To say I dislike menstural cups?

[MrsFoxPlus4]

Iv tired 4 ranging in prices, from different brands, to different shapes. I done the put in the cup in it quiz.

Iv tried different folds.
Iv turned it inside out.
Iv used lube.
Iv cut the stems & iv left the stems.
Iv tried different positions.

I am relaxed I have zero issues about inserting a cup I really wanted to be able to use one but I always find them extremely difficult to open up inside, I can’t get my finger up “run round the rim” of the cup.

Iv watched all the YouTube videos people try to link you to when you voice you’ve had an issue.

This has been over the last 8 months, they also irritate my vagina and she gets rather unhappy with me, iv had trush more than iv had in my full life. My nurse has said I’d be better off taking a break they aren’t agreeing with my body.

So can people just not get along with menstural cups? Menstural cup users are the new version of militant vegans they cannot comprehend someone dislikes them from my experience!

As much as I agree they are better for the environment which is factual they clearly aren’t for me & I’m giving up trying I don’t have money to throw around for a cup to sit in the bathroom cupboard 😅.

Does anyone else feel the same or have the same issues?

I should say I'm not trying to be alarmist, I think the risk is minuscule and it's certainly not what put me off menstrual cups. Although I do think sterilising them is important!

I've just had a Google and there was a death due to TSS while using a mooncup so obviously advice has changed.

How does one sterilise a mooncup, can I blast it in the microwave in a cup with some water?

I posted a screenshot down thread from their website. You need to boil it fully immersed for 5-7 minutes or use sterilising tablets.

Good to know @PChole 👍.

Thanks for that. I don’t use one at the moment, but glad I read this in case I start again. I wonder about the sponges then, as they say just rinse between uses and sterilise daily in salt water or tee tree oil... I don’t know if I’d trust a couple of drops of tee tree oil tbh. I’d prefer my chances with boiling, but you can’t boil sponges.

Think I’ll stick to reusable pads for now anyway, for a few reasons.

Sorry, @PCohle I mean!

I imagine sponges just aren't popular enough for proper research to have been done. The FDA has certainly expressed some concerns about them in the past - www.fda.gov/iceci/compliancemanuals/compliancepolicyguidancemanual/ucm123803.htm

I read previously when I was first looking into moon cups people boiled them or threw them in an electric steriliser. I was on a baby forum.

Like TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross, I have a retroverted uterus and can’t stand tampons or a mooncup. I have endometriosis as well & wearing pads so often really irritates down there. Am looking for alternatives that are a bit kinder, if anyone can suggest? (Sorry to hijack the thread a bit)

Yeah my sterilisation method wasn't giving me thrush I just boiled and air dried. I really dislike pads I don't like the feeling of bleeding onto a pad and having it in my underwear. On my lighter days it's not the worst but they aren't for me either.

Don’t be sorry Smokeahontas have you tried reusable pads? Or Iv seen people talk about period underwear?

I have a me Luna brand cup. It's ok. I use it if I'm at home as I wouldn't want to empty it in public toilets or out it back in again. When I put it in it sometimes makes loud squelching sounds which would be embarrassing in a public loo!! Sometimes I have trouble getting it to open up too which is annoying! I've also had it leak when I've not done anything different to normal. So I'm not fully converted but I am using probably about 50% less tampons.

I'm tempted to try one of those tulip cups that has a valve so you don't need to remove it but can empty it while it's still in place. That would be very handy for the first day of my period when it's quite heavy and I need to empty it every 3 hours. Not sure I'd trust it though!

Smokeahontas I've never used anything more comfortable than washable cotton pads.

Love my me luna cup. Def best to practise a day into period and mines a firm plastic to get it to pop open from c shape. I never hook over the brim just squeeze bottom and pull

I have an Athena cup. Idk how one would reach far enough to run a finger around the top edge. I just rotate it several times until it feels in shape. However, no judgement if you prefer and can afford alternative sanpro. x

With regards to the reusable pads, I take it they don’t last all day, do they? How would you store them until you got home?

Smokeahontas they come with wet bags

I think I’ll buy one to try when I’m at home or not going too far. Not quite sold on the idea of carrying a used one about all day yet!

With regards to used washable pads, I fold mine up and fasten the poppers up and stick them in a plastic bag in my handbag. There's no smell.

I just invested in several pairs of modibodi pants-had my first period and combined the cup and the pants as my flow is heavy.
It has been a revelation- not afraid of leaks, comfortable, waste free.
Could period pants be an option for you?

Do they really not feel wet? They sound amazing.

Mine made my contraception fail and that’s why I now have DS. That’s why I won’t try one again!

@DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen not at all! I was a little hesitant but went with them and the cup together for days 1 & 2 the t he rest of the time just the pants-brilliant! I bought 6 pairs (3 light med flow and 3 heavy flow for nighttime) and would probably buy 3 more.

I love mine and it makes life much easier, but like anything that isn't designed to be in your body you have to expect it won't be 100% perfect. For me I get a weird feeling when I need a poo and there's a sort of weird pressure sometimes. But it's not where it should be, can't explain it. But all in all for me it works better than anything else and it's environmentally friendly. So long as you aren't flushing tampons at least you tried! Some people like the little cheapy ones you get from amazon though, maybe worth one more go just for the sake of it.

TerryWogansWilly I don’t think my vagina will thank me for one more just for the sake of it try 😅

I like mine and do think that it's worth a try for women, as it is so much better for the environment. That said, if it doesn't work for you, that's totally reasonable and your decision!

I think it's perfectly reasonable to decide you don't like them after giving them a proper go, and OP, no one could say you haven't done that! I do get frustrated when people decide they just don't like the idea of them without trying, or don't do much/any research before buying one that's inappropriate for them and then give up.

I currently have a Tulip cup (not the valve kind) and it's okay, though I think I'm going back to a Lunette which is what I used to use before I forgot while sterilising it and the pan boiled dry... I do also have a Mooncup, purchased when I'd forgotten to take my cup on holiday and while I can wear it, it's really too big and a bit uncomfortable. If I'd started with that, I would never have carried on using it. There is so much information out there these days about checking if you have a high/low cervix, how to choose a size and stiffness of your cup and so on. It's really worth investigating before choosing one to try and giving it the best shot you can.