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Original poster

First time using a moon cup... help!!

51 replies

Mummysharkdoodoodoo · 07/10/2018 11:01

Arghhh I feel so anxious. It’s in. It didn’t “pop open”? I put it in and my vagina seemed to have sucked it up. Now I’m scared I won’t be able to get it out? I actually have the Dutchess and the stem isn’t that long. It feels fine, and doesn’t hurt. But my god I’m anxious!

OP posts:
MamaMilkMachine · 08/10/2018 21:10

Thanks @TheBeaconsAreLit I've ordered one thanks to this thread 👍🏼 I have a particularly heavy flow and hope this helps

RedFin · 08/10/2018 21:14

How do you know when they're full. With a tampon I can feel it, is it the same with a cup? Or Do you just check a lot at the start until you get to know your flow?

Original poster
Mummysharkdoodoodoo · 08/10/2018 21:29

So, day one my period was extremely heavy. Bleeding out on the sofa and bed. Day two heavy again, used my cup and it was still heavy but no cramps! Day 3 (today!) Iv bled this morning and it’s now finished! Normally I’m 7 days?
M

OP posts:
Original poster
Mummysharkdoodoodoo · 08/10/2018 21:30

Tbh I don’t think you bleed as much as You think! It can hold 3x the amount of a tampon apparently xx

OP posts:
Nakedavenger74 · 08/10/2018 21:31

Here's my drill.
Insert in shower in the morning (mich much easier when it's wet)
Remove whenever I get home over toilet. Rinse at sink and back in.
Remove in shower in the morning and contents down the plug hole.
Repeat.
Simple as! Cups last significantly longer than a tampon. I'd have no qualms about 12 hours probably longer.

Never had to deal with it in a public toilet in the 5 years I've used one. It can wait! Except for once when camping in a wilderness campsite in Canada with no running water. Empty into loo. Rinse with bottle of water. Back it goes.

Nakedavenger74 · 08/10/2018 21:32

Yes @Mummysharkdoodoodoo periods come and go with such ease with a cup. Mine are done and dusted in 5 days. With tampons 7 days with dribbles after.

AmabelleOnabike · 08/10/2018 21:33

I've used one for 10 years but am about to have the Mirena coil fitted and have been told I will not be able to use a mooncup once it's in.

Original poster
Mummysharkdoodoodoo · 08/10/2018 21:40

Iv heard you can use it with coil aslong as you break the suction first. I’m habinf the coil fitted soon.

I honestly forgot I had it in today, normally I ache so much down there when I wear a tampon!

OP posts:
NotANotMan · 08/10/2018 21:42

I don't empty it in public toilets unless they have a sink inside. Occasionally I have had to as sometimes sitting on the loo can dislodge it a tiny bit that makes it suddenly uncomfortable but I hate putting it back in without rinsing.

I've been mooncupping for 5 years and would never go back.

AwdBovril · 08/10/2018 22:40

I find my periods are basically painless with a cup. When I used to use tampons, they'd frequently be so cripplingly bad that I could barely walk properly for the 1st 36 hours. The difference is like magic!

I use a Meluna Cup, purchased from femininewear. I also sometimes use cloth pads, (when I have a migraine & can't cope with the cup). I would never go back to disposables now!

MamaMilkMachine · 08/10/2018 22:43

@Mummysharkdoodoodoo my daughter is obsessed with baby shark, I was actually laid in bed last night trying to sleep with it going through my head......now your user name just set me off again haha!

Dontbuymesocks · 08/10/2018 22:49

Is it really a thing that periods are less painful with a cup? Why would this be?

Sorry for a gross question but I often find a tampon moves down when I go to the loo and then I have to change it - does this happen with a mooncup?

PerkingFaintly · 08/10/2018 22:58

Mine are also less painful with a cup, and I've only ever used towels as the alternative. I do get more pain when the mooncup is nearly full – it's how I can tell I need to empty it.

There's a PhD for someone in researching this!

My own pet hypothesis is that contact between the blood and the vagina walls is Doing Something (triggering cramps to help evacuate blood?). And of course the mooncup greatly reduces that.

But I'd love to see some proper research.

Allthebubbles · 08/10/2018 23:00

I've used a cup for my last two periods and am definitely a convert, but on the instructions it says it should sit low in your vagina whereas mine feels like it goes pretty high. It seems to work fine but I haven't needed to trim the stem at all as seem to need the length.
On my first two heavy days I have needed to change it in the day but the rest it is fine to leave. Still working on the coordination required for neat changes. I feel like I need an extra hand. Also I find menstrual blood doesn't pour out cleanly and mucous like bits kind of dangle and then make a mess. Any suggestions?

AwdBovril · 09/10/2018 00:26

I don't find my cup moves down, but it will leak if it's full. You will start to get a feel for how long you can leave it on any given day. Only when I was on the copper coil (briefly) did I regularly leak due to it being full. Unless they have a particularly heavy flow for whatever reason, AFAIK most women just empty it when they need the loo. So, 3-4 times a day?

Allthebubbles - normal. Wipe with loo roll, & maybe carry a mini bottle of water with a sports cap in your bag, for easy rinsing in public / work loos. Or you can buy special wipes from the site I linked upthread. Or use Femfresh wipes (apparently, I haven't).

AwdBovril · 09/10/2018 00:27

For cleaning the cup, in case that wasn't clear...

Hedgehogblues · 09/10/2018 00:37

You can also use water based lube to insert it until you get used to it.

Stillme1 · 09/10/2018 00:44

I don't think I could use a mooncup but the need will not arise as I have no "parts" left now. The whole thing scares me, I can't imagine how to fit it. The sizing appears to be in imperial sizes. I have never been so glad to have had a hysto.

BitOfFun · 09/10/2018 00:44

I strongly recommend trimming the stem off for comfort.

Original poster
Mummysharkdoodoodoo · 09/10/2018 08:31

Woken up bleeding and to deep internal cramps. I didn’t use my cup over night as I thought I had stopped bleeding 😒 took me a few gos to get in to stay in today!

OP posts:
NotANotMan · 09/10/2018 08:50

There is no risk at all to keeping the cup in when you aren't bleeding (unlike tampons), I usually pop mine in at the first sign of spotting and for a day after I think it's ended!

DemToes · 09/10/2018 09:07

Is there anyone using a menstrual cup that Is very over weight/obese? I'm just wondering if it makes a difference with regards to reach etc.

Also, do you have to remove it in Such a way to avoid blood spilling out?

I really want to give a cup a try, but just can't see it working for me Sad

SomethingNastyInTheBallPool · 09/10/2018 10:11

To the PPs who asked: I have a copper coil and a retroverted uterus and use a Mooncup with no problems. Before I had my DD, I couldn’t get to grips with it, but since having her everything seems to be correctly positioned for cup use. I’d never go back to tampons.

Original poster
Mummysharkdoodoodoo · 09/10/2018 10:57

Im obese! Size 22. Iv found it abit tricky to reach it but not massively.

OP posts:
DemToes · 09/10/2018 12:19

Mummysharkdoodoodoo thanks. So no worse than trying to reach a tampon string that's would it's way upwards instead of downwards Grin

I can reach my cervix so I guess I should be ok?

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