TIFU by trying a menstral cup

Submitted by Cherry___Popper t3_10p03w3 in tifu

The most traumatic and embarrassing thing just happened to me literally 15 minutes ago.

So I bought myself a menstral cup, if you don't know what that is just Google, coz constantly buying tampons is expensive and hey who doesn't like helping the environment. I put it in and I'm like cool and then... I can't get it out, at all. I pushed it too high and could barely even reach it and I was freaking out. I googled and it always said you can manage to get it out, well it took me 30 minutes and I still couldn't. So I ended up going to a doctor, luckily it was a lady so I felt less awkward, and she got it out for me, she even struggled. I'm surprised my mom didn't laugh at me about it, I told her that and she said "why would I laugh? I'd be shit scared if this happened to me" so that was cool I guess.But I feel bad for doing this to that poor lady but she said it was okay but I feel she'll be having nightmares tonight. Before her I went to another place and the guy said he'll only be able to take me in a few days time and I said I'll rather go somewhere else and he said "can't you just wait?" Man seriously asked if I can just deal with something being stuck in me for a few days. So yeah, I'm going to neatly stack away my R300 menstral cup and continue to stick to tampons with cardboard applicators :)

TL;DR. I tried a menstral cup for the first time, it got stuck and I had to go see a doctor to get it out

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steelerschica86 t1_j6hp2io wrote

The first few times I used one I had a lot of trouble getting it out too-it’s part of the learning process, unfortunately. I wouldn’t let this discourage you. Also, it may be worth checking out different sized cups because some of them have a longer stem and are easier to grab if you have a higher cervix.

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Cherry___Popper OP t1_j6hpmsj wrote

Unfortunately it has discouraged me greatly haha. I have severe anxiety disorder so this whole experience really brought it all out. Maybe in the far future, that's why I'm not throwing it away, but thanks for the encouragement!

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PickPeckSnide t1_j6is4jt wrote

Look up the flex cup. It has a loop to pull that breaks the suction so you pull it out like a tampon.

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Cherry___Popper OP t1_j6isk1a wrote

Oh really??? I thought pulling it doesn't break the suction and that you're not supposed to do that

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PickPeckSnide t1_j6isp44 wrote

It’s a special design where pulling the loop collapses the side so it breaks the suction.

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Cherry___Popper OP t1_j6issl1 wrote

I'll definitely try it out in the future- I'm just scared it goes too far in again

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PickPeckSnide t1_j6itcbc wrote

Understandable. It is scary the first time. Mine got stuck too, I used a spoon handle to break the suction.

If you can get past the fear, it is great!! It’s like not being on your period, and you only empty it 2x a day. That’s a whole day at work or school not worrying about it!

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Cherry___Popper OP t1_j6iuwv4 wrote

You're tempting me >:(. I wanted to use something but I was scared I would just push it up further, which I already did when I was trying to get it out.

Tampons really aren't bad, I'm fine with them- only if they have applicators with string though. I use tampons with cardboard applicators coz I noticed it's easier to push it in all the way as well as it is a little more environmentally friendly. The only downside would be the leaking and constant spending of money.

I already blew quite a bit of money on this product so I can't go ahead and buy another one. I don't know what to do with this one now since I won't use it again, I don't think I'd be able to return a sanitary product. I also only have 2 female friends and I know the one would definitely not use it and the other is my boyfriends sister and I don't think my bf would be keen knowing I'm going to give his sister something that sent me to the doctors office haha

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PickPeckSnide t1_j6j7m6i wrote

Some cups allow a refund if it doesn’t work for you. For example, saalt has a 2 cycle guarantee.

Another thing that might help is looking up the anatomy down there. Even if you push it in, there’s really no where for it to go. The “furthest” it can go is to suction directly to a wall, which doesn’t make it harder to remove.

