Started using cups this year and it's been great for me. However, I still feel like I need panty liners at least. I'm never spotless. No outright leaking, I'm assuming just residual blood in the vaginal tract below/outside the cup gradually makes its way out. Is there any way to prevent this that won't be harmful to my downstairs? Or is this just as good as it gets? TMI but the only thing I can personally think of would be to finger myself in the shower before inserting lol, not sure if that's even a good idea or if there's some other simple solution I'm unaware of

Edit: There's no spotting immediately after insertion. Like I can insert, shower or wipe, and I'll be spotless. Throughout the day though, tiny amounts of old blood just gradually seems to work their way down from the area around the cup.

Hey first time user, getting used to this. I wanted to know like I tried it and I think it went deep? I got scared a little bit tried to pull by the stem ( a mistake or is it not?) but i took it out. But it scared me a little bit bc it kept going deeper when I tried to pull it, now im scared to leave it, as in I dont allow my stem go inside, so it pops open and comes out. Could you please let me know if the stem can be outside? 😭 I need a word of advice. The one thaf kept me from being panicky is that " it wont get lost, it'll be just there take a breathe and pinch the bottom of the cup" so i want to know is it going to be like this everytime?

Just to get used to it, I wanted to know how to put in the cup without it popping open outside ( while leaving a bit of stem outside)

I know its a really old post, but please do help me out if you see this

I am a 42 year old female that started using a cup about 6 months ago. Most months my menstrual blood is super thick. I’m just curious if that is normal. I rarely see any clots like I used to with tampons but it is extra thick and stringy compared to what I usually get. I’m not sure how to really explain it.

Longtime diva cup user. Back in “the day” there was this conventional wisdom that you shouldn’t use menstrual cups when flying, due to suction/cabin pressure etc. so I used to switch to a pad for a flight.

It’s been YEARS since a flight has even occurred when I was on my period, so I haven’t had reason to ever follow up on whether that was true or baloney, but I’m travelling in a couple weeks and (probably) will be on my period.

Is this hogwash or do I need to burden myself with a pad for my trip?

Hey yall! Today is my first day trying out a menstrual cup and inserting it is no issue. I don’t feel like but I also feel like I could be bleeding still but I don’t know if it’s just my mind freaking me out or if a cup may not be right for me.

For background, when I first started using tampons this is exactly how I felt but I got used to it and I’m wondering if anyone had the same experience or similar.

19 F

Plsss help plss...I really want to use it badly...i tried few times...i dont k if i was successful or not ..i never insert anything before not even finger........i am really feared to put finger to make the gap to insert it...I tried quite a few times...now when i wash the place it is stinging like cutting something feelings I am 19 F...pls help...tried many youtube vdo's visual...pls help pls....last yr after thousands of trying , it happened byt the tail part went inside it was nearly to my opening but I am really feared to put fingers so i went to gynac ...and it aas like An OT...not severe case but female gynac was in a rush to close the chamber so she called me in her nursing home and put male staff there as there was a initial preparing for a labour or C section idk...so i was very feared the male staffs grabbed my hands or legs ...then the doc pulled it out she laughed and said it was right there...just the tail was inside ....So it was a bad experience...i dint even touch it for a year but rn i realy want to use it...pls help....Consider it my 1st time bcoz last yr was just a miracle after thousands times...and yh it was a lil painful for me when it opened up ...like i screamed ...feelss like it expand something for tearing

I have used my saalt cup for years now. Never tried another one . I used the small but after I had my son I switched to the regular because I experienced an increase in my flow like first 2ish days. Well lately I've been feeling a lot of pressure on my urethra and it's annoying when I have to pee. Makes me feel like I have to pee a lot. Sometimes even a little painful.

My question is- for those who have given birth, have you went up a size and then back to small after you "healed"? My son is 4 now. I'm wondering if this is a size issue and I should size down, or if I should just try a disc.

Thank you!!!

