I won a LilacCup bidding on ebay and I am so happy because I hate how whenever I have my period I always really want to go swiming but I am afraid to use tampons because of the risk of TSS. I was hoping to get it before my period started but my period started almost a week earlier than it usually does so I guess I will just have to use it next month. Anyway I am really happy about it but my mum keeps saying I can't use it because I'm still a virgin and she is worried it will break my hymen for some reason. I am 13 and I don't really care if it breaks my hymen but mum is still all "They are no better than tampons." Does anyone know how I can convince her that virgins can use cups and it probably won't break their hymens, I've tried telling her but she won't listen.

I probably shouldn't care what she thinks anyway maybe I'm just being stupid.

EDIT: Thanks for all the helpful comments.

Well hello, I was thinking about getting a small ladycup.  I am worried that it will break my hymen.
I am 13 and a virgin.  So all the other virgin ladycup users out there, what is your experience, will it break stretch, irritate my hymen?
thank you in advance.

I'm 12 but I'll be 13 in July and I'm a virgin (I don't know if this is important but there you go). I tried tampons once but I can't even explain the pain. I don't know what I did wrong or if it was a hymen issue or what but I just know that it hurt as all heck. I also hear that they cause dryness and irritaiton. I'm using pads (make that long maxi. My periods are really heavy) and I don't really like how damp they get and I just don't want to use them anymore. This is why I have been researching menstrual cups. I am leaning towards the small LadyCup. I just want opinions before I buy it because honestly I'm scared that it will get stuck (I've read those stories on this site) or that it will pop open in the wrong place (I've read those stores here too) and I just don't want it to be unbearably painful like my not-so-nice tampon experience. Maybe I can use water-based lube. I don't know. I just know that I really need help and I have no idea what to do. Also, about how far does the cup go in you vagina? Thanks in advance everyone! =0 )

After hours and days of deliberation, I did it! I bought a PinkCup...two actually: a small and a large.  I wanted to once again say that I think that this site is such a GREAT source of information; this is the most informative cite (site or cite? I'm totally blanking here...finals are frying my brain cells) I have found (and I think that I've done some pretty hardcore searching), and it provides such useful, viable, and mostly unbiased information (not like the actual cup websites).

So I have yet to be able to try my cups because I had them shipped to my house, but I do go home tomorrow so I'll be able to do a dry run quite soon (I think that with the stress of finals, though, it won't be a dry run for too long...I have a feeling it will come sooner than normal [which has been a problem lately, any ideas why?]).  Any advice on my first experiences with the cup?

One final concern, I'm pretty sure I've read something about this before, but I'd just like to "re-verify"-- Ok, so I've had to use super tampons because of my heavy flow and proneness to awful leaking issues, but I am a virgin and just 19 years old.  Will the large Lady be a problem?  I think the small will just not be suitable for my flow, but I wanted to try it anyway, and the large seems to be the smaller of the large cups.

Thanks again to everyone!

Hi, I am new to this community, but not new to menstrual cups.   I started with the Keeper until I lost it, then I replaced it with a Diva Cup model 1.  I took the recommendation of some people (might have been in this group) to poke holes around the rim to make it easier to remove.  I regret doing that because now I get staining inside those holes and I have to soak the cup in hydrogen peroxide after every period to remove the staining.

Anyways, the reason I am posting now is because I was wondering when to change sizes for the Diva Cup.  They say model 1 is for those 30 and under who have never given birth and model 2 is for those over 30 or who have given birth.  For those of you who have turned 30, did you change sizes or keep using model 1?  Did you notice model 1 starting to leak around that age?  This is assuming you have never given birth like me.

One more question:  Are there instructions online on how to make a replacement bag for my cup?

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

 I've been reading this page and have found lots of problems similar to mine, but none exactly the same so I hope you won't find this repetative. :) 

So I got a DivaCup yesterday and was really excited to try it out, luckily I didn't have to wait for my period, I was already in the middle. 
i chose the Diva because I honestly didn't think there were any other brands, I'd visited their website and it looked pretty cool and they sold them at London Drugs so I bought one.

