Menstrual Cups - Anyone Else Using Them?

bumpybump

I've been using a menstrual cup for 8 cycles now and after some learning curves, I'm loving it!  I'm hoping it will help with getting KU'd!  My only issue is with charting, because it can be hard for me to decipher between light and medium days since I only empty it a couple/few times a day.  With tampons, I felt like it was easier to tell.

Does anyone else here use them?  Any opinions on charting?

Zoey1019

why would it help with getting KU'd? Just wondering...

[Deleted User]

I don't believe there is any evidence that this helps you get pregnant.

furbabymom2007

I don't understand how menstrual cups could help you get pregnant  pregnant 

also, distinguishing between Light, medium and heavy flow is not important in FFs ovulation calculation algorithms.  All that matters is that you mark cycle day one with anything other than spotting.  Beyond that, the only reason to mark any other day of AF is for your own tracking. 

also... Consider putting this in a WTO or TWW thread next time? 

LadyMillil

bumpybump said:

I've been using a menstrual cup for 8 cycles now and after some learning curves, I'm loving it!  I'm hoping it will help with getting KU'd!  My only issue is with charting, because it can be hard for me to decipher between light and medium days since I only empty it a couple/few times a day.  With tampons, I felt like it was easier to tell.

Does anyone else here use them?  Any opinions on charting?

If menstrual cups helped you get pregnant most of us would be using them. The "good" sperm are already in their way to where they need to be pretty quickly after ejaculation. Menstrual cups don't help them.

Menstrual cups during AF are not my thing. Heaviness of flow is really for your info only, FF just needs to know the first day you have flow for accurate charting 

PepperAT

Edit to add: How can they help you get KU? And what do they have to do with charting?
I have heard of ladies using them for their intended purposes with good results, but nothing to with getting pregnant...

swanbrooner

I've heard of using them to help conceive, but not on the period end of things. I tried to use them once in college. Due to user error I assume, it sort of tipped over (???) after my commute to campus resulting in a rather Carrie like situation in my jeans. 

TTGP-wise...I know some ladies who got pregnant this way. They had their donor, um, fill the the cup, and she inserted it during her most fertile days.

KristoKekerooni

You know, I saw this and thought you meant you were using a menstrual cup as... well, as a plug. I've hear of doing that many times. The idea is to put it in after intercourse to keep sperm inside and up near the cervix. 

But then I finished reading your post.

Uhm. 

You do realize your period has pretty much nothing to do with getting pregnant, right? As long as you are having a period in fairly consistent cycles, that's all that matters.

Not how many days they last. 
Not how heavy the flow is.
Not how you keep hygienic. 
Nope. 

Also, FWIW, I too use Menstrual cups. I don't chart the flow, just that I'm on it because it is difficult to tell unless you empty it at the same time everyday. 
Yes, they are amazing-much better than the alternatives IMO. 
But they won't help you get KU. 
According to your signature, it's your first month trying. Just keep trying. 
I'm sure it'll happen soon. 

Edit because words are hard.

Megzb510

Instead cups work decently as a menstrual cups. I personally have to wear a pantyliner cuz they can leak. Like previous posters said, FF doesn't need any other info except that you have a flow heavier than spotting. 

As for using them as TTC aid, I would have to agree with @LadyMillil. There is no need to keep slow sperm near your cervix. They are kind of pricey so I don't think it's worth the investment as TTC aid. 

rainbowturtles

I'm so confused right now. I use a menstrual cup as a menstrual cup. During my period. When I'm not KU. Or have any chance of getting KU....

Also, as PP said marking menstrual flow days is pretty irrelevant aside from cd1 (unless a doctor is asking how many days and how heavy/light your flow is, but as far as FF is concerned, not so much). That said, even with using the menstrual cup I can still tell which days I have a heavier flow than others.

Definitely curious what you actually mean, though?

bumpybump

Potential TW

I probably wasn't as clear as I should have been in my original post. I use a menstrual cup during AF.

