To be beyond frustrated with menstrual cups

[agapanthus1979]

Hi everyone.
I started using a cup a couple of years ago, and waxed lyrical to all my friends. Bloody loved it!
For the last year, though, I just seem to leak. I've tried the Diva, the Organi, and another one which was shaped differently...but I'm just leaking all the time.
My periods aren't heavy, and I've tried all sorts of positions. I think I have an awkward cervix. I have a septum in my uterus, so don't know if that might cause problems.
I really don't want to go back to tampons. I use reusable pads as back up, but don't want to rely on these.
Any suggestions/beacons of hope??
Thanks,
Ags

[coffeechocolatecoffee]

I started using a mooncup before children, mastered it pretty quickly and had no leaks at all. I only had couple of periods between pregnancies and used it for them too without issues.
After having my second, it was leaking and I presumed too small so completed the quiz on put a cup in it and bought the recommended organicup in the post childbirth size but I also can't stop the leaks. There is a good seal every time so I can't work out what it is. I need back up cloth pads or period pants every month now. It's frustrating and I don't want to spend £20 on yet another cup

[MayFayner]

I’ve used a mooncup for the last 4 years. Very rarely leaked, only once or twice when I had the copper coil and my periods were very heavy.

I’ve never placed it anywhere near my cervix though. I’ve always put it where the instructions suggest- a lot lower down. Never feel it although I did cut most of the stem off.

[agapanthus1979]

Environmental issues are definitely on my menstrual agenda
@ChristmasFluff I think I need a bit more firtling guidance - I'm not afraid to rummage!
When I've ventured up there I'm able to locate a 'nose-esque' nobbly bit, which I believe is my cervix. Does this sound right?
It's quite high, and on the left.
Perhaps I just need to spend a bit more time on positioning....

[PeaPeaEeByGum]

I love mine. Sorry it’s not working out for you OP

[BinkySodPlop]

Have you tried flex discs? I originally bought them as I was working / travelling overseas to places where running water was not an option outside the hotels, so no chance to clean bloody hands / mooncup etc.. they are disposable, so not great for the environment, but they work for me.

[ChristmasFluff]

I used a mooncup and it leaked far less than a super-plus tampon - I had horribly heavy periods.

The 'unexplained' leakage I had (so not just from sheer volume of blood), I found was due to my cervix position changing at different times. Sometimes your cervix is lower than others, and you want the rim of the cup to be under the bottom edge of the cervix (or fully around it), so the cervix is sort of sitting in the cup.

Mine would generally be just slightly on the back wall of my vagina, right by the very top. But sometimes it would seem to be lower down on the back wall, and so I'd accidentally put the cup higher than the cervix opening.

I learned to check where it was (by feeling), and then position accordingly.

I know some people are a bit squeamish about firtling around up there, but it did help me.

[StopMakingATitOfUrselfNPissOff]

I did the 'put a cup in it' quiz and bought the one recommended, it's a Saalt one that I'd never heard of. I mastered it over the Christmas break and it was fine for 3 cycles then on the fourth I'd obviously not done something right and it pretty much tipped over inside me . I think I might've put it too high. Persevered and it was ok after that. I really like it, less pain and not as long.

[DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon]

I cant get on with them either

They always leak, and I get stomach pain when wearing one.

I dont find I havw a problem breaking the seal so maybe thats my problem is Im not getting a seal

Shame as I really like the concept

[curlyLJ]

@walkingchuckydoll but you could be menstruating for at least another 10 years, possibly 15. When you think about the cost of all those disposable pads, maybe it would be worth trying to find something?

It does take time, I use a mooncup as well as other brands on different days, depending on flow. I love the washable panty liners I bought as they offer enough protection when out and about, and they've already paid for themselves over a couple of years.

[PlanDeRaccordement]

Here is the study:
Impact of Currently Marketed Tampons and Menstrual Cups on Staphylococcus aureus Growth and Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin 1 Production In Vitro
aem.asm.org/content/84/12/e00351-18

ABSTRACT
Fifteen currently marketed intravaginal protection products (11 types of tampon and 4 types of menstrual cup) were tested by the modified tampon sac method to determine their effect on Staphylococcus aureus growth and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) production. Most tampons reduced S. aureus growth and TSST-1 production, with differences based on brand and composition, and the level of S. aureus growth was higher in destructured than in unaltered tampons. We observed higher levels of S. aureus growth and toxin production in menstrual cups than in tampons, potentially due to the additional air introduced into the bag by cups, with differences based on cup composition and size.

[PlanDeRaccordement]

Uglyswan,

Of course it looks lower than with tampon use when you compare it to users of high-absorbency tampons in 1980 instead of users of regular-absorbency tampons sold and used today in 2020

(The high absorbency tampons that had that high risk of TSS were all pulled from the market by the mid1980s. You can’t even buy them anymore)

[UpsyDaisysarmpit]

Femmecup was good for me. Some types were tricky because they wouldn't spring open. Worth persevering.

