Post IUD cup experiences? (fleurcup vs lunette)

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08 December 2011 @ 11:34 am

Salutations!
So after tossing the thought around for a while, I have decided to get my IUD removed for a few months to see if I like my life better without it. Now I can also get a cup! Huzzah! DH is fascinated by cups so he has offered to buy me one of my choosing.

Unfortunately I am at a total brick wall in the decision process so maybe you lovely people can help! I am really confused about whether I should get a Lunette or a Fleurcup.

Here is a little about me:

I am 24 years old, 5'3"tall 108lbs, low cervix. I am sexually active. My period before I got the IUD was relatively light, and short. The entire time I have had the IUD my period has been heavy and long. I was wondering about the other people's experiences after they had their iud removed in regards to flow. Did your flow return to how it was before you had the iud implanted?

I really like that the lunette is made in Finland, and that it is short. I was really eyeing the lunette size 1 Cynthia, but I am curious if whether I should go for the larger size because I am sexually active? Is the smaller lunette more for younger people and virgins? or would my small build be suited for it?

The fleurcup also appeals to me because it is softer and the shape is really pretty (as well as so many colors!!). But I am curious if they are made directly in france? The bottom looks larger too, and I always had a problem with large tampons being.... uncomfortable.

Are there any happy customers out there who are about my size/shape? Which did you choose? Have you tried both?

Also the lunette website says that they are sold in german apotheke. I have been to three apotheke requesting the lunette and everyone looks at me like I am insane. Anyone have luck buying their cup in a german store??

Thanks MC!

Tags: fleurcup, iud, lunette

Current Location: germany

Current Mood: awake

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juliiie87 on December 8th, 2011 12:39 pm (UTC)

Unfortunately, how you are built on the outside does not predict how your insides are. Basically what you need to know is how far in your cervix sits on your period (because it can move up and down quite a bit), how heavy your flow is and possibly, how strong you muscle tone is down there (strong muscle tone could be a problem with soft cups, whereas weak muscle tone could lead to the cup falling out). because of its shape, the fleurcup might sit higher around your cervix, which means you shouldn't feel the bottom, un less your cervix really is "just there". Besides shape, another difference to consider is that the lunette is a little stiffer.

If you are located in Germany, Meluna is the best option to consider. They also happen to offer a wide range of sizes to fit mostly everyone. I believe the fleurcup is made in France. And I've never heard of cups being sold in pharmacies in central Europe, possibly in some "organic" shops, but mostly just online.

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juliiie87 on December 8th, 2011 12:40 pm (UTC)

Oh and fyi you CAN use cups with an IUD, many people do successfully. Hope this all helps.

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djehutys_wisdom on December 8th, 2011 01:36 pm (UTC)
IUD + cup

I have a copper IUD and use both sizes of Lunette. FWIW, I am in my late 20's and have been sexually active, my cervix rides high and does not sit in the cup. The smaller Lunette is definately my favorite due to ease of insertion and removal (and high muscle tone for me has led to the opposite problem from what the previous poster described -- breaking the seal on the stiffer large lunette is MUCH harder than the softer small, although the large does pop open faster, YMMV).

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kuradi8 on December 8th, 2011 02:10 pm (UTC)

When comparing the Lunette and the Fleurcup, the two smalls and the two larges each have the same dimensions. The large Lunette is noticeably stiffer than the others. Being stiffer or softer, each has its advantages and disadvantages. The Lunettes are a little more pointy at the bottom. The Fleurcups are more rounded -- blunt. Compare side by side photos and decide which shape you think you'd like better.

Since you are sexually active, you can probably wear either size comfortably.

Lunette: http://www.lunette.com/de/index.php?id=352

One of each? The clear Fleurcups are on sale. TWO for 24,99 Euros. http://fleurcup.com/default-de.html

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m03m on December 8th, 2011 02:49 pm (UTC)

I've used Mirena IUS for 10 years, unfortunately I can't say much about whether my periods afterwards are the same as before, since I was on the pill for the 15 years before that. Frankly I don't know what my periods are supposed to be like, naturally.

