To cup, or not to cup?

Question

Hi 👋🏼 I just wanted some
Advice and feedback from anyone who uses menstrual cups. I’ve read up on them and the benefits and it honestly looks like it would be something I’d want to try. However, I have endometriosis and my periods are some what awful. I go through a pack of pads quickly, need to wear two when out and asleep etc etc. I shed a lot of clots too. I’m just worried that a cup wouldn’t be enough and I’d leak everywhere. 
If you have any advice to put my mind at ease it would be greatly appreciated.

Answer

I used to do that, change a pad every hour. Wear overnight pads during the day just to have more coverage, have to wake up 2-3 times a night just to change a pad. Tampons would last 2 hours before leaking. Switched to menstrual cups and I would never go back to without them.
Once you find your cup, you can feel safe with just a thin panty liner.

Answer

So, I'm a heavy bleeder with lots of large clots myself. I've not been diagnosed with endometriosis tho. I started using the diva cup in May. The first cycle was rough, trying to get the hang of it. But my second cycle in June, I had a noticeable drop in cramps and pain. Also boating and fatigue. So I tried the next cycle with pads again, as tampons just irritate me, and all symptoms came back. So since July, I've used my cup with a panty liner. I empty it probable every 4 hours and I NEVER EVER leak. Even overnight. Though it gets full overnight. So I think I'm going to try buying the Think panties to try for overnights. But I love not having the bad cramps anymore. Love that I'm not fully exhausted, or terrified I'm going to leak. It's so worth trying it and you'll have so much money.

Answer

Best websites for beginner's info:
putacupinit.com
Thegreenvagina.com
But, don't use an online quiz to measure yourself. They just have you check how many knuckles deep your cervix is. One knuckle=small, 2=medium, 3=large. It won't work because everyone's fingers are different length. 
The best way to pick a cup the first time is to measure yourself using your finger AND a ruler. During the start and middle of your period, insert your finger until you can touch the tip of your cervix. It feels like the tip of your nose and will have a dimple in the middle. While touching the tip of your cervix, note how far up your finger your vagina ends. Remove your finger then, measure from finger tip to that spot. That way you can compare it to the menstrual cup measurements. 
All of the quizzes to help you find your size suck. They tell you to measure yourself based on how many knuckles deep your cervix is. If you can touch your cervix one knuckle deep then get small sized cups. If 3 knuckles deep get a large cup. But, this didn't work for me because I am extremely short so the length of 3 of my knuckles is maybe the length of an average person's 2 knuckles. So compare with real measurements on a ruler, not a variable knuckle measurement.
Another thing to consider is that the cup should not be so long that it is against your cervix. There should be a small gap. It should also not come out past your pubic bone near the entrance of your vagina. My diva cup small was way too long and it rubbed my labia and felt a bit irritating. I would suggest taking your measurement from the tip of your cervix to the entrance of your vagina, then subtracting 1/4" (or cm) from top to make sure there is a gap for your cervix. Then, subtract 1/4" or 1/3" from the bottom to make sure it sits above your pelvic bone. This will make your cup more comfortable and then you won't accidentally push the end out if you sneeze or poop. If it's too long it's not like it will fall out. It will just rub the entrance of your vagina and be uncomfortable. If the cup is the right length you will literally not feel it and forget it's there.
I have never had a problem pulling out my cup once I figured out how. But, now I have an IUD (Paragard). I was told I can use my cup as long as I break the suction/seal before pulling it out. I used to just yank it out because I never had to worry about suction. Well, I didn't realize that my cervix fits perfectly suctioned inside my cup! So when I tried to squeeze the top rim of my cup I realized it was all the way to the base around it! 
I went to the clinic to have them check if I moved my IUD because I couldn't break the suction when I pulled it out. It was fine. But I had them trim the strings so they won't get pinched inside the cup when I squeeze it to pull it out. I asked the nurse to measure me so I can choose a better fitting cup. She said that she doesn't do that but since my cervix sits EXTREMELY low during my period I should get the the shortest cup I can find. She also suggested I get one slightly wider than my Funcup (size A). 
So, I went home and figured out how to measure myself. I am 5.5 cm from entrance of my vagina to tip of cervix. All of the online quizzes recommend a medium or long cup because my cervix is 2.5 knuckles deep. So, I figured with the gap for my cervix and for the pelvic bone at the entrance I should get a cup 4.5cm or shorter. All the cups that size are small or special "low cervix" cups.
So, I will be ordering a Merula cup because it is the shortest cup yet still has a higher capacity than most average sized cups. This will be my first round shaped cup. 
The cups I have used are V shaped. I used the DivaCup size 1 for 3+years (5.7cm × 4.4cm diameter). Even after trimming the stem it rubbed me uncomfortably. Then the Funcup A for over 1 year (5.3cm long×4cm diameter). Now that I know my cervix depth I see that these cups were too long to fit inside the pelvic bone and leave a gap under my cervix. The Merula cup is only like 3.9cm and double the blood capacity of most cups. I'll update to see how that goes once I order it. For now, I have to flip my Funcup inside out to make it short enough to not rub my pelvic bone, and not suction quite as tight to my cervix.

Answer

This is my second month use a cup. I did buy my off wish no lie paid a 1.79 for it. That was shipping. Lol. Any ways. I already loved it after the first night last month.
I did find at cvs a disposable cup called soft disks. The box seems to say you can have sex with them. Has anyone tried this brand and if so can you have sex with it and n. I know you can’t with most other cups?

Answer

Try the cup (like REALLY try, i would maybe try a few months)
For me personally it has made getting my period soooo much easier. I barely notice i have it. 
I cannot stand pads because i feel like im wearing a diaper. And tampons always feel dry and are usually not good for your body. 
I will say that i do use a pad for the first heavy day and night and then i use pads (thin ones) during the nights. 
It takes some getting use to putting it in and taking it out, but the more you do it the easier it is. 
I personally use the diva cup. It was the first cup i bought and probably the last because i love it ❤️
The diva cup does have a little silicone tail on it that i did cut because it always kinda poked at me. But i would recommend trying it with the tail first for a month before cutting it just to get use to removing it. Removing it without the stick may be harder at first because you have to reach in there more.
Important things to take into consideration is.
Size 
-given birth or not
-different brands have different sizings
Insertion
-when putting it in you HAVE to make sure it has opened back up so that its sealed. TMI but you gotta really put your fingers up there and spin it around to make sure theres no kinks
Removal
-i push like im trying to pee and it will help bring the cup down to where you can reach it, then you wana get a good hold on the cup and try and fold it before removing it to make it more comfortable.
Brands
-there as many different brands that have different designs and shapes etc.
-if one doesnt work give it a few months and then try another brand
DO EVERYTHING IN THE SHOWER AS MUCH AS YOU CAN (so much easier)

Answer

You can use the cup and put a pad on to soak up anything if your quite heavy you may just need to empty your cup every few hours instead of 2/3 times a day.

Answer

I know this is old however I love my cup ZERO cramps! I don’t bleed overnight I change it about 4x a day (emptying etc) it’s wonderful and to me seems my period is shorter

To cup, or not to cup?

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