I've been researching cups for a while now and finally got my first one this week (size 1 sckoon cup). I'm familiar with my anatomy but am a virgin, and had trouble with getting it in-finally got the triangle fold to work, but it didn't open all the way and has shifted so that I can't quite find the stem. I can feel part of the cup when I bear down but am too tight to get a finger and thumb up there with the folded up cup to pull it out. How do I get this thing out, and how can I keep this from happening again?
Thanks.

So I ordered Lunette and it finally got here. I decided to try a dry run since it wasn't that time. The first couple times I tried the C fold which just didn't work for me. It would pop open before getting in. I then tried the push down fold which worked wonders. I got it in and removed it almost immediately without too much trouble. I waited a while then tried it again this time leaving it in longer. When I went to remove it later it had moved further in so getting it out was difficult with my short little fingers. I panicked too quick I think which made it harder. Any tips on removal for short fingered gals? I could reach the stem just fine but not the cup or base.

I have a DivaCup, and it works okay. I've been using it since November, though I took a break for 3 months while I was on the ring (I just stopped using it). Peeing always took a little longer than normal while the cup was in. This cycle, I can't pee while the cup is in. It's painful if I try. Everything's fine if I remove the cup though. I'm guessing the cup is compressing my urethra?

Would this be fixed by getting a new cup? I'm definitely not against that. The DivaCup is too long for me. My cervix is very low-lying and I can find it during all parts of my cycle. This means the end of the cup hangs out a bit. Surprisingly, it usually isn't uncomfortable.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Ok so I'm not very sure what cup I should get. I'm 16 and a virgin. I usually use tampons and never had problems inserting them. I think I might have a moderate flow throughout, I can usually get about 4 hours out of a regular size tampon. Right now I can reach my whole middle finger inside and just touch my cervix (or what I believe is my cervix) but during my period it goes as low as about 5 cm in. I was thinking about getting a meluna cup since they are cheap and have a Canadian site that seems very straightforward. But I was wondering if I could just put the meluna cup inside a normal mug and then in the microwave for 1-2 minutes? I would get the sterilization cup but I don't got much money. I was thinking about getting the medium size. Would you recommend the meluna cup? Does anyone know any other cups at a cheap price that ship to Canada that I could also consider?

I just finished my third cycle, and I'm very very happy with my cup. But I've got a question about the pouch, and I haven't seen *anything* about that anywhere, so I thought I'd ask. Cleaning the cup is easy enough, but what about washing the pouch? For some reason mine has got a mildewey smell--the kind of smell things get when they air dry but don't actually *dry*--and I definitely don't want to put my cup in there till that smell is gone. Can I just put it in the laundry in a lingerie bag? I make my own laundry detergent, but I still think the stuff in it (washing soda, borax, fels naptha soap) wouldn't be good getting on the cup, and therefore inside of me! Or is that not a big deal? I do wash my cup before each cycle, so it'd be pretty clean either way. I just know I don't want any mildew on my pouch or on my cup!

I am 26 years old and I purchased a Lunette size 2.
I only just got it today and I reinserted it 100 times. OK not really, but quite a lot until I put it aside, for annoying me too much.
I don't have a problem getting it in there or anything, I don't think. But the stem sticks out and feels like it is stabbing me. Honestly it's all the way up at my vaginal opening it seems to sort of hang out at an angle. So I push it up as high as I can and mess with it until it's hanging straight down. After about 2 minutes of wearing it, it seems to work its way back down and angle itself to start stabbing me again.

Any help getting this to work for me would be greatly appreciated.

Suuuper long-time lurker, first time poster. This community is amazing, and an absolute wealth of information, so I thought I'd contribute where I can!

I wanted to share my experience with a few different cups. So I've found at least two other posts remarking about the stench that comes from their melunas after barely 4-5 hours use. I've had a Ladycup, a Lunette, and the MINI SOFT MELUNA for a bit, and never had any problems with strong smells. The mini meluna would sometimes require slightly more scrubbing, but it would go away pretty quick. I thought I was safe.

