To ask your experience of using a menstrual cup?

[OriginalFlake]

Just that really. I've used non-applicator tampons and pant liners for years. I've always hated the waste that periods generate due to being from the coast and seeing sanitary products washed up on our local beach. Until recently I just couldn't bring myself to use a cup, don't know why just something stopping me. So with too much time on my hands lately, I've finally ordered one and some washable pant liners, I'm still terrified of using it though!
So please hit me with your experices and tips good, bad and ugly.

Absolutely loved it for years, then it pulled my coil out and started pulling my cervix down.
I've ditched it and gone back to disposals.
I'm not in a position to wash resuables and period pants aren't heavy duty enough for when I flood.

Yep @MrMeeSeek. I read that pulling them out without breaking the seal can cause problems. 'bearing down' to squeeze them out isn't recommended either.

I loved mine, sadly I can't use it as I have a very high tilted cervix which causes huge problems getting it out. I had to do the bearing down thing which is really bad for you. Need to find a longer cup.

Been using a mooncup since I was 14 (I'm 30) - I got the larger size at 29 as I suddenly wasn't finding it as comfortable. I think that's the first time I replaced it, although they say 10 years it was always ok. I cut the stem completely off as it sits low in me. I had incredibly heavy, painful periods from not long after they started at 12, and found the mooncup made it all much easier to handle. I'm pregnant now, will have to see how it suits me after, but there's loads of brands that fit differently these days.

Would NOT recommend the ultra cheap ones on amazon/ebay/aliexpress/wish. These are coming directly from China where the manufacturers might not necessarily adhere to what they say WRT using food grade/medical grade silicon. European based trading standards don't apply to the whole world and if you're buying from outside of this area, be cautious about claims like this.

If you already have one I'd recommend to replace it immediately with something from a company based in the UK, EU, US, Canada or Australia, ie a country with decent standards. EU/UK likely to be cheapest. I suppose there is an argument for trying out the

Going against the general consensus, I hated mine.
It just seemed unnecessarily messy and, I don't know, hands on IYSWIM.
I wanted to love it and went in totally open minded but to no avail. I try it again every so often but still not getting the love for it. I'm holding out for the menopause now so I don't have to consider the wretched thing ever again.

I love mine. I have a high tilted cervix and towards the end of my period the mooncup ends up so high that I have to do a load of rooting around to get it out but it's fine. A bit of bearing down - lots of small pushes are better than one big strain - and it's low enough for me to grasp.

Wet it first before inserting and cut the stalk bit off. I give it a good scrub after my period ends then leave it in milton for about half a day. Gets rid of stains as well as sterilising it.

I will never use anything else. Wish I'd tried one sooner.

I love it. I’ve been using them for about 7 years. I don’t need to change as frequently.

The best thing though, is I used to be really prone to thrush. I’ve not had not thrush since I started using them.

Love mine, been using it 10 years. I’ve tried a Meluna and a Femme cup but prefer my Mooncup. I love the fact that I haven’t had to buy any sanitary protection for all those years or out anything in landfill. I’m perimenopausal and over the last few years have started to get horrendous heavy periods, the cup copes with them but I do wear period pants too just in case, it’s more for peace of mind.
I can’t understand why people don’t force themselves over their squeamishness really just on an environmental level. Disposable pads and tampons seem so old fashioned to me now!

Not read the full thread - so sorry if this has been asked/answered.

I used mine for the first time last month, loved it going in, loved not having to change as often as a tampon. My only problems /questions are that...

1. It really hurt taking out! Do you have any tips?

1. Tipping it down the loo and washing was fine, but then it stained the bottom of the loo for ages. Is this normal? I’ve been investigated for heavy periods in the past and been told ‘that’s just how it is’ , so just wondered if anyone else had experienced this?

I bought a Mooncup in 2006 and am still using the same one - now that IS cutting down on waste!

I bought a milk pan to boil it in, but every now and then I sterilise with baby bottle sterilising tablets, that helps it stay fresher smelling.

I have really heavy periods and it's like a godsend to me.

