Menstrual Cup Causing All Sorts of Discomfort
Hi There!
I am so disappointed in my first experience using a menstrual cup. I did not have the common problem of having trouble removing it, my issue was with when it was positioned in place. I rarely get cramps when I am on my period, I have always been this way, yet when I placed the menstrual cup in place before bed, I experienced the worst cramps of my entire life all night long. Finally waking up at 4am to remove the cup because I was in so much pain. When I did actually remove the cup, it was so painful I couldn’t believe what I was experiencing. After cleaning up and getting back into bed I began researching and eventually found myself here. I need help! I purchased the MeLuna in “standard medium classic firmness”. To me it felt too large but when I reached out to their customer service they told me it was the right size and that I should try “leaving more air in the cup so it’s not suctioning so hard”. I did everything the directions said so am I right in feeling that it was too big for my body? SOS.
Thanks!
Bee
Hello Bee!
The MeLuna medium classic is a narrow, short, and fairly soft cup. Before suggesting other cups to buy (I don’t want you to waste money if you don’t have to), I’m going to list a few things you can try first.
Inserting –
1. Squat on the ground to insert the cup. This will roll your hips and give you easier access. It will also make you bear down with your pelvic floor muscles and bring your cervix lower.
2. The cervix is not normally positioned straight up. Insert your cup down and back towards your tailbone. Aiming it slightly down will help the cup be in a position to open directly under or right around your cervix.
3. If you feel pain as soon as you insert the cup, try wiggling the cup down a bit. You may have hit your cervix causing the release of prostaglandins which can cause cramping.
If positioning is correct and the rim is opened but you still experience cramping you can try turning the cup inside out. ONLY do this if you’re confident that you can remove the cup without a stem. Turning it inside out will make it slightly narrower and shorter which will ease some of the pressure.
If it is comfortable, there is no harm in using it this way. However, if you plan on searching for another cup, you can use these notes to find something that might be more comfortable in the long run.
Feels too large – If the cup feels too wide or long, again, you can try turning it inside out. If it still feels too wide or long, you probably have a low cervix. If this is the case, a bell-shaped cup with a flared rim might feel more comfortable. These tend to be on the shorter side and move higher to sit in the vaginal fornix.
Removing –
1. Again, squatting down makes things easier to reach.
2. If the vagina and/or cup is dry, it can create a dragging feeling. Some water-based lubricant will help ease the cup smoothly both for insertion and removal. I find it easiest to apply a drop to myself and then rinse my hands before handling the cup. Otherwise, everything is too slippery.
3. A common issue is when the rim of the cup brushes against the urethra the wrong way. It’s kind of that same stinging/burning feeling you get when you urinate and have a UTI (if you’ve ever had one).
– Insert your thumb (bladder side) as the cup is halfway out and collapse the body/rim so that it does not brush against your urethra.
Suction –
Everyone has a different experience with any given cup creating a seal (or not) and suction during removal. I have not been successful in changing how much a cup seals or suctions. I’m sorry, this is a topic that I can not really help with. To be honest, I had issues with the very first MeLuna that I purchased and melted larger holes. I quickly moved on to another cup that was much easier for me to use.
I hope something here helps. If not, I’d be happy to suggest a couple of cups that might feel more comfortable.
Also, here are a couple of links/videos that might be helpful:
How to Choose a Menstrual Cup
How to Insert & Remove a Menstrual Cup
Good Luck & Stay Safe,
Red Herring
@redherringtv
RedHerringTV on YouTube
