Mooncup envangelists: how can I stop it hurting when I take it out?

[Scrumplet]

I starting using my new Mooncup for the first time today. I had a nosey on threads here beforehand, for tips, and have got my stem length about right, am finding it's going in fine, feeling fine when in - but getting the thing out feels like something's going to tear! I need to do it for a fourth time before bed, and would love some tips.

BTW, I have followed the trouble-shooting tips that come with it, I am doing what I'm supposed to do to break the seal (though I can't hear/feel the seal breaking so don't know for sure that it is, IYSWIM), easing it from side to side and the like. It's just that last bit, where the rim has to come through - ouch!

What am I doing wrong? Any tips? Thanks.

I'm doing it over the loo, yes, and squishing it a bit - but maybe not as much as I could. How do you make the rim small then - try to recreate the way it went in? At the moment, it's feeling like a mini breech birth! I'll give it a good squish on getting it out later. Ta, Butterfly.

See I feel your pain I have never managed to get it out without hurting and have gone back to tampons.

I can try and fold-it, twist-it collapse it turn, twiddle and all the other things that have been suggested but it still fecking hurts on the road out.

Em, perhaps not what you wanted to hear, but really it isn't just you.

I found that as I wac=shed the moon cup it got squishier and easier...

@ teeny Lunette one falling out or something.

Good points, Butterfly and gomez. I'm going to have another go getting it out in a bit, and persevere tomorrow - I love the idea of it working and being all fabulousness. But I'll keep in mind the idea of washable pads and the like, in case it doesn't work out. It's still early days.

Ooh, thanks mumblecrumble. Useful to know.

Try squatting right down to the floor so your legs are opened wider, if you are just over loo that might be why, I can't even get the stupid thing out unless I am squatting properly.

Bearing down will lower it slightly, making it easier to get a good grip on the base. I think you do need to squeeze it quite a bit until you get a little 'schlup' type noise indicating that the seal has been broken.

Mine was like that the first few times I used it (Felt a bit like crowning. Though obviously not quite as painful as a baby's head ). My last period (4th of using mooncup) it didn't hurt at all so I think it has got squishier. Oh and also try angling it a bit more, that helped me.

We obviously just have virginal vaginas

@ clareybeemine. Well, it makes me feel better about it if I tell myself I must be tight!

I took it out last night after my last post and it hurt the most yet, so I've been back on conventional pads and tampons today to give my sore bits a break.

I'll give hardcore bearing down a go, though - I'd just be a bit worried about making a mess if not over the loo, especially if squeezing it more.

I need to do everything more: more squatting, more squishing, more angling. Will shift the Mooncup effort up a gear!

Handy tips, y'all. Thanks.

Mine hurt the first few times until I got the knack of tilting it.

1. A few pelvic floor squeezes

1. Grasp the base and squeeze it a bit to break the seal (schluuuuurp)

1. As you wiggle it downwards, tilt it to one side, then the other, until one side is coming out. This means that just one side at a time comes out, and you don't give birth to it all in one go.

1. Tilt it sidewards ie. towards your inner thigh, not front to back else it can bang on your waterworks pipework.

1. Finally, the more you use it the bendier it gets.

Good luck - keep trying.