Yes, I realize AF is not how you get pregnant (I do have a DD). I'm new to charting and didn't know if flow was necessary for charting since it was an input on FF. Thanks for clarifying, @furbabymom2007@KristoB

@Zoey1019 I've read that Softcups can potentially help when inserted after intercourse to keep the sperm close to the cervix @KristoB stated and also the method @swanbooner mentioned

[Deleted User]

bumpybump said:

Potential TW

I probably wasn't as clear as I should have been in my original post. I use a menstrual cup during AF.

Yes, I realize AF is not how you get pregnant (I do have a DD). I'm new to charting and didn't know if flow was necessary for charting since it was an input on FF. Thanks for clarifying, @furbabymom2007@KristoB

@Zoey1019 I've read that Softcups can potentially help when inserted after intercourse to keep the sperm close to the cervix @KristoB stated and also the method @swanbooner mentioned

As to this last part - As others mentioned wearing a softcup does not actually help sperm reach the egg.  Sperm that are healthy and strong enough to make it through the cervix on their very own (very quickly after ejaculation) will be able to get to the egg.  If sperm can't even make it through the cervix on their own then they probably wouldn't be able to make it through the uterus and up through the fallopian tubes either.  There's probably no harm in laying for a minute or two on your back, but past that minute or two any sperm that have a shot at actually reaching the egg are already up and through the cervix.

This is a GREAT topic for the WTO (waiting to ovulate) thread.  

[Deleted User]

For anyone wanting to learn more about sperm and how they reach the egg I REALLY encourage you to watch this documentary which is both hilariously acted as well as wonderfully educational.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAnMymnJiLM

ETA:  This is just the first section.  To watch the rest just go on youtube and search "The Great Sperm Race"

bumpybump

My apologies, @furbabymom2007 & @antoto I'll put similar topics in WTO next time. 

[Deleted User]

bumpybump said:

My apologies, @furbabymom2007 & @antoto I'll put similar topics in WTO next time. 

No harm, no foul.  I actually noticed a few people on here using softcups for TTC so it gave me the excuse to climb up on my soapbox about why it's not necessary

tripledaggerWed95976

Since the topic came up, I figured I would give my two cents on softcups ((for any new TTGP ladies or members who don't know about it who happen to come upon this thread)).
 After a lot of my own research on softcups, Like @antoto said, they really aren't necessary because the most viable sperm will swim up and/or get caught in fertile CM at the cervix within less than ten minutes after intercourse.   Anything that does leak out of your vagina after sex is mostly a combo of semen ((not to be confused with sperm)) and your own vaginal mucus.   

KhRun17

One thing that does make sense as far as @bumpybump was mentioning using it while ttc is that using a cup during your cycle helps your body stay more lubricated and doesn't off set the pH balance of your lady parts. I personally don't have much CM, but since switching to the cup notice it's a little better.

Think of when you set a paper towel corner in water, the paper towel will soak up more than just what it's touching, tampons do the same. They soak up CM and the blood, then it takes your body time to naturally re-lubricate. This could be one way it's helping.

As for pH balance, the chemicals on tampons (and pads) can throw this off. Sperm need a certain balance to survive. Again, your body obviously naturally corrects this every month, but it's just a few benefits of a cup. 

I'm not trying to say everyone should/needs to use them (although my wallet and I are fans). Just saying I understand why Bumpybump brought it up. Soap box over.

bumpybump

Yes! @KhRun17

[Deleted User]

Ehhhhhhhhhhh I don't think I buy the "soaking up the cm" part of that argument.  Your period should be long gone before EWCM shows up - it certainly doesn't take your body over a week to relubricate itself.  Perhaps you need to hydrate more?  

I'm not educated on the PH thing.  I'm not saying it's necessarily not a thing... but I have done an awful lot of obsessive research about TTC and I have never seen a study or an article from a reliable source saying anything about tampons impacting fertility whatsoever.  

I mean you do you.  I think the diva cup (or I think Thinx looks badass) is great for the environment and it's cheaper in the long run.  But I would refrain from making claims unless you have a valid source to back it up.