Okay so I read the instructions, went into the bathroom and tried to insert it. I tried the two folds shown in the user guide with no success. I tried to relax but I was kind of frusterated so I took a break went on the computer and found this community.

I went back a little while later and tried again with the different folds and techniques. I couldn't get it in. I know some people are going to be suggestion lubricant and that might help but I think the main problem is it seems there's not enough room for it. My muscles seemed pretty relaxed but there's not enough room and it hurts if i try to shove it in the tiny opening, making me, unrelaxed.

The best I was able to do was about 2/3s of it in, it wouldn't open, and it was painful.

So here are my questions:
1. Does it make any real difference in the sizes and squishiness of the different brands?
2. Does Diva Cup have a satisfation gurantee?  
3. Is it worth it to order a different cup and pay for the shipping?
4. How do you relax your pelvic floor muscles? Any tips on that would be great.

I really want to get it to work because I agree with the values and want to save the environment. i'm thinking about calling the Diva Cup customer service line but I wanted to check here first.

I'm fourteen and a virgin.

******

Success! Thanks to everyone who left advice, it all helped. I don't know exactly how I did it the first time, but I've been able to replicate it again so hopefully it'll get easier and easier the more I do it. I had a bit of trouble getting it out due to the fact that is had moved upwards and was hiding behind my pubic bone. But it's all sorted out and I think this is the beginning of a wonderful thing. So thanks again, I'm so grateful that this community was here, I'd be lost without you guys.

hi hi everyone! I've been a member of this comm for a while now, but I'm just mainly been sitting back and reading everyone else's experiences. After reading all the posts and responses it has brought a very interesting question to mind. A bit of background on me first just so everyone knows what's going on, etc.

( Background type stuff and ? under here )

 Background check: 
I'm 15 years old vigrin, and thinking about getting a type of cup. I hate tampons with a passion (they're so... dry) and I'm involved in many athletics (mainly swimming and running) so pads don't work at all for me. 
 
Main reason I want a cup is to limit hassle at swim meets/track meets/other races where I'm there for up to 12 hours... I have a light cycle, so I think I could get away with changing just once during meets.
i
I'm really confident with my body- blood on my cycle doesn't faze me a bit- and I've stuck my fingers "up there" to "explore" my "girl parts". So ickiness is not a problem.

Lubricants are also not a problem- mom buys them for me (not for sex! but my mom knows how much easier tampons are with a lubricant). My mom has also agreed to buy a cup for me, again, not a problem.

My main concern is that I'm a very small person. So, obviously I'd go with a small sized cup.

Any recommendations of which cup to buy? Do you think that a cup would be right for me? 

Hey! :)
So, this is the first cycle I've attempted to use my small size lunette.  I've been able to insert it almost all the way with a labial fold, all I have to do is push it in.  But it already hurts during insertion (I'm a sixteen year old virgin) and I'm afraid I wont be able to get it out or it'll be excrutiatingly painful.  Any tips?  Thanks!
 

Hello everyone,

Thank you *so* much for all your help.  Even just mainly lurking, and checking out old posts through the tags, I learned a ton.  The best part is that now I can finally use my divacup.  (It seems like lots of people don't like the divacup as much as others, but I think it's great, for what it's worth--not that I ave tried anything else.  But the diva is also easier to find, at least in the US, because they sell them at Whole Foods.)

( Read more... )

I actually *like* my cycle now--I look forward to it!  This is totally different from how I felt before.  I used to hate it with a passion!

Also, an interesting note: I think I'm cycling in tune with my close friend from school.  It's actually really coll that women bleed together, in my opinion.  (But this friend does *not* enjoy her cycle at all--she uses disposable pads and can't stand the thought of anything goind inside her.  Ah well, maybe someday...)

Again, thanks so much!

Adios!

Let me preface this with the fact that I am a 16 year old virgin, in case it matters. I also can't find my cervix ever, and I'm not quite clear on how to tell if I've gotten the cup past my pubic bone. I've really tried to figure both out, I swear. Anyway, I ordered a Lunette last week thanks to this wonderful community. I was really excited to get to use it. I am completely dedicated to figuring out how to get this to work.

