I usually use cloth pads during the day and my ladycup during the night so I don't have to worry about my pad or underware shifting. It's my first cup and my second cycle with it. I love my ladycup and I was surprised that it pops open right away and it's really easy to remove when many people said theirs was too slippery. Eventhough it's the small it has just right amount of capacity for my heaviest night.

The only problem is when I wake up in the morning my cup seems to have disappeared up inside me and I can't reach the stem or base to pull it out. I think it's because on the second day of my cycle my cervix move up quite a bit. Usually it's okay to spend 5-10 minutes to get it out but sometimes that's not always possible when I'm in a rush to get out of the house in the morning.

I've read that doing kegels will get the cup to come down farther. But that only works sometimes. Maybe my muscles down there are weak? What else can I do to get my cup farther down so I can reach it? Thanks :)

A newby here... and I can't get the darn thing out!!

I learned about menstrual cups as I was researching my IUD, and thought they were great from the start, but I was a bit scared, so I decided to go for the small LadyCup since it's the smallest to get the hang of it first... maybe that was a mistake?

( More info... )

Thanks!!

UPDATE: SUCCESS!!

I got it out about a minute or two ago, and it's been about 24 hrs since I put it in. So far, so good. I decided to defer my next cup use to the next cycle. I was tempted though, to put it straight back in :)
( The Removal )

I'd just like to say THANK YOU to everyone here!! I would definitely have panicked if it weren't for you wonderful people!!

Hello!
Sorry in advance, this post is pretty long...

I just had a pretty awful experience with my cup.  I don't want to scare off future cup users or anything, but I'd like to know if anyone else has experienced something like that...

I've been using a DivaCup for about 3 years, and 3 or 4 months ago I switched to a Lunette.  I've been happy enough with the Lunette so far.  I got my period last night, so this morning, I put in my Lunette, and all was dandy, until later when I took it out and put it back in.

All of a sudden, it was ridiculously painful.  I figured, from posts here, that the cup was hitting my cervix.   TMI, but I tend to be slightly prone to constipation, and it was the same feeling (could it be that that feeling is from my cervix and I never realized?  I do eat a lot of fibre, after all).  

I tried to take it out, but I couldn't, it hurt too much.  It felt like it could be the suction that was making it painful (even though I usually never feel suction), but the weird thing is that the cup wasn't open, it was folded in half, so I don't know where suction came from?

I tried to move it around the release the suction, pull on it, do something, but it hurt too much.  I tried to walk around to give it time to open up, but I started to feel really sweaty (as can happen when one's in pain).  I kept alternating between standing, sitting and trying to get it out, but nothing worked, the pain was too strong, especially when I tried to get it out.  Then my hearing got all fuzzy, like I was under water, and I was shaking a lot, and I could tell I was about to faint. 

I don't know if the panic was enough, or if the pain stopped, or if I just got numb (I was completlely out of it, my hearing and vision were odd, I was sweating and shaking, I couldn't stand properly), but the cup, thankfully, came out.  I almost instantly felt better and lay down, and now all's fine.

Does anyone know what happened?  (I'm sure no one knows for sure, but if anyone has an opinion, I'd love to hear it.)  Was it the beginning of toxic shock syndrome?  Was I about to faint because the cup was cutting off blood flow or something, or because of the pain, or  just because I panicked?  (I have fainted once before, and it was after feeling VERY slight pain --a small cut on my arm--, so I'm not sure what happened then either.)  And the scariest thing: what would have happened if I couldn't get the cup out?  I would have fainted, and then what?  Would there have been permanant damage?

Should I stop using a cup?  I definitely won't use it again this cycle, but after?  I would be so sad to give up cups, but I definitely do not want to go through this again, and it's likely that I will be too stressed to put it in next time.  Maybe I should switch back to the DivaCup?
And a last question, I was thinking of getting and IUD in a couple of months, do you think this experience means I should leave my cervix alone for a bit?  I usually have a high tolerance for pain, but this doesn't seem like a good sign.

