soft or firm cup
Hello there.
Firstly just want to say thank you for a great and informative website. It has really helped me get a better understanding of the types of cup available but I am still really struggling with which one to choose. I have limited funds so Im really hoping to get it right first time!
I have a medium cervix. 29 have one child.
I think (but not sure) I have a sensitive bladder. I often feel the urge to pee very frequently (although I do often drink lots of water) but sometimes I feel the need to go when theres nothing or just a little bit there. Its only a subtle feeling… Have had mild incontinence since giving birth although I rarely experience this now.
I am fairly active, (working on farm) plus walking and yoga. Im torn between weather to get a soft cup for possible bladder sensitivity or a firmer one for my active lifestyle..
I was thinking perhaps fluercup or a firmer choice may be the lunette but I don’t know if this will cause me sensitivity?
Its difficult to decide because obviously being quite active surely calls for a firmer cup but having a sensitive bladder requires a softer one!
I wonder if you could give me any advice?
Thank you in advance!
Hi There!
Finding a cup can be very daunting. There are SO many on the market these days and all of them promise the same thing, but none can guarantee that they’ll be everything they say they are per individual. Sure every cup will collect your flow, but does the cup “fit” you? Does it feel comfortable? Does it add to your already painful, cramps? Will it irritate your bladder or bowl?
I also totally understand about narrowing your options to save your pocket from excess cost. It’s refreshing to hear that someone didn’t just “buy the one of the shelf” and expected it to work perfectly. Not all of us have been fortunate enough to experience that. Most people that I’ve spoken to had purchased at least a couple of cups before finding one that works well and feels comfortable for them. I can narrow a few cups down for you that I *think* might match your situation, but finding the perfect cup is still going to be trial and error.
On a side note, if you find that a cup isn’t everything you hoped it would, there are FB groups that allow “destashing” (reselling) gently used cups. If you’re not opposed to sanitizing a used cup, you can search these groups to find cups at a cheaper cost. If that’s not something that you’re interested in, you can still use these platforms to sell your unwanted cup/s to recoup some of your funds back.
Before I get into some suggestions, I’ll touch on a bit about incontinence.
If you feel like you have to urinate frequently, feel like you don’t empty your bladder completely when you do, or have a slow urine stream, then chances are you do have some sensitivities. BUT, some have found that a cup is very helpful for stress leaks like when you’re coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting items..etc.
With this type of sensitivities, I wouldn’t completely suggest the softest cup. However, if you have sensitivities where any pressure on your bladder or bowl causes you pain or cramping, I would suggest a softer cup.
Okay…on to cups 🙂
Medium cervix/sensitive bladder/active
I would probably suggest an “average” cup all around. “Average” in size and “average” in firmness. This will give you a baseline. If you find that the cup is too soft/firm, then you can move in either direction.
With a medium, you can also have your pick of a bell-shaped cup or a “v” shaped cup.
Bell-shaped cups: Bell-shaped cups with flared rims tend to ride up and sit higher in the vaginal fornix. This is great if you have a low to very low cervix. Although, there are some lengthy cups of this type.
If you have a heavy or very heavy flow, these might not be ideal for you. They allow the cervix to drop deeper into the cup which will compromise the capacity, causing you to need to empty them more often.
If you’re interested in a bell-shaped cup with a flared rim, here are my suggestions:
Fleur and Lena “sensitive” (Lena “original” may be an option, but it is one of the firmer cups of this type) both in the large size.
Bell-shaped cups with a regular style rim may be an option. These don’t ride up as high as with a flared rim, but the body of the cup still has the roundness to accommodate a cervix without compromising all of the capacity.
A few that I consider medium firm:
LaliCup (medium size), Ruby (medium size), Saalt (large – this would be the firmest cup in the group. It looks similar to Lunette with a rounder body.)
A couple of “V”-shaped cups:
Monthly Cup and EvaCup (USA) – Although both of these have softer bodies, they also have a decent rim to help these cups to open.
Check these cups out to see if any of them interest you. If you want/need more info about them and why I chose it, feel free to reply and I’ll elaborate.
Until then, happy browsing!
