Menstrual cup

[ladymary86]

Just posting for some support with using one for the first time.

AF started today and last month I ordered a "hey girls" menstrual cup so I've decided to give it a go!
Are there others who now use these exclusively? I hate tampons and towels irritate me. I'm hoping this turns out to be a viable solution. So far so good... it's in and I can't feel it, the instructions suggested a "twist to seal" but I found this difficult but the thing is so big I honestly don't see how anything could get past it in there!!
If you have any tips, please post them here for me!

I used mine exclusively before I got pregnant, and as soon as I feel comfortable doing so I'll go straight back to it! I never found the learning curve to be as massive as it's made out to be but of course everyone is different.

Honestly, the more you use it the more you'll get to grips with it I find. Once it's in you can kind of run your finger around the top to check the seal - kind of making sure that it's unfolded fully - but I find majority of the time once I've got it in it's already sealed - it's just practise and experience and working out the best way it works for you

I loved mine. So freeing, loved the thought of never having to worry that I'd run out of tampons. Unfortunately I now have a pelvic prolapse so can no longer use it but I found after three periods I'd cracked it so even for those who don't immediately get to grips with it I'd say persevere for a bit.

Thank you @bogoblin and @Pepperwand ! So far so good for me here. Definitely a welcome change from the disposable options!
Which ones do you guys use? Already I feed like I might benefit from something "softer" then the hey girl cup. I can't feel it when it's in but for the insertion (horrible word 🤣) and removal process, a softer material would make it more comfortable.

I highly recommend looking up ‘precious star pads’ youtube. I couldn’t get a cup to work for until I watched her videos. I found a better fold for inserting it and found a better way for making sure it’s popped open

I use the meluna. I prefer soft but it is harder to get them to open properly. I have a much firmer meluna which is the biggest size they do for very heavy times and find it really hurts to take out. It seems I need to try ‘the hot dog method’ next time. I also have a cheap amazon one which I don’t find as good

I have tried to use one but find it very difficult and messy to remove. I'm also worried as apparently the risk of prolapse is raised if you use them.

I'm in my mid 50s so not sure it's worth the effort of trying to get to grips with it!

Dutchess cup from Amazon, much cheaper than some others and the best I tried.

Did you do the "put a cup in it" quiz?

I have the Saalt soft and its small and easy.

I use might pretty much exclusively. It took me a couple of cycles to learn how to position it properly and I had to cut most of the stork off it as it was uncomfortably long. But I now love it and am so glad I've found something that can cope with my heavy periods. I used to have to wear a super tampon and a pad as I would flood through the tampon in an hour which is t very useful when you teach and can't leave your classroom for two hours straight.

I started with a mooncup but found it would twist sideways and leak no matter how securely it seemed to be in. Now I’ve got an organicup and it’s much better.

I never got on with mine, it wasn't comfortable and if you were in a public loo with sinks outside the cubicle it's impossible to clean up properly.
I think I may have had a very small prolapse post birth onwards as it was a terrible birth so that's probably why I could feel it too low.

I also used one before pregnancy but afterwards found they just leaked. There are other options as well if you don't get on with a cup, I use reusable pads and period pants now. Have also used 'soft tampons' - in the old days it'd have been called a sponge. And a flex period disc which is interesting but doesn't really work that well for me- prolapse scuppers quite a few internal solutions!

Mine is a tulip cup

I like mine, been using for about 8 months now. I have never had to change it in public yet, especially since lockdown I haven't been that far away from home where I couldn't change it there. I wouldn't want to clean it in the sink in a public toilet, I think I would have to take wipes if I knew I was going to do that. The other thing I find is that sometimes it's stained the toilet the blood and I have to put bleach down. I would be a bit self-conscious in a public toilet.

That having been said I do find them convenient, and it's nice not having to worry about how long it has been in like you do with tampons

I used to use a Mooncup, the bigger size. At the time it was the main brand on the market. It worked great for me, and I rarely ever had to empty it at work (I kept a bag of wipes, etc, which made it all easier). Yet it still held loads as my periods could be really heavy.

I did cut pretty much most of the stem off. While I couldn't feel the cup itself, I certainly felt the stem and it was uncomfortable. I had it cracked during the first period I used it. Probably more luck than anything.

I'm coming out the other side of the menopause process now, no periods in nearly two years. As I had heavy periods for years, and pads and tampons would irritate, I really wish I'd known about mooncups as soon as they first hit the market.

DD is moving to reusable pads. She doesn't like anything internal. We're looking into recommedations for pads for heavy flow. It's getting difficult to find disposable pads that don't have scent or "odour control" chemicals in them, these cause her skin to feel sore and irritated. (Was the same for me, on the rare occasion I was caught short without my cup.)

I might have trouble using a cup now, though. While I don't have a prolapse, I do have a weakness in the area (yes, I'm doing my kegals....).

Haven’t used a tampon in more than 8/9 months now. I would never go back. Once you get used to it you literally can’t imagine using a manky bit of soaking cotton/fibres!!

It’s honestly changed my life!!

@2Kidsinatrenchcoat yes to organicup!

I’ve been using a diva cup exclusively for over a year and really regret not switching before I was in my 30s, especially as I thought about it for years. I don’t change them in public toilets but you can keep them in for 12 hours so it’s never been a problem though I admit if you have a heavier flow you might not be able to keep in in that long.

It’s a bit of trial and error to get them in but once you’ve got the knack for it you’ll be fine. There is a slightly increased risk of prolapse from using them however if I remember correctly the study found women were bearing down to remove them. I find a leg up on the side of the bath and a deep breath relaxes me enough to remove it easily.