[Deleted User]

@antoto  I think @KhRun17  has a valid point there.  For someone with longer cycles, maybe, CM is not around yet.  But it is possible to get fertile/peak-type mucus on your light or very light days (that is why with Creighton we are instructed not to wear a tampon on those days, pad/liner is fine) so you can still make these observations, and then ovulate on the earlier side.

Two out of my last 3 cycles I had CM at the tail end of AF and ovulated on CD11 and CD12.  I'm on CD10 today and my third day of flashing-smiley, with stretchy CM on CD4.  So that's a real thing for some women, or any woman having a random early O cycle. ;)

Edited typo

LadyMillil

KhRun17 said:

As for pH balance, the chemicals on tampons (and pads) can throw this off. Sperm need a certain balance to survive. Again, your body obviously naturally corrects this every month, but it's just a few benefits of a cup. 

This is not true. The vagina is naturally an acidic environment. The vaginal microbiome (the bacteria that naturally live in the vagina) produce things like lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide to keep the vagina healthy and help protect against STI's and yeast infections. The vaginal microbiome can shift to an "unhealthy" microbiome which means the pH increases and makes you more susceptible to infections. Although menses has been associated with a rapid shift (like a change in a day or so) in the microbiome, and accompanied by a rapid shift (again, about a day or so) back after, various menstrual products have not been associated with impacting the microbiome, which means that they do no impact the pH of the vagina. Sperm can not survive in the acidic environment of the vagina, which is why semen is a neutral pH. Semen neutralizes the acidic environment naturally present in the vaginal tract to allow the sperm to survive.

Megzb510

@LadyMillil - I was hoping to get some science from you. 

KristoKekerooni

antoto said:

bumpybump said:

Potential TW

I probably wasn't as clear as I should have been in my original post. I use a menstrual cup during AF.

Yes, I realize AF is not how you get pregnant (I do have a DD). I'm new to charting and didn't know if flow was necessary for charting since it was an input on FF. Thanks for clarifying, @furbabymom2007@KristoB

@Zoey1019 I've read that Softcups can potentially help when inserted after intercourse to keep the sperm close to the cervix @KristoB stated and also the method @swanbooner mentioned

As to this last part - As others mentioned wearing a softcup does not actually help sperm reach the egg.  Sperm that are healthy and strong enough to make it through the cervix on their very own (very quickly after ejaculation) will be able to get to the egg.  If sperm can't even make it through the cervix on their own then they probably wouldn't be able to make it through the uterus and up through the fallopian tubes either.  There's probably no harm in laying for a minute or two on your back, but past that minute or two any sperm that have a shot at actually reaching the egg are already up and through the cervix.

This is a GREAT topic for the WTO (waiting to ovulate) thread.  


**SIAB***
 
I feel like I should clarify and say that while I mentioned the method, I don't buy into it. I understand the "logic" behind it, but it's just like putting a pillow under your butt. Not really beneficial. There have been numerous studies that show it doesn't help. But do we all try it anyway? Pretty much. I tried the cup method, realized I was being silly, and don't anymore. 

@antoto

FinePlacentaPie

LadyMillil said:

KhRun17 said:

As for pH balance, the chemicals on tampons (and pads) can throw this off. Sperm need a certain balance to survive. Again, your body obviously naturally corrects this every month, but it's just a few benefits of a cup. 

This is not true. The vagina is naturally an acidic environment. The vaginal microbiome (the bacteria that naturally live in the vagina) produce things like lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide to keep the vagina healthy and help protect against STI's and yeast infections. The vaginal microbiome can shift to an "unhealthy" microbiome which means the pH increases and makes you more susceptible to infections. Although menses has been associated with a rapid shift (like a change in a day or so) in the microbiome, and accompanied by a rapid shift (again, about a day or so) back after, various menstrual products have not been associated with impacting the microbiome, which means that they do no impact the pH of the vagina. Sperm can not survive in the acidic environment of the vagina, which is why semen is a neutral pH. Semen neutralizes the acidic environment naturally present in the vaginal tract to allow the sperm to survive.

Lady boner. So. Much. Science.

