For me to not trim the stem on my moon cup?

[Elephant17]

Never used one before, thought I'd give it a dry run (so to speak) to get the hang of it a bit before period actually starts...

I can feel the stem but it's not painful, I think I would get used to the sensation of it being there. I find it difficult to take out even with the stem intact, I don't know how I'd do it without?? I don't like the thought of squatting down in a public toilet.... but will leaving it make the cup dislodge and more prone to leaking?

Does anyone know if there's a reason, other than for comfort, that the stem mustn't extend out of the vagina??

I trim the stalk off mine or else I can feel it. I don't have any issues removing it either

A cock is not left there for hours on end.................

after 1 hour of inserting a tampon my body will push it out and reject it, hope that makes sense.

Elephant. I haven’t braved up to trying one yet...too many choices & I’m a chunky monkey with short arms and able to create chaos out of a simple manoeuvre...I see it not ending well 😖😂

However, I have been on plenty of MN threads about them. You do NOT want to break the seal by pulling on it 😳😩😥. Break the seal FIRST.

And practise folding it so you can insert it, then let it open, then twist it slightly to create the seal.

Then when you’ve used it during your period, come & tell me how fab it was!

They are easier to insert if they are wet. I need to run mine under a tap or my water bottle to get it in the correct place. Never struggle to get it out now, you get used to doing so. I left a tiny bit of stem on mine, but don't really need it.

I have a Lunette and I've never bothered to trim the stem. I do find it hurts if I try to take it out without breaking the seal, so now I always do that. I've hardly ever had to change it in a public toilet - once or twice when I first started using it and hadn't worked out how to check that it was in properly. Now I just change it first thing in the morning and last thing at night and never think about it at all during the day. I love it.

Elephant, if your scar area is still tender to the touch a year after giving birth, it might be worth getting it checked. Don't want to scare you, but sometimes birthing injuries don't heal well. Although I had healed on the outside, i had not healed properly inside my vagina, and it was extremely tender when touched. I had to have day surgery to re-repair it nearly a year after giving birth, after which it healed fine and no longer gave me any problems.

As for the mooncup, you're better off trialing it during your period. The natural 'lubrication' helps!

When you're first getting used to it, you may find that rinsing it in warm water makes insertion more comfortable. The silicone feels softer and more squidgeable, and the warmth is soothing.

If it feels like it's sitting too high, bearing down will make it descend to the right place. Remember to break the seal before trying to bring it out further.

I ended up cutting the stem right off. But try it during your period before you decide.

Ladiva, there are lots of reasons why your body might reject a tampon but not a menstrual cup. The cup is a completely different shape, sits much lower inside you, doesn't expand, and so on.

Also, I tried a 'dry run' too, and couldn't get it comfortable at all. Tried again during a period and it was fine. So I would wait until you have a period and try again.

Ladiva1971, Menstrual cups have been around for about 86 years and I wish I'd known about them and tried them in my teen years and not just 4 years before the perimenopause started; I could have saved a small fortune and done my bit for the planet! I will be introducing Dd to them when she starts her periods so that she can have the benefits that I didn't know about.

I cut the stem off my Mooncup entirely as I found it painful; I broke the seal by breaking it with one finger (I think, from memory) and bringing it down by gripping it with two fingers and thumb. Op, have you spoken to anyone regarding your discomfort/pain/sensitivity post birth? I had to see a consultant after my Ds was born (forceps and episiotomy) as I just kept tearing at the epi site and it was excruciating. They gave me a cream of some sort and it and time did sort it out .

Ladiva1971 I couldn't use tampons after my son was born; they somehow turned and were horrendously painful but, I got on really well with a Mooncup which I was sceptical about and cautious about buying as it was a big expense to pay out in one go if it didn't work for me but, it was so liberating.

How does a mooncup stop cramps?

Ferrier, they don't for everyone, but quite a lot of users report an improvement in period pains when they changed to a menstrual cup. For me, most months are better, but occasionally I get a month where the pain is excruciating. I don't think anyone knows why it affects cramps.

For breaking the seal I pinch the bottom (just above the stem) and sort of wiggle it down side to side. You can then hear the air come out and remove it

Just googled this and found it gross?? I don't know why, but why would anyone use this? Not judging anybody here just asking why?
I'm with you on this one, sorry everyone else! I'm hearing all your points about less waste, sending less stuff to landfill,being for the environment.I'm all for that and actively cutting down on unnecessary stuff for the sake of the planet.
However, this to me is one step too far right now. (For me personally.)
Bearing down, a cup full of blood up you for hours, having to take it out, wash it out....

