Written by Kim Rosas |
Welcome to the world of reusable period care!
You landed on this article because you’re wondering if it’s normal to be able to feel your menstrual cup after you insert it. You may just be experiencing “hyper-awareness.” This is a normal sensation when you’re new to using a menstrual cup or menstrual disc.
Why Can I Feel My Menstrual Cup?
If you’ve just inserted your menstrual cup or disc, and you can feel it, it’s most likely a response called “hyper-awareness.”
It’s human nature to focus on a new experience and take mental notes on how it’s going for you. “Is that twinge the cup or a random twinge?” “Did the cup just cause that weird cramp?” “Do I need to pee, or is that just the cup?” “Is the cup staying put? Did I put it in right?” “Is this the right cup for me?”
This awareness of something new in your body is normal and will likely fade over time after your first full cycle or two.
How to Know If Your Menstrual Cup Is in Right
I’ve assisted thousands of people who are brand new to internal period products. Most of the time, these first-time issues of discomfort or feeling pressure come from hyper-awareness. You just have to tell your brain to take a break.
Once your mind forgets to focus on “what’s going on in there,” you won’t notice these small signals from your brain. Shutting off your brain, getting comfortable using the product, and gaining more experience are all part of the learning curve.
After adjusting, which might take 1-3 cycles, you will experience that period nirvana I’m always droning on about. If it’s the right cup or disc for you, and it’s in properly, you shouldn’t be able to feel it anymore.
What If I Can Still Feel My Menstrual Cup After a Few Cycles?
The discomfort or pressure you feel with a new menstrual cup or disc can also be a sign that this product isn’t the right size/firmness/shape/length for you. You should not be able to feel a menstrual cup or disc after a few cycles. If you do, it’s probably not the one for you.
If it’s been 1-2 cycles and you can still feel it, or it’s uncomfortable, those twinges are not hyper-awareness related. You want to give your new investment a fair chance, but it may be a bad fit or user error.
If you’re worried that you may not have inserted it properly, first check out our cup insertion checklist. If you’re still feeling your menstrual cup, then you may need to try a different one.
Finding the Right Menstrual Cup or Disc
Even after doing research or taking an online menstrual cup quiz or menstrual disc quiz, it’s hard to predict how certain products will work with your body. One of the resources we offer on Period Nirvana is the menstrual cup and disc comparison chart.
Even though we’d love for everyone to pick the right product the first time, sometimes it doesn’t happen. Use clues from what bothered you about the product you tried to look for another brand that’s likely to be a better fit for you. Your second cup or disc will likely be a good fit.
Here are some tips for what to look for based on what you felt with the first cup:
- Bladder pressure: Look for a cup that is softer in firmness.
- Cup was too long: Look for a cup that has a shorter length.
- Disc wouldn’t stay tucked and popped out: Look for a disc with a smaller rim.
If you are still having trouble, check out our amazing, free, menstrual cup troubleshooting group on Facebook: Period Nirvana Community.