[Deleted User]

BusinessWife said:

@antoto  I think @KhRun17  has a valid point there.  For someone with longer cycles, maybe, CM is not around yet.  But it is possible to get fertile/peak-type mucus on your light or very light days (that is why with Creighton we are instructed not to wear a tampon on those days, pad/liner is fine) so you can still make these observations, and then ovulate on the earlier side.

Two out of my last 3 cycles I had CM at the tail end of AF and ovulated on CD11 and CD12.  I'm on CD10 today and my third day of flashing-smiley, with stretchy CM on CD4.  So that's a real thing for some women, or any woman having a random early O cycle.

Edited typo

So @BusinessWife if you ovulate on CD 11 you would be fertile CD6-11  So I guess if you have a long flow and you are still bleeding heavy enough to require a tampon on CD 6 then I could perhaps see the logic on that one day?  I feel like that is not the typical case though...

My vote is still to hydrate more.

Everycol0r

Hot Hooter Soup

Everycol0r

Out of general curiosity, I have a 7-10 day menses and O around CD19 so I am not familiar with short cycles. So if your get fertile CM 1 day after your period ends, does the lining of your uterus have ample time to thicken and support a potential fertile egg? And has the egg had long enough time to mature? 

ChaoticWolf

antoto said:

*snip*
I think the diva cup (or I think Thinx looks badass) is great for the environment and it's cheaper in the long run. 
*snip*

(Dirty Lurker/Siggy TW/Probably TW for my whole post?)

I'm not saying I got KU because of Thinx... but I started using Thinx the AF before I got my BFP. And I loved them for the short amount of time I used them. I'm really happy with the purchase (and I'll be using them when I start having periods again), so you guys should all try them out. 

TL;DR (or didn't look in the spoiler box)
I loved my Divacup, but Thinx are amazing and I think everyone should check them out. Try out the medium and heavy styles!

KhRun17

I was just sharing what I've heard about them. To each their own! Each person is different, and what works for them and why is different.  Each person has a different cycle, and things affect them in ways that it may not others.

[Deleted User]

@Everycol0r  Yes, and yes.  There is no reason that an early ovulation alone would be problematic for achieving pregnancy, and in some cases, an earlier ovulation can actually be, "stronger," whatever that means, so says my doctor, in her HO.  I haven't researched it at all.  I had a 1.81 cm folli on CD8, 1.94 on CD9, and my endometrium measured at 1cm on CD8.  Today is CD10 so IDK, but unless someone had some other separate ovulatory dysfunction, there's no reason to think there's any problem with ovulating "early."

The eggs are the eggs, as far as my understanding goes.  You are born with them all.  They may degenerate over time, but they don't mature per say, so much as rather the egg won't release until the *follicle* is mature, right?

I do believe someone could have an ovulatory dysfunction where the folli ruptured prematurely I suppose, or incompletely where the egg wasn't properly released, whether they are ovulating early or late in their cycle.  But I'm definitely not a doctor, nor an expert on such things.

Everycol0r

You have to have a mature follie, that's why they measure them. I misused the word, but replace egg with follicle in my OP.

lmc929

@LadyMillil

Everycol0r

@LadyMillil will you marry me?

swanbrooner

Is anyone else feeling super attracted to @LadyMillil right now? Asking for a friend.



Edit: Words

ImAMouseDuh

LadyMillil said:

KhRun17 said:

As for pH balance, the chemicals on tampons (and pads) can throw this off. Sperm need a certain balance to survive. Again, your body obviously naturally corrects this every month, but it's just a few benefits of a cup. 

This is not true. The vagina is naturally an acidic environment. The vaginal microbiome (the bacteria that naturally live in the vagina) produce things like lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide (lactobacillus, bitch!) to keep the vagina healthy and help protect against STI's and yeast infections (candida albicans). The vaginal microbiome can shift to an "unhealthy" microbiome which means the pH increases and makes you more susceptible to infections. Although menses has been associated with a rapid shift (like a change in a day or so) in the microbiome, and accompanied by a rapid shift (again, about a day or so) back after, various menstrual products have not been associated with impacting the microbiome, which means that they do no impact the pH of the vagina. Sperm can not survive in the acidic environment of the vagina, which is why semen is a neutral pH. Semen neutralizes the acidic environment naturally present in the vaginal tract to allow the sperm to survive.