I WASN'T

So the mini meluna was great, and I was so impressed with the soft squishy cup and the ball end that I figured I'd order some bigger ones for my heavier days. I also figured they'd be essentially the same cup as my mini, just in a different shape. But it isn't!

I know they list their "main ingredient" as TPE, but I feel like they may have changed something in the new moulds when they released their new line.

I think the minis were/are still using the original line's materials. The inside of my soft mini is very smooth, and feels like silicone. It's REALLY squishy.

When I got my medium soft meluna, it wasn't the same at all. There was a mark along the rim (from the machine, apparently), the cup was stiffer, and the inside isn't smooth. When I run my finger around the inside of the cup, it feels rougher, and I think it has something to do with the material.

Long story short, my mini soft meluna is just fine. I took my medium meluna soft for a run today, and after a single use it smells. Like GOD AWFUL smells. I've tried wiping it down with rubbing alcohol and that seems to have helped it a bit, but I don't think I'll ever be using the damn thing again. I also have a small regular meluna, and I'm now afraid to even go near it.

Since I didn't get any responses to a comment of mine in a very old topic, I'm gonna try it with a new post. By the way, I didn't know "vegetarian/vegan" is also a tag here.. does it even make a difference when it comes to menstrual cups? (Because I'm a vegan.)
And yes, I am aware there are some related topics but those didn't really help me (and everyone's lady bits are individual, right? :) )

So here is it:
I have a feeling that I "crush" my cup (MeLuna classic, size m). At least it looks squished when I pull it out after exhausted trying of placing it right. I already wrote to the MeLuna support whether I need a smaller or/and a firmer size or should simply try harder but didn't get an answer so far. According to their size chart I should use m (even without the sport issue I get nowhere near s).

But I really seem having problems with placing the cup right since it just doesn't want to suction (sorry, I don't know if that's the common word for it or even a verb) and, like I said, it looks squished which makes me believe that the cup might be a bit too large or too soft. Has anyone had this problem, too, and then tried MeLuna sport?! If so, did it work out better?

Also, my problem is that I don't know anything about my anatomy down there, e.g. if my cervix is low (heck, I didn't even know a cervix could be low/high) or if I have any kind of dysfunction/malformation. I only know - avoiding TMI - that I really might be 'literally uptight'. Or is it normal for a woman to be tight, especially without lube and stuff?! ('Cause I've read of some women who cannot seem to insert the cup without any lube.)
When menstruating, I use the smallest tampon size (mini) every day and I don't need to change it for a few hours. And even with that size I don't feel very comfortable. I don't know if that's of any relevance but it surprises me a little. (Sometimes I use a bigger tampon but that's rare.)

And - but I'm not very sure - I think the cup fit the first time I tried it on/in ;) (first day of menstrual cycle, actually). Or I was yet too unexperienced to check it accurately because the second time/day it seemed to leak (A LOT.. it was like I didn't use any vaginal sanitary products). Does this maybe mean that my cervix somehow "moves" during the menstrual cycle? (Seems to be common, too. Like I said I didn't even know any of this.)

I already tried at least two kinds of folding, different positions, squished here and there, put it back and forth, but when I start pulling the cup out it works without much difficulty (but it shouldn't, at least I think so). And sometimes it seems to finally start 'sucking' somewhere near the entrance. (But that's too low/uncomfortable.)
And it's also the squished look that really makes me wonder. (Maybe I even overcooked the cup? Or it's broken? I don't know..)

What do you think? Does anyone have suggestions? With my next menstrual cycle coming up I'd like to read some suggestions before buying a new cup. I'm thinking about getting MeLuna classic s or even MeLuna sport s but I'm afraid they might be useless, too.

Oh, I forgot two things:
- No virgin, no birth, sexually active
- The first time I unpacked the cup I got scared. Could also be a sign for wrong size? ;o Although most other women probably are surprised the first time, too.