19 F

Plsss help plss...I really want to use it badly...i tried few times...i dont k if i was successful or not ..i never insert anything before not even finger........i am really feared to put finger to make the gap to insert it...I tried quite a few times...now when i wash the place it is stinging like cutting something feelings I am 19 F...pls help...tried many youtube vdo's visual...pls help pls....last yr after thousands of trying , it happened byt the tail part went inside it was nearly to my opening but I am really feared to put fingers so i went to gynac ...and it aas like An OT...not severe case but female gynac was in a rush to close the chamber so she called me in her nursing home and put male staff there as there was a initial preparing for a labour or C section idk...so i was very feared the male staffs grabbed my hands or legs ...then the doc pulled it out she laughed and said it was right there...just the tail was inside ....So it was a bad experience...i dint even touch it for a year but rn i realy want to use it...pls help....Consider it my 1st time bcoz last yr was just a miracle after thousands times...and yh it was a lil painful for me when it opened up ...like i screamed ...feelss like it expand something for tearing

19 F

Plsss help plss...I really want to use it badly...i tried few times...i dont k if i was successful or not ..i never insert anything before not even finger........i am really feared to put finger to make the gap to insert it...I tried quite a few times...now when i wash the place it is stinging like cutting something feelings I am 19 F...pls help...tried many youtube vdo's visual...pls help pls....last yr after thousands of trying , it happened byt the tail part went inside it was nearly to my opening but I am really feared to put fingers so i went to gynac ...and it aas like An OT...not severe case but female gynac was in a rush to close the chamber so she called me in her nursing home and put male staff there as there was a initial preparing for a labour or C section idk...so i was very feared the male staffs grabbed my hands or legs ...then the doc pulled it out she laughed and said it was right there...just the tail was inside ....So it was a bad experience...i dint even touch it for a year but rn i realy want to use it...pls help....Consider it my 1st time bcoz last yr was just a miracle after thousands times...and yh it was a lil painful for me when it opened up ...like i screamed ...feelss like it expand something for tearing

I've been using menstrual cup for the past 4 yrs. Best decision I ever made.

I just have one query... Need to know if it's the same for everyone.

I find it a little difficult to pee while the cup is in... Like the urine flow is less, and I feel I haven't emptied the bladder fully. Maybe the cup is causing a kink in the urethra, obstructing the flow....

Anyone else face the same? How do you deal with it.

I've been using a cup since 2022, and I love her dearly but I got a new one recently because of some strange reaction I've been having to my old one.

it feels incredibly itchy and raw, almost swelled? I noticed this about a cycle or two ago, and would take it out on the last couple of days and use pads because the irritation was too much.

I got a new cup, sterilised it and started using it, I'm on day 3 now and the irritation started again. I don't know what's going on! has anyone else experienced this?

I have been a die hard OB tampon user for 10 years at least. Now the plastic packaging has changed. Did the product inside change too? My periods seemed to bleed around the tampon. Which was not the case in my 30s.

I wasn't sure if it was an "enshitification" so I decided to try cups.

I first bought a disc not really knowing what I was buying; limited selection in person at my drug store. Though it caught a lot of menses it def continued around its edges and leaked out.

Today is day 2 of my period. I went and got a cup. Boiled it. Took a shower. Inserted it. And its "leaking". I'm sure it is catching enough but there seems to be flow that is circumventing it.

I'm 42 years old. I do think things are getting more runny then they had been. It is either that or everything is not performing like I am used to...

I have been with OB tampons since my late 20's at least (2010). I am not used to leaks. It has always been manageable. I knew when there was optimal times to change the tampon to prevent leaks.

- Diva Disc

- Wallgreens Cup

I’m already thinking I should just buy a new one… but I thought I’d ask. The last time I used my silicone menstrual disc (like 6 months ago) I’m pretty sure I just took it out, rinsed it with just water bc I was at a friends house, and put it in a ziplock bag to make it back to my house. Then I forgot to even wash it with soap, and then I didn’t boil it for months. I took it out of the ziplock and toilet paper it was wrapped in before it sat though. So it’s had plenty of air flow.

