Anyone else find menstrual cup difficult?

[feralunderclass]

Apologies as it's neither beautiful nor stylish, but posted for traffic.
I really want to like it, I have very heavy periods and use a lot of tampons/nappies/pads... but just can't get to grips with it. Inserting it is painful (it keeps unravelling) and then I can definitely feel it digging into me once it's in. It apparently sits lower than a tampon (which work really well for me) but then sitting/walking/moving is painful or very annoying at the least.
It is only my first cycle, does it improve with time?

I wanted to love mine too and preserved for quite a while. It never felt quite right. Maybe I should have tried a different one. Can you get the sunny cup and applicator in the UK? I'm thinking about trying that.

Can take a bit of time to figure out the best position for you. If you can feel it it's in the wrong place.

Possible you might need to try a smaller one. I know you have heavy periods so bigger seems better but even a smaller one give you more time that towels or tampons do.

It does take a while to learn how to put it in, and you shouldn't be able to feel it if its in properly. Once you can put it in properly, it's a real game changer. I have heavy periods (really heavy- causes anemia for me and I have to take iron tablets regularly) and basically just carry on like normal when I'm on my period, forget I'm on my period apart from when I'm emptying it. But it did take 2-3 cycles to get it right.

However you might want to change the cup to a different brand better suited for you- I use the Yuki cup which was recommended to me on an online quiz based on my answers to a load of different questions. You can find the quiz at:

putacupinit.com/quiz/

It sounds like yours may be too big. Menstrual cups are touted as a one size fits all solution but they really aren't as women's biology varies so much.

Period Nirvana has a quiz that I found helpful: https://www.periodnirvana.com/menstrual-cup-quiz/ and there are a ton of you tube videos about using and picking menstrual cups that I watched before taking the plunge. Good luck!

Mine got stuck up there luckily I had a husband to pull it out.

Never again! Although I'm on the mirena now, and haven't had a period since November.

They take practice-but I now love mine & not used a tampon in years. You should not be able to feel it, if your can it is too low. Some have a stem - cut this off it is useless.

when I started I used a mix of cup & tampons to stop stressing over it & only using the cup when I was at home with time. I am also stick mine under the tap to allow it to slide in a bit easier, lubricant can also be used.

Another vote for cutting the stem. That made a big difference to me. I’m in menopause now, but used a mooncup for about 15 years after the initial learning process, and found it really helpful during the perimenopause flooding. So it was worth persevering.

Definitely takes time. I used to wear period pants with mine so I had a back up option in case I hadn’t got it in properly.

Thanks all. I took the quiz and bought the one recommended, it doesn't have a long stem. It's very painful putting it in, then getting it to stay in. I think the applicator one would be perfect, I have no issues with tampons but I don't seem to even know where to put the cup 🤔

I really wanted it to work and tried two different cups and all the different tips for inserting it but it just didn't work for me. I couldn't wee properly with it in and it felt uncomfortable no matter how high or low it was in, so I've given up with them, I don't think they suit my anatomy!
I get on fine with reusable pads and period pants have been revolutionary and I use a tampon when needed, for swimming etc.

@NannyR unfortunately my vagina doesn't seem to be shaped like a champagne glass (like all of the demo videos) so maybe I'm not suited to one either! I just inserted it and thought I finally got the hang of it, but coughed and it popped out, so clearly not!

I gave up with mine, just couldn’t get on with it. I had one occasion where it whacked off the walls of my vag as I was putting it in - brought tears to me eyes, that did. I’m sure if I’d preservered it would have got easier but life is too short.

coughed and it popped out

it is way too low- mine gets shoved in as far as I can get it. I really do forget it is there and I have a slant angle to things down there. Try lubricant & essentially try and get it as far as it will go.

@SirChenjins there is definitely some abrasions inside from trying yesterday! @DumboLives yes I feel it is too low, but not sure how to get it higher, other than perhaps using a screwdriver or such to push it up more? (Joke, obviously). My cervix is very posterior and high up.

Which one did u get?

The moon cups brand is really uncomfortable. Recommend a Ruby cup or a saalt cup or a lena.

They are fiddly at first amd a bit more hands on that a tampon but worth persevering. No more itching ...

Another one here who really wanted to love a cup, I really tried with different folds/sizes but the deal breaker for me was that it made had problems weeing and developed a kidney infection.

Currently trying period pants instead but the jury is out on those.

If you can feel it, it’s not in the right place, or maybe the size is wrong.

I found mine really comfortable but hopelessly inadequate for a heavy flow. It would be full within 20 minutes and then removing it was a blood bath.

I couldn't get in with cups but I've recently started using a menstrual disk and I love it. So much easier to use as it doesn't rely on suction or folding.

Agree that if you can feel it, it's not in right. I use a shortie cup (can't remember the brand) as I have quite a low cervix and I can feel normal sized cups near the bottom. It doesn't have a stem either.

Tried again about an hour ago, it was much better than yesterday and flow is heavier today and I suppose inside is adequately lubricated. I was concerned that I couldn't feel it at all, and had a few minutes of terror where it was so high that I could only just feel the tip, but not grasp it. Thankfully a few coughs later it came down enough for me to be able to pull it (for the first time a weak pelvic floor has been a blessing!) but I did have to have a good rummage with both hands and it was already nearly full. I'm certainly not going to get 12 hours out of it! I can't see how I could change it outside without access to a sink?

I find it easier to insert sitting down, but position whilst standing.

Fold and twist is the technique I use to get it properly in. Get the fold right and try not to ‘release’ it until it is firmly in. Lubricant helps to begin with until you get this nailed.

Fold and twist is what I was doing - but it slipped and I released it too quickly. Ouch.

I could never use one so I asked the nurse at the surgery to check me out and she said I have a small prolapse which descends when I stand up and so it used to make the cup slip and dig into me.
Its probably the awful birth I had with ventouse, forceps and loads of stitches.
I only used to notice it when inserting things.