Okay, so I know that the cervix changes positions during the cycle, but how much?

I put my lunette in last night, and the stem was sticking out considerably and uncomfortably.  It wouldn't go up any higher, so clearly my cervix was quite low.  This morning, when I got to take it out, it's so high that  I was in past my first knuckle to get a good grip on the stem.  This makes it inconvenient in that I have to leave the stem on in order to take it out (I could probably trim it a little more...), but for the first part of my period, it's sticking out.

Does anyone elses's cervix change positions so drastically?  Do you just deal with the poky stem when your cervix is low?

Hi all! I have been reading THE community, and I have to say it is amazing and just great! I found the answers to all my questions! This is my second period trying to use a cup and I am so excited, I really want to be able to use it, I don't ever want to put a tampon on, but something is not right!

I had a large Diva last month, and I experienced a sensation of light pressure and tickling on my throat and light pressure on my head, and light nausea and dizziness. I read here that too much suction or pressure on the cervix could cause this reaction; however, in the entries I read the reaction was really bad with pain and fainting, I never experience any of this.

After reading up I enlarged the Diva wholes, and cut the stem (so that it would not be so high up) and this helped a bit. But I still had the reaction so I got a beautiful Large LilacCup, I thought squishiness and larger wholes would put less pressure and suction. I tried and it was fine, then when I took it out (5 hrs later) and put it back in the reaction was really strong! ;( I could not leave it to sleep with. I tried again this morning and I have the reaction very light, I think I have to put it in a way that does not push or suck up so badly on my cervix. The thing is I don't experience any pain or discomfort in my vagina! And it is a lot better than with the Diva, but I cannot reach that high up to check if it is pressure or suction.

I have tried to pinch the bottom and suck the cup up a bit with my muscles, move it to the sides to let more air in so the suction or pressure will be less (mind you, the pressure on my head and throat), but I cannot accomplish it. My finger won’t get all the way up to the rim to let more air in...

So my questions after a long story...

1 - Has anyone experienced this, does it go away? It is not really something I want to get used to.

2 - How else can I get more air in the cup to release the suction? Is it that I am not doing the pinching, sucking, and moving for long enough?

3 - How would you check if the problem is pressure or suction if you can get your fingers up to the rim (and I can get at least 6 cm in) to check where the cup is with respect to the cervix? Never had any leaks so the rim is all the way around the vagina walls

4 - Maybe I am putting it up too high? How do I know that is high enough (just at the entrance of the vagina?) I would like to wear it as low as possible. I already cut the stem off the LC

5 - Would a stiffer cup help?

Thank you so much! And sorry for the long post!

I am back from my holiday.  Was expecting my period to start near the end of the holiday but trust it to be on time just this once as it started on day no2 of holiday.

it was a bit of a struggle the first day to remove it, but in the end i managed to get comfortable enough with it to be able to do it a few times a day and not stay in the bathroom for 30 min every time.

it was also a life saver when wanting to go in the hut pools and jacuzzis, and swimming was no problem. i was very impressed and forgot i was actually on me period sometimes. i did though have to resort to pads a few times when i felt like i needed to give my vagine a bit of rest from poking around in there but that was only a few times. i also started to panick the first couple of days and maybe emptied it a few times too many, but i was worried about having the cup full for too long and it maybe affecting me in some way, not sure how.  but it went well and i am actually looking forward to my next period so that i can practise more :)

one question though, i have not yet felt my cervix and do not know how it sits, low or high but the stem didn't stick out until near the end of my period.  it did annoy me a little bit but near the end of my period but am keeping it full lenght for now as i am not confident enough to be able to remove the cup without it.

so is it VITAL that i know how my cervix travels up or down during my period when things seemed to be working fine without me knowing?

thank u xx

So I have a small and large PinkCup.  They are nice and I do think much more effective than anything else on the market, but I feel like I could be doing better.  Initially, because of my heavy flow, I really, really wanted a Lunette, but living in the US put a damper on that prospect.

I'm not quite sure, but I think my cervix is sitting in my cup, which I know is fine, buuuuuut it does make my large PinkCup not hold as much as it can.  As it is, the large PinkCup sits fully in my vagina and is still a bit higher up from poking out with the stem intact.  Does that mean I have a long vagina?