Ok, first, the bolded above is DH's response to my reading @LadyMillil's response out loud. I see a discussion starting about vaginal pH and other such shenanigans, and I immediately go Dr. Husband, the microbiologist. He's a smartpants, y'all.  

Two, @LadyMillil, I'm thrilled to see that another microbiologist beat me to it, and DH and I have a couple of major boners for you over here, and as always, I love the hell out of you. 

Three, this conversation is ridic. Absorb AF however you feel works best for you. When AF shows up, do your thing. But let's not go around spreading crazy rumors about tampons screwing with your fertility, k? There's enough fearmongering in the TTC world as it is. 

Sugargirl1019

Everycol0r said:

@LadyMillil will you marry me?

NO she's mine! I've already claimed her!!

ETA: Really though, I'm with everyone else who is just in love with you over your science @LadyMillil

[Deleted User]

<blockquote class="Quote">
<div class="QuoteAuthor"><a href="/profile/antoto">antoto</a> said:</div>
<div class="QuoteText"><blockquote class="Quote">
<div class="QuoteAuthor"><a href="/profile/BusinessWife">BusinessWife</a> said:</div>
<div class="QuoteText">@antoto  I think @KhRun17  has a valid point there.  For someone with longer cycles, maybe, CM is not around yet.  But it is possible to get fertile/peak-type mucus on your light or very light days (that is why with Creighton we are instructed not to wear a tampon on those days, pad/liner is fine) so you can still make these observations, and then ovulate on the earlier side.

Two out of my last 3 cycles I had CM at the tail end of AF and ovulated on CD11 and CD12.  I'm on CD10 today and my third day of flashing-smiley, with stretchy CM on CD4.  So that's a real thing for some women, or any woman having a random early O cycle. ;)

Edited typo</div>
</blockquote>
So @BusinessWife if you ovulate on CD 11 you would be fertile CD6-11  So I guess if you have a long flow and you are still bleeding heavy enough to require a tampon on CD 6 then I could perhaps see the logic on that one day?  I feel like that is not the typical case though...

My vote is still to hydrate more.</div>
</blockquote>
Sigh.  I was speaking about my own personal experience with my own body.  I hope that's okay?  I am still spotting on CD6.  I choose not to use even a slender tampon because that would impede CM observations.

I guess I don't understand why you have to go out of your way to make a point that what I shared about my own body is wrong or atypical.  Pretty lame, if you ask me.

My vote is to get more fresh air. :D

[Deleted User]

BusinessWife said:

antoto said:

BusinessWife said:

@antoto  I think @KhRun17  has a valid point there.  For someone with longer cycles, maybe, CM is not around yet.  But it is possible to get fertile/peak-type mucus on your light or very light days (that is why with Creighton we are instructed not to wear a tampon on those days, pad/liner is fine) so you can still make these observations, and then ovulate on the earlier side.

Two out of my last 3 cycles I had CM at the tail end of AF and ovulated on CD11 and CD12.  I'm on CD10 today and my third day of flashing-smiley, with stretchy CM on CD4.  So that's a real thing for some women, or any woman having a random early O cycle.

Edited typo

So @BusinessWife if you ovulate on CD 11 you would be fertile CD6-11  So I guess if you have a long flow and you are still bleeding heavy enough to require a tampon on CD 6 then I could perhaps see the logic on that one day?  I feel like that is not the typical case though...

My vote is still to hydrate more.

Sigh.  I was speaking about my own personal experience with my own body.  I hope that's okay?  I am still spotting on CD6.  I choose not to use even a slender tampon because that would impede CM observations.

I guess I don't understand why you have to go out of your way to make a point that what I shared about my own body is wrong or atypical.  Pretty lame, if you ask me.

My vote is to get more fresh air.

