Mooncup: I can't do it!!

[Sausagerollfiend]

So I've tried today and yesterday but I just cannot get the mooncup to sit in the right place. I need your tips!

I fold it like a tulip, put lube on it, push it towards my back and it goes in. It then unfurls itself and I give it a final push. I've trimmed the stem to about 5mm left, but as soon as I stand up, it begins to bulge out of my vagina. So if you imagine wiping yourself, it protrudes out to make it impossible to wipe. I've never been able to use tampons for this reason.

It says in the instructions that the end of the stem should be about 1cm inside. I cannot get it that deep to have a gap between my opening and the stem. What am I doing wrong? When I managed to tolerate it for 20 minutes, it did collect blood so it was in correctly just not in enough. Help!!! Any advice??

I've never tried a moon cup but I would imagine that using lube would mean it's easier for it to slip down again.

Agree with the previous, don't use lube. You shouldn't need it, and it's likely to make the cup slide down again.

But it was really uncomfortable to put it in without and I saw it recommended. I can see that it might have helped it slip though.....aarrrggghh! What to do??

Do you have a vaginal prolapse? If you cannot get tampons in, not sure you can get a mooncup in either. It might not be you doing anything wrong, might be these are not suitable for your body.

No prolapse, I think maybe my cervix lies really low... when I had the coil the threads were always dangling out!! I only lasted 8 months with it for various reasons.

I'll pluck up the courage to try tomorrow with no lube and see how I get on.

I put mine in wet, just run under the tap, that’s enough “lube”. Also I push it right up inside before letting it pop open.

Put it in warm water first, I find that made it a bit softer and more comfortable. I'd trim the stem right off as well.

If you can, I'd try to get it a bit further up before you let it unfurl, then (if you can) run your finger around just under the rim to make sure it's popped completely open. Hopefully then it'll stay a bit further up.

Don't use lube and don't push it straight towards your back, it needs to go slightly back and up.

Sounds like it might not fit with your body.

You could always try watching a YouTube tutorial to see if you have the right technique.

It pops open quite soon after insertion so I may need to rethink my technique. I'll consult YouTube. Thanks everyone.

@LemonViolet which folding technique do you use?

That certainly sounds like you have a degree of uterine prolapse, OP. In which case you may need referral to a pelvic physio, or even surgery.
If you insert a finger, how far in does it go before you hit your cervix? And did the doctor make any comment about prolapse when inserting your IUD?

I'm not sure if the name of the fold I use, origami maybe?

I put my thumb on the rim of it, and push it in to the base, then make sure the two edges are overlapping so it looks like a rosebud. Then to make the bottom smaller I push that in to the centre and sort of fold the edges over and pinch. Basically I make it as small as possible!

I'm very used to mine now, but do sometimes wonder if a smaller/softer cup might have been a better choice.

@Babdoc I've had various procedures over the years and no one has ever mentioned a prolapse. I can reach my cervix using my middle finger at a stretch. Is that normal? My cervix does seem to rise and fall depending on where I am in my cycle.

I think it's probably just my awful technique and squeamishness!! I will try again with a different folding method.

Hmm, no, OP, sorry, that does sound like it’s just your technique, I’m afraid! Don’t despair, practice makes perfect. Lots of women say they struggled at first with mooncups, but once they got the hang they would never use anything else. I have one relative who never managed to successfully insert a tampon, but has happily used a mooncup for years.