I think I can handle a bigger cup if I have a long vagina, even if I don't meet the age/ birth requirements of the large cups.  I need CAPACITY and enough room for displacement, because I feel like my cervix is taking up so much room in my large PinkCup.

Is it possible that I could be one of the crazies who actually would love/ benefit from a Diva? Or is there something else that would work better for me?

Does anyone else feel this way?

So I got my large ladycup months ago, but only now am I showing signs of getting my period. *sigh* The good thing is that I've had plenty of dry runs.

I've noticed that there's a wide range of discomfort (depending on where my cervix is) when the cup is right side out, but when I inside out it, it just feels a smidge big.

I also noticed that it suctions itself so that it's waaaay at the top of my vagina, against my cervix. Granted, my cervix is always low (and lower) but is it normal?

I think I'm gonna get a small ladycup though. The bottom of the cup sticks out a few milimeters so it doesn't pop right.

Here's hoping I actually get my period.

First, sorry for the scaring title (it's not meant for new users to run away ;_;), but those really were the only words that came to my mind while I was struggling to remove my small Ladycup...

Bit of recap : I've had a small Mooncup UK for more than a year, and have been very happy with it. I've never had any problems, and I'm used to saying that it came as a revolution in my life ! But I found the material quite stiff, pressing too much (I admit being fussy) against my urethra, and I wanted to give the super soft Ladycup a try, so I ordered one last week and received it yesterday.

I put it in yesterday, and the time for removal went this morning...

Well, I thought "the smallest, the best" but I guess I was wrong : the small Ladycup is super tiny, and though I'm quite petite (5ft, 88lbs) it has proved TOO small !
That was my first mistake. The second one is that I assumed, before putting it in, that the stem would bother me, so I cut it off entirely, as I did on my Mooncup UK without encountering any problems with that...
Well, that was without considering the super smooth surface of the Ladycup, making it difficult to grab. But that was not an insurmountable problem, as using nails would have done anyway.

The thing is that my cervix was completely inside the Ladycup, leaving it airtight !! So it was impossible to release suction by either squeezing the bottom of the cup or reaching the rim with my fingers (fortunately I don't have any problems with putting my fingers in xD)
I had varied thoughts, such as piercing it with a pin... 
I eventually brainlessly pulled it out, in a horrible pain x_x (but at least it's out...)

I'm happy that it isn't my first cup, otherwise I would have been completely traumatized !! (again with the scaring words >_< don't misunderstand me here, I really LOVE my MCUK !!!)

So here comes a question : for those who own a Ladycup, how do you remove it ? I mean, without having it slipping off of your fingers (I'm not necessarily talking about a suction problem) ? Did you leave the stem untrimmed ?

After this dreadful experience, I’ve come to this conclusion : not disdain the biggest size, and TEST it out before trimming the stem completely !

So I finally got the hang of this cup.  My fav. fold with this small LadyCup is punch down because I get it to open easily than the smaller fold Triangle which tends to turn side way when it goes in...

I do not know if this is common or I did something wrong, but when I insert the cup I will feel slight discomfort in my lower abdominal for awhile when it sucks its way up.

Unlike, a lot of girls who has problem with this cup riding up too high(from what I read so far)....I have a problem that it is sitting way too low and the stem is poking my hymen. I cut half of it off because I still need the stem. It is still poking though but not as bad.



I found out that my cervix is so low. I have really short fingers, but I could touch my cervix with my middle finger. I noticed that my cervix is not pointed straight down but rather pointing at the tail bone. Is that normal? What's tilted cervix?

I managed to remove the cup by doing punch down fold, and then take it out. It was a dry run though because I don't have my period yet. I am not sure if I am going to be able to fold it out if there's liquid in there.

Update: So I got my period last night. This morning I removed it with punch down fold and it came out a big mess LOL it was leaking so I guess it was super full.

I think that it forms a seal, but when I try to feel the rim it was too hard to get to because I cannot fit my finger through it. I did notice that the bottom is stil squishy though. Don't know what that means...