Thank you so much!

I just got my Small Lilaccup in the mail yesterday. Tried it a couple times, and it seems to be working out great. I only have one question about breaking the seal. It really hurts to break the seal and then just pull the cup out. I can't really seem to pull it out sideways either. SO trying that didn't help. I use the punch-down fold for insertion, and have seen some girls say they use it for removal.
But I can't really get that to work either.

Any other ways of removal you like?

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 !

Thanks so much for this awesome community! I have been reading for a couple of months and have found answers to all my questions in the archives. (yeah!) Unfortunately, I had really traumatizing experience removing my Diva Cup for the first time and am in need of some advice...

I was able to insert my Diva Cup model 1 with no problems (I admit, I brought my laptop into the bathroom with me and followed the tips and instructions I found in the archives). I was afraid I wouldn't get the suction right but I could definitely feel it when the cup opened and formed a seal. The cup sat fairly low--the stem bothered me a bit when I bent over and sat down, but i figured I could trim it the next day.

The next morning I went into the bathroom to remove the cup and had no problems bearing down and grabbing the stem and then reaching the base of the cup. I pinched the cup (hard) and nothing happened. I wiggled the cup a little (which was super painful) and the suction still didn't release. I tried reaching my finger along the side of the cup to break the seal from the top, but that was super painful as well. I continued to wiggle and tug until I had the bottom 1/4 of the cup outside me. The cup STILL hadn't released its death grip on my ladyparts.

As I was sitting there, with half the cup outside me I contemplated grabbing a pair of scissors and cutting the bottom out--it really hurt. I was finally able to squeeze one top corner out and the second it was out the rest of the cup fell out.

What the hell went wrong? I know the diva cup is notorious for having tight suction, but this was much more than I was anticipating! Any advice? Should I enlarge the holes at the top? Is the cup too big? Anyone have ideas for a different removal process?

Updates: My third day of dry run. I got over it easier than I thought. But here's the problem....It is poking me!!! And it's the smallest cup on market LOL. I am not on my period but I guess my cervix is always low. Should I cut the stem now? I feel it inside me just because of the stem. :(

Updates: Removal took forever because I don't want it to hurt like the last two, I managed to fold it when half of it came out. My only concern is when I DO have my period I do not know if I can fold it. Blood will surely spill out and probably every where on my hands, seat and perhaps my pants. (This is if I do i outside home)

Before I go into the question, I recently posted my first time (scary) experience with the cup. I am not planning to try it again for awhile because it hurts down there right now. What happen was I tried it again next day and the insertion was not that bad but still uncomfortable. The removal was painful,still, or even more.

Note that I could only insert one finger in there (after the first application I could fit two fingers more easily but still not manage to make use of it besides making the path way a bit wider)

I push the cup down with my muscle and tried to pull the stem when it sticks out. I break the seal with my index while holding on to the stem with my thumb and middle fingers. What happened was I had a hard time to get it out because my hymen was in the way which hurts like... I could not fold the cup while it's in there because if I let go of the stem it will go back in, plus I could not hold to the base instead of the stem because the base would be inside and I could not put three fingers in there. Only my index was pushing the cup to not make it seal. I could not take it out easily. I had to pull it knowing that it will hurt and there was no other way at the time. It came out creating a seal right when i was almost out and made a "pop" sound. OMG It hurts like I would never try it again...I really want it to work but I would need more time for it.

Today it is very sore and hurts all the time :( ...


Question for the future use

I think I have quite a heavy flow the second day.I don't think it's a good idea if I will be having to empty it when I am not home. If I use pads with it to help when it leaks and I cannot empty it, would that be OK? Or it's goign to make weird noise.

I have a small lady cup.

