Okay, I just got a keeper becuase it has come pretty highly recommended my many women that I know. I tested it out for the first time last night. All went well until I tried to take it out. OH… MY…GOD. It was that most painful thing I have ever experienced , and I had 12 kidney stones at the same time. I couldn’t get the thing to unsuction to my what ever it was stuck to, and it felt like I was pulling out my entire uterus. I know that Some of you lady dopers have Keepers becuase I have seen you refer to them before. I was wondering if you could help me. What was I doing wrong? Is it that painful every time you try to empty it? How do you put up with the pain? Please help. My woman parts still hurt from that thing:(
You need to squeeze the bottom of the cup until it releases the suction. Sometimes, if it’s really full or seated up pretty high, you need to also try to tilt or twist it a little while squeezing. Don’t try to just grab the tail and yank it out, because it’ll put up a lot of resistance, as you’ve discovered.
I’m almost afraid to ask but what’s a keeper.
Is it like a pessary?
A Diaphragm?
period device?
Jessh I’m glad my mommy parts don’t do that messy stuff anymore.
Do a Google on “Keeper female”. Thats how I found it.
I am a strange male.
It was pretty full. Maybe that was the problem. I did sqeeze it and it didn’t work until after I had let out a scream of pain that brought the whole household to the bathroom door. Okay, I am going to ignore my new found fear and try it again… Whimper.
** Mermaid**
A keeper is a little period device that you put inside you. It is a little cup that suctions to your insides and collects the blood. It is supposed to come out when you squeeze the bottom to release the suction, but that didn’t work for me.
Yeah I sort of found that out when I did a Goooogle on it as suggested by Booker57.
It seems to me that too much suction is your problem. I’d just bet that if you would put a few vent holes in it your problem would be solved.
No need to thank me really, I’m just here to help. 
Here is what I do (I had to use pliers to remove it the first day!!!)
First, grab the little stem as hard as you can. Bear down and pull forward not down. It should come out pretty easily that way.
By ‘bearing down’ I mean pushing from inside, in case that wasn’t clear. This 50% of the trick. Pulling forward is the other 50%. I was ready to throw the thing away after the first day (yes, needle nose pliers – I swear to god) but once I figured out this method, I’ve not had a problem since. You will want to be seated on the toilet when you do this, however, as pulling forward means that it will tip over toward the back and dump out. Sort of an all-in-one motion 
(the next move is the graceful toss into the sink, but that is not what we’re discussing.)
Another note: wash it with soap every time if possible. In public restrooms this may not always be an option, but when possible, do it. Also fill it with water and then put your palm against the opening, to create a suction, then squeeze it. This will force water out the tiny holes around the rim and clean them out.
After your period, soak the keeper in 50/50 vinegar/water mixture overnight before storing it until the next month. (if you don’t do this, it develops a strange odor after a few months)
Here is the Keeper for those not in the know:
http://eco-logique.com/p-keeper.htm
Opinions on this device, girls? Curious. Had heard of menstrual cups a few years ago but for some reason that notion didn’t catch me too well. Testimonials?
I swear by mine. Sometimes I swear AT mine as well, but mostly by it.
I had to use tampons for a while because we moved and I hadn’t found which box it was in, and it was so gross using tampons again. Ugh.
I remember that at least 25 years ago 17 magazine used to advertise these little plastic cups which looked kind of like an upside down bell with a few accordion-like pleats added. These ones, though, were definitely disposable.
I hate to sound naive, but given that vaginal muscles will keep things in place, why does the Keeper need the suction thing going? Give me sea-sponges anyday.
I think suction is just a side effect of the shape and insertion method.
On the Keeper web site, a lot of the customer comments mention that using the Keeper reduces menstrual cramping. Does it really do this? If so, why?
I just had to add that if you’re a Babylon 5 fan, this thread takes on a whole new meaning.
I don’t know about that. I still had really bad cramps last night when I had it in. I am not sure how the thing would prevent that. It did work really well leaks wise, I didn’t even need a panty liner. I bet that once I figure out how to get it out without agonizing pain I will love as much as the fake women on the website.
Oh, thanks for the tips OpalCat I hope they work. I was about ready to send the thing back myself. I still haven’t worked up the guts to put the thing back in though, so I don’t know if your methods work yet.
Thats what I figured, Shera. I don’t see how what you put up there is going to affect cramping either, but if you go to the Keeper website (given by Opalcat), there are women there claiming it prevents cramps and shortens the lenght of your period. Go figure.
shudder BAD mental image!
Shera, congrats on your Keeper purchase and keep working at it. I had a hard time at first too, and I went back and read their feedback page and one of the reader suggestions helped me a lot. What I do is grab the pull tab with my right hand (usually with a tissue, in case it’s slippery) and then use a finger of my left hand to depress the side and break the seal. It’s a bit complicated and it took me a couple months to get fast at it, but I found it much easier than trying to squeeze the bottom and pull out at the same time. A lot of the time you also won’t have the luxury of washing it out every time you dump it, so in public restrooms, etc, I’ve taken to either bringing a damp paper towel into the stall with me to wipe it, or if I’m carrying a purse, I throw in a travel pack of Tucks or Always wipes. I know what you mean though, I thought I’d never be able to do it the first time I tried…it does get much easier though. Good Luck!
I’ve never needed to squeeze it. The forward motion combined with pushing with your hoohoo muscles seems to work well (keeps your fingers cleaner, too!)