Any input is very appreciated :)

I am completely new to both IUD's and cups. I just had my Paragard inserted yesterday, and now feel like I should look into using a menstrual cup after the 3 month wait time. This gives me some time to research, I know, and I have looked through all the posts and... wow. I have NO idea what to do.
I'm pretty sure my cervix sits low, but I guess I'll have to keep checking to see if that varies. I've never given birth and I'm under 30 (just barely, 28). Any advice as to which cup is best? I live in the U.S. and have already read the sad stories about mooncup and lunette. I think I'd probably need something that isn't too big, but again, I don't really know. I read the helpful post that charted sizes and capacities, and totally appreciated it, but also felt...lost. Utterly. Anyone about my age, with Paragard, and a vagina that isn't especially deep (in my opinion, at least. it's not like i've measured it.)

I'm hoping those who use their cup with an IUD can answer a question. Where does your cervix sit in relation to your cup? Inside the cup, above it, or somewhere partially inside the cup but not all the way?

( I've had my IUD for about 3 months and this is the first cycle where I've introduced my cup back into the picture... )

As veteran cup users know, there are some things that are said by the cup companies that just aren't true. Maybe they're saying them to cover their butts. Maybe they're saying them to sell more product. Maybe they're just... saying them, and we don't really know why. Whatever the situation is, these myths can be off-putting for some potential users and can even make people think they're using their cups incorrectly when they're working just fine.

Here are some of the myths that I've seen.

Myth: You must replace your cup every year/every five years/every X years.

( Reality: You probably don't. )

Myth: You must use our branded wash/tablets to clean your cup.

( Reality: There are many ways to safely clean your cup. )

Myth: Your cup must sit at the bottom of your vagina, way below your cervix.

( Reality: Your vagina may vary. )

Myth: There are only one or two ways you can fold your cup when you are inserting it.

( Reality: There are at least eight different folds you can use. )

Myth: You have to rotate your cup to make it seal correctly.

( Reality: Rotating your cup is only one way to make sure it's sealed. )

Myth: You can't use any lubricant with your cup.

( Reality: Water-based lubes are fine, but they must be water based. )

Myth: The size guidelines are hard and fast.

( Reality: Not really. )

Myth: Menstrual cups can only be used when you're on your period.

( Reality: As long as you remove and clean every 12 hours or so, you'll probably be fine. )

This is by far not an exhaustive list, so if you can think of any other myths, please mention them in the comments!

So, after my first not so good experience with the (small) diva back in February, I got the courage up and  tried it again almost a month ago.  I had tried a 'dry run' with it and was able to get it in and out...no problem, so I was pretty excited for my period! Later on that night, it came, which only ever seems to happen when I'm waiting for it.

Well, I put it in...felt the stem poking at me a little bit, (and it did that when I did the dry run too) but decided to ignore it and read up on trimming the stem. After I was done all the reading, it stopped poking. I then went to go see if I could get it out. I tried it about 3 different times that night and twice again that morning...no such luck.  I had the same experience with it the first time, so the experience of explaining the story to the people at health services was not *as* embarrassing. Turns out, once again, it was suctioned to my cervix and I cannot for the life of me remove it when it's suctioned there...no matter how hard I try.

Has anyone had this problem before? Does this mean I have a low cervix? I really want this whole cup thing to work, but I don't think it's in my best interest to try the diva cup again. And as a poor college grad, buying several different cups is out of the question. Any suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated.

ETA: This may sound like a stupid question, but when inserting any of the cups that have stems, should the stem be outside of your body??

Hi, I posted to this community about two weeks ago to ask for help with inserting my large LadyCup. I managed to find the fold that works for me (C-fold). Well now I have another problem with my large GreenCup....my period started only yesterday and it was the first real test for LC after all the (few minutes long) dry runs. I used MCUK previously but wanted to convert due to stiff material and capacity.

The MCUK and LC always tend to end up really high. My cervix is not low during my period and I somehow mastered the technique of removal ( I can only remove my cup while squatting, doing kegels, and pinching the cup at the same time - and still i sometimes struggle). I don't know why, but the cups never stay low, but ride high up to the cervix...
Yesterday, after wearing my LC for about 8 hours, I started feeling sharp pain in my cervical region. I thought something wasn't right and decided to take the cup out. If only I could take it out!!! GOD that was painful! I did everything I usually do when removing the cup but every little pinch hurt like hell. I always need to break the suction by reaching up to the rim. When I tried to do that, I realized my whole cervix was in the cup! When I tried to break the suction, I pinched my cervix and I felt that sickening feeling like I was going to pass out. It was really a very unpleasant experience. I didn't wear the LC today...my cervix needs some rest I guess....