I'm in the middle of my first period using a cup - a small Lunette cup to be specific. I really love the experience so far! I'm still getting used to some things, though, and I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong.

The first is that I'm not entirely sure if my cup is not popping open all the way. I feel a suction when I'm pulling it down and when I stick my finger in it seems mostly popped out, but I'm just not sure about the section pressing against my pubic bone. I'm using the pushdown method with the pushed-in part facing down, towards my rectum. That side seems to pop-out fine, but when I feel around, it feels like there's a little dent when I dig towards the top. Is that normal, or should I be finding a stronger cup that pushes back against the pubic bone more?

I'm also experiencing a bit of spotting. The cup is literally nowhere near full, so I'm wondering where it's coming from. Could it be coming from the pubic bone dent? Or could it just be gunk that was sitting below the cup?

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I have a history of urinary discomfort and I'm a little concerned about how this could affect it. I feel like there's a pressure or sudden twinges of stinging in the first hour or so that it's in, before it's really settled in I guess. I moved away from tampons to help the general health of my vagina, but I never considered that a cup might not be the best for urinary problems. Anyone else use cups and have these problems? Any suggestions?

TIA!

I was a bit disappointed that the pretty box got squished in the mail, but furthermore, I love it. It now comes in a pretty purple bag which is different from the denim bag I saw on the online pictures.

It's MUCH smaller than I'd expected. I can't wait to try it out when I get my period. The punch-down fold looks the most comfortable.

Hi, I am a 28-year old virgin, and I have used a small Fleurcup before. My periods are moderately heavy. There were a few times when I was using my small Fleurcup but leaked suddenly and dramatically in the night. At those times the cup was never full. I also usually leaked a bit in the daytime, not in such large volumes and not worse than with a tampon, but I still had to be vigilant. And I wouldn't dare to wear white! Apart from that I was comfortable with it: when I first got it I cut the stem a little shorter, but otherwise it suited me. I am very active as a runner and dancer.
My cup got lost so I need to order another. I am wondering whether it would be sensible to change to a large Fleurcup - would that prevent the nighttime floods?

Hi everyone.

I really hope someone can help me out or at least give me a few tips on this. I am 27 and have never given birth. Reading up on the different cups I decided to buy a Large ladycup thinking it'd be the right one for me. Turns out it was too big. It wouldn't fold out and it hurt so bad. I tried with lube and every fold technique, NOTHING. So I then went and bought the smaller one... which fits and actually folds out, unlike the other one... but I am really uncomfortable using it because it seems like it "disappears" really far in over time and gets sorta errr... "stuck". Reaching it is really hard, I literally have to grab the end of the stem with my finger nails and slowly wedge it far enough down for me to get a good hold to pull it out. And this is after having pushed for ages with my actual vagina to get it to move down a little and sitting in an odd position on the toilet. Other than that, which kinda scares me everytime cause I think I'll never dig it out again, I'm very happy with the cup :(

It really bothers me because I love the concept and I want it to work for me. I don't want to waste anymore money on cups that don't fit or just aren't "right" for me. And seeing as I'm sure someone around here will have more experience than me... for the love of god, HELP!

Would getting a longer or more narrow cup do the trick perhaps? Or one with a longer stem? Which cup on the market has the longest stem but still has a small ish cup like the small ladycup has? I'd really appreciate it if someone could help me. Thanks in advance!

Sophie.

Gosh, sorry for posting so often. I just have lots of questions and no one to ask them to, and everyone here is so understanding!

So I've been wanting to try a MoonCup but I haven't ever actually inserted something into my vagina before, and was actually kind of confused about the anatomy of 'down there'. I've never used a tampon before and have always assumed I just didn't have the right body shape for one, that there was perhaps something wrong with me. Today, however, I managed to insert one finger, in the squatting position. It didn't hurt at all, which surprised me. I got my whole finger in there (I have famously long, thin fingers) and only stopped because I reached the end of my finger. I THINK I felt a wall at the end, but I'm not sure.

