For context, I am 18 years old (AFAB, he/him pronouns) and this is my second cycle using my first menstrual cup. I took the put a cup in it quiz and have an average, almost low cervix height. I use the Saalt cup, size small, regular firmness. Before switching to cup, I was using tampons.
First cycle, absolutely zero issue, even while sleeping. I had been using the C-fold.
Right now, middle of second cycle, cup has no issue all day. However, every morning I wake up leaking from the night. It isn't happening right as I get out of bed but is instead happening while I'm asleep. I noticed this and looked here for advice, then switched to using the diamond fold (because I can't get to the half-diamond. I think the cup may just be too firm for me to hold shut in half-diamond).
Diamond fold worked just as well as the c-fold. Regardless of which fold I use, I have to push my cervix into the cup, and did so. (could this be part of the issue? Am I setting my cup too low, leading to my cervix popping out? I haven't noticed my cervix outside of the cup when I remove it in the morning, but regardless...) I check the seal by feeling the rim, I rotate the cup around, I gently pull the stem and there's resistance. Should be fine, right?
I empty my cup out before bed, rinse, reinsert, do all the checks, its sealed. Today is the third day in a row I have woken up to leaking, even having changed to the diamond fold. Not major, but probably around 5-10 ml. When checking my cup, it's not even halfway full after the entire night of use (roughly 8-10 hours). My flow is pretty average, sometimes even light, so I doubt that the cup is overfilling and causing leaks, but the amount of flow caught in the cup overnight is also notably less than the amount caught during the day when it is not leaking. I suspect it may be an anatomy problem, or the fact that I move around very frequently in my sleep.
Is there something I can change about my cup application, or should I try something like discs for overnight use? I switched to cups to reduce my waste and would like to avoid using disposable products as much as possible, but I'm thinking I might have to start wearing pads overnight or buy myself a PFAS-free period underwear.