Hello again, everyone! I used to frequent this community a few years back when I first got a Diva Cup and then current my Mooncup (UK). I loved using the Mooncup for the year or so that I was able to, but I switched to cloth pads exclusively when I was diagnosed with vaginismus about three years ago. I had been too afraid that inflicting any pain down there might exasperate my symptoms. However, I will be travelling to SE Asia this summer for nearly two months and I can't see cloth pads working out so well on the trip. I want to be able to use the cup on the trip successfully. I leave in late June/early July so I want to get this down before I go.

So far, insertion has gone surprisingly well. I use the the punch down method and ease it in and it works. Everything in that way is ok, except for a few issues I'm having that I hope some or one of you may be able to offer some advice about:

- removal. Whoa. I was in cold sweats squatting in my bathtub for twenty minutes last night trying to get the sucker out. That, er, 'sucked'. I get a lot of suction, and either it sits really high or my fingers are too short but I have a lot of difficulty contorting myself to grip with my thumb and break the seal with my forefinger at the same time without causing my vagina and urethra a bunch of pain. Any tips on removal that doesn't involve shoving almost my entire arm up in me? Something vagina and vaginismus friendly?

- heavy flow. I've got one. Like, really heavy. Today, just as a small example, I overflowed after only about 3 hours, which isn't much time. Should I consider going on the pill for the trip to regulate the flow?

Also, any other tips on using the cup while travelling, particularly in countries where I'll be facing not much more than a hole, a bucket of water, and a scoop, would be greatly appreciated!

-

Update: So after reading comments I think I don't have the microperforate hymen. I Have a normal but "stubborn" one...talking about hymen with personality LOL


And the story begins...

My Ladycup arrived today. I don't have my period but I wanted to try it to get comfortable...

I tried two times...after starting out with my finger to get it open a bit more. I could not put two fingers in. I tried punch down fold...it was too large to go in there. I didn't have lube so I use water. It still couldn't go in.

Then I tried the triangle fold. This got a better chance but my hand started cramping. It did not go far in. I had to get ready to go to work so I stopped it there for then.

After work, I tried again, still using the triangle fold. I was  standing  with my legs far apart and pretty much relaxed. It got in OK but stopped when I got to the wider folded part. I tried it again and again until I decided to do it on the toilet.

I tried until I was close to getting it. I had to turn it around a little then it finally went in more. I continued to insert. It got more painful when I got to the wider part and until it totally went in. And when it did, it hurts like....OMG it was pushing its way in trying to open. I had to push the cup in higher...then the pain was gone. I stood up and nearly blacked out. I grabbed my stuff and tried to get to my bed because I felt nauseating almost vomiting; then everything was dark, and my ear just kind of shuts off I could not hear anything.

I lied down and it started to feel like cramping inside but very mild. It did not hurt any longer but I was feeling nausea and like going to faint. I rested and fell asleep.

I woke up about an hour later. At this time I didn't even want to bother getting it out but I had to. I inserted my finger in soon to found out that I couldn't find the stem!!!!

I had to sort of "dig" in and I could not find it. Then I notice that the surface where I am touching was the upper part of the cup!!!!!!!!! It was close to the rim. Then I felt the rim, it formed a seal on the side.

I dig and dig and dig!!! I was like this can't be happening to me. How am I going to get it out?

I tried to hook the rim open and take it out but it wont move.

The cup was in a wrong position. It kind of was in side way. I soon found the stem on the left side and the rim was on the opposite,

I still could not get a good grip on the stem because it was folded and squish to the side. I try to move the stem with one finger to get it in a right position. I could only put one finger in there so it was impossible. I could barely touch it.

I was not panicking but I was thinking that  I had to get a doctor to get it out!

I tried to put two fingers in there but it was not helpful because two fingers were really stuffed in there and I couldn't move them.

After 45 minutes I tried to push the cup at the rim so it gets to the right position. After pushing it quite violently it started to turn to the right side. I finally got got it positioned.

Now.. the next scary part....How it's going to come out.

I push with my muscle (Probably like giving birth) until the stem sticks out. The seal is still there. I had to use my finger to push the rim to break the suction. I pulled....