Has anybody had the same problem? Why does the LC love my cervix so much? This has never happened with MCUK. Is the problem material, the width of the cup,....me perhaps? Please help and thanks!

I am new to menstrual cups.  Last month I used a Moon Cup Keeper and it was okay. But it felt like it moved around, like it wasn't "suctioned in place" and it leaked a bit.  In my enthusiasm to convert, I purchased 3 more cups (PinkCup, Lunette Selene and Diva, all size L since I'm in my 40s and have kids). I am now on the verge of my next period and have an issue with my Lunette Selene.

Here's the background:  Last month, after my cycle, I went exploring to actually FIND my cervix and could barely reach it.  I should have started my cycle yesterday but haven't, so I took the opportunity to measure again. Wow - it felt lower -- at about 53 - 55mm.  I thought I was long down there . . .  so am  I long??? What is the measurement that means I'm long?

The reason I ask is because I have been wearing my pink LadyCup in anticipation of my period and it feels comfortable. But I tried my Lunette Selene today, which is basically the same width and length as the LC, and it doesn't want to stay in.  It almost "expels" from me after I put it in. What is up with that????  Does it have something to do with the stiffer material? Does it have too much air in it?  I tried about an hour ago, cut the stem off, gave it an extra push and then it finally stayed in place and was bearable.  I guess I need to wear it for a while to see if this is a fluke.  I spent mega-bucks to get this one and really want it to work!

I obviously need more time and periods before I can realistically assess which cup I like best, but I am hoping at least one of them will fit me like a dream.

So my 2 questions are:  
1)  Am I long or not???
2)  Why does my pretty little Lunette Selene want to run away from me????

Thanks in advance for your advice!

I just finished my first pack of HBC, and when I tried to put my cup in, it just wouldn't go. well, it went in, but it sat so low that i couldn't stand it. i tried it multiple times, and it would never sit correctly. even after wearing it for a while, it didn't move up to a good position like it normally does.
has taking BC affected anyone else like this? i'm thinking maybe my cervix was in a lower position than usual. I use a MCUK and it is usually amazing for me, but i had to stick with pads for most of this period. I really hope that  it was just something that happened just this once though, becuase i'm planning on sticking with my birth control for a while and i really don't want to buy a smaller cup because of it.

i realize this may be a question better suited for a different community, and thus it is cross-posted to vaginapagina.

I just recently heard about menstrual cups and have been reading quite a few of the posts here in this community. Since I'm just about to start my period and I don't have enough time to get a reusable cup I decided to try Insteads. My question is how do you know when it's in far enough? I inserted it the way that the product instructions said, and when I first put it in it felt like it was behind my pubic bone. But when I went to check on it, it had kind of moved down. Not like it was being pushed out, just sort of more towards the bottom of my vag. Is this normal? Should it always be tucked behind my pubic bone?

Also on a side note, I was trying to find my cervix to see how deep it is and it was nowhere to be found. I don't know if I'm just not able to reach far enough inside because my belly gets in the way, or if I just have a really deep vagina. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 How do I know if I have a tilted uterus? or the position of my cervix? I can barely reach mine and don't know what I should be looking for.  As a new cup user, I am hoping to learn something to help me with positioning.

I know I just posted a few days ago asking which cup, and the responses I got were excellent!  Thanks so much to everyone for her input; I feel like I'm definitely heading in the right direction.  Just as I had decided that the Lunette was the way for my short vagina, heavy flow self, I realized that the US has other plans and scoffs at the union of cup and I (Haha...sorry for the excess corny-ness).  What's the closest cup that I can purchase in the US? 

Although I'm not totally against doing something crazy every now and again...(illegal alternatives? I don't have any friends outside the country...)

