Mooncup I need a little reassurance

[heatseeker]

Hi just got a Mooncup after spending ages reading about them. I am having a few small issues this may be TMI but..
I keep thinking I am leaking when I check knickers nothing (although they are black but they are dry? sorry! - don't think I would dare risk white) but if I wipe myself there is a faint trace of blood?
I am pretty sure that the seal is ok? I have brought the cup a bit lower as thought perhaps it was a little bit too high?
Visited PIL today and had the awful feeling whilst sitting on their sofa that when I stood up there would be a nice print on it
Not sure if I should perhaps wear a pant liner as well, although kind of think that is defeating the object and perhaps I should have stuck with towels?
Also when I thought I was leaking at PIL I dreaded the thought of emptying it, leaving a pool of blood in bottom of toilet and being in the toilet for ages fiddling about. How long before you were confident enough to use outside your own home?

[BertieBottsJustGotMarried]

Wear a pantyliner until you get used to it if it's making you feel anxious.

I think it took me 2 or 3 months before I felt confident with it but it's fine now. To avoid the pool of blood you can put a few squares of toilet roll down before you sit down, that catches most of it. In an emergency if it won't shift, use the toilet brush to dislodge it and then flush.

Plus, once you have been using it a while you get to know how often it needs emptying and they tend to last longer than tampons, so you can avoid the situation of having to empty it when at awkward relatives' houses. Really unless you're staying somewhere for the weekend or something you won't need to empty it when visiting people.

[Honeydukes]

Generally if there's a bit on the tissue it's residue that was on the walls of the vagina before you put it in. Sometimes I get a bit of leaking but I have quite a low cervix, when that happens I just readjust it and carry on. I've found I can go all day without needing to take it out.

[addictedtosugar]

Another convert here suggesting a liner til your confident your not going to leak.

Yes, putting some loo roll in the bowl, and then emptying the cup can prevent a pool being left behind.

It is very rare I need to empty during the day after my first day or 2, so work etc hasn't been an issue really. Managed fine during 3 weeks at PIL.

If its causing stress, what about only using it when at home til you get used to it, and then disposables when out and about? If you've used a towel, you may find a small amount of blood come out, as it is below the level of the cup when you put it in, iyswim?

[heatseeker]

Thank you for your replies I think I will wear a pant liner for now and will try to reserve emptying the mooncup at home. My periods are not normally too heavy, so should be able to go 4 hours without emptying (as long as I am not leaking). Not sure if it is low enough and have made myself sore adjusting and readjusting the moon cup, my insides are not impressed right now!
Sorry to ask but feel the need to ask how low is your cup? I have trimmed the stalk thing to quite a small stump and can feel it almost straight away after ahem parting my lady bits Does this sound right or should it be lower still?!

[BertieBottsJustGotMarried]

If you don't have heavy periods you can go 8 or even up to 12 hours without emptying it. 12 hours is the maximum I think but I've definitely had days when I only needed to empty it morning and night. If you do leave it in for too long and overflow, it doesn't gush out anyway, it will be more of a trickle, so a pantyliner helps with this too. I agree with using it at home for the first couple of months if you're feeling anxious about it.

Don't worry too much about adjusting its position. It sounds about right to me, possibly a little too low - you should have to put a finger inside yourself to feel it, although only a short way. It definitely shouldn't be sticking out. But unlike a tampon, as you walk and move around it will work its way into the correct and comfortable position anyway. Sometimes it can help to walk up and down some stairs or do a couple of squats just after putting it in or if it feels odd to help it wriggle into place

[heatseeker]

Thank you Bertie will have a go at squats before bed
When I first put it in it was too high and had trouble trying to encourage it back down again! Hopefully I will get it in the right place in the end just need to relax a bit.
The only worry I have with leaving it in for long periods of time is the smell factor. I presume because it doesn't come in to contact with air it shouldn't smell too bad? I will sterilise mine when my period is finished is that enough to keep nasty niffs away?

[BertieBottsJustGotMarried]

As long as you don't leave it in longer than 12 hours it won't smell.

If you do forget about it, the smell is horrendous but other than that it has never smelt of anything at all. Some people sterilise but I just wash mine with hand soap.

[heatseeker]

That's good I would be mortified if others could smell something foul coming from me I am feeling more confident now and am looking forward to day 3 of its use tomorrow. Thank goodness for MN I don't know anyone in RL who uses one and my Mum thinks it sounds like a rather strange concept haha bless her.

[addictedtosugar]

I think using a menstrual cup reduces the smell compared to tampons/towels. I always thought there was a "odor de menstruation" about me, but I don't think it exists when using a cup - but maybe pregnancy changed things, as I started using a cup shortly after periods returned post DS2.

Unless full, you should easily get more than 4 hrs.

I have a ring stem, but it is all inside.

[heatseeker]

It has been an interesting day still not getting a perfect seal have started to doubt my pelvic floor but don't think it is that. Think perhaps I am aiming the thing more upwards than toward my back really hope this works.....

[BertieBottsJustGotMarried]

What do you mean by a perfect seal? As long as it's not leaking it should be alright.

[heatseeker]

I have still experienced a small leak today very slight though, sorry that's what I meant by not having a perfect seal. I am hoping it will be ok now as last time I checked there was no trace of blood. If not I may have to shelve it until next month as I am getting a bit frustrated with it.

[OneDayWhenIGrowUp]

With regards to feeling like you've leaked but then it hasn't, I think it does have a different feeling especially if you're used to tampons - I've been using a mooncup for about 4 years, and recently had to use tampons for a few days and they felt horribly dry in comparison.

I also empty they cup onto tissue first when I'm out and about, although at home I can reach the sink from sitting on the loo so I just empty it straight down the sink and rinse it out all in one go.

[heatseeker]

Cheers oneday I think I have finally cracked it well I have managed it twice without any leak!! This morning was a bit of a nightmare realised the small leak was back, cue me raaahhing back to the bathroom, then running round like a headless chicken to get kids to school, only just making it in time...not my finest hour. Did have a chuckle when thinking I could have signed the late register 'mother had mooncup issues'
I think emptying on to tissue is a good plan I wouldn't like to leave a tell tale trail down the loo.
I do definitely feel more moist down there compared to when I have used tampons, so even when I'm not leaking, it still makes me wonder if I have it in right.