Perimenopause and menstrual cup problems

[Doodlepoodle1]

I'm 43 and suspect I'm perimenopausal; my periods have got much heavier, I'm angry, can't concentrate. I started using a mooncup about three years ago and thought it was amazing, held so much more blood than anything else. However after about a year of use I got UTI symptoms of burning when peeing and was given antibiotics. Then 6 months later the same thing happened, again during my period. Both times there was actually no sign of infection in the sample. I've never ever been prone to UTIs and am wondering whether the menstrual cup caused the discomfort? I actually suspect neither were UTIs but bruising of my urethra caused by the cup.

Has anyone else had this experience? I know that in peri you are more prone to UTIs etc. To be honest I'm gutted as I found the cup such a useful way of managing heavy periods but I don't dare use it again, it was months before I was back to normal.

I have not had this problem at all with a moon cup, and like you my periods can be heavier now. How do you clean your cup? I wash mine with hot soapy water but also sterilise it with a dissolved Milton bottle sterilising tablet afterwards.

Topical oestrogen cream or vagifem can help with atrophy. It’s not the same as full HRT but helps with tenderness in that area. You can get it on prescription.

It gets washed in warm soapy water and also boiled for ten minutes at at the end of use. I'm incredibly careful about washing my hands well before I put it in.

@Shortpoet

Topical oestrogen cream or vagifem can help with atrophy. It’s not the same as full HRT but helps with tenderness in that area. You can get it on prescription.

I've got a doctors appointment in a couple of week's, I might ask about that, see whether it helps.

Have you tried turning the cup inside out? I can't wear mine the right way since having kids 😕 but turned inside out it's a much better fit and the point at the bottom is inside the cup so doesn't rub.

I had a similar problem OP. Not quite UTI but I definitely had to wee a lot more when using a cup. It felt like the cup was pressing on my urethra or something. I've got the mirena coil now which has more or less stopped my periods and solved the problem!

@WhereAreWeNow

I had a similar problem OP. Not quite UTI but I definitely had to wee a lot more when using a cup. It felt like the cup was pressing on my urethra or something. I've got the mirena coil now which has more or less stopped my periods and solved the problem!

That's interesting, at least I'm not alone! I'm not sure I'd want a mirena (never given birth naturally - cervix always refused to open plus they always have trouble doing smears), but going to have to do something as periods are awful now!

Can't use tampons or cup now which I'm putting down to atrophy. Can feel them all the time, like you feel like I have a UTI and just really uncomfy.

I can someone's sometimes use a lillett add they expand widthways not lengthways

@Doodlepoodle1 sorry I know you posted this a while ago... but just spotted.
I used a moon cup back around 1999... used it for years then stopped after once I thought it had given me a UTI. Went back to it about 4 years ago but for the last year its been causing irritation. (I also read it has caused prolapses.,and once it got a bit stuck). I saw a gynaecologist yesterday and I mentioned this. She said that lots of people report the mooncups becoming uncomfortable. But that this is to do with dryness to do with menopause. So there you have it! Its an age thing... she said there was no problem carrying on.

BTW it was a mirena I went for. I too have cervix issues.