Damn girl.  Except this wasn't just brought up about you.  If you were talking about this in WTO or something I would have never commented.  This is a general thread that everyone can read - and  yes, even comment on.  It wouldn't be great for the general reader to see this and be all "OMFG I CAN'T USE TAMPONS" - hence me saying "I feel like this is not the typical case though" and even acknowledged that this might be the case for YOU in particular when I said "I could perhaps see the logic on that one day?"

I wasn't being sarcastic or snarky at you @businesswife so I'm really not sure why you felt the need to react this way.  

ETA  

[Deleted User]

@antoto  Well it sure felt like it was directed at me, since I was the one who said it, playing devil's advocate perhaps, but in reference to my personal experience with my own body.  If it is an open thread that anyone can read, isn't the point to have a frank and honest discussion?  Maybe there are grey areas; maybe there are different situations in different cases.  If you're looking for a BAM: Yes/No = Science! answer, then great.  But I don't see why we'd have to just shut down any other conversation about it.

I didn't say, "DON'T USE TAMPONS DURING TTC THEY ARE BAD."  Someone could always read it that way because it takes all kinds, but that's still... Not what I said.  Not even close to what I said.

Perhaps I'm more sensitive too, because after that, I felt AGAIN personally jumped on by another member questioning whether earlier ovulation can even result in viable pregnancy?  Not to get even FURTHER away from the OP's question, but ya.  I did feel like certain comments were pointed at me, and I felt ganged up on.

Really not trying to beat a dead horse, but maybe something to be mindful of in how we phase things, if we are interested in trying to play well with others on the board.

[Deleted User]

@BusinessWife I am pretty positive that @Everycol0r was genuinely curious.  She saw that you seemed to have some sort of experience/knowledge about this and asked you.  

I am honestly confused as to why you feel ganged up on.  Me saying "yeah I understand certain people mighttt have a problem in this very specific circumstance, but in general this is unlikely to be a problem for the average person" is not ganging up on you.  Me saying "hydrate more!" is a real actual tip for increasing the amount and quality of CM.

You sighing at me and telling me to get air - that was the the only snarky, sarcastic, pointedly mean thing that has happened on this thread.  I was genuinely shocked that you reacted in such a mean way towards me.

You are asking me to be mindful of how I phrase things.  I would ask that you go back and read my post.  In it I try to see your side of things, but I still am questioning of something being generally accepted (because again, several posters were talking about this topic, not just you).  I will ALWAYS question things that are not supported by any real evidence, especially things that newbies could see and could make them freak out about.
I would ask that you consider your response to this and ask yourself if you overreacted or made assumptions about that intentions of others in this situation.  

ImAMouseDuh

BusinessWife said:

antoto said:

BusinessWife said:

@antoto  I think @KhRun17  has a valid point there.  For someone with longer cycles, maybe, CM is not around yet.  But it is possible to get fertile/peak-type mucus on your light or very light days (that is why with Creighton we are instructed not to wear a tampon on those days, pad/liner is fine) so you can still make these observations, and then ovulate on the earlier side.

Two out of my last 3 cycles I had CM at the tail end of AF and ovulated on CD11 and CD12.  I'm on CD10 today and my third day of flashing-smiley, with stretchy CM on CD4.  So that's a real thing for some women, or any woman having a random early O cycle.

Edited typo

So @BusinessWife if you ovulate on CD 11 you would be fertile CD6-11  So I guess if you have a long flow and you are still bleeding heavy enough to require a tampon on CD 6 then I could perhaps see the logic on that one day?  I feel like that is not the typical case though...

My vote is still to hydrate more.

Sigh.  I was speaking about my own personal experience with my own body.  I hope that's okay?  I am still spotting on CD6.  I choose not to use even a slender tampon because that would impede CM observations.

I guess I don't understand why you have to go out of your way to make a point that what I shared about my own body is wrong or atypical.  Pretty lame, if you ask me.

My vote is to get more fresh air.

Ok, rude! No one was being snarky or sarcastic to you. Maybe you ARE being sensitive because of something that happened on another thread, but damn. That fresh air comment was seriously uncalled for. Ew.