Now it HURTS!!!! I wanted to stop but I had to get it out. It was very painful to get it all out. I tried to fold it but the rim part probably came out fully opened. But thank goodness it's out!!!

I am relief now but I am very scared to try it again. I think I won't have problem inserting too much. But taking it out was very painful.

I do not think I ripped anything...which is good, I feel real sore down there though.  :(

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??

I have a large Diva and every time I try it, the cup gets suctioned so hard that it doesn't want to come out. My cervix is high on my cycle so it is really hard to remove. Any tips? It goes in great feels fine other than the stem, but I can't trim it until I can figure removal out.

I'm noticing that I get some fairly intense cramping right after I remove my LadyCup. Is this normal, or might it be the result of not adequately breaking the seal and putting too much suction on my poor li'l cervix?

I'm doing my best to break the seal before I start pulling on it. I slide my finger up alongside and push inward while bearing down until I hear/feel a squishy burp, and then pinch the bottom hard and pull while still bearing down. It seems quite hard to pull out it, and it hurts a bit, so I'm not quite sure I've broken the suction well enough, but I can't seem to get my finger all the way up to the rim to actually pull on it.

I can't shake the idea that it's sucking on my cervix too hard and that's what's causing that crampy feeling right after I remove it, and I walk around doing kegels for a while, worrying I'm going to give myself a prolapse!

I just received my Diva Cup today. (Posted asking about iHerb last week)

I did a dry run and i had to get my fiance to take the damn thing out after i tried for 10 minutes. He even had a problem and i showed him on my Mooncup exactly what to do. I can't pinch the cup at all. I can't get 2 fingers around it. I can indent it with 1 finger but that doesn't release suction and there's no way i can reach the rim to release it.

I'm at a complete loss.

Either my vagina is extremely long or I'm too fat to reach the cup. I think i have too much flesh blocking the way, which is odd because this is the only time it's been a problem when it comes to my genitals.

Heres a link to the problem i was having with the Mooncup. (I added more info in the comments.) I'm thankful I'm able to reach it with a paper towel even though my bathroom might look like i killed someone by the time i get it out.

Has anyone had this problem?

It seems like most of you have to cut the stem to stop it from sticking out. I actually need a long stem or else i can't reach it at all. How can i not get 2 fingers around  the cup?  I am so pissed/fustrated/bummed out. I really wanna use a cup, they seem awesome. I don't want to have to remove it by laying down on a bed. These things are supposed to be used in public and i can't even insert one in a public bathroom.

Argh!
 

Hello, everyone.

I got my Diva Cup in the mail last week. I had no clue when my period would start (I'm irregular), but luckily I started a few days after receiving it. I was so excited to try it out.

Now I'm just raaaaaging. I've tried inserting it every time I go to the bathroom. I've tried four different folds and several sitting/standing/squatting positions. All of them have been epic fail thus far.

( some info that's a bit tmi-y )

I am so frustrated. I know some people say it takes awhile, but I've tried at least 3 times a day for the past 4 days and I feel like I should be somewhere further than wanting to throw the damn thing at a wall.

Advice? All comments are appreciated!

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!

After reading about menstrual cups a few months ago, I'd been planning to buy a Mooncup for a while now. It's a lot of money for me, and they charge a lot more in Boots than on the website, but I can't order online so ho-hum. I finally saved up enough and plucked up the courage to buy one yesterday. However I have had a few problems, some of which have been easily solved, some of which I can't find the answer to.
 

( Read more... )

I am wondering if these problems could be because I am 16 and a virgin. Though the website suggested it, I didn't buy any lube because I hate the idea of putting mass-produced slime around my private parts. *shudder* Since this has happened twice, is it likely that my hymen has broken? And if so, will that mean that it will be easier to use things like this in the future?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just happy to have found somewhere that allows me to ask them.
Em x

So back when Lady Cup was selling off their faulty colored cup stock, I got myself a Lilac Cup in the larger size. On the plus side it hasn't cracked at all after two (non-consecutive) days' use, and it's as comfortable as my Diva. (I also have a US Keeper Mooncup and do not like that one quite as much as the Diva. All three cups are in the larger sizes - I'm age 31, no children.)

