menstrual cups ..

Cailin_Eile · 10-08-2014 11:11am #1

Hi there. I was wondering if anybody uses a menstrual cup? I just got my first one and I'm having difficulty with insertion and have the cup pop open. I've try the c fold, the punch method and origami fold. The last is my favourite as it goes in easier but i still don't think its popping open. Any tips? Is it better to insert with the fold to the back, front or side? Thanks in advance!

Pwindedd · 10-08-2014 9:46pm

I struggled at first. Now I just fold it in half, place it kinda just a bit more than halfway in. Let it pop open, then "screw" or twist it up into position. It helps if it has a stalk on it for this method though. Persevere with it and I can promise you you won't look back.

sullivlo · 10-08-2014 10:00pm

Pwindedd wrote: »

I struggled at first. Now I just fold it in half, place it kinda just a bit more than halfway in. Let it pop open, then "screw" or twist it up into position. It helps if it has a stalk on it for this method though. Persevere with it and I can promise you you won't look back.

Sorry to hijack thread but... Been having issues with tampons. Drying and sore.

Would a cup help with this? I have a fear of tampons so it took me a while & then only when needs must. But are they easier or harder than tampons?

Neyite · 10-08-2014 11:10pm

sullivlo wrote: »

Sorry to hijack thread but... Been having issues with tampons. Drying and sore.

Would a cup help with this? I have a fear of tampons so it took me a while & then only when needs must. But are they easier or harder than tampons?

A bit of both, really. They dont dry you out the way tampons do, which is much more comfy, but are trickier to get the hang of inserting.

This is what I found best when learning how to insert them: - if you dont like TMI, dont read!

Firstly, try it when you have plenty of time to take your time with inserting them, when nobody else is likely to be banging on the door to use the loo.

Practice inserting and removing it during a different part of your cycle when its less messy to experiment, and use a lube if you need to.

Position yourself so that you shorten the vaginal canal - squat so that your bum is resting on your heels, leaning forward as much as you can, or sit in your bed in that position so you don't have to worry about balancing too!

Exhale so you relax your vaginal muscles - they are pretty strong, and if you are tense, nothing will go up there without hurting you!

Push gently, relaxing/exhaling as you do. Once its in initally, if it unfolds, you can push the bottom of the cup up into position. Run a finger around it and it will kind of sit into place. Kind of bear down slightly like you'd imagine you would in giving birth, so that it will sit properly.

For a while, use a pad in tandem with it on your period. As you get a bit more practice, and know how often you need to empty it each day,and can insert it quickly you wont need to keep using pads.

Removing it can be trickier, especially if its very full. Wash your hands before starting. I usually tear off two wads of paper and set to one side, tuck up any skirts or trailing clothes, push trouser legs & underwear right down to your ankles so you can squat wide if needed. Lean foward and reach in, run your finger around the rim of the cup to loosen the seal and pinching the base of the cup, pulling it down. Empty into the loo, wiping it with the paper. Rinse with water and reinsert. Then wipe with the second wad of paper. Wash hands again.

Always try and pee afterwards, even if its a little. This reduces risk of UTI if you are prone to them.

At the end of the cycle, I usually steep mine in a milton solution overnight then rinse well, put it into the cotton bag for next time.

I did find the cup tricky, but I loved the idea of them so I stuck with it. I have to say though, it did take me several months of practice to feel confident with them, but I do love now that I can have it in for hours, all day even, and I dont get irritated or dry. I'd hate to go back to pads or tampons now.

LegacyUser · 11-08-2014 12:43pm

I've had a mooncup for a year and a half and regular leakages, no matter what I did. I bought and started using a slightly larger sized MeLuna just recently and so far no leaks!

I don't think it's silicone, it's a harder marterial and only has two airholes so seems less inclined to pop open than the mooncup, but once it's in no problems.

To encourage it to open I'm using the 7 Fold and then a bit of bearing down/tugging.

Delighted with it.

sullivlo · 11-08-2014 12:54pm

I like the idea of them. I just don't know if I'll get over the yuck factor, which is silly - it's a natural process etc. But I'm very squeamish. I know it's all psychological though.

I might buy one and try it out at some stage during my next period. Its just a huge expense if it's not gonna work for me.

(But ultimately an investment because I feel I should have shares in always at this stage)

Pwindedd · 11-08-2014 8:43pm

sullivlo wrote: »

Sorry to hijack thread but... Been having issues with tampons. Drying and sore.

Would a cup help with this? I have a fear of tampons so it took me a while & then only when needs must. But are they easier or harder than tampons?

I can only speak from experience, but they are far less drying than tampons as the are non absorbent. Your flow acts as a lubricant, icky I know but it's true. They are more invasive to insert, but the benefits far outweigh the yuk factor. It takes practice and you'll inevitably find a way that works for you.

You only really need to empty it twice a day if you've an average flow. I do mine first thing in the morning and it'll see me right through the day at work, an evening gym session and then I empty again late evening - I would very rarely need to do it outside the privacy of my own bathroom.

Even if it feels out of position at first, after 2-3 mins it seems to work its way into the correct position. I think your muscles manoeuvre it of their own accord.

I can only suggest you give it a go and see how you get on. It'll save you a fair bit of money in the long run if you get used to it. I was averaging around 10e every month on sanitary products. This works out at around 2e a month if you use it for 18 months before you replace. 1 Baby bottle sterilising tablet in a cup to sterilise it at the end of your period. Hope this helps.

Cailin_Eile · 11-08-2014 9:26pm

Thanks everyone for the replies. I guess I'll just stick with it and practice practice practice

I'm sensitive and tampons/pads irritate so I do want to stay away from them as much as possible and this seems like the best option

Gottalovegreys · 14-08-2014 2:36pm

I had a little bit of difficulty initially, but found a couple of things helped get the cup in. i started off with a mooncup, and now alternate between that and a meluna.

Someone already mentioned putting the cup about halfway in, and then letting it open before you insert completely, I've found this helped a lot with getting the cup to open properly. Another trick i read somewhere (maybe the meluna site?) was to rinse the cup with cold water just before insertion. I think its supposed to "firm" it up a little? Tap water isn't so cold that it makes it too cold to insert, and its really helped me.

Unfortunately, no matter what I do, I'm still having some leaking in the first few days, but still much prefer cups to anything else. Good luck

eviltwin · 14-08-2014 3:21pm

I really struggled with the cup for the first 2/3 cycles, like anything new you have to give yourself time to get used to it. Now I've been using the cup for about a year and would never go back to tampons etc. I actually find them less yuck than I expected, I empty it at home and don't look then just wipe the cup with some toilet roll, its a lot less messy compared to towels and I don't get any leakage which I did with tampons. I can just put it in and forget I'm even having a period which is great.

Da Shins Kelly · 14-08-2014 5:55pm

A couple of my friends use them and think they're great, but I just can't get over the ickiness of it. I'm sure it's not that icky, but the idea of reusing it just kinda grosses me out.

xElDeeX · 14-08-2014 8:22pm

I found the fleurcup great but there is a learning curve. The first few days it was certainly an in my own home only thing! With time I was confident enough to wear at work even with lighter clothes so you will get the hang of it. I'm a total klutz so you will probably get it soon. Just give it time.