In an August 14 TikTok video, a woman named Jill (@jilllyxbear) describes being unable to remove her menstrual cup. In the emergency room, a doctor diagnosed her with a “separated” or septate hymen.
This is a condition in which the tissue surrounding the vaginal opening partially blocks or divides it, according to Flo Health. This can sometimes require medical intervention.
“I can’t take my menstrual cup out because there’s something wrapped around it,” Jill told the emergency room receptionist, referring to a piece of “skin or flesh” stuck to the stem of her cup.
Every time she tried to remove her Kind menstrual cup, she said, she felt pain.
However, according to Flo Health, one in 1,000 girls or women have had a septate hymen.
“I wish all women knew this important information about our bodies,” one user commented on Jill’s TikTok.
How did she solve the problem?
Jill says a doctor at the hospital eventually informed her that her “separated hymen” was not a medical problem.
Jill explains that there was a small opening in the corner next to her vaginal opening.
“Somehow, during the night, the stem of my cup… when I went to take it out, I pulled it through this little opening, so it got stuck and couldn’t come out,” Jill explains.
After numbing the area, the doctor removed the menstrual cup and also cut Jill’s hymen.
“There’s a zero percent chance of this happening,” the doctor said. “I’m really sorry this happened. It must have been very traumatic.”
However, Jill says she has no issues with Kind Cups, or menstrual cups in general.
Kind did not immediately respond to The Daily Dot’s request for comment.
Jill has been using menstrual cups for over four years, but she says “this has never happened to me before.” She adds that her doctor has never seen anything like this before.
Are menstrual cups safe?
According to Medical News Today, yes, they are considered safe when guidelines are followed. Fortune notes, they are typically made from “medical grade silicone that has been tested and approved by the FDA as non-toxic and non-reactive with human tissue.”
But as Healthline writes, “If you have vaginismus, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or changes in the position of your uterus, you may experience more discomfort when using a menstrual cup. A healthcare professional can discuss your individual benefits and risks and may be able to help you choose a product.”
Menstrual cups are more environmentally friendly than other feminine hygiene products, according to CNN Health. They produce 5.6% less plastic waste than tampons.
Menstrual cups are also more economical. CNN Health reported that menstrual cup users save more than 90% of what they would have spent on tampons or pads.
Viewers intervene
However, many commenters shared their dislike for menstrual cups.
“The cups are HORRIBLE,” one user commented on Jill’s TikTok. “I swore if I took them out I would prolapse.”
“The mugs immediately seemed like a bad idea to me and I feel like people keep proving me right,” wrote another.
“That’s why I haven’t used it yet. I’m scared,” said another.
“Don’t be afraid,” Jill replied. “I love the cups. Like I said, I’ve been using them for years and this just happened by accident.”
Many women shared similar stories in the comments of Jill’s TikTok, which has more than 77,000 views.
“TMI fun fact: I have the same problem and discovered it when I started using tampons and nearly died from the pain,” one user wrote.
“This happened to me with a tampon and I ended up having to have it removed under anesthesia because the pain was so bad,” shared another.
“As soon as you described the flesh I knew!! My hymen was like that until YEARS after I lost my V card until an accident with my partner broke it,” another said.
“It happened to me with a tampon when I was 14, I thought I was dying and I had to figure it out myself with a mirror and willpower,”
@jilllyxbear I went to the ER because of my menstrual cup. Has this happened to anyone else? #cup #menstrualcup #story #ER ♬ original sound – jilllyxbear
“I actually had the same problem, but 10 times worse, and had to have surgery,” another commented.
The Daily Dot reached out to Jill via TikTok direct message, but she did not immediately respond.
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