I think that there is a good chance that both the Lunette and the Fleurcup will work for you. Since you have a low cervix (how low?) the large might work best, because it will fit around your cervix more easily and this will help it not stick out.

Personally I love my large Fleurcup. I filed the grip rings off, they chafed me, and now it works wonderfully.

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hairballsplat on December 8th, 2011 02:54 pm (UTC)

i've tried the large lunette and the large fleur. i love the large fleur for heavy days. the large lunette lives in my bag as my show and tell cup because it's just too stiff for me. the bottom of the fleur is larger and i do feel it more than some of my other cups but it doesn't irritate, it's just there...and since i need it for it's capacity i live with it. on lighter days i use my large LadyCup cause it's just a tad shorter and still got pretty good capacity and is not stiff either.

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ohletmetelu on December 8th, 2011 04:13 pm (UTC)

Everyone is different so I recommend reading through the tags to decide what you think would work best for you. Check out the pros/cons of softer vs stiffer cups :)

I love love love my large Fleurcup! I've also tried the large Lunette but it was a bit stiff for me which was annoying because I constantly felt like I had to pee!

You have to decide whether you want a cup that will pop open more easily but you may feel (stiffer cups) or a cup that may take some coercing to open but will be more comfortable to wear (softer cups).

Good Luck!

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siennasky on December 8th, 2011 04:23 pm (UTC)

I went from medium flow before getting an iud to crazy heavy flow the whole time I had the iud and back to medium flow immediately after having the iud removed.

I'm 40 and a little bigger than you and I prefer the smaller cups. I say try the smaller Lunette. If it doesn't work for you, you could still probably use it on light days, so it wouldn't be a total waste.

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lebannen on December 9th, 2011 12:56 am (UTC)

When I got my copper IUD taken out, my periods went about 75% back to normal straight away (both lighter and shorter), and then the rest of the way back over the next few months.

I had a small UK Mooncup before I got the IUD, and bought a large fleurcup to help deal with the heavy days with the IUD. I sometimes found it uncomfortable because of the width at its base. Now that the IUD is gone I prefer to use the Mooncup most of the time - I'm older than you and also sexually active, and certainly the small size of a Mooncup is not too small for me; I think they're quite similar to the Lunette?

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tinkerandcrab on December 9th, 2011 01:16 am (UTC)
Oy vey!

Good gravy, I've never had an IUD, but reading this thread makes me NOT want to get one. I know they have some very good features and all, but the idea of something giving me a heavier period is just not enticing.

Anyone know of a community, similar to this one, for diaphragm users? I'd like some more info about those...

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djehutys_wisdom on December 9th, 2011 07:02 am (UTC)
Re: Oy vey!

Reason #1 for an IUD -- over a 10 year period, it has about the same failure rate as a tubal ligation.

Diaphragms can be a good option, but have a much higher failure rate, and if used with spermicide (which is typically recommended, IIRC), has all the nasty side-effects of spermicide.

IUD's are also extremely cost effective and require essentially no planning before or after sex.

They are extremely popular worldwide and although still rare in the US, they are very popular among gynocologists (for their own use) in the US.

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m03m on December 9th, 2011 08:16 am (UTC)
Re: Oy vey!

Keep in mind that there is a big difference between a copper IUD (Paragard) and a hormonal IUD (Mirena). The former may give you heavier periods, the latter is more likely to give you lighter ones or stop them completely. When I was on Mirena, I was period-free for over three years!

I now realise that I have no idea which type of IUD the OP means.

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naiadoreiad on December 9th, 2011 08:24 am (UTC)
Re: Oy vey!

I have a copper iud. I really really loved it for the past three years, but I think i just want a break from it. I guess i think that I wouldn't leave in a piercing for 3 years without cleaning or replacing the jewelry. I will probably get another iud in a few months. Maybe the goldlily or the gynefix.

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m03m on December 9th, 2011 08:31 am (UTC)
Re: Oy vey!

Oh... then my experience wasn't even slightly relevant to your case.

