Tried Mooncup, Lena Sensitive, Lily cup, still failed.. HELP!
Hello,
- I’m 44,
- only 1 C-section,
- I have ‘very narrow opening’ can barely put my mid finger in it and that’s it! this was the main reason I’ve been grossly using pads for years.
- Heavy with clumps on 1st,2nd day, light 3-6 days.
- Bad cramp esp. the night before, 1st and 2nd day.
- not very active but at work tend to get lot of brisk walking.
- avg to high cervix (I think)
- severely tilted cervix
- My Menstrual cup search/experience as following:
- Mooncup small (tried 2 yrs ago and gave up)
spent over an 1 hr, finally inserted with great pain, once it was in, I didn’t feel at all BUT removing was hell with great pain, still leaked little (not much, had to use liner everytime for little leaks) after spending at least 1 hr to remove for few times scratching my vulva like crazy, I gave up.
2. Lena sensitive large (decided to try again for my cruise vacation)
spent 40 min. figured out a decent way to get it in still with some pain (better than mooncup). once it was in, I didn’t feel at all even without cutting the stem. BUT! Could NOT get it out! my finger was just too short to break the seal, when I pulled the stem w/o breaking the seal, it was sooo painful. Then after pushing, poking, It turned completely 90 degrees and hurt so much. spent 2+ hrs to remove it (almost went to ER.) The removal was a nightmare so didn’t have any courage to try more so just after 1st try, I gave up.
3. Lily cup small
Soft!! Easiest to insert as it can roll very small!! was soo happy. felt relieved no matter how much I push it up, it’s still in my finger’s reach. had slightly difficult to open it but wasn’t too terrible after few dif. folds, BUT…. it was the most Uncomfortable cup when it’s in. With Moon/Lena I didn’t feel a thing once it’s in (until I try to take it out). This cup, I tried so hard to ignore the sensation but felt it constantly. what’s worse, even when I cut off all the stem, that hard bottom poked my vulva whenever I sat down. slight difficult to urinate, impossible for bm unless I take it out completely. But I was still going to try more as I can remove it without killing myself (it still hurts but bearable). however this one LEAKS little bit (and yes I make sure it opens all around) not too bad but enough to wet the 1/3 of liner every few hrs. AND when I walk around, it comes down very little by little, poking me more and more, must push it up every couple hours.
Any suggestion? should I give up on my cup forever?? I’m going on my very first cruise and I don’t want to wear the horrible pads throughout my 1 wk long vacation.. I thought about taking the meds to stop the period but due to my health condition, it wasn’t an option. Please Help!!
First off: thank you for helping all of us find a cup that will fit us!
I have a similar problem, which is why I didn’t wanna open another thread. I started using a menstrual cup a couple of years ago. I started with a medium sized MeLuna because you can get it at the drugstore here in Germany. It wouldn’t really pop open because it’s very soft and it constantly leaked. I then tried a Moon Cup UK size A (the bigger one) because the site advised me to because I’m over thirty (34 now), but I don’t have any children and I think I’m rather narrow (hubby agrees). I had serious trouble getting it in and therefore tried a medium size and medium length Lunette. This one was easier to get in and out, but hurt me when it was in. Plus it worked only on my lighter days because I had serious leakage on days with heavier flow.
When I’m not on my period my cervix is so high that I can hardly reach it. When I’m on my period it descends so that I can easily reach it. This is why I thought that my cervix might reach into the cup so I bought a Merula because it is short but has a higher capacity. This got smushed and didn’t open at all. At the moment I use a Moon Cup A on my heavier and a Moon Cup B on my lighter days (finally got them in using the punch-down fold). They work fine during my period. I hardly ever leak and I don’t feel them when they’re in. I cut of the stems because they really hurt me and I have some trouble getting them out. I therefore have a very sore vagina after my period is over and sometimes even bleed -I think from the vaginal wall. This prevents me from having sex for a few days and after already not having had any for six days, this really bothers me.
Do you have any advice?
Thanks in advance!
Hi There!
I glad that you noticed the change in cervical position during certain days. It’s true that our cervix moves through our cycle. Not just with our everyday movements such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc., but also with the changes within our body.
In preparation of our period, our cervix moves into its lowest point a couple of day before it starts to a couple of days after it starts. Around day 4-5, our cervix starts to move back up to prepare for ovulation in which it will be at its highest point. Sometimes so high that it’s hard to reach or can’t be found at all.
The Merula is a great cup for those with a medium to low cervix, but it is a little tricky to get opened since it’s so bulky.
A common complaint about the MoonCup is a painful removal. So you’re not alone. The upper and secondary rims are so rigid that they don’t also exit so smoothly.
Anyhow, it sounds like you’ve tried all shorter cups so far. Even the Lunette is slightly shorter than some of the other large sized cups. Something a little longer or with a longer stem might be easier for you to reach when your cervix decides to start its move. It also sounds like you need something on the narrow side.
You’ve tried some firmer cups, but I’m thinking something in a more medium firmness might be more comfortable, especially during removal.
The DivaCup 0, 1, and 2 are the same length but the 0 and 1 are more narrow and are about a medium firmness.
The Monthly Cup size regular (not mini) is also on the narrow side and isn’t extremely firm.
The Casco Cup aka Hesta Cup, Freedom Cup, Wa Cup, Hello Halo, Green Cup of Maine, V-Cup, size small (not mini) is narrow but softer that the Diva and Monthly Cup.
Check out the comparison chart (link in the navigation bar) to compare these cups to the ones that you have and see if any catch your eye.
I like to suggest having two cups for those who notice a change in cervix height. I know that I’m more comfortable with a shorter cup when my cervix drops a bit but I also have an easier time reaching a longer cup when it moves back up.
If you have any questions or concerns about them or any other cup that catches your eye, let me know and I try to shed some light on them.
Until then, good luck!