Are you on your period right now? Cause dry-runs are often more complicated..everything is softer during your period.

You could always try a water based lube to get the cup in :)

I use the diamond fold for my Lunette and that makes it really easy for it to pop open. The more complicated the fold the easier it'll open (my experience)

It was a dry run, yeah. I can't use a lube, actually; I'm a teenage girl in a Christian home and getting one would look very suspicious. XD

Okay... Is there a link about the different types of folds somewhere? Thanks!

At least make sure the cup is damp with water. I cannot insert a dry cup, especially on a dry run (pain, friction and more pain)!

Edited at 2015-03-30 10:35 pm (UTC)

Cool, thank you. :)

You can use coconut oil, which is also a great moisturizer and totally innocuous. Maybe your feet are pretty flaky or something, yeah?

Oooh!!!!!! I'm experimenting in making my own natural cosmetics, so I actually have some coconut oil already! Great idea, thanks!

Edited at 2015-03-31 12:42 am (UTC)

Was just going to suggest this! Coconut oil has so many uses anyways. I've been using it as a shaving "cream" because my legs look like a dinosaur's skin in the winter otherwise. I'll save my rants about modern church culture for another time ;)

Ahhhh! (And this is going to be off-topic from menstrual cups, but...) I never thought of using coconut oil as a shaving cream! Does it also help with razor burn? No matter what type of razor I use or how new it is, I wind up with crazy rashes for a day or two after shaving my legs!! Or should I mix a batch with a few drops of tea tree oil to stave that off?

Totally off topic but I see other people have answered the actual question, so -

I usually use King of Shaves oil on my legs, but coconut oil worked well when I had some (it's quite hard to get hold of where I live). I use a clean razor, a kind without an aloe strip on because I think they make my legs worse, and rinse off all the oil/bits of stubble really well afterwards. And as soon as I've dried my legs (carefully!) I use a mild antiseptic cream (Savlon, but I don't know if that's a brand that can be found internationally; the active ingredient is 5% cetrimide) instead of a body lotion - all the lotions/moisturisers I own make my legs sting and come out in a worse rash than using nothing.

Hope that's of some help!

Yeah, King of Shaves products and Savlon don't appear to be available in Canada (probably something to do with labelling laws, which state stuff has to be bilingual, especially where I live), but coconut oil is super easy to find. Most larger grocery stores and health food stores have some. But I'll try to keep cetrimide in mind and see if a lotion that includes it is available around here. I think that would help as an after-shave treatment.

I've never had razor burn after using it--I think it does the trick for me! I just use the regular Gillette Venus razor (the kind that's been around for probably 15 years...not the kind with 25 blades on it that vibrates every which way lol)

I like razors with three or four blades, but no vibration, haha, as they do help my skin a bit, but I think I'll try it when I get a fresh jar of coconut oil. Our jar appears to have gone rancid (but it was old). I might premix a batch with tea tree oil as an antibacterial in it.

tea tree oil might sting you down there fyi (I've never tried it)--maybe make a separate batch for your legs and keep plain coconut oil for the lube!

I was talking about mixing it for my legs. XD I don't need lube for insertion, haha.

If you haven't already, read the Virgin's Guide to Cups found at the Community FAQ. And if you "can't" get your cup in, then don't. Put it away and come back to it another time when you are more mentally and physically ready.

I did read it a little while ago, but I'll read it again. Thanks! :)

Hey. I just wanted to say that I'm also a teenager (13 years old) and I've been in the exact same position a few months ago when I first got my cup. What I did was:

1.) Wet the cup with warm/hot water to soften it so it goes in easier, but be aware that if you soften it, popping open/sealing the cup will be harder, since the cup won't be as stiff.

2.) Relax your vaginal muscles. Seriously. Drop your jaw and don't think too much about it.

3.) When you fold the cup, don't use the C-fold. I found that it was really wide for me. I use the punch-down fold, but other folds that are small are the 7-fold and the origami fold.

4.) Have you inserted a tampon before? Insert downward/horizontally, toward your tailbone, not upward. That was the biggest mistake I made as I struggled getting a cup in at first.

Good luck, and let me know how it goes! :)

Yeah don't do dry, I learnt that the hard way haha. In regards to popping open, I could not for the life of me get my lily to open once it was inside. I now put it in folded and slowly pull down until it inflates (for me it's almost completely out when it pops), then slide it back in. Sometimes I pull it too far out and have to start over, but that's been the only way for me to do it :)

Don't know how old you are or anything, but I'm a virgin 22 y/o and I have a very small vaginal opening. I thought the cup was too large for me too! It can be quite daunting.

I wrote a post about what worked under the virgin tag, but here it is again.

Newbie insertion: I have a Lunette 1. I wet the cup in hot water for a few minutes so it was pliable, then I used a cross between a labial fold and a punch down fold. For the first time inserted, I laid on my back, relaxed and then slowly wiggled it in. Aim down towards your tailbone not up. Also go slow, it may hurt some the first few times or if it pops open and isn't past your tail bone. But once it's up then you either can't feel it or can just have a slight not uncomfortable feeling that something is there (my experiences)

Basically don't be scared. YOU CAN DO THIS :)

Newbie removal:For taking out I tried laying down on my back again and that worked well. I pinched the base to break suction and then while still holding it pinched took it out. That may hurt a bit first few times too (not terribly but it might be about a 1-3 on pain scale 10)

My opinion on Dry runs: A dry run is really not a good idea, I did one and it made me sore. When you're on your cycle things just seems looser and more lubed.

More insertion tips: After I've gotten better at inserting I insert in a sitting position leaning back a little and wiggle it in. It sometimes hurts very slightly if I forget to relax otherwise it is MUCH better.

For removal , have no fear. It won't get lost...(and I have a very, very, very high cervix apparently ) :)

More removal tips: I use a squatting position and bear down a few times. The cup gets pushed down by your muscles (best to do this in the shower, can be messy the first few times) and then you pinch the base to break suction, I like to hold my folded as I remove and then pull out.

I also can remove in a sitting position now, which is actually sometimes more comfortable depending on how I feel that day.

How I tell if it seals: I stick on finger up alongside the cup so I can tell if it's open or not, if it's still crushed then push the cup so more air gets past it then slide your finger down, the extra air above does something that helps it seal (pardon physics is not my specialty)

Hope this helps


Edited at 2015-04-01 03:13 am (UTC)