Scarleteen

Hello. I’m 24F and never had sex. I want to start using menstrual cups but I feel pain at the entrance when I insert a finger into the vagina. It doesn’t hurt after. My question is why does it hurt for some people and not for others. My friend uses a menstrual cup and doesn’t have any issues. And can you please give me tips for the process to be easier. I’m scared of the pain. Is it normal?

Thanks.

Hey Autumn_leaves,

You say you feel some pain when you insert a finger- is that a stinging sensation? Is it specific to the entrance? Does it go away if you leave your finger inserted, or get worse?

Have you used any other period products that were internal, like tampons? If so, how did that feel?

There's a lot of reasons why insertion of things like tampons, fingers, toys, penises, etc. can be uncomfortable or painful for some bodies and not others. One of the main things is whether or not your muscles are relaxed. When we're trying something new, like a menstrual cup, we might feel more anxious and therefore have a harder time getting our muscles to be relaxed. There can also be discomfort with friction (helped by lubrication). For menstrual cups, there is such a wide variety of products available, many in smaller sizes or softer build to make the insertion more comfortable. There's a lot of great tips and visuals on this site: https://www.periodnirvana.com/menstrual-cup-pain/ . Different folds are super helpful, but best shown visually rather than described over text, IMO.

I think it is absolutely normal to be nervous about potential pain. I am someone who finds menstrual cups extraordinarily painful, but have learned that I am really an outlier in that regard (after trying 15+ different cups). If it doesn't work for you, that's okay! You don't have to force something that is painful.

Yes, it stings and just at the entrance. Not when I go in further. I feel stinging sensation for a couple of seconds and it goes away. And it doesn’t hurt when I’m really turned on.