6 years with Diva....now leaks?!

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03 December 2014 @ 10:43 am

Hi people!

It's been a while but I need your advice once again. I've had 6 wonderful years with my Size 1 Diva cup. Haven't used a tampon in ages and LOVE it. I've skied, hiked, run, done yoga, ridden bikes, swam, and gotten a promotion with my cup! Problem is, the last couple months I've started having leaking issues. It's more than spotting that I could chalk up to residual blood, but like, big splotches of red blood in my underwear. Cup feels in place, isn't uncomfortable, and I'm inserting it the same way as always. Would love to hear the community's advice on causes and solutions as I'm sick of ruining my underwear. A couple of ideas and additional info:

(1) I am now in my early thirties and significantly more sexually active than I was in my 20s (though still no pregnancies, thanks IUD!). Is it possible that I need Size 2?? This prospect is kind of depressing to me - I hate to think I'm stretching myself out even before having a baby....

(2) Is it possible I just need a new Size 1 cup? I know there are conflicting views on when to replace a cup, but has anyone heard of a cup "wearing out" after several years and not working as well? I've examined it and it's intact with no cracks or anything.

Any help would be lovely, thank you!

Tags: divacup, leakage & spotting

Current Mood:

confused

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5 comments —

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pineapplebear on December 3rd, 2014 03:44 pm (UTC)

Also, I should note, the cup is NOT full, and leakage tends to happen even shortly after putting the cup in (despite seeming to be fully open), but also continues while I'm wearing it.

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trejoy on December 3rd, 2014 05:06 pm (UTC)

The cup may very well be fully open, but could be opening next to your cervix instead of under/around it (like holding a glass next to a faucet rather than under it). Have you located your cervix in the past? If you cannot find it, maybe try letting the cup open sooner during insertion (like as it is just inside) then don't push it too far but ease it in and see if it finds its way into position.

I've also used cups for six years and the body changes over time, whether or not we have given birth. Your cervix also may have changed position (mine certainly has!) If you choose to replace, I would advise a wider cup.

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kathlyne on December 3rd, 2014 06:22 pm (UTC)

I'm going to agree with trejoy. It sounds like you may just be missing your cervix. Maybe it changed position or became more dangly. Sweep/stir around the cup after insertion to see if you can feel your cervix, if you can--then this is definitely the problem and you need to readjust.
Best of luck.

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dhrachth on December 3rd, 2014 09:02 pm (UTC)

A lot of cups recommend the bigger size after 30 even if you haven't had children because your body does change a bit over time. (My best friend and I were comparing notes and we both noticed big changes in our periods at about 30.) If the cup isn't working for you any more, you probably do need another cup, but it's nothing you did that caused the change. It just happens.

Even if the capacity is still fine, you might need something shorter if you're putting the rim past your cervix (or wider so a dangly cervix doesn't take as much space, or firmer so it's not folded up inside you, etc). I'd suggest, next time you have a leak, run a finger around the cup before taking it out to see if you can figure out why. Then you'd have some idea about what you need to not keep having the problem.

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kuradi8 on December 3rd, 2014 10:43 pm (UTC)

Compare your Diva to the other brands using the size charts at http://sizecharts.livejournal.com/ and then decide how much shorter/longer wider/narrower you want your next cup to be.

Maybe you just need one that's shaped differently? So look at photos of ones that you think will fit. Pointy or blunt based? Flared rim or not? Etc.

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