A couple questions from a beginner

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01 July 2013 @ 06:46 pm

  To start with, I'm 14 and a virgin and I just got my menstrual cup in the mail today. I have previously used applicator tampons. I ordered the Lunette selene model 1. Luckily, I'm on my period, so I boiled my cup and rushed to the bathroom to try it out. I used some personal lubricant to aid in the insertion. I tried the punch down fold at first, but I couldn't get it in all the way, so I tried something between the triangle fold and seven fold which worked. I went very slowly and it hurt a little, but I eventually got the cup in all the way (even the stem was in and I couldn't feel it at all!) but the cup didn't fully open. I was too scared to push it in further in hopes it would open, so I stopped. I took a couple steps around and the stem still didn't poke me and I couldn't feel it. Since the cup wasn't open and I was scared it would go even higher up, I decided to take it out. I beared down and managed to grab the stem and pull it fully out, though it did hurt more than insertion had. Now I'm too scared to put my cup back in, because I don't like the idea of having to reach very far up my vagina to get it back out.
  So my questions are, does this mean I have a high cervix? I once tried to find my cervix with a finger and couldn't feel anything, though I was not on my period at the time. Right now I'm kind of turned off of the idea of trying to find it because I'm pretty sore down there. Is this model a bad model for me? I didn't think I'd have a high cervix (I don't know why, but I just assumed I'd be smaller down there) so I decided against any long models like a the diva cup, though now I'm wondering if it would have worked better.
  My other question is are there any tips for helping the cup open? Would putting it even higher up help it open? I don't like the idea of that for the possibility of having a lot of difficulty getting it out, and to be honest I'm kind of scared I won't be able to get the cup back out if it pops open either. Would a different fold help?
  I really like the idea of menstrual cups, and I really want it to work for me. Thanks to everyone who helps <3

Tags: cervix position, insertion - painful or problems, lunette selene, popping open, virginity

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16 comments —

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carrieb on July 2nd, 2013 12:09 am (UTC)

One thing you can do to open it up is to twist it. After you put it in, grasp the stem or the bottom of the cup and spin it around about three times.

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chickadee213 on July 2nd, 2013 01:46 am (UTC)

Thanks for answering! I tried to spin it around, but it wouldn't work because I could only get one other finger in along with the cup and the stem wasn't far out enough for me to spin it outside of me.
I actually was just successful though having it open and removing it! I used the triangle fold again and I used some advice from other posts and had the folds facing down and one of the holes inside the fold. I then did the "cup dance" (haha) which was swinging your hips and then marching in place. I'm not sure what actually helped it open up, but it did in the end! :D
For removal I pushed it down then broke the seal from underneath with my finger and all of a suden the cup just fell/popped out. I'm still working on removal :P

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carrieb on July 2nd, 2013 01:55 am (UTC)

That's great! I'm glad you are having success! I have a little girl and often wonder what I am going to tell her about periods and cups and such. I didn't know a virgin could even wear a cup until I found this community. It is such a superior way of handling a period that I can't imagine going back to pads or tampons.

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teacupcake89 on July 2nd, 2013 11:30 am (UTC)

don't worry about not being able to twist/spin/turn the cup, you don't 'have' or 'need' to be able to do, it just helps some cup users. another tip to get the cup to open up is to create an air channel for air to get into the cup by pressing one side of the vaginal wall away from the cup with a finger for 10 seconds (similar to releasing the seal by pressing the cup inwards)

I also do the wiggly bum cup dance!! (squats, bending knees etc)

you'll get much better at insertion and removal with practice, just look at how much you can do already! well done! :) (I was still trying to get half of it in at this point!)

I like sitting on the edge of the bath tub or toilet seat edge or standing up squatting slightly leaning forwards or backwards. You'll find a way that works best for you, like wit tampons.

don't worry about it travelling up far for now, just don't trim the stem until you've had it in overnight/for several hours and know how far it likes to sit. The small Lunette has a long stem so that's good.

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valkynlu on July 2nd, 2013 01:51 am (UTC)

Sometimes it pops open when I pull it down a bit. You can try twisting/turning while pulling down, too.

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arwen_17 on July 2nd, 2013 02:12 am (UTC)

What position are you in during insertion? I find that squatting down (I usually do it in the shower) allows it to open up easily. I hope it keeps working well for you!

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chickadee213 on July 2nd, 2013 02:37 am (UTC)

Well I started out sitting on the floor with my knees up and my legs spread because when I first used tampons it was the only thing that worked for me. Eventually with tampons I could insert and remove them sitting on the toilet. I ended up inserting it sitting on the floor and removing it on the toilet. I'll have to try inserting it squatting next time! Thanks for the help :)

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noteasy2begreen on July 2nd, 2013 02:21 am (UTC)

Try making sure one of the holes is positioned in the middle of whatever fold you're using (and you can try one of the more elaborate folds, too -- I like the origami fold for soft cups, and the labia fold has many fans as well). Once it's past my pubic bone, I use one finger to press against the wall of my vagina, and that usually lets enough air into the cup to get it to open. Good luck!

