Is a cup the right thing for me?

[sunshine_sieben]

Hi,
I'm considering buying a mooncup or lunette and am wondering if someone here who has used one might be able to give me some advice.

I hate using pads as I find them so messy.

I have always used cotton tampons. But since giving birth to my second child I find that they don't stay in place as well as they used to and tend to get a little uncomfortable. This is really strange as during intercourse I don't feel any difference in the width of my vagina and neither does DH (unless he just doesn't want to tel me...) I do feel that my Pelvic floor muscles are a little weaker than they used to be but not to the point that i have any problems with continence, even when really needing to go and having to sneeze. I am doing PF exercises to improve the tone of those muscles.

I have a fairly heavy period especially in the early days (have to change super tampons hourly when it is heaviest).

I would like a more environmentally sustainable solution (if I understand correctly, disposable pads are the worst option because of all the plastics and absorbant gels used, tampons are the next best, then cloth pads, but cups are the best. Correct me if I'm wrong)

So I guess I'm wondering whether a cup would be a more comfortable solution for me. If a tampon doesn't stay put, will a cup stay where it is meant to be and

Thanks for any input you can give.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Cups are generally wider than tampons, so should stay put. It's the pelvic floor muscles that keep them put, so you're continually working those muscles, which will improve any sneezing/laughing issues you don't currently have.

I use one and tbh it's about the width of 3-4 unused normal tampons. It's huge! But the muscle workout can, apparently, reduce period pain.

[sunshine_sieben]

Thanks for yourr reply.
What do you mean about constantly exercising my PFM while using the cup. Surely I don't have to actively hold it in???

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

It's unconcious - your muscles hold it in automatically. And therefore get a workout for free if you need one! TBH you don't really notice it at all - well, OK, after a 3-week period I started to notice it, but it wasn't a problem. But the average person won't notice it at all!

[sunshine_sieben]

Thanks again. I will try one! And then I'll report back.

[suse]

Unfortunately it's really hard to tell with a cup until you try it (which is a shame because it's not like you can return them or onsell them if they don't work LOL).

I seem to have the opposite problem to most people, in that I have a very low sitting cervix, which I think must put pressure on the cup. Even with the 'handle' trimmed as short as it can go, I can feel the base of the cup and it causes discomfort and eventually irritation. Unfortunately I don't think there are any shorter cups than the one I have, so I'm back to cloth pads, with cotton tampons on the first (heavy) day.

Not sure that what I've said is any help at all - except to say that most people who use cups think they are wonderful - I seem to be a bit of an odd one in that respect.

[sunshine_sieben]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Suse. I have no idea whether my cervix is low or not. I guess I'll just have to try it.
Which cup do you have? And what about you, Ryn? Any recommendations?

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I have a mooncup - and I got rid of the stem too. Just couldn't get it to work.

BTW, I get discomfort/irritation if I've worn mine for too long: I thought it was a mild intolerance to the plastic if I wear it every day? Maybe not. But I rarely need to wear it for more than a week so I'm not bothered by it.

[Peg]

I bought 'the keeper' ... im guessing its similar to other cups ???

not sure on the others, but the keep works by suction... and once its in, I dont even know its there.

I didnt cut the end off and It doesnt bother me at all. Its absolutely fantastic but it does take a few months to get used to putting it in and out.

[alioops]

I have a Lunette. Best thing I ever bought. I dont usually have heavy periods, and tampons would always get dry and painful to remove. The Lunette (basically I think if a cup is going to work, it will, theres not much difference) is held in by suction and your pelvic floor, and it is very comfortable. The cervix kind of sits inside it, so the cup goes into the gap between the vaginal wall and the cervix. I don't feel it when I have it in. I have also cut the stem off, because with the stem on it rubbed my scar. Most of them are made from silicone which is important for those allergic to latex (the keeper is a latex base) and they last years. So even though the upfront cost is pretty high, it pays for itself in a year.

[sconeonamission]

I have a Lunette also, and have a heavy af, tho not quite as heavy as your describing. I will never go back to pads (hated them anyway) or tampons. Oh, and the $$ saved! wow! I have 2 cloth pads I used with it just in case on those heavy days.

[medusa.x]

I only just recently discovered menstrual cups but am an absolut fan of them.
Did you eventually get a cup??? And how do you like it?
I have got a Lunette and a MeLuna (a German cup which is made from TPE and threfore free of PVC, silicone, latex, proteins and therefore antiallergen). And I love them both!!! I can't imagine going back to tampons ! And they are sooo conveniant! And I just love not having to carry a bag full of tampons and pads with me when going someplace!
Anyway.. i also just discovered a US website by two young women.. and they make the most fantastic cloth pads! Check them out, it's "Party in my pants". I have tried several typs of cloth pads and they are by far the best.

[PumpkinZulu]

Medusa, could you tell us a little more about the MeLuna? I am very sensitive to most things 'down there', and the fact that I have been a bit worried about irritation caused by menstrual cups is the reason I have put off buying one, so the MeLuna sounds like a good option for me. Can it be bought online/shipped to aus?

I am so sick of wasting money of pads and tampons...not only are they a rip, but the irritate me so much downstairs

[~TT40~]

I recently bought a keeper.

Haven't used it yet =) but very excited to see what it's like!!

[TeniBear]

I'll keep an eye on this thread, I've been thinking of buying a cup myself - as well as the usual use, I've heard they're handy for keeping everything in after DTD

[~TT40~]

oh really Tenibear!!!

Maybe I should try that, before i use it for what it was made for =P

[medusa.x]

Just had a look at their website and yes, they do ship internationally!
And you should also find some information on the material.
I used to suffer from irritation.. especially when using pads. But havn't had any problems with either the Lunette (which is made from silicon) nor the MeLuna..
It's deffinitely worth a try and the MeLuna is quite cheap too..

Medusa, could you tell us a little more about the MeLuna? I am very sensitive to most things 'down there', and the fact that I have been a bit worried about irritation caused by menstrual cups is the reason I have put off buying one, so the MeLuna sounds like a good option for me. Can it be bought online/shipped to aus?

I am so sick of wasting money of pads and tampons...not only are they a rip, but the irritate me so much downstairs

[sunshine_sieben]

Yes, I did buy a cup. I was thinking of getting the MeLuna as well, as i was just recently in Germany and it sounded like a good cup, but I ended up getting the British Mooncup. It actually arrived the first day of my last period and I am proud to say that i did not end up using a tampon or pad during that period at all. I did however use up the panty liners i still had lying around from the end of my lochia.

Do I like it? I really really want to like it. So, I'm probably a little biased here.

I did not find it disgusting to use, although a little messier than I expected. But I'm expecting this to reduce with more practice.

I did have some leaking/movement/placement issues. But again, I am really hoping that will change with more practice. I remember being at Bunnings on day 3 of my period and I had to go to their toilet 4 times as I felt the cup moving down quite a lot and was afraid it would fall out

One day it felt like perfect placement, yet I had a huge leak after only 2 hours and the cup wasn't overly full. Other days it worked perfectly.

i did find that I checked it way more than needed, but that was because I am a newbie.

I find it a little confusing to determine whether placement is good (height) but I'm sure in a few months time this will become a no-brainer.

So I guess to answer the question: I don't dislike it. I loooove the idea, but the jury is still out on whether I will like actually using it. I will give it a few more cycles.