Oh! Another question-- if my cervix is low when I'm NOT on my period, will it change significantly when I AM on my period? 
I've done a bit better with my "self" research.  I can reach my cervix, but the whole two finger thing is slightly uncomfortable, but I guess I could get used to that?

I don't know. I'm thinking high capacity short cup (wide one?), but one that is possibly narrow...Does that make sense or is that even feasible?
Should I still look at the "Teen" cups (and which ones are those?) even though I'm almost not a teen anymore?

Thanks again to everyone on here! I had no one else to ask these personal questions...My mom had never heard of them before I mentioned them and my friend just heard about them (not from me) and said how disgusting she thought it was (I just chuckled and tried to convince her otherwise).

I searched, and I don't think this has been posted.

A woman/artist took a photo of her cervix every day over the course of a month-long cycle and has made the photos available online. Personally, I had no idea what a cervix actually looked like (and it looks way different from what I imagined!). Seeing these photos helped me better visualize exactly how my menstrual cup fits up there. Not to mention it provided added reassurance that everything that I deal with each month is evidently quite normal.

Admittedly, even with my growing body-positive attitude, it felt a little weird looking at these pictures, but goodness was it ever educational and worthwhile. Yet again I wonder how on earth that expands enough to give birth. Anyway, I thought it might be useful for cup users to have some visuals regarding what we're dealing with.

http://www.beautifulcervix.com

Firstly, f*ck me, Livejournal is confusing.

Secondly, so are menstrual cups.
I've read and read pages on here about how you guys love your cups so it's really kinda distressing me that I hate mine.
I want to use it because I spent bloody £22 on it and according to my maths it'll take almost 3 years of using it and nothing else before that equals the cost of tampons.
But I bloody hate the thing. Mine is a UK Mooncup. My problems are mostly about removal, which I dread. But also it leaks. Currently there's no real point to my using it at all, except for practice, because it leaks and leaks and leaks. I've read some stuff about my cervix being in the wrong place if this happens, but what can I do about it?

So yeah, removal, a bastard. Right now I still have to get into the bath tub to remove my cup, I'm just lucky that I don't have a job or any other reason to go out during the day, so I can do this and take all the time I want. I would say I am improving at it, yesterday it only took me a couple of minutes, compared to 30mins+ before. But I still don't like it. I'm probably less squeamish than the average female but I can't say I enjoy rooting around in my vagina while getting my hands covered in blood. It hurts and my vagina always feels like it needs a rest afterwards so I've never put my cup straight back in. (What would be the point anyway, it's going to leak.)

I just can't believe people are saying it's easier than tampons! Tampons I could do in my sleep! But obviously the waste aspect of tampons concerns me, as well as the whole money I already spent on the Mooncup issue. So I'd like to get it right. I'm just scared of the damn thing now. It's sitting there on the edge of my bathtub, looking all big and painful and taunting me.

I've read various things that I find myself incapable of doing. I can shove it in okay using the normal fold. But it says you're supposed to turn it to ensure a seal forms - how? Once it's in I can't move it. I cut the stem off the first time I put it in because, well, it was sticking out. But I've since found it moves up inside me over time so I have to do squeezy squeezy to get it within reach to pull out. Break the seal at the rim? I can barely, *just about* reach the rim, but in that position it's then almost impossible to *do* anything. It has to be in such a low position for it to *hurt* before I can reach the rim and pull it down. I can kinda reach high enough to squeeze the sides, but it's much easier to squeeze the wrong sides - ie. front and back, instead of right and left, I have to squeeze and then like turn it round inside me so it's coming out forwards/backwards instead of side to side, and that is not easy.

Like I said, I just don't enjoy rooting around inside myself this much. I wouldn't like it if it was any of my other orifices, and now I'm starting to hate my vagina as well as my mooncup, and I'd really rather keep it a place of fun!

I did a great deal of research before purchasing my Divacup, and was looking forward to doing a very small favor for the environment (and a very large favor for my budget), but things are not going well. I fear that my anatomy is not suited to a menstrual cup in the slightest.

The following is a bit graphic and wordy...

( Read more... )

Well, my period finally started again, so I got to measure the distance from my introitus to the near side of my cervix. 35 mm!! No wonder my Diva hangs out so badly (even inside out)! And to think, when I first discovered this site I thought my problems were all related to diameter and Kegels (or relative lack thereof)!