( The story so far )

Could someone help me figure out a fold that will pop open easily and not murder my nether bits? I think the origami might do the trick but I can't understand how to do it (it seems like the Lunette is too stiff to do it as it's done in the guide with all of the folds and it always pops open too early for me). If you recommend the origami fold, could you give me more in-depth instructions, as I can't seem to get it right?

Hi, I am new and i've been reading this site for the past week to decide if i wanted a keeper or not, and i got one, it came today! but i tried it... and it was soooo painful to put in, to have in (i could only stand it for about 40 seconds) and i almost started crying when i took it out then i sat there stunned for a few minutes because the pain kept going. i really want to use it, but i'm scared of it for now... any advice? I'm a virgin and i'm 14 so i think it was because i'm really small and not stretched out at all. but i could barely get it up there, i can barely get three fingers up there at all, let alone two with a huge cup! its so big! and when i folded it, it kept popping back to its normal position.. i need help!

Hi everyone! :)  I'm pretty new to menstrual cups, so I've been reading about them, but I still have a few questions.
I'm a 16-year-old virgin, and I'm trying to decide between the small sizes of the Lunette and LadyCup.
I've read that there is a significant difference between the firmness of the two, the LadyCup being softer.  I'm not really sure what this means, but I've read that the Lunette is easier to pop, but it seems like the LadyCup would be easier to insert because it is squishier (and more comfy to wear?).  Are softer cups easier to insert and are they really that difficult to pop?
And then also, is there really a significant difference between the capacities?  The cups look identical to me, yet the Lunette holds quite a bit more?  I have to change a super tampon ever 6-7 hours (in the first or second day of my period, if that gives you an idea of my flow).
Lastly, the stems.  Are the Lunette's stems easier to use than the LadyCup's?
Sorry if that was confusing!  If anyone has an helpful advice, I'd really appreciate it.  I'm so excited to say goodbye to tampons and pads and sneaking them into high school bathrooms, ugh!  Thanks!

My mom said yes to the lunette!! I've known about them for approx. under a year, but didn't have the guts to do it!! I'm dancing on the insides right now, but in a way sort of....not happy? I could tell she thought the reusable thing was a little gross (but that was all a guess based on facial expressions.) I thought she'd be ecstatic to get her own cup once I did my little presentation. I feel like this has already been posted, but how did ppl react when you told them? (Especially if you're a teen).


To anyone really scared to ask their mom/mum about cups, just do it. You'll spend too much time worrying about it, and it plays on your mind. If she says no, then you're still at the place you are now (if that makes sense) only worry free!!!!!!!

Oh and since I could tell she was a little grossed out about the reusable thing, I didn't mention the "free" (pay 2.99 USD shipping and handling) liner you can get at party in my pants. Do you think that using a cloth liner is grosser than a cup? I think I'm just going to slide it in there when we order it tommorow!

Also, if you ordered from the lunette ebay store and live in America, how long did it take?

So, using the currency converter, it seems a miacup is around 41 bucks for me and a large lunette would be 42 dollars with shipping for me from leastore.  They even out to be around the same price.  

How does a miacup compare to a lunette?  How does it compare to cleaning?  I know my Diva has discolration already.  I know lunette website recommends people under 20 and virgins to have small size whereas I'm not a virgin but I'm 21.   I really like thier stems because I know my Diva pokes me but I need it for removal.  The large lunette has a higher capcity and that might help my leaking(or I'm not inserting it right).  How does the material compare between the two?  I noticed a difference with the diva and Mooncup US.

I currently own a small diva cup.  I'm 21.

Hello everyone! I'm so happy to tell this story and I hope it inspires girls like me!