[walkingchuckydoll]

I tried a moon cup and didn't like it. I tried reusable pads and they twisted slightly in my knickers and made me leak. I'm 40 and am not going to spend a lot of money for the last few years of menstruation just to try stuff out. I'm back to disposable pads. Every body is different and stuff like that just is too expensive to try out many different things.

[BertiesLanding]

@LunaHardy - Yes, they've been a game-changer for me too. I started using one 11 years ago. Took a bit to get used to it ... and one dreadful moment of having to lie down and traction myself against the sink to remove one!! ... but now it's second-nature :)

[SarahTancredi]

I bought one. I'm scared to try it though

Looks huge but I dont want to keep buying different ones as well the whole point is the environmental impact or lack of figured owning multiple that will be thrown away kinda detracted .

I'm an convert to cloth pads and they are strangely addictive I want to stop using tampons but I cant rely on just pads at work how I can at home

[LunaHardy]

@BertiesLanding thank you. I have seen that article before so I was confused at pp's statement. A little irresponsible to make comments like that without backing them up imo. I've been using a cup for about 2 years now, game changer for me.

[uglyswan]

No cups for me either as they have higher risk of TSS than tampons

This is untrue; the risk of TSS is not higher for cups, it's just not zero (five cases have been identified in all). A meta-analysis published in the Lancet states the following:

The reported risk of toxic shock syndrome with use of a menstrual cup seems low, with five cases identified via our literature search. Although aggregated data on the number of menstrual cups sold or used is unavailable, we anticipate the number of girls and women using the 199 different brands globally is likely to be in the thousands. In the USA, the incidence of all types of toxic shock syndrome was around 0·8–3·4 per 100 000 population, whereas menstrual toxic shock syndrome was reported in 6–12 per 100 000 users of high-absorbency tampons in 1980.

Just don't leave it in for days and boil to sterilise in between uses.

[jackparlabane]

I've found I have to insert the cup the moment I think my period is starting. If I wait until blood is visible,then it leaks all week - I guess enough has already snuck past the cup. Since inserting it early just in case, back to no problems.

[BertiesLanding]

@opticaldelusion and @LunaHardy

"Do Menstrual Cups Cause TSS?
The general consensus has been that menstrual cups do not directly cause or contribute to the development of TSS, and PACII continues to support this statement. A recent study has found that cups are as likely or more to lead to TSS. Before you panic we want to address this study and remind everyone that only two menstrual cup users have reported cases of TSS. We know TSS is possible to contract while using a cup but it’s important to note that in both recorded cases the women left their cups in far longer than the maximum time mandated by cup manufacturers (7 days versus 10-12 hours).

A study recently that has been making the round in articles published by click bait websites such as Daily Mail references a study conducted by a French university University Claude Bernard. The study uses plastic bags which is a far cry from the biome of a vagina.

“…they do claim that menstrual cups are more likely to increase the production of Staphylococcus aureus – the bacteria that causes toxic shock syndrome.”

Far more testing needs to be done before this claim can hold water. I take full comfort and peace in the fact that of the thousands of cases of TSS reported, only two cases have been connected with menstrual cups. Cups have been in use for decades and have been steadily rising in use over the last 10 years, so if they were more likely to cause TSS there would be far more reports in line with the number associated with tampons. But this hasn’t been the case.

“Every so often a clickbait article headline graces our newsfeeds which admittedly can be difficult to ignore. It’s important to note, that this study… is being performed on bags. NOT humans. As with any period care product the most important thing is to keep it clean, don’t leave it in too long and use a trusted brand. More on this can be found in our blog post: Menstrual Cups and Toxic Shock Syndrome: What You Need to Know.” -Cathy Chapman, Lunette"

putacupinit.com/do-menstrual-cups-cause-tss/

[opticaldelusion]

No cups for me either as they have higher risk of TSS than tampons

Can you provide the evidence for this, please?

[agapanthus1979]

Thanks for your replies, everyone.
I see I'm not alone.
It's just so frustrating- they're so brilliant when they work!
I'm going to keep trying.
Any other tips?

[onemouseplace]

The first three months I used mine I was absolutely evangelical about them. Then I had a month where it leaked every time I used it. I really don't like using it overnight as it's harder to remove in morning. And I've had a few crime scene bathroom incidents as well when removing it.

So, what is working for me now is using the mooncup at home, backed up with reusable STs (very happy with these) and using a tampon overnight or if I'm going to be out and know I will have to change it whilst out.

[keepingbees]

Are you buying the right size?
I got a mooncup in the bigger size recommended as I've had children but it's too big for me.

I gave up on the damn thing, it didn't work for me at all. Couldn't get it to open properly, it leaked, pinched, sat too low, went too high. After a couple of scary times not being able to retrieve it I gave up with it. I have a tilted cervix apparently so maybe that's why.

[LunaHardy]

@PlanDeRaccordement where did you find that information? Re: TSS and cups?

[ChangeThePassword]

My one tip is to give it a tug.

Apologies!