On the minus side, I'm having a heck of a hard time removing it! I have no trouble removing either the Diva or Mooncup. On the Lilac Cup however, the silicone seems more slick than the others so I have a hard time getting a grip on it, plus it has bumps rather than rings so that doesn't seem to give me much traction either. I usually remove the Diva and Mooncup without making any extra effort to break the suction (as I'm pulling it out by the base or stem, the cup usually gets deformed enough to break the suction on its own without spilling the contents), and without needing to consciously do Kegels. For the Lilac Cup I tried gripping the stem but my fingers kept slipping off. My fingers also kept slipping off the base at first. I tried reaching a finger up to break the suction but it turns out that pushing on the side doesn't break the suction and it's difficult for me to reach all the way up to the rim. What finally worked was grabbing the base really REALLY hard with one hand and the stem with the other, while also doing Kegels.

Any other suggestions on what else I can try for removing it next time? So far I like my Diva best (first cup), so it's no biggie if I can't get the Lilac to work right for me, and I can always just leave it in a desk drawer at work as a backup.

Edit:
I gave the inside-out a shot, and it works! I don't really have any additional difficulty getting it in, and it's much easier to grip inside out (less slick, and seems easier to push in the sides enough to get a grip) though it still is more difficult to remove than either the Diva or Keeper Mooncup US. But this's enough of an improvement that I can definitely keep using it! Thanks so much!

Hello~

I just got my very first Mooncup (UK) today! It went in very easily first time, using the C-fold, however it did make some freaky squealing noises due to the air being squished out of it while I put it in... D:

I cut the stem off completely, I think I have an itty-bitty sized vagina because the stem was irritating me even when it was tiny. Sooo, now I have a problem.. I can't get it out!

I've tried squatting and pushing with my vaginal muscles but the bloody (lol, pun) thing wont budge! Obviously, me cutting the stem off isn't helping my little fingers grasp the cup, it feels like there's a lot of suction going on too. I've tried prying it out with tweezers but it's not working. I would try sticking some lube up there but I don't have any.
Also, I'm not tense at all, and I've read the tags/memories and nothings helpiiiiiing! ):

Please help, lovely cuppers!

Hi! I posted back in January asking if I could use a cup when I've always been unsuccessful with tampons. Thanks for all your advice then! I decided on getting the small Lunette Selene. I liked the looks of it the best, especially the flat tab.

I tried it a few cycles ago but couldn't really get it in comfortably. Today I was out doing errands while wearing one of my longer cloth pads and felt a GUSH! When I got home my pad was FULL, so I figured it'd be a good time to try again. I used the origami fold and hey, it worked! I can still feel it, but it's far, far more comfortable than tampons ever were.

But of course, I'm having problems removing it, just like a lot of new cup users. Squatting or sitting on the toilet works best for me. I can reach the stem, but I can barely reach the bottom of the cup, and when I do, I can't manage to break the seal. It's easiest to insert my index and middle fingers, but that doesn't give me a good grip. I can insert my index and thumb, though that is irritating me. Haven't been able to insert a finger from the other hand to help break the seal.

I've tried all sorts of different positions, as well as taking a bathe and a shower. Tried using some lube, too, which did help a bit. Been trying on and off for over an hour and a half. Clearly, I need a break.

I probably inserted it sometime around 6:30 or 7:00 pm. It's now 1:30am. I know it's safe to leave them in for up to 12 hours, so I think I would be okay to go to bed and try in the morning, yes? Also, this might be a silly question... but given that I've been poking at myself so much and that my thumb was often up near my urethra, I'm worried about the possibility of giving myself a UTI. Anyone have that happen?