I'm fifteen and a virgin. My questions are:
-Is it likely that I still have my hymen?
-Do I have a high cervix (I'm coming to the end of my period, and I thought squatting lowered it)?
-This might sounds silly, but isn't it kind of dangerous putting un-sterile objects inside our bodies? I mean, I know that's how we bring new life and all, but it seems like a fast-track way to infection (by un-sterile, I mean my finger I guess).

Thanks.

Hey everyone, I thought I would share my Sckoon cup review here with you all.  I know it is waaaayyyyyy overdue, but I have just been stretched so thin with a lot of activities, lol.   Anyway, I put up a video and pictures and all.  Even a picture of the opaque pink one they sent me a few years ago as their "rough draft" so to speak.  Its not offered anymore, but its interesting to look at.   Here is the review:

http://menstrualcupinfo.wordpress.com/sckoon-cup/

NOTE TO READERS: I got my NaturalMamma as a promotional cup, and I promised a review in a menstrual cup community.  Please note that the promotional value of the cup has not affected this review.

I've been through several cups in the past few (maybe 5?) years.  I started out with the Lunette, back when there was only one size (which later morphed into being their larger size).  I liked the softness, I cut off the entire stem, but it was too wide and too long for me.

I then moved on to the small Diva, which I again cut off the entire stem of, and it was more comfortable, but again, the end of it stuck out of my vagina just slightly.  I didn't need the capacity, so off I went again, off to look for my Goldilocks cup.

I got a small Lunette Selene, which I loved dearly...until I got an IUD, and it began to leak.  Sadness, because I loved it.

When I heard about the NaturalMamma, and saw the bell-shaped picture that I'd had so much luck with, I decided to take a chance on it.  I'm SO glad I did!

I've never received a sample cup to write a review before, but I was running short on funds, and I thought it was a valid reason to ask for one.  I contacted the maker and asked if I could get a sample of their cup to review.  After a brief language barrier issue (Italian to English), she sent me one.

I got a white/clear cup - I just noticed on their website that they are now offering it in a pale green color, too.  It came in a white (!) zippered polyester pouch, lined in a waterproof...vinyl, I think.  The pouch had some slight dirt on it when it arrived, but I got it out with a Clorox bleach pen.  This is the first cup I haven't had to trim the stem on AT ALL, and it doesn't bother me.  The bell shape is ideal for me, and the slightly stiffer-than-Lunette material has completely stopped all my leaking issues.

Overall, I'm super happy with it, and it's the only cup I'm currently using.  I love it!

Hi :)

I'm 16 and a virgin. I recently bought a menstrual cup (the Mpowercup). I bought the large one as I have a very heavy flow - by heavy I mean, I have to use super sized tampons AND a really long, thick pad so that I don't leak. I really hate how uncomfortable it is.

I was a bit skeptical about the cup idea because it looked huge on the videos and pictures I'd seen online but I have used tampons and I masturbate often so I decided I would buy one.

My period passed two weeks ago and so I couldn't use it then, so today I decided to do a dry run. I sat on the toilet, did a punch-down fold with my cup (it looked the most comfortable) and then I slowly inserted it. It felt weird for a few seconds inside. I couldn't really feel the stem and I made sure it was fully open and the rim was against the wall of my vagina. I tried sitting on a flat surface to see if I could feel it and I guess I was successful because I couldn't feel it so much either.

Then I wanted to take it out...

Oh my, was it uncomfortable. I reached for the stem and pulled down, but it felt strange and it was difficult. So I put my thumb and index finger in to hold the part above the stem and pushed down on it and I could feel what I think is my cervix at the rim of the cup( it didn't hurt or anything, but I could feel it). I am having trouble trying to figure out if my cervix is low or high.It came out but the rim pushed against the bottom of my vagina entrance (where I think my hymen is but am quite uncertain) and it hurt! It felt like I was stretching it (like sometimes when you masturbate and you try three fingers but it just won't work).