I will be introducing Dd to them when she starts her periods so that she can have the benefits that I didn't know about.

OK, genuine question. Say DD starts periods around 12 years of age at high school like I did. How do you go about changing and washing your mooncup out in the school bogs at breaktime without making a mess/everyone knowing that's exactly what you're doing at the sinks?
Surely a towel or tampon would be easier at that age?

OP I can't comment on the mooncup situation but wanted to let you know there is hope on the scar tissue front. I saw a physio for incontinence and sexual discomfort caused by childbirth and she was amazing! She was able to work on the parts that triggered pain response. I was there about 6 times and have a much happier sex life now!

environment also mine stays in all day emptied at night...all night emptied in the morning with no leaks. apparently it's not recommended but I also have sex with mine in.

Just googled this and found it gross??

I find it interesting that posters like Ladiva and McDreamy who have no interest in using moon cups still feel the need to click on a clearly-titled moon up thread specifically so that they can judge others and tell them how ‘gross’ they are. Thanks so much - your judgemental opinions are SO helpful

Women bleed. It’s biology. Get over it and stop judging your peers simply because they hold a different viewpoint. It makes you look like a twat.

Or at least please explain how walking around with dried blood on a pad exposed to the open air and risking leakage for hours, or inserting a cotton swab that increases your risk of sepsis into your fanjo is any more ‘hygenic’ ? I’m sure your informed opinions will be a valuable lesson to us all.

I've never tried one but want to when my periods return after birth. Might now after reading this.

@Elephant17 maybe you're feeling it more because you did the dry run, you may not feel it when you have your period? Just thinking the same logic as a tampon, if you put that in dry it would irritate.

How do you go about changing and washing your mooncup out in the school bogs at breaktime without making a mess/everyone knowing that's exactly what you're doing at the sinks?

Most school kids are out of the house 6-7 hours. Mooncups can comfortably be left in for 8 with no leakage. No changing required at school.

If really needed, simply empty, wipe round with loo roll and reinsert.

I trimmed the stem off mine as it was protruding and rubbing. I wouldn't have bothered otherwise.
I've now got a Lunette for the heavier days (a more rigid cup suited me) and I haven't needed to trim it as it feels fine. The Lunette has a very strong seal and sits quite high (on me) and I'm glad to have the stem to pull it down slightly, then pinch the base of the cup to release the seal.

It's not gross at all. Since I've had a coil my periods have been heavier and it holds more than a tampon and is less leaky. What's not to like? Yes you may (gasp!) get a little blood on your fingers as you remove it but you just wipe them with loo roll and then go and wash your hands. Wiping a shitty arse is much more "gross" in my opinion and everyone seems to manage that without paroxyms of horror. The fear seems to stem from a Victorian idea that female genitals are dirty and disgusting. Such a pity.

As for dealing with them in school/ work toilets, you just remove, tip down loo, wipe, reinsert. You do not need to wash it every single time - it's not "been" anywhere else! Unless I am having a heavy flow day I often don't "unplug" until i get home from work.

I much prefer it. Feel sorry for the women who have to wear squelchy mattresses in their gussets. That to me seems much more "gross".

Op all I can say is you will get used to it then it will be the most easy, comfortable thing in the world. It'll probably be easier to use during your actual period as I think taking it out and putting it in will be a lot easier (though maybe a little but messy at first)

I don't use one and really don't fancy it. But I do click on threads in case anything is said that could change my mind.

So far I haven't read anything that would make me try. But loads of people love them and if they work for you, that's great. But they aren't for everyone.

Ive been using one for years and have had fewer bloody-hands incidents than when I used tampons, so I find mooncups much cleaner and 'hygienic' (in inverted commas because there isn't anything unhygienic about your own blood)

I have also cut the whole stem off mine, and remove it by pinching the bottom to release the seal and then remove it.
If it's really full, you tip it and empty it as you remove it, so don't have to see the contents if you are really squeamish

Then it either needs a quick rinse or a wipe with some loo roll and it's good to go back in.

Once a day, I remove it in the shower and give it a proper rinse and at the end of every period, it gets soaked in Milton before being put away

I'm one of those who had a miracle drop in pain, and it's also made my periods a day shorter