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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

could the mooncup have caused this??? (tmi alert)

40 replies

tryingnottopanic · 21/08/2006 11:24

I'm going to have to try to be clear here, but I'm dead scared atm so sorry if it comes out sounding like rubbish...

I'm a regular mner (of course, why else would i have bought a mooncup!) and have been using a mooncup for 2 cycles. A couple of weeks ago I noticed general soreness 'down there' and wondered if I might be getting cystitis. Nothing much happened, and we went away on holiday for a week. When I came back I felt that things still weren't quite right and went to the doctors, who said it was probably thrush and prescribed canestan. This made it worse! Then I started another period, so couldn't do anything until that was over. Didn't use the mooncup this time!

Have been back to the doctors today and she has noticed two small ulcerated areas on my labia (sorry if tmi). Genital Herpes is not likely as I'm in a monogamous relationship (and haven't had sex without a condom for years anyway). That leaves 2 possibilities, trauma or cancer.

Sex life is of the normal, married kind so can't think of any reason that sex would have resulted in any injury. The only thing I can imagine is that in inserting and removing the mooncup I could have caused some damage. Obviously I'm sooo hoping that this is what it is as the other alternative is too scary to think about.

What do you think? Has anyone else hurt themselves by using a mooncup? Is it possible?

OP posts:

Report

colditz · 21/08/2006 11:25

have you been wearing a thong? I got a blister from one once!

Dior · 21/08/2006 11:25

Message withdrawn

MatNanPlus · 21/08/2006 11:25

inner or outer labia tntp?

MatNanPlus · 21/08/2006 11:26

do you have longish nails?

expatinscotland · 21/08/2006 11:29

If it's on your labia I don't see how mooncup would have caused this unless the stem was hanging out of your vagina.

Dior · 21/08/2006 11:30

Message withdrawn

Jimjams2 · 21/08/2006 11:31

I was very sore until I cut the stem further. Also found the first few times I did do myself an injury removing it, made myself very sore. Bearing down helps.

CarolinaMoon · 21/08/2006 11:31

I got an ulcer like that as a teenager, caused by chafing underwear I think

I'm not sure how a mooncup could cause that unless you've scratched yourself with your nails as MNP says.

you'd know if your dp had herpes wouldn't you?

I'm sure cancer is v v unlikely, please don't worry too much.

MatNanPlus · 21/08/2006 11:33

I removed mine completly with a craft knife as no matter how short it rubbed/poked.

I have been using mine for 18m and for 10-15 days a month and no soreness so wonder if it could be caused by placement/stem/nail damage.

CarolinaMoon · 21/08/2006 11:33

aaah yes, the stem of course. Cut it as short as poss (a few mm).

It's better to get the mooncup out by bearing down and squeezing the bottom of it than by pulling on the stem anyway.

morningpaper · 21/08/2006 11:35

HOW ulcerated exactly? What did the GP say - oh it's cancer or herpes? WTF? I've got severe lacerations from thrush before and have needed hydrocortisone to sort it out. Could that be possible? Have you been re-swabbed to ensure that the thrush has gone? I would sterilise your Mooncup in between uses or use towels until the thrush is defintiely cleared up.

Cappuccino · 21/08/2006 11:36

if it's the biggest change you've made recently then it's a likelihood

you'll be tested I'm sure but till you get the results I'd be thinking, this is new, and so is my mooncup

the most obvious answer is often the right one

morningpaper · 21/08/2006 11:39

What tests has your Doctor done? How many swabs have been done and from where? Your GP sounds really irresponsible if s/he is putting these kinds of ideas in your head without doing proper tests first.

BTW I currently have two lacerations over an inch long on my labia which are caused because I have thrush and it always seems to have that effect on me. I am using canestan hydrocortisone at the moment. It happens to me a lot but it is quite unusual apparently.

(Hope the men at Foot Anstey are enjoying reading this.)

Dior · 21/08/2006 11:41

Message withdrawn

JessaJam · 21/08/2006 11:42

Not that I have personal experience bit I believe chafing underwear can cause very sore/raw/ulcer-y areas ...'trauma' doesn't have to be from indulging in BDSM! Just pants'll do it!!

JessaJam · 21/08/2006 11:42

but

tryingnottopanic · 21/08/2006 11:46

Thanks for all the replies girls.

mp, she has done swabs this morning and prescribed hydrocortisone. She didn't mention cancer, I asked if it was a possibility (a friend's mother died of vulval cancer last year, which is how I know about it) and the doctor made vague noises about it being unlikely, but if the ulceration doesn't heal with the cream she'll send me for a biopsy. I'm going back on friday.

I know vulval cancer is extremely rare, and usually affects post-menopausal women, but the symptoms seem to fit. The doctor said 'the ulcers wouldn't be sore if it was cancer', which really scared me because they aren't! (Stinging a bit now with the cream on. God, sorry. Deffo tmi.)

I still have about half a cm of stem on my mooncup so maybe that's it. And medium-long nails. ulcers on outer labia, btw.

OP posts:

morningpaper · 21/08/2006 11:47

what kind of underwear are you lot wearing?????? rubber knickers?

SherlockLGJ · 21/08/2006 11:48

UCM is that you ??

Sorry I couldn't resist.

morningpaper · 21/08/2006 11:49

Well good luck

Maybe you are allergic to the canestan! I expect it is something simple and will clear up once the right diagnosis is made

SherlockLGJ · 21/08/2006 11:49

MP

I just sprayed.

tryingnottopanic · 21/08/2006 11:50

Just reading back over this again and had to laugh at matnanplus saying 'I removed mine with a craft knife'

Thought she was talking about taking the mooncup out for a minute. That would explain a few cuts!

OP posts:

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Cappuccino · 21/08/2006 11:52

oooh, you are me! and I'm being treated for health anxiety by a professional, so I know what I'm talking about

it's unlikely. they're not hurting now but they were which is why you noticed them.

don't panic (mind you if I took my own advice I'd save the NHS some dosh)

Cappuccino · 21/08/2006 11:53

and 'the symptoms seem to fit' is exactly the kind of cobblers I'd come up with

except your doctor - you know, the one with the medical degrees - says they don't

MatNanPlus · 21/08/2006 11:53

tntp.

Remove the stem completly as that could well be the cause of this nastiness.

Ensure you wash your hands very well before and after insertion and sterilise the MC regularly, i have mine in an small avent bottle in milton each day while i shower and it is fine, tho don't leave it soaking for days!! it goes tacky, tho can be sorted.

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