So I decided to try again after masturbating ( so it could be more lubricated). This was probably not the best idea because it was difficult to get it in as my vagina walls were swollen inside due to masturbation (I've read tons about the female anatomy but still can't figure out my own anatomy). I tried to pull the cup out then and it still hurt the bottom part of my vagina entrance.

I'm hoping it will be easier to insert and remove it when I actually have my period but does anyone have any tips for me on how to stop it from hurting. As well as any other tips for a first time user.

I only joined yesterday and this is my second post already, so sorry about that. I'm sure some of you may have read my last post, but basically it was about the fact that inserting a cup (I stupidly bought a MoonCup, not realising how many other options there are) seems completely impossible.

Anyway, I tried what some of you said and had a look in a mirror. I couldn't see too well, because I only have a small hand mirror, and I don't shave or anything, plus the lighting was pretty odd so I had to use a torch (I certainly won't be telling my best friend what I used the book lamp she got me for my birthday for...), and therefore I had a very sketchy view, but from what I could see, I seem to simply have a bulge where my vagina should be. It's like there's a hole, and then a sort of fleshy lump protruding from the middle of it. It would make it completely impossible to get anything in there. It hurt a little when I pressed on it. I have no idea what it is - my hymen, perhaps? I don't even know what it should look like. It seems to be just a fleshy mess down there. I can feel this bump when I wipe (I'm so sorry!) and have so for about a year, which adds to my feeling that it could be my hymen, as I've heard they can get thicker during puberty? Whatever it is, it's getting in the way, and if it's not my hymen then I don't know what it is and that scares me. If it IS my hymen, then what would I do about it? It seems pretty unmovable. I don't know how I'd get my cup in there.

Sorry this is a little off topic, but everyone on here has been so friendly and un-judgemental, unlike the rest of the internet, and I feel more comfortable addressing this to you on here. Could anyone give me some advice on anything, please?

Thanks.

I'm fifteen, a virgin, and I bought a MoonCup yesterday (size B, of course). I tried it this morning, although I am coming to the end of my period. I just sat there on the toilet look at it and thinking, 'How the hell is THAT supposed to get up THERE?' The rim alone is enormous. I've never used a tampon before. I feel like there's something wrong with my vagina; I can't get a finger up there. Maybe I'm pushing in the wrong place, I don't know, I'm afraid I'm not greatly educated about 'down there': most of my knowledge genuinely comes from the description of female sex organs in Anne Frank's diary. I still have no idea what most of it is though. I'm fairly sure I know what the clitoris is, but what is the vulva, the labia? I'm completely confused and this is just not helping with insertion. I seem to have lots of little fleshy flaps and completely disorganised wads of skin or something. Am I abnormal? I'm partly scared to push my fingers in there because of my fingernails.

I don't know. I'm confused and don't understand how it would be physically possible to get anything in there at all, forget getting a baby out. Could someone please give me some advice? It's not that it would get stuck, it's more that I just meet a fleshy wall and it doesn't exactly hurt, it's just not going to go any farther and it seems futile to try.

Thanks. I just don't want to use pads for the rest if my life.

Month one, I tried Diva Cup and had slippage issues and, thanks to you ladies pointing out that the inside out method helped, I realized Diva Cup may be too long for me. On top of that, I got great advice on Kegels, but I realize that is not an overnight fix! It is a work in progress. :)

I have since bought a Fleurcup. I tried out a couple "dry runs" pre-period. It fit perfectly and I had no trouble with it slipping or being uncomfortable, even wearing it for a couple of hours.

Now today, period time. It starts slipping down right away, lots of over flow, barely any caught in the cup (Diva Cup at least had that going for it) and overall just a big blood bath! I've tried putting it in farther or lower, but I just don't know what I'm doing wrong. I hear people talk about positioning the cup different ways inside, but I don't seem to have a lot of leeway once it's in there. And how would I know what to even try?

