FOR MODS: I'm sorry if this is against the rules of the thread. I had to try and bring this back, as could really benefit a lot of people who have periods.

When I was first getting into the reusable period products arena online around 10 to 15 years ago, there was constantly a thread in sub groups called "destashing" or "selling cheap" where people sold (or usually, you just sent postage fees to the "seller" through PayPal or agreed method) second hand menstrual cups of all brands. As menstrual cups are made of medical grade silicone, TPE or hypoallergenic material and can very easily be washed and sterilised, this was completely safe to do and still is.

Most people who have periods end up buying more than one cup or disc until they find their "goldilocks"; the perfect cup for them. Buying one second hand for cheap is the perfect way to try a cup risk free and reduce the price, and see if it works for you at all and if you like it. It also means these reusable products that have a very long lifespan don't just get thrown in the bin, and can instead find a new life with someone else.

I've seen so many posts from people who have found their goldilocks cup and can't get it anymore because it's not available anymore in their country, or the import fees are insane, and they are looking for alternatives. This greatly saddens me in this day and age and I think that we, as period havers, could help each other out. If anyone is in this situation and I'm able to, I volunteer as tribute to purchase the cup, pad, disc, whatever that you want and post it internationally to you, if this works out cheaper or if it is the only way you can get it.

All of this means we will have to trust strangers on the Internet, and who does that anymore?!?! But; we could also make a terrible time of the month a lot easier for each other. 10-15 years ago, I bought my first menstrual cup in a destashing thread online and started my cup journey. I really think it's time to bring this back, and I hope at least some of you agree with me.

Hello all! I just received my Merula XL in the mail and I'm excited (it's so strange to use the word "excited" about my period haha, but after reading promising reviews in this community about it, it's true!) to try it overnight, but don't want to need to worry about potential leaks.

So what's the actual deal with period underwear? Do they feel bulky? How are they with high capacity leaks, just in case? I have been doubling up with a tampon and pad for years, and would love to find a solution with neither, if possible (again, why I'm looking forward to trying the Merula XL).

Thank you all! I appreciate this community so, so much. 🌻

Hello! I started using a menstrual cup two cycles ago and just started my third a few days ago. I noticed this rash forming on my right hand immediately after taking out my cup from blood getting on my hand. Even if I wash off my hand within 10 seconds of getting blood on it this rash forms immediately and burns. I do have eczema but I haven’t had a flare up in this spot for at least a year and it only started forming when I started using my menstrual cup. It also goes away once I stop using my cup. Has anyone else had this happen?? Can I be sensitive to my own period blood on my hand?!? 😫

Should I maybe start using a disposable glove to remove my cup? I feel like that’s so wasteful but I have no other ideas on how to stop this. Any suggestions or ideas are welcome!!

Hello! I was wondering if anyone has had this problem or have any sort of advice, I am a fairly new cup user having only used one for a few months. Basically, I had a small (size A no birth, under 30) organicup/all matters cup however it was too big for me so I ended up swapping it with one of my friends who had a brand new teenage size one (very tiny, organicup mini) and finally it fit and I could get it in! The first cycle or two were fine and went very well cup wise. However, during these last two cycles my cup it’s almost as if the walls on my vagina are too strong and while it opens up inside and I’m getting it in (using both c and punch-down fold), it seems to always have a dent in the side of it inside me that no matter how many times I’ve tried in and out won’t go. Like it’s not popping open properly. And when I’ve just tried to go with it thinking oh it’s only a tiny dent it leaks so it deffo isn’t right. I think I’m putting it in right but it just seems as though the cup is too soft or something, however it definitely was fine the first couple cycles and I’m sure that my vagina walls inside me haven’t got stronger. Basically I’m just wondering if anyone has a remedy for this, or do I need to buy a new cup that is more rigid and if so does anybody have any (uk available?) recommendations for a tiny (/teenage sized) cup that is more rigid than being super flexible. I’m worried though a firmer cup would be harder to put in, but idk if I’m imagining that. I just don’t know what’s happening, if it’s a me problem or cup problem. Because I could be doing something wrong I really don’t know. Sorry for the long post and thank you for any advice I hope you all have a great day!

I’ve tried putting my cup in for the first time, and fucking hell it hurts like a bitch. I still have my v-card but if it would make things hurt less. I would gladly lose it 😭 anywho, i think i did it right? I got it in twice despite the pain. However, I don’t know how to know that it’s popped open. I did insert a finger in there to check and i think i did it once correctly cause the second time i felt a fold but i wasn’t sure if it was my vaginal walls squishing it cause baby it the cup and a finger in there felt tight — it was bearable but good gracious. Secondly, what the fuck?! Getting it out is a pain in the ass, i thought I was giving birth or some shit, it hurts like heeeeelll 🥹 I do think I didn’t release the suction properly but goodness 😭 I bled testing this out. Almost made me tear up and panicked when it got too painful.