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serpent_849 on July 2nd, 2013 05:58 am (UTC)

http://menstrual-cups.livejournal.com/2618390.html see some tips here on popping open. i prefer the labia fold with my lunette selene :)
also, a folded cup can travel much higher than a fully open one! i have an extremely low cervix, yet on my first try my cup went unreachable, lol. it's actually easier to make it open when it's low, as you basically need to get some air into the cup.
your vagina has nothing to do with your height, weight etc. my body has changed since i was 14 but my cervix is still at the same place. (pregnancy or prolapse can affect the cervix position, though)

*lol typo: travel much hair. hahaha

Edited at 2013-07-02 05:59 am (UTC)

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chickadee213 on July 2nd, 2013 11:32 pm (UTC)

Thanks for the tip I'll have to try it out. Is it easy to hold in place even when you're just holding the base of the cup? I think the reason I like the triangle fold is because I can hold the entire fold in place with only holding the bottom of the cup, so it doesn't open until I entirely let go.

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gipsy_queen on July 2nd, 2013 10:29 am (UTC)

Mine usually pops open after I've worn it for a few minutes. I can tell when it happens because I get a funny little suction feeling and feel/hear a very slight pop.

I'd say give it a rest for a bit, especially if it's made you a bit sore. Trying again straight away will just make you tense up in anticipation of the pain which will make it more painful anyway, and become a vicious circle. It might also be an idea to practice while you're *not* on your period, then you can get to grips with it and be getting used to it the next time you need to use it. It'll not hurt to practice when you're not having a period. Make sure you keep with the lubricant at those times though, if you feel you need to.

I sort of fold most of the edges in on mine and just leave a little loop poking up to insert it. I find that way works for me but it might not for other people. Experiment with your folds and see which works the best for you. Good luck!

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chickadee213 on July 2nd, 2013 11:29 pm (UTC)

I'm so happy because I'm having so much success! I honestly expected my first cycle with the cup to be a nightmare full of pain and blood spilling everywhere, but I actually wore my cup to dance class today and left it in for about 5 1/2 hours with no leakage! I removed it without spilling anything, though it did hurt :P... removal is definitely still on my list of things to figure out. Also, even though the first time I inserted it I thought the cup was too short, now it's rubbing me and being sort of aggravating, so I don't know if I should cut the stem it... I'm worried without it so long I won''t be able to remove the cup as well.
Thanks for everyones help!

Edited at 2013-07-02 11:30 pm (UTC)

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teacupcake89 on July 3rd, 2013 09:13 am (UTC)

try bending/curving the stem upwards/inwards/to the side so you can still use it but it won't poke. I usually have to 'unhook'/uncurl my stem for removal but it only takes a second. The more you get used to removal etc the more you'll know if you can remove it with a bit less stem or not.

don't worry if your cup likes to sit slanted, it's just aiming towards your cervix, so don't try to 'straighten' it if it doesn't sit vertical.

definitely hold two hands to keep the cup folded until you want it to open, one nearer the top and another at the base/stem.

well done, you're doing SO well! Removal will get easier, with practice you'll be able to refold the cup slightly on its way out to make it less painful, remember there's a 3 plus month learning curve so it normal not to get everything down in your first period with it. :)

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luceafara on July 3rd, 2013 01:18 am (UTC)

Just wanted to say: kudos to you for getting a MC at 14!! I wish they had been available back when I was 14 - it would have made life so much easier, especially during my teenage years!

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chickadee213 on July 3rd, 2013 03:11 am (UTC)

I know what you mean. Sometimes I'm at school for 10 hours with class starting at 8 and dance after school until 6. It's a pain having to change tampons and pads all day long, and also since I'm a dancer pads show through my leotard! And I would always leak through tampons, so I had to wear a whole pad as back up in case I had a test or a meeting with a teacher during lunch in which case I wouldn't have time to get to the bathroom. I'm looking forward to how easy school will be on my period now with my menstrual cup :)

Edited at 2013-07-03 03:12 am (UTC)

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luceafara on July 3rd, 2013 05:25 am (UTC)

Plus, I had extremely irregular periods and got caught at school a few times without any products, which was pretty horrific. I was the first in my class to get my period, so the entire topic was just embarrassing to me. Ugh.

With a MC, you can wear it even if you are not on your period, so you can be prepared any time you think you should be, which, for me, would have been every day. ("You" meaning "one", not you personally.)

Edited at 2013-07-03 05:25 am (UTC)

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