@herecomethedaffodils

I have exactly the same periods now. Very heavy, day two and three is horrendous. I find my super Jennie to be an absolute life saver. I got mine on amazon and it was about £25 . You can find charts that compare cups on different web sites.

I love mine. On my sixth cycle now. It does take a few to get the hang of getting it in so it seals and then getting it out without drama but once you get that it’s so much better than tampons. I only leaked once, on the heaviest day when I was using it overnight. Fine changing it in work as we have the kind of loos where the sink is in the cubicle, but it’s not necessary normally as they hold (for me) about 8 hours of bleeding on the heaviest days. I also like that you can put it in in anticipation of a period starting and use it at the end when the blood flow is sporadic the way you can’t with tampons. No smell. Eases cramps. I wish I’d known about them earlier.

Used one very happily for the last few years of my menstruating life. Wish I’d tried it sooner.

I've been using the same one for over 10 years, I just feel SO much cleaner and less hassle. It definitely took a while to get used to it but please don't be put off.

WELL.

I got myself one, and amazingly managed to ermm...shove it in right, but it wasn't that which got me...

It was when I had to take it out that was hilarious. There I was, sitting on me bathroom floor on a towel because I wasn't sure I would be able to hover over the loo effectively and not get blood all over, and I stuck me fingers inside as you do..

..pulled it out with the loudest SCHLICK POP sound I'd ever heard which prompted a peel of raucous laughter, which THEN resulted in a massive fart that bubbled through the towel and ricocheted off the floor to the point where I couldn't do anything but laugh until I was breathless. The farting kept coming out with my laughter which made it all worse

So that was my first ever experience with a menstrual cup

Go forth and take that information and use it as required.

Hated mine. I couldn't reach it and was in a right panic. Dh was about to save the day and rummage around when I finally got it out.

I use period underwear instead. Looking at this thread I might order some reusable pads too.

Absolutely love mine. Using for 10 years plus. Very little in the way of leakage of accidents in all that time.
As PP have said, have had some problems with it not opening out properly, but I've learned if you just run your finger around the upper part of the cup when in situ, i opens up nicely.
If you don't realise it hasn't opened out properly it can result in a sharp "pop" once your up and moving.

Mine is a mooncup and I wouldnt use anything else now. Its so comfortable I often actually forget I've got it in!

You can still continue to go to the toilet as normal too, which unlike tampons I would have to change each time!

Id highly recommended to anyone, might take a little bit of practice to get using it just right - but of course, tampons did too!

I love mine. I have the Saalt cup after doing the quiz. I've been using about a year now. Much cleaner imo.

I love mine. I had it for about a year before I used it as I was scared of it getting stuck or something! It took a couple of periods to really get the hang of it but it’s great. It’s really helped reduce cramps too.
I sometimes wear reusable pads as back up for work and at night time as I’m still a bit paranoid about leaks (even though I haven’t had any for ages) and they are much comfier than throw away pads.

Don’t feel bad if you don’t get on with it though, they aren’t for everyone but I’d definitely recommend trying it.

Thanks all, plenty of food for thought. I'll stop being such a baby and give it a try, I guess this is the perfect time as someone upthread said.

Soooo much more comfortable than tampons!

I only need to empty mine morning and night and inserting in the shower (either squatting or one leg on bath) is easiest and cleanest. Have never leaked in 2 years and find it quite satisfying that I’m not contributing 100’s of tampons and towels a year to landfill.

Practice makes perfect with this one, but it’s worth the faff in my opinion.

Also if its too long or the stem bothers you you can actually turn the whole thing inside out and still use.

I tried to love mine. For years, and I tried different ones/sizes.

They all leaked, they were all sore to insert/remove and once inserted I can't pee.

But I do have Endo and very heavy periods.

If you have a light period, it'd be better I think.

Couple of things to add: between uses I rinse in cold water, not hot, which seems to prevent staining or smell (not that there is much smell). And yes, Milton is great at the end of each period.

I'd also recommend looking up different ways to fold your cup. I tried one way for ages, and it was a bit hit and miss, then realised there were different folds, so experimented a bit until I found the right one for me.

The "Put a Cup In It" page on Facebook is quite helpful.