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fireaphid on December 11th, 2011 10:13 pm (UTC)
Re: Oy vey!

Just another IUD fan here to defend their good name. The copper IUD is by no means guaranteed to cause heavier periods, just like how the "potential side effects" of most drugs aren't experienced by a majority of users. I've had a copper IUD for a couple years now and my periods have gotten shorter and no heavier. Obviously it's a risk, but I was reassured by the fact that the IUD has the highest continuation rate of any birth control method except sterilization; this means that the side effects are either uncommon or not severe enough to convince many people to get their IUDs removed, at least compared to side effects of other methods causing people to discontinue them. I'd urge you to check out the iud_divas community to do some more research before ruling it out as an option.

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tinkerandcrab on December 13th, 2011 05:58 am (UTC)
Re: Oy vey!

No, I know... I admittedly have very little experience with birth control, and I kind of think they ALL sound like they suck, so probably IUDs are a better option than many others, especially the pill. I've always hated the idea of birth control that affects one's hormone balance, and dreamed that purely mechanical methods could be more effective. I know the percentages of effectiveness for diaphragms are not great, and yet I think I would opt for them anyway because I don't want to use something that screws with my body chemistry.

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fireaphid on December 13th, 2011 09:30 pm (UTC)
Re: Oy vey!

I guess this is the sort of thing that would be discussed in a diaphragm-focused community, but to get the "perfect" and "typical" use statistics for the diaphragm, it's assumed that you'll use a chemical spermicide with it; in every quantifiable sense, that's going to affect your body chemistry more than a copper IUD.

And, yeah, I'm with you that birth control methods for the most part do not sound like much fun! I'm very satisfied with my copper IUD, but even for me it's just a temporary solution until I can get sterilized. The thing is that it's not valuable to compare the drawbacks of a birth control method to the normal state of your body -- what really needs to be considered is a comparison between the drawbacks of any birth control method and being pregnant. Based on that, they all sound fantastic to me!

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efough on March 26th, 2012 07:06 pm (UTC)
Re: Oy vey!

I seem to be some sort of Paragard IUD freak - my periods became LESS heavy and LESS painful once I had the IUD inserted at the tender age of 30.

I had it taken out for a month because I couldn't afford the new one when the old one expired (note to all - the WHO says you can use the Paragard for up to 12 years, but after seeing my 11 y.o. Paragard (yes, I took photos) I think I'll have my Paragard removed before 10 years are up!) and my period was crampy and heavy. I got my new IUD, the first period was a little weird, but now it is even better than before.

I realize I'm probably closer to menopause than most people discussing the IUD on this site (40 now) but I wasn't when I got it at 30.

Maybe those of us without IUD side effects just don't speak up as often as those who do?

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serpent_849 on December 9th, 2011 01:45 am (UTC)

I got my small lunette because I love everything Finnish (and I have a low cervix and it's considered a good option) and it didn't turn out to be the right one for me. but my cervix is really really low.
since you're sexually active, you most likely CAN accomodate a large sized cup. this would give you more capacity. the guidelines are mostly for determining whether you NEED a wide cup. i'm a virgin and my preferred cup is the old 45x45 medium meluna inside out.

fwiw the rounded bottom of my new small meluna is right at the opening and/or sticks out, and I certainly prefer when a more pointy bottom sticks out (they all do). but my cervix is like 1cm in, you probably don't have to worry about this.

and gut feeling is usually right. i convinced myself this one could be my goldilocks cup that wouldn't stick out, but i always, always thought the rounded bottom looked uncomfortable... plus i dislike everything french hehe :p almost got over the dislike and got a fleurcup but the new melunas came out.

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lgonzalez1120 on December 10th, 2011 02:00 am (UTC)

I have both and love them equally. My preference depends on my mood. Lunette pops open VERY EASILY, so when I am in a rush I use my Lunette. my Fleurcup is more comfortable than my Lunette and it doesn't press against my bladder and make me have to urinate as frequently. The origami fold is my go to fold with my fleur.

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