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Luceafara
24 June 2013 @ 07:47 pm
Meluna Soft leaking when running
Hi All,

I just got my Meluna soft S a few days ago and am using it right now. It is a bit difficult to make it open, because I simply do not have a lot of space down there (and I am completely relaxed when I insert it) and when it does open, it stays in an oval shape (which seems to be OK as per dozens of other posts).
The problem is that the cup leaks a bit too much when I go running, and only then. Right now, I am only spotting, so I am a bit apprehensive about using the cup during a full fledged period when I go on my daily run.

Are there any runners here with the same problem? Any possible solutions? Has anyone tried out the (rock hard?) Meluna Sport, and would it affect a sensitive bladder? Did you switch from one stiffness/size/brand to another with greater success because of high impact exercise?

Other info: in my thirties, no kids, on a dry spell sexually (ehem), have always been tight (not the muscles, just the vagina) as per my sex partners and my pain levels, could never go beyond a regular OB at the very most. Never knew exactly what or where my cervix was until recently, and it travels north at night, and south during the day, or at least during my runs. TMI? Oh yeah, I have a bit of stress incontinence when I run, which is why I thought a cup may be a great idea - better than the doctors recommended tampon. I have been running with a Lelo ben wa ball for a few weeks and it made all the difference on the world, so a cup should be ideal in theory.

I have been lurking here for a while and read hundreds of posts, afer finding you all through an unrelated Google search. This is an incredible community without which I would have never even considered a menstrual cup, since the personal aspect and user experience is missing in a Wikipedia article.

Thank you all in advance!


Quick edit: I bought a bunch of Melunas just now, because I found them so cheap, so I'll update this entry once I get to do some test runs, in case others have the same issue. If you can think of anything else, let me know - I am grateful for all the advice I can get!!!
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ginger_timeladyginger_timelady on June 25th, 2013 01:05 am (UTC)
I'm not a runner, but a harder cup might work better if you only notice spotting when you go for a run. Can you feel the cup when you run? Whenever I could feel mine, I knew it didn't open all the way/wasn't in far enough, and was then prone to leaking. What I had to do was push it farther past my pubic bone and run my finger along the side of the cup to make sure it opened. If that doesn't work out for you, you might consider another cup.

Edited at 2013-06-25 01:06 am (UTC)
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forumaddict81forumaddict81 on June 25th, 2013 06:37 am (UTC)
I find it easier to let a cup just pop open when its like halfway in, and then just push it up higher. Plenty of people suggest that and I think its just easier because the holes are closer to the vagina's opening. Also it just makes a better seal like that on the way up. Did you try other angles? Like not inserting up but aim back like you are pushing it to the rectum? That's a more natural angle actually.
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juliiie87juliiie87 on June 25th, 2013 09:58 am (UTC)
Is the cup catching blood at all ? Because it could just be residual spotting, i.e. blood that was already sitting low in the vagina being pushed out. If it's not catching blood you're probably missing cervix. Provided it isn't the case.. if your muscles are strong and tight you might benefit from a slightly firmer cup, but no need to go to the other extreme with a Meluna sport! Most people don't actually need them to do sport with a cup. ;) I do believe firm cups have the potential to put pressure on the bladder.

Oh and I meant to add : if you're having trouble with unfolding, try other folds. Run the cup under cold water before insertion and face the folded part down towards your back/the floor. Generally, with very soft cups it works best to use folds in which you can access the folded part from the outside, so preferably NOT the punch-down fold. I use labia and half diamond mostly, very tiny and intricate, other prefer the old c-fold or origami or triangle for a narrower insertion point. There's videos on youtube if you don't know these, Lunette has one in particular.

Edited at 2013-06-25 10:03 am (UTC)
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Kai: 2Cupskuradi8 on June 25th, 2013 12:57 pm (UTC)
You wrote: "I have a bit of stress incontinence when I run, which is why I thought a cup may be a great idea - better than the doctors recommended tampon. I have been running with a Lelo ben wa ball for a few weeks and it made all the difference on the world, so a cup should be ideal in theory."

Yes, running with a Lelo ball (that's the size of a ping pong ball, isn't it?) is good for working your PC and other vaginal muscles. As for a tampon or a cup, both sit well above your urethal opening so neither are going to catch any urine that might leak out.

And juliiie87 brings out a good point when asking if it's leakage that misses the cup entirely or whether gravity and jarring are simply dislodging "residual slobber" that may be on the far side of the cup in your vagina -- in which case some liners might be all you need to keep from staining your running clothes.
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Luceafaraluceafara on June 25th, 2013 04:55 pm (UTC)
Hi,
I answed to all questions below, but in terms of the ben wa ball: I use the smallest Lelo ball, about the same diameter as the small Meluna, and tampons are recommended in general in this case to keep the bladder in place, definitely not to absorb urine.

I never have leakage issues with tampons, so it would be great if I got to the same point with a MC.
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Luceafaraluceafara on June 25th, 2013 04:49 pm (UTC)
Thank you for your answers, to address some of the questions:

It sits inside perfectly when I don't run with it. Perfect seal, no spotting (even after almost 24 hrs yesterday). I don't feel it inside at all, not even while I run. It does catch the fluids, but when I run, some of them get past it. I don't think it is residual stuff, as I clean around it really well, and also because it appears too much for that to be residual - I have a feeling running breaks the seal, maybe? Is this possible?

I can tell it is opened though oval shaped , and it is as far back as it goes - seems to be all the way around the cervix, and angled more back than up. I found a fold and angle that work for me now , always hold it under cold water first, and let it open once I'm past the bone, then make sure the seal is tight. Again, no spills after an entire day not running, spills always seem to happen during runs - cup catches some, the some goes past it.

