Menstrual cup

[BunnytheBee]

What are others’ experiences of using these?

I’ve just started using one for the first time - OrganiCup. I was excited to try it and then suddenly v nervous at the thought. Anyway insertion was much easier than I thought but it seems quite low down. The but that sticks down at the bottom is TMI alert at the entrance to my vagina.

Is this normal? Is it not in properly? It was first attempt but I’m about to do some exercise and worried about chafing

It leaked

So maybe it wasn’t in properly and I was exercising so that didn’t help

Now nervous it will leak again but at least I’m at home!

Try popping it up there a bit higher!
I struggle on day 1 of my period to remember what the "right" position is...as I've found if its either too high or too low it leaks... but once I've managed it, it sits well for the whole day and would probably do the night too if i tried!

Definitely preferable to tampons and pads IMO

It felt a bit higher this time than last time so hopefully it’s better.

I’m going to go check on it in a bit. I have read that leakage can be due to it not opening properly to create a seal and to twist it a bit when it’s in...

Yeah if it works I much prefer this to a tampon or pad. Love that it is cheaper than those, more environmentally friendly and I can leave it in all day.

Thanks @zombiepara

Without trying to sound grim.. once its up there you need to try and run a finger around to feel if it has popped open properly.

Sometimes i find ever so slight remnants when wiping the next couple of times going to the loo, i think more where there's some blood lower than the cup that was travelling down pre insertion.. if that makes sense?

Yeah I get what you mean

It might be a bit of a learning curve!

Yeah I think it takes about 6 months to get properly used to it and find the right place for you. I had mine too low to start with but I think I wear it higher than it suggests. Occasionally I still get it wrong but mostly it only leaks now if it gets too full have to be very careful on my 2nd day as I bleed very heavily and it fills in an hour or two. Rest of my period I can leave it for a good 8 hours. They are great.

The instructions for mine said to wear it low, but that just made it leak. I have to get it up a bit further for it to work. You'll get there with some trial and error!

@susiegrapevine 6 months?! 😱

@Signifyingnothing I didn’t feel like I had much choice where to put it but it is day 1 and I’ve had 2 goes so we’ll see!

I do believe it will work and it’s a really good thing if it does

6 months to properly get used to. That's only 6 periods and you sort of forget inbetween iyswim. Don't fret as I said they are great!

@susiegrapevine Yeah I see what you mean and I’m feeling positive about it overall

The put a cup in it website/facebook page had a ton of great FAQs and troubleshooting info. There's a lot of variability on how/where to wear it a lot depends on your personal anatomy and comfort.

Btw... by the end of my first cycle using the cup I was past the learning curve. But most are fine after a couple of cycles.

Thanks. I will look at the Facebook group. To be fair I didn’t read instructions today and that might have helped. I read a lot about them when I bought it (about a month ago) but probably don’t remember all the instructions...

Once you fold it (multiple ways of folding apparently, but i use the "c fold") i find wetting the rim of it (but not the main cup body you hold, otherwise it slips and slides in your fingers) helps with..uh..getting it higher up. Also dont aim upwards... aim more to your tailbone..
Some guides say squat.. others say one leg on the bath tub rim..

I love mine and got used to it very quickly (as in within first period using it). Have a practise and see what works best for you. If it has a little 'stem' at the bottom you could try trimming that - I found it to be slightly uncomfortable cutting it down ever so slightly made a huge difference and now I'm very rarely aware I have it in. Good luck!

I trimmed the long bit at the bottom off mine which made it much more comfy. It did take about 6 months to really get the hang of it but I love it now. I found a technique for getting it in which works for me, trial and error seems to be the only way!

I did the punchdown fold apparently (just looked it up) which is where you fold a corner inward and then it creates a diagonal point.

I was actually surprised how easily it went in the first time although I obviously should have twisted it or soemthing to avoid all the leakage.

I have had a bit of leakage from the second attempt too but not like the first time. First time was wet underwear, this time I had the sense to use a panty liner and sorry again tmi there were a few drops so will have to have another go before bed!

I will maybe try a different fold and pushing backwards.

Had read if cutting the tail but wondered if it would leave a sharp edge IYSWIM as it would be a blunt cut across whereas now it is curved at the end

You can use the cup inside out to see if cutting the stem off will work for you, but you lose the grip rings that way.

I don’t think I’d want no stem at all but didn’t realise it would go in inside out. It felt quite low earlier but doesn’t feel so low now... I’ll see how it goes before I start cutting bits off

So there was definitely leakage with attempt 2, not loads, but could tell when I took it out there was leakage on outside of cup.

It was hard to take out and I worry the vacuum / suction could do damage if I pulled too hard! 🙈

I have put it in again, issuing C fold and hoping this is more secure. It felt like it had popped out to correct shape so we’ll see...

Thanks for all the advice

I may have forgotten to slide back rather than up though 🤔

C fold and a bit of a squat have always worked best for me

When taking it out, pinch the bottom of the cup inwards and twist it a bit; you'll feel the suction release a bit.

I always find bearing down helps at the stage and lowers it so i can easily squeeze it to release

So no leeks last night! Maybe C fold is best although it’s slightly harder to get it in that way but definitely do-able.

Pinching it in helps but I am finding it harder to take out than out in. It’s only day 2, though, so early days.

Sorry to be gross but it is weird collecting your menstrual fluid in a cup and then seeing it in all its glory 😬

How do you clean? I have a bum gun so am using that to clean it over the toilet with warm water. I think I read that people boil them between cycles and then presumably you can use it indefinitely as it’s sanitary. I should read the box, shouldn’t I...