I feel very frustrated. I really want to cup to work because of all the benefits and the reasons it is better than tampons. But what else can I do?!?

Alright guys I am gonna try and make a long story short... I got my first cup back (blue lunette) in 2008 I used it through college and after and loved it, for almost 5 years.

However then Birth control pills ruined my life...

When I started taking birth control pills they really messed with my body, now almost two years later my vagina is still is not normal it has become hard to put my cup in because its always sore.

So I switched back to tampons, well I have never bought cloths with rayon in them after my legs broke out while wearing a pair of jeans that had that fiber in it, well just found out that tampons have rayon, probably adding to my discomfort down there...

anyway I want to switch back to cups one because I hate tampons two because I am allergic to them, its just harder/more painful to get my cup in, and the cup I bought 5 years ago I started having problems getting it to open which is why I stopped using it, its painful enough to get it in I dont wanna be fiddling around longer trying to get it open once its in its plenty comfy just the tissue around the opening down there has not been the same since BCP .. and to top it off tampons seem to make my period heavier (I go through a super every two hours when I used my cup befor BC I would change it at most seven am, one or two oclock and before I went to bed, and really it was rarely full)

HELP! any advice any similar experiences? Does making the holes in the cup larger make it easier to pop open

Hi All,
I wanted to make a post with photos of the ladycups in real life to illustrate their actual colors. Hopefully this helps those keen for a ladycup choose the color they'd like.

( Pictures...Collapse )
If anyone wants to post some pictures here of their ladycup, or links to other discussions about the colors, or reviews on the colors, please do!

Hi,

I'm 26 and virgin.

I recently brought 2 small and 1 medium sized meluna cup on the advice of my doctor as pads were becoming a big issue for me.

I have cerebral palsy which means I'm wheelchair bound. I've tried evry which way to get each of the cups in (bwt 2 are soft and 1 is a classic) but can not get past the point where the bottom of the cup plus the stem are sticking out.

Please help!

Dear community-

I've used a large Lunette for over a year, but my flow is so heavy I have to empty it frequently and often overflow at night. I REALLY don't want to use pads as backup; cups have spoiled me that way, I guess. I'm looking for another cup with a higher capacity and considering either a Meluna Classic XL or a large Yuuki. I learned though my teething period that Diva is too long (even with the stem removed), but my Lunette (also stem totally removed) is a little short, (I have to fish for it to remove it) so I wouldn't mind if either Yuuki or Meluna XL are a little longer than Lunette.

I don't know that stiffness is an issue, but I tried a LadyCup once and my vag walls kept it smooshed, so I can't go too soft.

I'd love to hear any all responses from cuppers who've tried either brand and can give any feedback on their comfort, capacity, length, etc compared to Lunette, or anything else that might be helpful. Thanks!

Okay, so here are the basics... I'm a virgin, trying to use a small Lunette, and I can't seem to get it in all the way, or make it pop open. I've been trying for about 6 months now, and have tried using just about every trick I've seen on here and I still can't get it to work. I'm fairly certain that I am "aiming" at the correct angle, and I have tried every possible fold. I've made some progress, meaning that I can now get it in about halfway, but I'm not sure if the whole rim is in or not. When I get it that far, it just hurts so much that I can't seem to do anything with it and end up taking it out because of the pain. It feels like there is no room for it to pop open. I use tampons all the time, but for some reason my cup just hurts like crazy! I'm pretty determined to make this work but I have no idea how! Part of me wants to just shove it in no matter how much it hurts, but I usually chicken out once it starts to hurt. I've tried it while on my period and when I'm not...with lube and without...in various positions. I just don't know where to go from here! If anyone can provide any suggestions or help I would greatly appreciate it! :)

Hello, Everyone!



I just got amenstrual cup and have not used it yet because im affraid kts going to make me loose. Over time do the muscles loosen up using it? I have not yet had any kids so I got the smaller one but it still seems kind of big. Any personal experiences would be appreachiated.