Been troubleshooting for months. Every cup leaks. So frustrated.
I’ve been using menstrual cups for almost 5 years total. The first one I used was the Diva cup size 1. It worked mostly well for me, but would leak on the first day or two and sometimes at night. After having had that for a while, I decided to replace it with a different kind of cup to try to find a more perfect fit. Unfortunately I threw the Diva Cup away, big regret now. I haven’t had a cup work consistently for me in the first 2 days of my period since.
The next cup I tried is the Pixie Cup in Large. I thought if I got large it might fix the leakage issue but this did not work. It leaked more than the Diva cup ever did. Sometimes I felt like I was unable to get the cup to open, it would feel completely crushed inside of my body. This led me to think maybe bigger wasn’t the way to go. So next I tried the Pixie cup in small. I also identified at that time, that I think my cervix might be off to the side a bit, or move often during my period. In the past I couldn’t find it at all, but now it feels fairly low and off to the side.
The next cup I tried is Pixie sent me their Luxe Large to try. However I think the material is too soft, as I can’t get it to open up inside me at all. It just stays crushed and kind of flat.
I also tried the Lily cup in size large. With this cup, I did feel like I was able to get it open and that it had a good seal, as it was tough to pull down on. A couple of the times on day 1 of my cycle I felt like it really worked, but I would still get some leakage down the sides. And then at night it has gone horribly and leaked a lot even when it felt like the seal was good.
I’ve tried the U fold (what I always used to use with the Diva), the 7 fold, and the punch down fold.
I’m really at a loss and I feel like I’ll never get this to work again. I don’t know what to do because I’m suffering but I really hate tampons and don’t want to go back. I have tried softcups and they also leak for me.
Any advice would be appreciated.
I have a new update since I am on Day 3 of my period now, and I think I have figured out some potentially very helpful information!
I think normally when not on my period, my cervix is quite high. On the first day of my period, it was still fairly high but not as hard to reach as usual, so slightly lowered. On Day 1 I used the large Lily Cup and was able to make a good seal which didn’t leak until full. However on Day 2 of my cycle, after dealing with leaks all day (I had switched to the Pixie Cup small) I checked my cervix and found it was SIGNIFICANTLY lower. Day 2 is when I have been experiencing the major leaks and I think now I’ve figured out why. My cervix is usually very difficult to impossible to reach and this time it was only up to the 2nd knuckle of my middle finger. It must be sitting inside of the cup because when using the Pixie Cup it would be severely leaking, like full pad needed amount of blood, and when I would remove the cup it would be less than half full. I had to get up in the middle of the night even to empty.
I also noticed, I can kind of feel the hole part of the cervix and it is not really facing downwards as I thought it would but more facing the back. I could see how depending on Cup placement this could cause the blood to go down the side rather than into the cup.
This morning on Day 3, I felt my cervix again and it’s gone back up. Still not as high as usual but almost a whole fingers length.
I hope this new information helps you to make a better recommendation for me. Maybe I might even need to use a different cup and different points in my cycle?
Anyway I really appreciate your help.
Hi!
What you’re describing with your cervix being high, then low, and then high again is agreeable of what fertility specialist say happens during our cycle – during our period vs around and during ovulation.
Since you noticed a significant difference and you’re experiencing leaking, I would suggest getting a second shorter/different shaped cup that still has a decent capacity. A rounder cup like the Merula (original 38ml to the rim, LaliCup (medium 36ml to the rim), or Super Jennie (large 40ml to the rim) should accommodate your cervix and your flow and still give you some decent capacity.
Softest to firmest: Super Jennie (large), LaliCup (medium), Merula (original)
Out of these three cups, the LaliCup has been the easiest and most comfortable (for me) to use and wear. It’s a medium firmness with a secondary rim and upper rim to help with opening. Yet it’s not too firm to cause me any additional cramping. I can use the medium sized LaliCup when my cervix is on the higher side, as well as when it drops a bit lower. I do love the larger size but can’t wear it comfortable 100% of the time when my cervix drops. Also, being that it’s only the medium size, having a rounder body, and has the capacity of 36ml to the rim, I get a decent amount of wear time before I need to empty it even if my cervix sits inside of the cup.
The Super Jennie is a soft bodied cup with a medium-soft rim. While it might not cause extra pressure, it has been hard for some people to get it to open. It’s not impossible, but it may take some adjustment and practice (I did a video about this using the SJ).
The Merula has been great for those with a low cervix since it’s shorter than most small-sized cups but some have experienced a strong seal because it lacks air holes.
As for the Saalt and Lunette Cup, they’re both great cups but here’s my concern with them:
Saalt –
The small holds approx 25ml and the large holds 35ml to the rim.
Unlike most cups on the market, the rim on this cup is softer than the body. This has caused issues for some people when trying to get the cup to open. Again, not impossible.
Lunette –
The small holds approx 25ml and the large holds 30ml to the rim.
Since you mentioned IBD, I’m worried that this will be too firm and cause extra pressure. It also tapers to a point which may compromise the capacity if your cervix sits inside of it.
A lot of people swap out cups during the different cervical positions. You might need to do this, as well.
Check out the cups that I mentioned and let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.
<3