So I posted a post a couple months ago asking a pretty popular question: "I'm only 14 I've only had my period for a short amount of time and I'm a virgin. Will the cup be too big? Will it hurt?" and so on. Anyway I got my lady cup a month ago, did a quick dry run (worked ok not much like the real thing) and today my period starts, and it was the first day of school! Ugh! But I decided to use my cup anyway so I popped it in. (It has popped open every time I've used it, four times so far, including the dry run.) And I couldn't feel a thing! So I went to school, confident it wouldn't leak because it was the first day of my cycle so it was a moderate/light day. I wore a pantyliner just in case but I didn't need it. I had no leaks the entire time!!!!!! I felt like I didn't have my period!!! I tell you my biggest worry now is that I'll forget to take it out!!!!! So about 8 hours later I took it out. Removal was pretty easy, the stem was right there (even after cutting it a tiny bit) so not a very far reach and bearing down really, really helps. The only thing is it was sort of messy, I'm sure I'll get the hang of it though. I was so surprised how heavy of a flow it was!! Then I washed it and reinserted and I tell you this is amazing!!!! I had faith it would be good but I never dreamed it would be this good or comfortable! I just want to say I recommend this to everyone!!!

Anyway, sorry I babbled but I hope this may help any of you that may be undecided about the cup, especially young girls, I know people don't post as many success stories as problems but there are lots of people out there that have used the cup successfully from the start.

I want to thank this community!! Without your help and posts I would have never tried the cup or picked the lady cup which I'm completely and totally in love with!!!! (wow, that was super corny and sounded like a graduation speech but it's true!)

Hi everyone,
I purchased a small ladycup a few months ago and fell in love. However, I conceived during the month of April, and have only used my cup one time. I know everyone else's experience may not apply to me, but I'm curious to know how many of you who are in your twenties and who have given vaginal birth have still been able to use a small cup. Of course, I haven't given birth yet, and i may have a c-section, though I really hope to give birth naturally. But, since this is my first child, is it possible I'll be able to use the same cup? All the ones for women who have given vaginal birth look so much bigger, and I couldn't use a small diva cup because it was too big.

im 13 im not sure what cup i want i liked the small ladycup for along time but what about my heavy days and then theres the miacup but its really expensive i thought about the lunette but alot of people said theres leaked im trying to find out more about the femmecup but i cant find alot of information have you had any problems with the femmecup or really good things any links? or should i just suck it up and get the ladycup or save up to get the miacup anything about the miacup thats worth spending the extra money i just wanna get the right cup 

P.S. sorry if the comments are screened im not sure if i got them unscreened yet im new to this community but ive known about it for 6 months and i finally got an account
 

thanks so much

Hi everyone! I'm a dad with a pre-teen. I know eventually she'll get her period and this may sound weird, but I really want her to use a menstrual cup/cloth pads. She swims like everyday and we live somewhere costal so internal protection is a must. (She should at least have the option.) So here's my first question: How practical is it that a teen use a menstrual cup for her first periods? I mean I can't help her in that department, and I don't want to resort to tampons. (The health concerns/enviornmental impact do it for me.)

Also, How should I approach this stuff with her? We're both comfortable talking about this stuff, but I'm guessing all her friends use tampons/pads..

Also, is there a natural soap she could wash her cup with? (Besides Dr. Bronner's its very expensive where I live.)
Any advice you could give me would help. (Especially if you're a teen/parent.) 

Hello :)

I am 14 and even after just two periods (pads are villainous and tampons just do not appeal to me when there's a far better option out there, it seems), I have been seriously considering buying a cup.  I've been reading through the posts in this community and I've read all the FAQs on the DivaCup website, but I'm wondering if I should buy the DivaCup (because there's a store nearby that carries them) or try to order one of the other brands.
I daresay I'm a virgin, and I'm around 5'9" so I can't honestly say I have a slight build ;)
Also, I was wondering if any of you would have any ideas as to how I could approach my mother in regards to the subject.  It's hardly as though periods are an unmentionable topic, but, I don't know, it just seems as though it might be a tad awkward.

And, finally, does anyone know how much a DivaCup would cost, here in Canada?

Thank you very much, all of you :)

ETA: Thank you for all of your wonderful, insightful answers :)

I'm sure you've seen a trillion and one posts ike this, but I am so confused. I'm not sure how I found this community, but I've gotten really interested in this cup thing. I've been using tampons almost since day one [I've had my period since thirteen and I'm eighteen now]. Over the last year or so, I become nauseated and my cramps intensify. I have no idea where to begin, though. I thought about the Diva, but now I think a different one would be better.