I think Day 3 of my period is when my cervix will be at its lowest, since that's been when I typically have to give up and go to pads. I'll have to remeasure....

I already have poured over and agonized over the size charts. Now I just want to collect some data! If you have inverted your cup, how long is the inverted length? FYI, the large Diva goes from 57mm to 51 or 52mm. It would be awesome to have this data all in one place for other low-riding women.


-----------Edit:--------------------
Summary of inside-out lengths (a work in progress):
Large Diva     57mm -> 51mm
Small Diva     57mm -> 

Large LadyCup     53mm ->
Small LadyCup     46mm -> 43mm

Large MCUK     50mm -> 
Small MCUK     50mm -> 43mm

Large Lunette     52mm -> 
Small Lunette     47mm -> 43mm
--------------------------------------

Hello Everybody!

I've been a member of this community for a while and have done lots of reading, but this is my first post.

After much consideration I am ready to buy my first cup. I have decided on the Lunette, for many reasons, but I am a little unsure of which size to buy.

I am 23 and sexually active - based on this the recommendation seems to be Lunette size 2.
However, my flow is quite light and I think my cervix is quite low (about 40-45mm) - so would a Lunette size 1 be more suitable for me?

I am a field biologist and spend long periods of time in the field. I was leaning towards the larger size Lunette because its larger capacity would allow me to go longer amounts of time without having to empty it but I'm concerned that my cervix would be too low for the larger size to fit comfortable.

In your expert opinions what would be the best one for me to go with?
I really appreciate your help!

Hi, I've been avidly reading this group since I found it. Such a great resource!

I've got some questions and hopefully someone knows. After buying the larger sized Diva (I'm 34 & had a baby 2 yrs ago), I had some initial luck but then lots of issues with expulsion, irritation, leakage, etc. (I never lost my cup in the toilet, but I actually lost it 

( in my pants once! ))

So thank goodness for you ladies, I learned about the inside-out Diva trick, which made a huge difference on the irritation issue, and no more expulsions so far.... But it's still too long, especially when I'm sitting crosslegged on the floor, which I do a lot. So I'm trying to decide between Femmecup (one size), Lunette (large), and MooncupUK (large).

So my questions:
1. When I turn the Diva inside out, it goes from 57mm long (stemless) to ~51-52mm long, by my measurements. But it still hangs out a bit. The Femme, Lun, & MUK all start at 50-52mm (stemless), so they might also hang out unless inverted. I want to know how much shorter they would get? The base of the Diva has a thick tight curve, and I imagine that a cup with a thinner broader base might not shorten by as many millimeters when inverted. Does anyone know how long any of these cups would be when inverted? And oh yeah, anyone know how easy it will be to grip any of these buggers when inverted?

2. Is an inverted cup going to last as long? I don't want to ruin a cup 3 times as fast because of strain on the silicone....

3. Are vaginal muscles just looser when you sit cross-legged on the floor? Is this destined to become a problem? Or is this really going to Kegel away?

4. Does the bell-shape vs. uniformly wide shape make a difference in terms of staying in if width is also a concern? (kuradi8 calls them "hoop skirts" here: http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/1285963.html) Maybe I'm just getting confused by the term "hoop skirt". On one hand, a uniformly wide shape would have more surface area on contact with the vaginal walls, but on the other hand, the flange of a bell-shaped cup might have some extra holding power....

Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have a low cervix and have had children which cups have you tried?  What did you like/dislike about them?  Thanks!

I have been using the large Diva cup for 18 months.  I am not happy with it and never really liked it except for the convenience.  The Diva cup is usually uncomfortable and pokes me even though the stem is completely cut off.  When I insert it it's "in" it's not really "in", KWIM?  I encounter leaks and there is no rhyme or reason to it.  I started doing some reading on here and I'm pretty sure it is way too long for me.  What cup would you suggest for me?  It seems like if I get a shorter cup it won't hold as much and I'm wondering if I'll run into problems with the rim also not being as wide.  Are there short length cups with wide rims and larger volume? 

ETA:  Where should the bottom of the cup fall?  Above pubic bone? Even with the bottom of the pubic bone??