How to use a menstrual cup – answering all your burning questions!
This year I made the decision to come off my pill after 10 years and re-find my natural flow.
I’ve been trying out menstrual cups, period pants and reusable pads and it’s honestly been a GAME CHANGER. My periods these days are a total breeze and I can’t ever see myself ever going back to single use products.
It’s also really nice knowing that I’m not dumping a load of plastic waste into landfill every month and that I’m using products that are a little bit kinder to my body.
So if you want to learn how to use a menstrual cup, this is your blog!
Let’s delve into a bumper FAQ post on: what they are, how to use them and all the juicy details!
This article is not sponsored, but does contain affiliate links for some of the products recommended. These links do not change the price you pay in any way but do help me to keep creating free and helpful content – ad
How to Use a Menstrual Cup – 101
What is a menstrual cup?
A menstrual cup, is a silicone device that is inserted into your vaginal canal. It creates a vacuum collecting your menstrual blood and can be worn for up to 12 hours.
Unlike tampons a menstrual cup won’t make you dry or itchy down there. It simply collects your blood and leaves all the good stuff behind making it a lot more comfortable to wear.
The cup is removed, emptied and re-inserted and can be worn wherever! Sleeping, swimming showering and some brands can even be worn during sex!
One cup can be re-used again and again for up to 10 years. They save billions of waste going into landfill and they can be a lot kinder for your vagina too.
How do you find the right menstrual cup for you?
These days there are so many different options for finding the right menstrual cup to fit your body. Different shapes, lengths, designs and softness can ensure there’s a cup out there for us all!
The cup size and shape you need will depend on a few things:
– The height of your cervix
– Whether you have given birth vaginally
– The position of your cervix
This quiz from Put a Cup in It is a fantastic place to start!
I also found this video from Saalt Menstrual Cup useful to find my cervix height and learn about what I had down there!
How do you put a menstrual cup in?
A menstrual cup is folded and inserted fully into your vagina. I show how to do this in my FAQ video below, but if you would like to see how it works on an anatomical model, this video is great. It took me a couple of tries to find the technique that worked for me using my Saalt menstrual cup but I got there in the end!
If you’re struggling, it’s totally fine to use a silicone and vagina friendly lube. Try to avoid lubes with glycerin or chemicals as these can upset the delicate balance of your vagina. I’m incredibly sensitive and I’ve found this organic brand to be absolutely wonderful!
Menstrual Cup Folds
There are loads of ways to fold your menstrual cup to make insertion comfortable and easy. Take a look at this video with 9 different ways to fold your cup!
Personally I find the punch down fold the easiest and most comfortable for me.
How Do You Get it Out?
Removing a menstrual cup can be tricky at first, but once you’ve found a technique that works for you it’s a breeze!
Whilst softly baring down, gently pull on the stem to wiggle your cup down low enough for you to be able to pinch the bottom.
Pinch the bottom of your cup to break the vacuum seal and wiggle the cup out following the angle of your vaginal canal.
Once out, tip the contents down the loo, rinse your cup and re-insert! Easy!
How Do You Change it in Public?
Because your menstrual cup can be worn for up to 12 hours, you probably won’t ever need to change it in public. But if you do, there are several ways to do this:
– Find a bathroom stall with a sink inside and rinse as normal.
– Wipe clean with a vagina friendly bio-degradable wipe before re-inserting.
– Use your water bottle to rinse over the toilet
– Fill a foldable menstrual cup sterilizer with water from your bottle and rinse
– Wipe with toilet roll and re-insert
What Does it Feel Like?
In all honestly, when my cup is in, I can’t even feel it. It’s not painful, it doesn’t feel strange, you forget its even in there! If you can feel your cup when it’s in, or feel pressure on your bladder then you might not have the right shape or softness for your body.
Experiment with another cup or practice getting your insertion just right!
How Do You Clean It?
Cleaning your menstrual cup takes 5 minutes and is a piece of cake! Simply submerge it in a pot of boiling water and sterilize for 5-7 minutes. Use tongs to hold it down, or pop it into a whisk to keep it submerged while it boils!
You can also buy a portable steamer so you don’t have to use your pasta pot or even have access to a stove!
Best & Most Comfortable Menstrual Cup Brands:
Personally I use a small Saalt menstrual cup and it’s the most comfortable cup I’ve tried! Here are some of the top brands that come highly recommended…
Saalt Cup
Mooncup
Organicup
Pixie Cup
Lily Cup
Diva Cup
Ziggy Cup
Watch My FAQ Video:
If you’d like to hear more honest and unashamed period talk come follow me on Instagram @xameliax
It’s time to give our bodies and ovaries the respect they deserve!
READ NEXT: Period Pants Review & Comparison!
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