I'm thinking this cup might be too small, since I'm having problems reaching it. I do really like the look/feel of the cup, though. How does the bigger Lunette compare? Is the cup itself longer but the total length the same, or is it longer as a whole?

I'm really hoping I'll be successful tomorrow morning. I'm not at all opposed to going to my gyne if need be, but I'd rather not because I've already had to take a lot of time off work this week, plus there's the cost. Well wishes and suggestions welcome!

So I have question for you ladies (especially lunette users, but I appreciate help from anyone). My period should start somewhere around the full moon which is coming up so I wanted to go ahead and ask.

I've noticed that the only thing I have a hesitation about is removing my cup. When I stick my fingers in, there's the opening to my vagina which is relatively loose, and then there's the ring of muscle that I've been told are my PC muscles. When I try to remove my cup, I can barely get the ring of grips at the bottom past my PC muscles before it starts to hurt. In fact, the part that hurts most during removal is getting my cup past those muscles. If I've hurt the actual entrance to my vagina, I haven't noticed it.

Of course, because that particular part is so far inside, this makes removal an issue. I can either attempt to fold the cup, or just yank it out. Obviously, yanking it out *hurts* like nothing else, but folding the cup is difficult to do. I have a hard time getting two fingers up past those muscles with the cup in as well. I can't reach the rim, so by the time the cup get's down there, I've still got to break the seal, not to mention attempting to *fold* it while keeping two fingers up there in a place that hurts. It's frustrating and I'm not entirely sure what to do about it.

Any suggestions? I briefly thought about wearing my cup everyday just to help stretch out those muscles, but I'm not sure.

Hi
I have a femmecup and I need removal methods. I did a dry run today and was able to get the cup in pretty quickly using the c fold, but need tips on how to remove it. The firs time I tried to remove it, I thought my cup would stay stuck inside me forever. I have reached my finger up the side to break the suction, but I don't think that is working, because when I try to bring my thumb in to help remove the cup my finger slides down from the rim, so if the suction was broken it would seal again. I have tried bearing down and digging my fingers into the base.
Another thing that happens is that I end up taking the whole cup out, without it folded which is slightly painful when the rim passes through the opening.

Please give me your methods for removing the cup. I am trying to practice before I get my iud put it, so I want to have the removal method down pretty good.

Another question is should I try the cup on a dry run but keep it in for longer than a few minutes, like could I try having the cup in for a couple hours while I am out running errands?

Thanks

Hi--I've looked around in the archives, but as I have so many different problems with this cup, none of the answers seem to solve it. I've been stubbornly using the Diva Cup for about a year now and am getting so fed up and upset with it that I am on the verge of throwing it in the garbage. I'm 39 and usually used tampons with no problem at all, although I used a sea sponge when I was younger, also with no problems. I've had 2 children but not vaginally. I'm told my uterus is tipped. I think I bought the larger size Diva Cup because that was what was recommended for women over 30. I really want to make a cup work but it just makes me cry every single month! Anyway, here are the main issues:

1) It is very painful to insert. I use a C fold and can make it rotate a little bit once it is in but it is painful to make it do that and there is just no room to get a finger alongside it. It certainly doesn't twirl easily. Am I too dry? Too small? I read about people having sex with a cup in and...I just can't see how on earth that is humanly possible?

2) It leaks. Sometimes (not often) it is ok, but I can't ever trust it as I never know when it is going to randomly start gushing. For the first 3 months I had to do washer loads of stained clothes and didn't dare leave the house. i finally gave up and wear a pad constantly now in addition to it, which rather seems to defeat the purpose. Occasionally it is ok, but it often leaks when it has next to nothing in it, when it's half full. It also seems to fill up ridiculously fast. I don't understand how it could be left in for 12 hours without emptying it; I have to check it every hour on my heaviest days. Overnight there is blood everywhere even if I have a pad because it fills up and leaks in a way that a tampon never did. I have no idea if I have heavier flow than most people; I would have to change a super tampon every hour or two during the heaviest days. Is that a lot? (ok, I just googled and I guess that is maybe a lot. Maybe that explains my very low iron levels...?)