I'm a virgin, and I don't think my hymen is broken, but then again, I have no idea how to tell. Will having my hymen intact make the use of cups more uncomfortable? What about comfort and leakage? Which brands are easiest to insert? I've never explored myself, if you will, so I don't know a whole lot. Also, I am uncomfortable discussing these things with my mom...is the packaging pretty discreet? She's also nosy, and likes to see what's in any packages I get. Just a couple more questions, I promise. How are these with sleeping in? I'd prefer not to rely solely on pads, if at all. I can get up to twelve hours a night of sleep. And. I just finished my period, so my next one won't come until the middle of next month. How long do these cups take to ship? I'm asking because I'm moving to uni on the 23rd of next month, so I want to know whether to use my uni address or my home address.

Sorry I asked so many questions, I am just really curious and confused. Any information as all that you could give would be absolutely wonderful.

ETA: I forgot to add that I'm from the US.

I used to be a lurker on this community but haven't even had the time to be that for a while, however, I wanted to pop back on here to say how pleased I am to have my Mooncup and to pass on a tip/thought.

I recently found myself having to use tampons for a few days as I was without my Mooncup (I may possibly have boiled it dry by mistake!) and what a nightmare - they were useless! I was changing them every 2 hours at least and between those times, I was constantly wary of leaks - I wouldn't consider myself a particularly heavy flow person. And then there's what to do with the used tampon/applicator; I'd forgotten about having to decide if you can throw it down the loo (let's face it we all do/did it!) or if you need to put it in the (usually not very) sanitary disposal bin. And that's without having to think about all the other hassles with tampons like actually remembering to carry some around with you!

I was overjoyed to be back using my Mooncup yesterday evening. I'm back to only having to worry about it twice a day and my (and my office's) drains are once again 'safe'!

One quick tip/thought - I'm 32 and have given birth twice vaginally (although admittedly both times pretty quickly and with very tiny babies) but I am finding the smaller B-size cup far more comfortable than the larger A-size cup that I assumed I'd need by now. I certainly don't seem to be having any leaking issues. I just say this in case anyone else thinks that they should probably be on the larger one but it feels a bit uncomfortable, don't assume that the smaller one would be too small based on their age or how many babies they've given birth to.

Oh - one last thing seeing as I'm here... be warned that Mooncups *can* dislodge coils - mine did and I thought I was being fairly careful. Of course, it might not have been the Mooncup but the suction was pretty strong at times so I think it may well have been that.

Hey, I've been researching a lot on tampons and cups... and to be honest, I just can't find very good information. I stumbled onto this community.. and it was like the heavens opened up to me, lol.
I've tried using tampons for months... but they don't quite seem to work. I've gotten them in once or twice... but they make my cramps worse, and after doing some research, I've found out that the swelling of the tampon inside the vagina irritates the inflamed cervix and does make cramps worse. I would stick with pads, but I'm a fencer, and I can't sit out of competitions just 'cause I'm on my special time of month!
So during my late nights on the web... I discovered the idea of mooncups. I was like, wait, what? They go in you? And they're like.. WHAT? I mean.. I guess you guys aren't surprised with that reaction, lol. I was a bit freaked, to say the least... but now they're starting to appeal to me. (: But... I'm a 15 year old asian (small-framed because ofi t) virgin. I had difficulty getting a tampon in... I'm afraid using a cup will be much worse!
Thoughts/suggestions?

Oh, and also: My mom.. freaked when I even mentioned tampons to her (she's old fashioned... she hates the idea of tampons, but she's not active, like me.) I couldn't even imagine asking her to order a mooncup for me! Do they sell cups in convenience stores or anything?

Hi, I just discovered menstrual cups/cloth pads a couple of days ago. I want to order a cup ASAP, but I'm confused as to what size/cup to buy. I've narrowed it down to the lunette or the lady cup. I am a small teen virgin with a HEAVY flow. The lady cup/lunette appeal to me because their smaller(eaisier to get in i suppose because of my frame?) , but at the same time I have a heavy flow and I don't want to empty it every hour. 

So what should I do? I'm also considering getting the smallest of the big cups, but i'm confused as to which cup that would be because they're slightly different shapes!

I know this post may not make a lot of sense, but please help me if you can! Your advice would be very helpful!