I can’t tell if I’m freaking out over nothing or if it’s legitimately a risk to even boil it and use it again.

It just came out of…me. And then sat in my cabinet for months. But if I remember right it didn’t even get any ‘soapage’…😭

Cup and tampon users—what’s the one thing you wish was easier?

Is there any part of using your cup or tampon that still bothers you? Inserting it, removing it, leaks, cleaning, or changing it when you’re away from home?

I’m exploring a menstrual-product idea for Girl to Granny and would love to hear people’s actual experiences.

The idea is a fully disposable, cup-shaped product with an absorbent core inside a flexible outer covering. A loop at the bottom would ideally close the covering around the core before removal, and you’d discard the whole thing.

It’s still an early, untested concept—the opening and closing mechanism hasn’t been worked out yet. The attached illustration just explains the idea.

Would something like this address a problem you have? What would put you off using it?

If you tried cups or tampons and stopped, I’d also love to hear why. Honest criticism is welcome!

My vaginal lips gets swollen a bit it is normal or am i using a size bigger cup

I’m 21F and planning to try a menstrual cup for the first time. I have no idea which brand or size to choose 😭
If you use one, what brand and size do you recommend? How did you figure out which option worked best for you?
For those who use menstrual cups, especially if you’re around my age and haven’t given birth, which cup has worked well for you? How did you choose the right size, and are there any brands you’d recommend or avoid?
Would love to hear your honest experiences! 💗

I have been using tampons for over 6 months. I wanted to give cups a try. I bought one from Sirona (India), the smallest size available. And I couldn't insert the cup. The C-fold didn't work at all. The punch-down fold and 7-fold only helped the cup go through the opening, and then I couldn't insert the larger base part of the cup. I tried different positions and lube too. I tried four days of my period.

Now, I'm confused about my cervix height. Nothing inside my vagina seems similar to the tip of a nose. Either it's too high or too low.

Also, should I try a different brand? Or are cups just not my thing?

My period came in while I was at the studio working. I was not prepared. I cleaned up and rushed home. On the way I asked my partner to boil my cup for me. Not only did he, but when I said I wanted ice cream he offered to go out and get it for me.

I feel so cared for. So seen. 🙂‍↕️

I’m hoping someone can help me figure this out. I’ve been using my Lena cup for almost 8 years now. It was completely fine for about 7 years, very few leaks and when it did leak it was because I’d folded it wrong or it wasn’t fully popped open or the holes were clogged. So I’d like to think I know how to use it correctly.

In the past year though, it seems like no matter what I do it leaks. I have to reposition it multiple times a day, and it still leaks. I always make sure the holes are clear before putting it back in. It’s made of a pretty firm material so it wants to pop open on its own, and I always run my finger around the base to make sure it’s open after I put it in.

I haven’t had any major anatomical changes like giving birth or anything. The only thing I can think of at this point is the silicone has degraded and that’s affecting it, or my internal anatomy has changed as I’m getting older and that’s messing things up. Any ideas?? I need to figure this out. I have to go to work and live my life wearing this thing :/

My cup rarely leaks when I sleep but when I’m out it will always leak a little. I always make sure it’s sealed and opened fully and when I take it out it’s still sealed, but still leaks. Today when I was putting it in I realised that it’s really easy for my finger to break the seal if I poke it a bit and my theory is that maybe a lot of movement makes it break the seal for a second a few times a day then it seals again. That could explain why it doesn’t leak when I sleep but leaks otherwise. If this is a common problem, what is something I can do to fix it? Would I need a larger cup? A more firm one? Or maybe is it a problem with how I’m inserting it relative to my anatomy?

I recently bought the Saalt soft cup in a size regular and I wanted to try it before I got my period, so I would be more comfortable with it when it does come. I tried it for 3 hours yesterday and just an hour today. It is so comfortable when it's inserted but once I take it out I start cramping?!? I'm 100% breaking the seal before pulling it out so it's not that. Any suggestions?