My advice is to put it in, and wait for 12 hours to remove it. You probably tried to remove it right away the first time, right? After 12 hours, it will have filled and be a little lower. Put on your favorite mindless tv show, and sit on a towel on a couch or bed propped up with pillows. Lean back with your knees up like you are squatting, but relax your legs. Just focus on the show while you try to get it out. If you start getting frustrated watch tv for 5 mins until you relax again. Your mantra is “there is nowhere for the cup to go. I will get it out”

Feel free to DM me for advice or support before trying the doctor again.

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dragon34 t1_j6jfnqi wrote

I would also say it's way easier to get them out if you can sit on the toilet and prop your legs up on a stool with your knees apart, and then you can squeeze your kegels and it drops down a bit. You can then get enough of a grip to break the suction and pull it out and dump it right in the toilet.

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GothicGingerbread t1_j6ldiql wrote

I've tried several different styles. One wiry a straight stem, one with a sort of flat ball, and one with a loop. The loop one was easy as hell to remove; the other two were awful. The straight stem was, by far, the worst – hardest to grasp, kept slipping from between my fingers... The loop is SO EASY.

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Cyborg_Ninja_Cat t1_j6o92vp wrote

Hey, they're not for everyone and they have cons as well as pros. I love mine but if they're not for you that's fine. But if you do decide to try one again, I hope you find one that works well for you - the first brand I tried also wasn't good for me.

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Capybara_Capoeira t1_j6hr0ua wrote

I guarantee that your doctor has seen so much worse than a menstrual cup. I'm sorry you had this experience, but you don't need to worry about your doctor's mental health.

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mfiirk t1_j6hrton wrote

There’s a learning curve with some of the designs.

My wife tried one and had this issue. Had to have me get it out for her. Tried to convince her to let me use chopsticks but she adamantly refused lol.

She got a different one that has a finger loop to grab onto as opposed to the “finger dimples” for lack of a better term. And she loves it.

Would suggest this if you’re still wanting a different option.

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Allie614032 t1_j6kzqwm wrote

Ooh a finger loop is a great idea!

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mfiirk t1_j6mklfn wrote

It’s called Hello Disc if you’re looking for one.

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-holdmyhand t1_j6ht4j1 wrote

>But I feel bad for doing this to that poor lady but she said it was okay but I feel she'll be having nightmares tonight.

She'll be fine, medical personnel oftentimes deals with much worse cases.

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Kcnflman t1_j6hqu7v wrote

What a bloody mess and I’m not even British.

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[deleted] t1_j6j8zke wrote

It takes some time but when you got it it's the best !! Make sure the size is good and you get a good feeling.

I fold it, put in in, pull it back a little bit and then insert. When removing squeeze it a bit so it isn't stuck and clean.

Edit i read here one girl squads but if i do this i can't get it in so it works different for everyone. Important is that you break the vacuum if you want to get it out and indeed you have different kinds. You have with different kinds of ends but also material

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anarae t1_j6hv8sg wrote

I've been wanting to try a cup, and now I probably won't.

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[deleted] t1_j6j99aq wrote

You should try it. After practice it's the best really !

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dragonfeet1 t1_j6lpd45 wrote

Seriously, try a cup. I recc'ed the Flex cup above because it is specifically designed to be easy to remove. They are MUCH more comfortable than anything else.

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atomicrutabaga t1_j6ibrah wrote

I lost my menstrual cup after I moved, but I had this issue where I would try to get it out but it pretty much created a vacuum seal inside of me. It’s great because it works, but then when you try to get it out, it was awful.

I would have to kind of pinch it inside of me to release the vacuum around the lip of it and then it would come out fine, but there is definitely a learning curve.

I think if I get one again I will opt for one with a loop at the bottom since I think the little grooves on the stem weren’t great for my needs and probably contributed to my issue.

For me, pads and tampons are easier, but I just wanted to be more environmentally conscious.

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OkVolume1 t1_j6ifn8x wrote

One girl, one doctor, one cup.

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sybann t1_j6j0apb wrote

I have a tipped uterus (back, not forward - explains cramps feeling like a backache I guess) so these and the sponge (remember the sponge?) and diaphragms are right out. You simply cannot reach stuff unless squatting and really long fingers and a string you can find.

