Burps and Holes

[sulinda]

I'm on my first cycle with a cup - using a Meluna classic L.  It filled up too quickly (2 - 3 hrs) and leaked the first two days which might be solved with a Meluna XL.  I really must be able to make it through a 3-hour class without making a bathroom stop - which is why I looked into cups in the first place

Comments

[foggyimage]

I get these "burps" as well. Usually I get them with my Diva (which has small holes as you pointed out) and not with my ladycup which has giant slanted holes. The burps (which I call air bubbles) always make me worry that I'm leaking but it never actually leaks lol. I am not sure about the "cup being full" part because I have a pretty light flow most days so this doesn't really affect me.

[juliiie87]

The "burps" or air bubbles happen because, as the cup fills up with blood, air is displaced from it and out your vag. Now, if the spotting only happens in the first hour or so, it could be just old blood already sitting below the rim making its way out with every burp. This is normal, and should be taken care off by wearing dark underwear or a thin pantyliner. You could be loosing your seal, but that's unlikely if you aren't getting much leakage. Just make sure you unclog the holes whenever you empty. The large Yuuki is a very firm cup, another favorite choice for a heavy flow is the large Fleurcup (and XL Meluna).

[sulinda]

I'm pretty certain it's not old blood because it doesn't happen right away - it's off and on over the course of several hours. Wouldn't more holes give more room for the air to get out? Do Yuuki and Fleurcup have more/bigger holes?

[juliiie87]

Most other brands typically have 4 holes, yes, although I'm not entirely sure that's the issue. And I can't tell for sure if they are bigger, have a look here : http://menstrualcups.friendhood.net/t224-meluna-comparison-photos

[kuradi8]

If it's full, it's full! There are many capacity charts at the Community FAQ and another at http://sizecharts.livejournal.com/

If you want to try enlarging or adding holes, the holes in my large Lunette are about 1.5mm or 1/16" or appx a 13g piercing tool.

[wiesoauchimmer]

i know you said you don't want to rely on pads for backup, but have you considered using cloth liners for any light spotting that might occur?

for the burping: i get that too, and i've used various cups in the last years, including cups with many large holes (lady cup) and few small holes (meluna). although the burping feels a lot like leakage (because the air going down feels similar to the tickling of blood running out, but with time you'll learn to distinguish the feeling of the two), it doesn't leak for me.

i always get a little spotting on my heavier days, mostly because i have to empty the cup every few hours and can't get rid of *all* the residual slobber that builds up while the cup is out, but it's nothing that either a cloth liner or dark underwear couldn't handle.

[juliiie87]

This, and also don't forget, OP, that cups don't absorb and don't prevent the body from cleaning itself with natural fluids, hence why you may find *something* at the bottom of your underwear still. Cloth pantyliners rock, but boy are they addictive ! ;)

[sulinda]

Thanks, everyone, for the advice. I'll look into the cloth pads, although I dream of not having to use anything :). I've ordered a Fleurcup to hopefully address the capacity issues and will see if it larger number of holes changes the amount of burping/spotting. Maybe, too, I'll find that it's more a matter of getting used to the bubbling feeling and feeling confident that if there is any spotting it's not enough to have to stop at the restroom.

I appreciate the comment about other discharge and agree that this may be part of what I'm noticing.

I am really grateful for everyone's comments and for the forum in general! I only wish I'd found it years ago. Maybe I'll be able to convince my teenager to give cups and try and save her the years of mess and waste that I had!