Excited to Try my Cup for the First Time

Previous | Next

28 April 2011 @ 06:46 pm

Hello, friends!
I became aware of the Diva Cup and Menstrual cups just a couple weeks ago and was surprised I had never heard of them before. So I did some research, loved the concept, and ordered one. It's nice to see there are helpful, cool people I can consult as I embark on my endeavor.
I don't have my next period til mid-May so I'm just counting down the days.

I do have two questions at the moment:

1. I can locate my cervix but what measurements actually constitute a low or high cervix?

2. I will likely need to figure out how to wear my nuva ring with the cup, since my periods usually start on Wednesday and end on Sunday. I'll have to have the cup in on Sunday with my ring. Any tips? I heard you can change when you start your cycle... how would I be able to get it to start sooner? Take the ring out 2 days sooner?

Nice to meet you all. Please excuse my noobishness, I just joined LJ.

Tags: buying decisions, cervix position, divacup, nuvaring

13 comments | Leave a comment | Edit Tags | Add to Memories

13 comments —

( 13 comments — Leave a comment )

kimie_catclaw on April 28th, 2011 10:58 pm (UTC)

The general guideline I've seen is whether or not you can reach your cervix easily. If you've never felt it, it's probably waaay high, and if it's right at the entrance to your vagina, it's waaay low, and otherwise it's probably somewhere in the middle. Your cervix also moves up and down throughout your cycle.

If you take your ring out early, you risk compromising your protection from pregnancy.

(Reply) (Thread) (Link)

margar02 on April 28th, 2011 11:08 pm (UTC)

When you say I risk compromising my protection from pregnancy, did you mean for the two days that I have taken it out before my period, or that my protection would be compromised even after my period when I put the next ring in?

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

kimie_catclaw on April 28th, 2011 11:17 pm (UTC)

To maintain continuous protection, HBC has the "21/7" rule. At least 21 active pills (or ring in days) followed by no more than 7 placebo pills (ring out days). If your protection is compromised (by taking your ring out early, for example), you'd need to wait until you've taken seven consecutive active pills (new ring in for a week) to be protected again.

If you take your ring out early, you risk ovulating.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

tigermadge on April 28th, 2011 11:19 pm (UTC)

If I recall correctly, if you take it out early, your protection will be compromised until 7 days into the next ring, and you should definitely use a backup method until then. So it will be compromised even after your period for a week after you put the next ring in.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

margar02 on April 28th, 2011 11:30 pm (UTC)

Thanks for the clarification. I don't mind using condoms for a little while into the next cycle if it would indeed "move" my cycle earlier. But I wouldn't want to throw off my cycle too much. Do you think it would cause spotting between period or anything that drastic?

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

maxineofarc on April 28th, 2011 11:37 pm (UTC)

This is something I'd say to ask your doctor about.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

margar02 on April 28th, 2011 11:51 pm (UTC)

Ok :) I happen to have a gyno appointment on May 6th so I'll ask.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

serpent_849 on April 29th, 2011 01:58 am (UTC)

the pamphlet said the bleeding can be shorter and might not happen at all, depending on how many days pass before you start taking pills again.
but i really don't think there's a way to make sure you bleed only during your ring-free week.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

fireaphid on May 2nd, 2011 02:10 am (UTC)

If you tried to "move" your cycle like that, you'd still have the same number of days between when you take out your ring and when your period starts, and your period would still last the same number of days, so the problem would just be shifted two days earlier, not eliminated.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

margar02 on May 2nd, 2011 03:17 pm (UTC)

Oh... yeah you're right >___>
*derp!*

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

serpent_849 on April 29th, 2011 01:55 am (UTC)

i know my hbc pills had instructions on changing the time your period starts, and it was about making the gap shorter - in your case, inserting the ring earlier? after 5 days rather than 7?
i was on hbc for 2.5 years and i was always still on my period when i had to start taking the new pills. i don't really think this will change just because you change your cycle. i never started my period immediately after stopping taking the pills and it was never over by the time i had to take them again. basically, you'd have to do this every month.
many people here use nuvaring successfully with cups, check the tag :D
and yeah, cervix position is not an exact science. your cup doesn't have to be shorter than the distance to your cervix either...but if you can reach it easily a diva may not be the best choice. turn it inside out if it seems too long.

(Reply) (Thread) (Link)

fireaphid on May 2nd, 2011 02:12 am (UTC)

With regards to your cervix, have you checked out the size charts? They've recently been moved: http://sizecharts.livejournal.com/. Basically, if the distance to your cervix during your period is low relative to the lengths of the cups in the chart, you should pick a short cup so it's not uncomfortable.

(Reply) (Thread) (Link)

unicornwarrior8 on August 17th, 2011 07:34 pm (UTC)

I'm a nuvaring user and a cup user. Be sure to put your nuvaring on schedule for protection against pregnancy like everyone else said. My period sometimes goes after I put my ring in too, or I put my cup in to get that awkward "after period" business. I put my nuvaring in first as far as I can, and then put my cup in after, then when you're taking your cup out, be mindful of the ring. For example, keep your other hand available if the ring tries to slip out. But I haven't had any problem with the ring coming out when I'm taking my cup out.

(Reply) (Thread) (Link)