Why I'm Taking a Break from my Menstrual Cup

Apologies if any of this is TMI for anyone. 

Although this has nothing to do with my endometriosis I thought I would share my experience to make sure others are using their cups properly.

When I first learned about the menstrual cup I was researching on whether I should try it.  Although I was worried about it being messy - especially with my heavy endo periods - the benefits were just too good to not at least try.  For 3 years I have been using it and I loved it.  Apart from a couple of times that it wasn't in properly and caused a mess I have not had any issues.  I even bought one from a company called Sensual Intim where there is a stem on the end of the cup which means you can empty it in public toilets without fully removing it. 

Then my last period is where I had the problem.  It was my first heavy day and I had just come back from the shops.  I was trying to take it out to empty it and I felt something hard inside, that on its own gave me a shock.  I thought maybe it was just too much air inside.  I got it out and then I decided to just check what it was I felt.  I then realised what I was feeling was my cervix.  It was so low down, I know that during your period it does go lower down in the body but I had never felt it this low before, n'ore have I ever felt it in my menstrual cup.  I was shook and decided to just look it up online.  It is hard to find any negative stories on menstrual cups but I did find other people who claimed similar.  One person even said their cervix had come so low that it was outside their vagina.  Another claimed it had completely damaged their pelvic floor.  

Although there are no studies to show a relation between menstrual cups and a damaged pelvic floor, I also read that misuse has caused pelvic organ prolapse in some women.  Now as far as I was aware I never did anything wrong.  But after more digging I realised I did.  A gynaecologist had said that a lot of the cups say if you have trouble getting it out then to push down on it.  She said this is wrong and you should not do that, that can cause damage in the pelvic area.  Mine was also one that suggested to do that if you struggle to get it out.  I would struggle to reach it and would push down so it's quite possible that is what caused the situation with my cervix.  Luckily I haven't done any real damage and found this out in time.  That is why for the moment I am not using my cup anymore.  I just don't know how I could get it out safely without pushing down in those moments when I struggle and I definitely do not want to do any more damage.   

So I am just sharing this for those who are using a cup to make sure they are using it correctly and they are breaking the suction properly when removing.  To not be pushing down to help remove it as this is the incorrect way.  The cups are in the wrong for suggesting that and I recommend speaking to your gynaecologist, if you feel the need, just to see what they say is the right way to remove it.