Have you tried baring down while rocking the cup side to side and 'walking' it down until you can pinch the base? That's what I have to do since I can just barely reach the base of mine. If that's not working you could try enlarging the suction holes so that it's easier to break the seal, or possibly purchasing a longer cup.

Both of those cups have similar dimensions but are shaped a little differently -- pointy and blunt based. And yes, they might be a bit short for you.

You are also probably clenching your PC muscle without realizing it. Skim/Read http://kuradi8.livejournal.com/ and follow the link to the Virgins Guide to Cups for more detailed information on how to get cups in and out of tight places.

I wouldn't say they're short, i can reach and feel their bases no problem. And I can feel the stems easily too without them poking out of me at the same time. my issue is getting my thumb in at the same time as my index finger, i can't seem to get both fingers in at the same time to deep enough to actually pinch the base, my pubic bone really feels like a nuisance, blocking my fingers from getting in or the cup from getting out. When I tug on the stems to get the cup further down, the moment I let go to try to grasp the base it slips back up, so in the end I have to use the stem the entire time until I happen to get the whole thing out, which I know is not what's supposed to be done. I swear I'm relaxed when I start out (and indeed, in the beginning, its a little easier to tug it down but the longer I try the more frustrated I get)

thanks for the link though, its helpful. and I might try to enlarge the holes for sure.

I guess my biggest question is why I really can't seem to get my fingers past my entrance (I can get my index and middle finger in at the same time with some discomfort, but much further than my thumb and index finger). The vagina is elastic and my cup expands fine once past my pubic bone, but the entrance really does feel tight, it feels like my fingers can't spread wide enough to grip anything wider than the stem. I'm not sure if this is my PC muscles though, since I can squeeze my finger inside but it doesn't seem to account for the lack of flexibility near the entrance.

also. I just suddenly remembered something, but a doctor once told me years ago that my finger strength (ability to spread my fingers as opposed to gripping onto something, which uses different muscles) was somewhat weaker than normal. so I wonder if that has contribued to my issues.

Maybe something with a different type of stem? A meluna with the loop stem? Or a femmycycle? Or a long tapered cup like the lily? All of these seem to provide a way to remove the cup without pinching the base. I know some people on this forum use their stems a lot in removal and that might work for you. I love my sckoon, but the stem is pretty useless for that! But, I have pretty different anatomy so I'm not sure. Maybe others will have experience that might help more. Hope it works out for you.

the sckoon inserts better for me than the lunette but it definitely was the sckoon stem that made me start being more apprehensive! I did manage to pull it out a few times with the stem but the last time I tried the stem definitely showed signs of wear/a small tear. A Meluna with a ring stem or a Lily cup definitely seem like options I should look into if I do consider getting a different cup.

The Sckoon stem is a complete joke. With that one, it's not you, it's the cup.

Like you, I ABSOLUTELY need the stem in order to get cups out and end up just pulling down on the stem until the base is sticking out of my vag. But I need my cups so soft for other reasons (twisty vag, a fibroid in an inopportune place, and a finicky bladder) that they just don't really create a seal anyway, so this wasn't an issue except on my Si-Bell, which had a really weak stem anyway. Not as bad as the Sckoon but close.

I'd second the recommendation for the FemmyCycle--it won't require you to get 2 fingers in there. I eventually found it too finicky for me but it was leakproof when I got it opened completely around my cervix. Its design will also prevent a dangly cervix from fitting inside, which will give you more capacity if you are in the dangly cervix crowd.

its sad that the sckoon stem is so flimsy, I really do like the shape and its more comfortable than the lunette for me.

I actually have never been able to find my cervix, even when I stick my whole finger inside I can never find that "tip of a nose" bump with a hole in it that everyone seems to mention. I'm not sure if my cervix is particularly high though because even after wearing my cups for a few hours (during dry runs) the cup never rides up much farther (if at all) than it did at initial insertion.

I'll look into the femmycycle as well, then.

Here are a couple being sold on mc_sales: http://mc-sales.livejournal.com/300546.html
they come up pretty often there so I'm sure you'll find one soon!

If you can't feel your cervix then it's safe to say it's on the higher end of the spectrum. Nothing wrong with that, I've never been able to feel mine either. If the femmycycle doesn't work out for you, I would consider looking for something a little bit longer with a better stem. Perhaps something with a similar shape and stiffness of the sckoon.