How did I find this out? OBGYN didn't tell me (might have been NICE) found out trying to find a SPONGE. Complained at next appointment and was told then.

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pizza_gremlin t1_j6j786p wrote

So cups do have a learning curve, but if even the doctor was struggling, you might want to try a bigger cup size. Not all vagina sizes and depths are the same, so this could be one of the problems it's so hard to get out.

When you do take it out though,don't pull it!! Just pinch it a bit to make a U shape with it (so it stops the suction to the cervix) and then pull it out.

Good luck girlie c:

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Not_A_Real_Bird t1_j6hr2np wrote

I'm so sorry you went through that. I'm happy the lady doc was able to help! I never had an issue with mine getting stuck but man did it give me hella cramps! I switched to the disc and it's so much easier to get out and doesn't cause cramping. If/when you want to try another menstrual product I recommend checking out the silicone disc.

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HighwayApothecary t1_j6ibv3q wrote

One time, near the end of my period, I forgot I had one in me and I masturbated with an internal vibrator. I only realized when I went to use the toilet afterwards. It was shoved up further than I normally have it, but thankfully I was able to get it out without issue. I'm just surprised blood didn't get on the vibe

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Cherry___Popper OP t1_j6ibzv5 wrote

Oh the hell did you manage to get it out?!?!?!

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HighwayApothecary t1_j6idth4 wrote

Uh, one hand to spread and the other to reach up in there.

Tbh I think I may have been a little bit tipsy when it happened and not being as anxious as I would have been sober (beyond the initial 'oh shit' realization) helped.

I was definitely waaay more anxious the first (and only) time I used a tampon as a teenager. I didn't have to go to the hospital then, but I did almost pass out next to the toilet when I tried to take the tampon out.

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Cherry___Popper OP t1_j6ie9jv wrote

I once didn't notice that the tampon string was in the applicator and not hanging out so it went with the tampon inside me and I had to fish it out and I was freaking out and almost passed out from that, so you can imagine what I went through when an entire device was stuck inside me.

I genuinely tried everything but it was way too far up there, it took the doctor quite a while to get it out, she looked more scared than I was!

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RanCestor t1_j6j87qd wrote

Menstral Cup sounds like something that is in between the Major and Minor arcana in Tarot.

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makzee t1_j6je3c9 wrote

Try the quiz at putacupinit.com, it was really useful to pinpoint the type of cup that fits me correctly. I also recommend practicing putting it in and taking it when you are not on your period, to lessen the panic and bloodbath that may ensue.

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Cherry___Popper OP t1_j6jed9c wrote

I was doing it all while not on my period because it's only starting in a few days so I wanted to test it out and yeah, this all happened.

Ah thank you, I'll check it out!

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smelliepoo t1_j6ko0to wrote

Try a menstrual disc instead. No suction, just props itself behind the public bone and no chance of getting lost (although slightly more tricky to get the hang of than cups, a lot better afterwards - you have to relax on insertion though or it won't go in! Flex do a daiposable and a reusable one, so you can almost try before we you buy)

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Fine_wonderland t1_j6l5d89 wrote

Uhhhh…can you leave a scathing review for that doctor on Yelp or something please?

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dragonfeet1 t1_j6lp82q wrote

If you ever want to try a menstrual cup again, try the Flex cup. I think you can get it at Target. It has a ring pull at the bottom that basically pulls away the 'seal' at the top.

I used a Diva cup for years so I'm a huge fan of the concept, but the Flex is softer, more comfortable, and, like I said, that ring pull thing is sooooo much less stressful to remove and your fingers aren't ALL up in your business to do it.

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MrsUnitsLostTab t1_j6o2j51 wrote

You are probably like me and just have a higher cervix than most people. I had to get the (standard, not collapsible) Lily cup as it is the longest one on the market. Every other cup I've tried I can barely reach when it's time to empty it. Once I found the right cup for me, though, I can honestly say I do not miss tampons in the slightest.

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