3) It often seems to press on my urethra and I can't empty my bladder completely. On a number of occasions where I was several hours without access to a bathroom this has become excruciatingly painful.

4) Sometimes the stem sticks out and I simply cannot make it go any further up. Other times it migrates so far up I can barely get it out again. What is going on?

4) It is horribly painful to take out (I pinch it but it is awful getting the seal to break and the edges of the cup dragging along my insides is a terrible sensation) and when I finally get the open end out, it usually pops open and sprays everywhere (sorry, tmi!). Probably because I do it too fast because the removal process hurts. It is just horrifyingly messy. I never had that kind of problem with a sea sponge (or with a tampon unless there was some big clot or something but at least that is easier to contain).

You know, reading this I cannot believe I have persisted as long as I have! My sister has a different brand (Keeper, I think) and loves it. I so want it a cup to work for me. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do to improve matters? I haven't tried cutting off the stem. Sometimes that seems like it would be a good idea because it pokes out and then I end up having a 10 minute session next time trying to push the thing out and think, no, the stem is my only hope! Should I try turning it inside out? Do I need to try a different brand? This one was $50 and I can't keep spending money trying out brand after brand if it turns out i just have some weird and twisted anatomy where it won't work. I didn't even try using it last month because it is such a stressful and uncomfortable experience; I just bought tampons and it was such a relief knowing for certain that I wasn't going to be covered in blood after 2.5 minutes. But I don't want to use them if I don't have to. Help!

I just got the Mooncup. (Keeper, i guess? Got it from mooncup.com)

I'm on my 2nd day using it. Insertion is very awkward, I'm using the C fold at the moment. I can't seem to push it in far enough. I believe this is because I'm obese and my stomach is in the way. I also seem to have a little bit more flesh down there than most women so everything is kinda cushioned i guess. (I can't really explain it.)

When it's finally in, it keeps moving up until its almost completely inside me. I've read it's supposed to do this, but I can barely reach the stem even when pushing. (If i cut it, i would of been screwed.)

Removing it is pretty weird too. I have to pull on the stem pretty hard until i can manage to reach the cup. It seems like the rim is irritating me when i remove it. (I can't reach that far inside so i can't fold it.) The real irritation happens when i have to pee, it's not my urethra that's burning but the skin further down. I think the lack of moisture is screwing everything up.

Right now I'm using tampons because I'm afraid of hurting myself more. I'm not really sure what to do about the irritation problem. I've only used lube once with painful results, so I'm kinda afraid of getting an infection. Any suggestions for a water based lube or any other suggestions as to how to stop the irritation? I really want this cup to work, it seems like it would be great if i could get used to it, lol.

So, I recently bought a mooncup and I got my period this week. There is an epically long saga of my attempting to get the damn thing in that wouldn't have successfully happened without this community. (I thank you)

Here is my concern! I had trouble getting the cup to open unless it was pushed quite far back! Now, its really really far back and I am concerned about getting it out. I can easily grab the stem and pull that but I have read many horror stories on here about how you can't pull it out without breaking the seal without causing extreme pain. My cup is so far back that I don't think my fingers are long enough to reach the base. So, am I doomed to extreme pain? Is there a trick for those of you who have to wear your cups higher? Have I completely messed up?

I'm trying my Diva cup for the first time and well, it's stuck. I'm pretty tall and this thing has managed to make its way SO FAR UP my vaginal canal that I can stick half a finger in myself before I feel it. When I inserted it, I left the stem sticking out a little bit. I've been trying for 30 minutes to pluck this thing out with a pair of tweezers but so far, no luck. The instructions say not to panic, but well, there's a piece of silicone stuck in my who-ha and I want it out. Someone please tell me what to do.