In search of perfect cup
Hi,
I am 38 and never gave birth, my cervix is very high and I have a very heavy flow. I have been using a cup on/off for the last ten years. I first had a keeper that was way too firm and would keep me from peeing and pooing. For the last few years I switched to the small diva that’s been doing ok, but is still occasionally uncomfortable (and can be difficult to pass stools), causes soreness after insertion and removal, will have slight leaks during the day and will never last through the night. I accidently burned the diva in a pot while boiling it… and I’m now looking for a new cup but feeling very overwhelmed and dont have the budget to try different ones. Thanks for all the info on your website, I was maybe thinking of the xo flow or the large oi but I am afraid they will be uncomfortable. Any thoughts ? Also, did you ever try a valve cup ?
Hi There!
I totally understand about the issues that you experienced with the Keeper. The rim on it is so thick and “edgy”. Luckily, there aren’t very many cups with the same style of rim. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great cup for some, but not for all.
I have heard many say that the Diva Cup is still too firm for them and that they have some bladder or bowel sensitivities with it.
The small and large DivaCups are the same length. The large is only 2mm wider in diameter.
Other than the firmness, how was the length on the DivaCup? Was it comfortable but still easy to reach when you remove it?
I would suggest trying a softer cup or a cup with a softer rim and probably the larger size up for the capacity.
XO Flo – The rim is about the same as the DivaCup. The XO design which is supposed to help open the cup, make the base and body bulbous and quite firm. I’m not sure if this would be the best “fit” for your situation.
OI Cup – While this cup may work for you, I do have some concerns about them. There is an area near the stem that is pitted (for a lack of better words). It’s not really noticeable until you pull on the stem. If this area isn’t cared for properly, it may harbor bacteria. I’m not exactly sure why it’s like this, but it’s on both of my cups and might be the site where the TPE was injected into the mold (?).
…btw, this cup is made of TPE and not silicone. Many people find that TPE holds its shape (more oval) even after it’s removed.
Valve Cups – I’ve tried a couple of different valve cups but it’s faster and easier to remove the cup than to drain them especially if you have clotting. Since blood isn’t like water, it creates a slow “stream”. Kind of like when egg whites stick to the egg shell.
Here are a few cups that might interest you:
(In order from softest to the firmest rim)
Mermaid Cup (large – 35ml capacity) – This cup is about the same length as the DivaCup but has a longer stem. The diameter is about a mm or two wider. While I suggest something softer, this cup is the softest in the bunch and may give you some issues with opening it as easily as the Diva. It’s not impossible, but you will probably need to adjust the way that you get this cup to open. I do have a “Troubleshooting Soft Menstrual Cups” video if it’s needed.
**OI Cup would be here on the list**
Casco Cup (large – 40ml capacity) – This cup is the closest to the size and shape of the DivaCup but softer. I often suggest this cup for those who like everything about the Diva expect for the firmness.
LaliCup (medium – 36ml capacity) – Although I normally don’t suggest bell-shaped cups to those with a high to a very high cervix, this cup isn’t extremely short and still has a decent length stem. It has a good capacity for a shorter cup and a unique design that can help ease pressure off of sensitive areas. The unique channels around the body allow this cup to fold up smaller while also helping it to open easier when the fold is released.
EvaCup (large – 30ml capacity) – Although this cup doesn’t have a huge capacity, this was the first one that eased my cramps that I experienced with the Diva. Although the rim is only a tad softer than the Diva, the secondary rim is wider. This spreads out the pressure that it applies instead of confining it at the top of the rim. This cup is the same length but has a bit wider diameter.
DivaCup small – 27ml capacity
Check these out and see if any of them appeal to you. Let me know if you have any additional questions about one or more of them. I’ll do my best to answer 😀
Until then, good luck!! <3