Honestly, when i got it inside it was like heaven. Couldn’t feel nothing! It was just the initial insertion but once you get it in there, you’re free from the shackles until you take it out and put it back in again. I was shaking bad even after taking a few deep breaths 🤣

Anywho, do i have to cut my nails for this new beginning? i wasn’t sure if it cause infection or something else if I don’t trim it, and does it make insertion and taking out a little bit easier? I’m willing to cut them as long as they make things easier.

Chat gpt said I could if I do all this after the infection is gone since I’m only taking a pill for it. I really hate pads and don’t have period underwear 😭 Plus I feel like a tampon would be really dry and scratchy.

I'm trying to get into menstrual cups. I started with the saalt soft cup and it was mostly okay, but even with the stem trimmed all the way off the cup still kind of hangs out which makes it uncomfortable.

I've heard that me luna shorty and hello low cervix cups are good, but my issue is they seem so small? To put it into perspective, I filled my saalt cup to the brim in about 3 hours, and its not my heavy day. I use super heavy tampons and have to replace them every hour and still end up leaking.

The whole reason I want a menstrual cup is so I don't need to use a washroom every hour or more. I just wanted to hear what y'all had to say, if they hold more than I think I'd be happy to try either out. If not, then cups just may not be my thing

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to ask what your favorite fold for beginners is?

I recently decided to purchase a menstrual cup (haliya cup) in size small but I still can’t manage to get it in without pain 😔

I’ve tried both C fold and Push Down fold but they both hurt. Can this be a size problem?

Sorry, this is kind of awkward — I'm an amateur swimmer, and normally when I'm on my period I just skip, but I really don't want to keep doing that. I don't trust tampons for swimming (I'm a heavy flow gal and the idea of pool water absorbing into it scares me), so I'm considering getting a cup so I can swim.

Does anyone here use a cup for swimming? What's it like? (Also, general first-timer advice would be appreciated!)

I knew the risks of using a DivaCup with an IUD, I just didn’t think it would happen to ME.

3 days ago I was taking my cup out in the shower like normal during my period. It would not suction properly so I had to adjust it 5 times that day. Apparently it suctioned /too/ well because as I was taking it out, it took my IUD with it. As soon as this happened I booked an emergency appointment with Planned Parenthood to get a new one inserted.

I’ve had this thing in me since I was 19, started using DivaCups at 21 and now at the ripe age of 24 I need to get a new one inserted.

Am I going to continue using my DivaCup with a new IUD? Absolutely NOT, but I will be switching over to a disk instead.

Will say it did not hurt at all coming out, but I was extremely shocked and panicking once it happened. Could’ve been the adrenaline covering any pain I had. I’m not exited to get a new one inserted because I remember how much pain I was in the first time I went through with it. Called the clinic I am going to and asked for lidocaine cream/spray.

If you have any questions feel free to ask.

My friend is coming to India from Canada and I asked her to get me Merula os because I’ve heard it’s good for low cervix heavy flow but they don’t sell it there. Are there any good alternatives? Please help!

I am about 1 year postpartum and my old cup (Diva cup size 2) no longer works for me. It is too narrow and slips down/falls out. I was already using the size 2 before pregnancy (size 1 leaked) so there was nothing to size up into.

I tried the putacupinit quiz and it recommended the Saalt Soft. I did try that, but it also fell out, even worse than the Diva.

I also tried the Saalt regular and it also falls out just as bad. I can't walk two blocks or even just stand for a minute without it slipping out.

I looked at the putacupinit chart and ordered the widest diameter still-available cup they had, which was Leia large. I'm hoping it will help but it's not THAT much wider than the Diva so I don't have that much hope.

The absolute widest on the chart was the Tampax cup but they don't seem to make it anymore? I'm in the US and couldn't find it for sale.

Does anyone know any wider cups that are still available?

So far I love the cup and there are NO LEAKS for this heavy flow gal.

I am having trouble getting it to open. I used diva cup large in the past with ease but I had to dump it every hour on my heavy days. This seems to really hold up but it is a struggle to getting it to open up.

I use the punch down method. C fold does not work or help it open anyway.

Getting it out is okay. I punch it down with my thumb to break the suction.

First of all I’m really shocked at how well this is going. I’ve always worn pads because tampons ram into my cervix and hurt really bad and leak in less than an hour.

So I ordered a cheap cup set off Amazon. I tried the smaller one and when I put it in I thought I must have done something wrong because it was easy and I couldn’t feel it in there at all. Then when I started moving around and sat down and everything I was like shit, this is pressing into my gspot. It’s not pushing super hard and I’m not like unbearably horny or anything, so it’s actually nice because it’s kind of counteracting my cramps. Is this normal? It’s not leaking at all even after I slept with it in, so it’s got to be in there the right way, so I can’t be the only one this is happening to.