I am considing another cup, and was hopingto get some ideas given the circumstances. I don't think my pelvic floor muscles are great, which is what Meluna recommends for the harder cups. Also wondering if a harder one would be unpleasant during exercise.
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juliiie87juliiie87 on June 25th, 2013 05:14 pm (UTC)
The Meluna soft is one of the softest cups there is, so it's possible that your muscles crush it when you run, although it's unusual, still a valid theory. There are MANY brands that are somewhat firmer than the soft but not as firm as a Meluna sport, or even a classic. In order to pick one, consider the room you have inside / how high or low your cup / your cervix sits, because that would be the deciding factor, then shape and stiffness. Capacity doesn't appear to be an issue since you are fine with such a small cup. Then compare your options from the charts :

http://sizecharts.livejournal.com/
http://menstrualcupinfo.wordpress.com/cup-stiffness-comparison-chart/

If you definitely need a short cup such as the one you have, I can advise looking into the medium Mini Meluna, in classic, or the small sckoon cup. If you think could accomodate something longer, than you have many options to choose from.
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Luceafaraluceafara on June 25th, 2013 09:11 pm (UTC)
Hi,

Not sure how comfortable something much, much longer would be, but I could add a few mm. The S just seems right, but it would probably not be great during a real period capacity-wise, about two of my tampons.

I looked at the Melunas for hours last night. Hours, I tell you!! Including the minis.
What is the reason that you would recommend a medium mini classic over a small classic? Do you think the larger diameter may keep it in place?

Interesting, I would not have considered a Sckoon, because they look a bit large in pictures, though looking at the size chart, they seem about right. I can't believe I missed this! What stiffness number would you give the small Skoons?

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juliiie87juliiie87 on June 25th, 2013 10:19 pm (UTC)
I was thinking about the medium Mini because the width makes it sit higher around the cervix and perhpas it'll be more stable, and the base is quite subtle. Although if the small soft is perfect otherwise, you might as well try a classic.

This post and my comment down the thread compile most reviews for the Sckoon cup : http://menstrual-cups.livejournal.com/3060459.html#comments in here http://menstrual-cups.livejournal.com/3029975.html#comments Melissa compares the rim to a small Lunette so a 4, the base is softer. If you're willing to go a tag longer & firmer there's the small Fleurcup at about 3 I'd say, the rim is also somewhat thicker than the rest. there's also the small Ladycup but it's rather low capacity and I hear the rim is much firmer. Here's a raving review for the Sckoon and I think there's one currently on mc-sales if you're interested : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRwbewe1W2I
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Luceafaraluceafara on June 25th, 2013 11:54 pm (UTC)
Thanks for the info - and what a review!
For some reason I find it looks gigantic, but maybe the stem makes it look bigger or the angle.
Definitely food for thought, and a cup I'll keep on my top 3 to buy.

I forgot to mention that I have a Fleucup two-pack en route to me. I only ordered them because I wanted to try a silicone cup at a low price, and the deal was really good. The large one in the pack is a not so subtle attempt to help my sister discover MCs. I am not sure the small one is small enough to fit me, so she may end up with both.

If I can use it, I'll take it on a run and report back.

Edited at 2013-06-26 12:10 am (UTC)
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Yamxyamx on June 25th, 2013 07:42 pm (UTC)
If you like the shape otherwise, you should probably get the same cup you have in classic. That's the stiffness recommended for most women, and it'd keep its shape better while you run and your muscles are pressing against it.

If you generally prefer a softer cup, maybe you could wear the classic only for running?

Otoh, if you can run with a lelo ball, a stiffer cup shouldn't be a problem for you, anyway. :)
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Luceafaraluceafara on June 25th, 2013 08:49 pm (UTC)
"Otoh, if you can run with a lelo ball, a stiffer cup shouldn't be a problem for you, anyway. :)"

True!! :)


I was also thinking of using one just for running and keep a softer/smaller/thinner one for the rest of the day - just picking the right one is not easy.

I was not sure if it was a stiffness, shape, or size issue...

Edited at 2013-06-25 09:14 pm (UTC)
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Yamxyamx on June 25th, 2013 09:23 pm (UTC)
Since it happens only when you run, it's almost certainly stiffness. If it was size/shape, it'd happen all the time.
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Luceafaraluceafara on June 25th, 2013 11:55 pm (UTC)
Good point as well!!

Edited at 2013-06-25 11:59 pm (UTC)
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Kathausares_girl on June 28th, 2013 11:48 pm (UTC)
I don't run but I do play roller derby... And I use the Meluna Sport. I absolutely love it. I haven't had any problems with it leaking even when I'm playing my hardest. IMO, as long as you can handle the stiffness (as your use of ben wa balls indicates), you're better off using the stiff cups coz they're not going to deform.
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Luceafaraluceafara on June 29th, 2013 02:04 am (UTC)
Did you go for the Meluna Sport right away, or did you try other cups and, especially, other Melunas?

Too bad, I just ordered a whole bunch of Melunas, but not a single sport one.
Thing is, the ben wa ball is only 29 mm across, so much much smaller than any cup, so I figured I try the classic first and take it from there.

Thanks for your input!
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Yamxyamx on June 29th, 2013 08:11 am (UTC)
Also a good point. I personally am very happy using the Meluna soft (sensitive down there), but for someone who plays sports and can handle stiffness, there are certainly a lot of advantages to the Meluna sport.
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Luceafaraluceafara on June 29th, 2013 10:22 am (UTC)
Same here, I am extremly happy with the Meluna soft otherwise - I only feel it's there after 22 hrs or so, so I think I may only need one for when I go running, though it would be nice not to have to switch anything out during the day.

Darn it, for such a low price, I should have added a sport one to my order.
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