’re interested in more info on any of these cups or if there’s more I might be able to help you with, please let me know. I do have a couple of sites that carry these cups and discounts to go with them 🙂
