Need Advice!

[amalicious4]

I am 13, and I got my first period 4 days ago. I learned about menstrual cups in school about a month ago, and I was very interested, as all of my friends said periods were horrible. As I did more research, I was hooked onto it! Everyone said it was comfy and did the job better than anything else, as long as you got the right brand

Comments

[por_que_no]

Welcome! Like everyone said above, your cycle may change a lot in the first few months while your body finishes going through puberty. I was 12 1/2 at my first cycle and the first one was very light, then they became more moderate. I didn't try cups until last summer though (27!)--all those Hawaiian vacations would've been a lot more fun if I'd had a cup for the beach! So it's awesome that you've discovered cups now

[mallt]

Hi!
I'm one of those who has to cut the whole stem off... I use a small Lunette as it was about the only small cup you could buy at the time :)
I think you'll find it easier to insert the cup vs a tampon once you get the knack of keeping it folded... it's smooth side glide in more easily... but I am comparing it to a non-applicator style tampon.
My insertion method is using the origami fold (I found it the smallest & easiest to keep folded). I hold it folded with my middle finger (over the fold) & my thumb. I part my labia with one hand & insert with the fold facing down. I slide my finger in along side the cup to keep it closed. Once inserted I push my vagina wall away from the cup to give it room to open & provide an air channel so the cup can "inflate". A little pushing & wiggling of the cup gets it settled in place.
Hope that helps, good luck finding a cup that works for you.

[amalicious4]

Thanks for the folding tips!

[amalicious4]

Will use coconut oil (have some at home anyway). And also I will look into Si-Bell. Is it too soft though?

[por_que_no]

For me there's no such thing as too soft! I first tried the Meluna Classic, which is medium stiffness, and it pressed on my bladder so much that peeing was suddenly an ordeal (bad because I had a dr's appointment that day and had to give a urine sample). I think the Meluna Classic and Divacup are of similar stiffness. Some very soft cups can be hard to get "popped open" but the Si-Bell has a different design with some vertical ridges in it that help it open up, so between that and using a more elaborate fold, I've never had an issue with it popping open. Here's a great photo guide with different fold suggestions (including my favorite, the labia fold), written by a 14-year-old: http://menstrualcupforteens.wordpress.com/folds-and-insertion/