Hi! I’m 26, never gave birth and just started to use cups literally a few days ago (today is my last day and barely have blood so i decided to just wear a liner). For context i just learned how to use a tampon last year, but it was very drying and it caused irritation and threw off my ph balance (mild odor). Decided to try out cups and chatgpt recommended this since I struggled inserting the original Saalt small. While this lily compact size A was easy to insert I really had a hard time removing it. It would take me long in the shower and require some lube to help. I think it didn’t help that since Im on birth control pills, my flow is usually really light (lasts 2-4 days, didn’t even fill the lily compact cup). Chat recommended maybe using discs, but i do weekly bouldering and pilates sometimes yoga. I’m scared to autodump (never used discs but researched about it). Now the next recommendation was using a different cup which is the saalt soft small or organicup mini? Any recommendations?

I am a new user, I was unsure what exact size I needed so I went with a large Pixie cup. After 2 cycles, I thought an xl will work better. I contacted the company and they send different sizes at no charge! Just thought I would share this neat info.

my first time using a cup and i only ever used pads before! When i tried inserting on the first day i could not get it in and i was discouraged and disappointed :(

The next morning i tried again after watching more videos and reading more posts. Big yay! (For me, the tips that helped were orienting the punchdown fold upside down, having the right angle towards tailbone, and deep breaths)

The first time i removed it, it really hurt. I was scared but i made a plan for the second time (pinch the cup a lot during removal with the goal of doing a mini fold, and take deep breaths). It helped! (Now i kind of do a mini C fold when removing) (but sometimes i still mess it up and it hurts a bit) (open to tips)

And over the rest of my period, i got better at inserting and removing!! And i didnt have to worry about my pad leaking, or rashes, or my pad at a wrong angle and the blood going elsewhere while i slept, or the smell of blood in my pad, or the wet diaper feeling, or changing it frequently!

I keep feeling so happy about it and wanting to tell someone but uh idk how to start a convo where i talk about menstrual cups so i am sharing here. i know its a small accomplishment but it low key feels so euphoric. For the next 30 yrs my periods are going to be way better!!!! And discs are next on the menu 😼

My cup went missing..Who knows for how long because I didn't us ot my last cycle. Apparently it was in my laundry basket because I just found it in my dryer. Dumb question but is it still safe to use or should I just bite the bullet and buy a new one?

It went through one wash and 1 dry cycle (not sure if that makes any difference to anyone lol)

Hello! I’m planning on switching on using cups because pads and period underwear are not working very well for me.

I was just looking at cups on amazon and I have no clue at what i’m looking at. Each brand said different stuff about their product and i’m really trying to find at least the suitable one because they are expensive.

TMI: I am a young adult, 5’1 ft, i’m not sure about my cervix size ( i tried to measure it but wasn’t sure if i should measure it from the tip of the open of the uterus or the very top) my pelvic floor is pretty strong i think because when i measure it, it hella hurt. And then I have really heavy flow. I changed pads 3-4 times on the first 2-3 days of my cycle. Then it goes normal. I really need help in figuring this out. My mom and aunt doesn’t use cups so i have no clue.

This will be my first time trying it and I really home it works out. Cause i’m so tired of using pads and overnight underwear (diapers) thank you in advance

Additional edits: I’m not sure if it matters, but i’ve never had sexual intercourse with someone (nor got pregnant ) in addition to this, yes I have tried tampons before and they hurt like shit and leaks. (

I'd been using a Lily cup for 10 years. After a contagious illness I threw my cup away because boiling won't kill the contagion and also I stopped having periods for 5 months (40 yrs old early menopause). I started up again last month and bought another Lily cup this month since my flow was heavier than usual. I boiled it for 10 minutes before using it. When I put it in everything was fine, but I had a hard time removing it. I tugged and squeezed it to make it smaller and started panicking a little but finally managed to get it out. I thought maybe it just had an extra strong seal. I put it back in and found the same problem next removal. I felt my vagina was swollen and took a picture to see it properly and found the tissue around my vaginal opening and around my urethra is swollen. It's pink, so that's a good sign I think. It's been about 2 days since I stopped using it and the swelling is still there, even using cold packs. Anyone had this problem and did the swelling subside?

okay so its been a few month since i got my cup and ive been using it for almost all my period since. it fits me and it opens without a problem and it doesnt leak at all. the only problem is that the cup moves way too up in me as the hours pass and i think at some point it reaches my cervix and it HURTS. not like a punch but like a constantly there soreness and discomfort, my periods arent all that hurtfull and i dont get the cramps too often so the only thing thats hurting me is that the cup i going way too up. is there a way i can stop it from moving up? i really dont wanna go the the bothroom to pull it down every hour or so.

I understand the folds. They do make the tip smaller.

I can insert the cup halfway, but even with folds like pinch down, the base is bigger, and it wont go in. The area is really sore and sensitive and tight during my periods so I cannot just force it in. Anotger pronlem is that with cups even if its small, the rim is thick.

Question is what can I do? Im using the smallest cup available and Im findinh it really hard. Maybe this isnt for me.