Hi! I'm new here - and to menstrual cups - but I've appeared to ask some questions. One in particular, really. I'm decently familiar with my vagina, I've done some thorough exploration up there and I'm comfortable enough with where everything is to use a cup.
This was my first cycle using a cup, and it's gone pretty well. The first day and night I leaked, and it took probably a half-dozen tries and 30 minutes to figure out how to get it to work properly the first time. After that, it's been fine. No leaks and went through two nights where it was perfect. Removal is a little odd - I have to remove it slightly sideways and it springs open and out. It's a little uncomfortable, but I can deal with it.
The interesting part is the fourth day. I haven't been wearing the cup the fourth day, and it was fine until a little after dinnertime. Now I'm feeling pain and a frequent urge to urinate, but I can't. I don't think it should be a UTI, the cup is the only new thing I've done down there and I've been using it for a few days with no problems.
My best idea? I took a bath to ease the pain and felt around. Something is new. I'm feeling multiple ridges inside, from almost the very entrance to about an inch and a half down. Google suggests it's probably rugae, but I've never had noticable rugae (unless that's common during my period, I haven't done a lot of exploration then.), and it says nothing about new rugae being painful.
I have considered the possibility of not properly breaking the seal, but I only really had the problem the first day, and have since figured out how to break it fully.
So far I've been drinking a lot of water (in case it's a UTI), resting, keeping my legs tight (it eases the pain), and haven't been using the cup again.
I have never seen a ob/gyn before, so I'm not really sure of anything.
Any of y'all have experience on new rugae combined with pain? Does the cup increase the amount or prominence of vaginal rugae? I'd love some help, thanks in advance.