leakage during urination
Hi, I am using a menstrual cup for the first time and have started with an Mcup - it is a fairly low-budget cup from Mexico (as that´s where I am right now). I chose the small size, which still has a diameter of 4.5 cm as I have a fairly light flow, although I am 47 years old and have used (small-size) tampons all my menstruating life (but have never had children). It seems to fit in the sense that it doesn´t get lost at all inside me - there doesn´t seem much space for a larger one! I am finding I am getting quite a bit of leakage. The cup is fully open and I am still exploring the whole trying to check if it is sealed properly against the cervix, but really the problem seems to happen particularly when I urinate. A whole load of blood exits into the toilet and I can´t understand why it happens then, so that after that I worry about leakage - which after some insertions happens and then in others not. There has been just one time so far after one of the insertions that I didn´t have blood urinating, all other times so far I have. I am learning to give a little push with my muscles after inserting which makes a little whoosh sound that seems to indicate the cup is sealing, but it still seems hard to get a consistent seal.
The cup also hurts. It seems almost to be digging into one side of my vagina so that there is a constant pain. It seems to be a fairly rigid cup, although it is my first one so I don´t have others to compare it to.
I am about to buy a second cup. This will be a Chinese Aneer "Femmecup" as I am on a low budget right now, and need to buy two as I am normally based in Cuba where I have no access to buying any more for the next 6 months and am heading back there in a few days. (Also, I have just spent the money on 2 Mcups, which look as if I will end up discarding). I am wondering whether to look for a softer cup (the Aneer cup is supposed to be very soft, but this can also mean that it is hard to get it to open, apparently) and perhaps a larger one (although 4.5 cm seems generally the largest standard diameter, with only 4.6 seeming a larger option - UPDATE: I went and measured my Mcup as the box said 4.0 cm and the website 4.5 cm and when I complained they told me that the label on the box was incorrect, but...it is only 4.0 cm - no wonder!!!) or perhaps a smaller diameter one so that it doesn´t hurt (OK; so now I know it´s not because of the diameter that it hurts!). Right now, I am just concerned that it could be a long search to find a suitable cup, with the discomfort, and the leakage and not knowing if I should have a bigger or smaller one. I feel quite despondant about menstrual cups. I thought it would be such a good solution for all the travelling I do and teh difficulties of Cuba, but I find myself longing to just use my tampons, even if I get organic ones shipped around the world!
Any input greatly appreciated.
The cup also hurts. It seems almost to be digging into one side of my vagina so that there is a constant pain. It seems to be a fairly rigid cup, although it is my first one so I don´t have others to compare it to.
I am about to buy a second cup. This will be a Chinese Aneer "Femmecup" as I am on a low budget right now, and need to buy two as I am normally based in Cuba where I have no access to buying any more for the next 6 months and am heading back there in a few days. (Also, I have just spent the money on 2 Mcups, which look as if I will end up discarding). I am wondering whether to look for a softer cup (the Aneer cup is supposed to be very soft, but this can also mean that it is hard to get it to open, apparently) and perhaps a larger one (although 4.5 cm seems generally the largest standard diameter, with only 4.6 seeming a larger option - UPDATE: I went and measured my Mcup as the box said 4.0 cm and the website 4.5 cm and when I complained they told me that the label on the box was incorrect, but...it is only 4.0 cm - no wonder!!!) or perhaps a smaller diameter one so that it doesn´t hurt (OK; so now I know it´s not because of the diameter that it hurts!). Right now, I am just concerned that it could be a long search to find a suitable cup, with the discomfort, and the leakage and not knowing if I should have a bigger or smaller one. I feel quite despondant about menstrual cups. I thought it would be such a good solution for all the travelling I do and teh difficulties of Cuba, but I find myself longing to just use my tampons, even if I get organic ones shipped around the world!
Any input greatly appreciated.