Diaphragm compared to Cup?

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22 August 2012 @ 05:38 pm

Thanks for hosting this great site! After bleeding through three supertampons in less than six hours last week, I'm ready for a change!

I've read about inserting and removing menstrual cups, and it seems an awful lot like inserting/removing a contraceptive diaphragm. Is it? I know the menstrual cups are longer, but don't they sit in the same spot in your body? I have no trouble inserting and removing my diaphragm - I can reach the rim to grab it if I bear down. What does that say about the length/depth of my vagina and thus the type/brand of cup I should get?

Or am I totally off on the similarities between the two?

Thanks!

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tisiphone on August 22nd, 2012 09:43 pm (UTC)

Nope - cup insertion and diaphragm insertion are basically the same, except obviously you don't fill the cup with goo. The shape is usually slightly different so you might want to experiment with exactly how you insert it, but basically you've got the right idea.

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teacupcake89 on August 22nd, 2012 10:00 pm (UTC)

they both sit underneath/around your cervix, if you're comfortable with using your diaphragm I imagine the insertion/removal aspect is pretty similar to cups.

if you get a cup that's the right length for you then you probably will just use the stem/base for removal rather than reaching up to the rim, but knowing that you can reach the rim will help any worries you might have about it getting stuck etc!

I would measure how high/low your cervix is during your next period and then use that along with your flow/age/childbirth status and pelvic floor muscle tone/bladder sensitivity to select a cup.

here are the size charts! http://sizecharts.livejournal.com/

and the photo comparisons:
http://menstrualcups.friendhood.net/f52-moderator-s-photo-library

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wireni on August 22nd, 2012 10:16 pm (UTC)

I have used a diaphragm and now got a cup, and I think it is quite different! I picture the diaphragm sits more lengthwise from behind the cervix to the front above the pubic bone, and the cup opening is more horizontally in the vagina under the cervix. Also with the cup you have to let it pop open, and for removal break the seal. That said, you can learn using each of them! I think the diaphragm is easier to insert, but the placement is much more important than with the cup, given the worst case when you don't do it correctly.

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kuradi8 on August 22nd, 2012 11:16 pm (UTC)

A diaphragm is far more similar to an Instead than a menstrual cup. Insteads are 70mm in diameter and variable "length" because it's a soft plastic baggie material. I Googled for a comparison photo and found this in (gee, what a surprise) Melissa's flicker album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36127335@N07/3396813723/

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pastmidnite on August 23rd, 2012 02:47 am (UTC)

I've read about using a diaphragm as a menstrual cup. I wonder how that would work?

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serpent_849 on August 23rd, 2012 02:44 pm (UTC)

ok for most, perfect for some, but the capacity might not be enough.

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sulinda on August 24th, 2012 01:33 pm (UTC)
Thanks!

Thanks, all, for the advice! I'm glad to hear that I wasn't totally mistaken about the similarities between the diaphragm and the cup. I had considered using the diaphragm as a cup, but it would only be sufficient on my low-flow days.

Gonna take the plunge and order a cup today!
Thanks!!

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