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Everything You Need to Know About Using Menstrual Cups

Nub Stem Menstrual cup

Everything You Need to Know About Using Menstrual Cups

What is a menstrual cup?

A menstrual cup is a type of reusable feminine hygiene product. It’s a small, flexible funnel-shaped cup made of rubber or silicone that you insert into your vagina to catch and collect period fluid.

Cups can hold more blood than other methods, leading many women to use them as an eco-friendly tampon alternative. And depending on your flow, you can wear a cup for up to 12 hours.

Available brands of reusable cups include the Keeper Cup, Moon Cup, Lunette Menstrual Cup, DivaCup, Lena Cup, and Lily Cup. A few disposable menstrual cups, such as the Instead Softcup, are on the market.

Keep reading to learn more about inserting and removing a menstrual cup, cleaning it, and more.

How to use a menstrual cup

If you want to use a menstrual cup, talk with your gynaecologist. Although you can buy any brand online or in most stores, you’ll first have to find out what size you need. Most menstrual cup brands sell small and large versions.

To figure out the right menstrual cup size for you, you and your doctor should consider:

  • your age
  • length of your cervix
  • whether or not you have a heavy flow
  • firmness and flexibility of the cup
  • cup capacity
  • strength of your pelvic floor muscles
  • if you’ve given birth vaginally

Smaller menstrual cups are usually recommended for women younger than 30 who haven’t delivered vaginally. Larger sizes are often recommended for women over 30 who have given birth vaginally or have a heavier period.

Before you put in your menstrual cup

Using a menstrual cup for the first time may make it uncomfortable. But “greasing” your cup can help make the process smooth. Before you put it in your cup, lubricate the rim with water or a water-based lube (lubricant). A wet menstrual cup is much easier to insert.

How to put in your menstrual cup

If you can put in a tampon, inserting a menstrual cup is relatively easy. Just follow these steps to use a cup:

  1. Wash your hands thoroughly.
  2. Apply water or a water-based lube to the rim of the cup.
  3. Tightly fold the menstrual cup in half, holding it in one hand with the rim facing up.
  4. Insert the cup, rim up, into your vagina like you would a tampon without an applicator. It should sit a few inches below your cervix.
  5. Once the cup is in your vagina, rotate it. It will spring open to create an airtight seal that stops leaks.

You shouldn’t feel your menstrual cup if you’ve inserted the cup correctly. You should also be able to move, jump, sit, stand, and do other everyday activities without your cup falling out. If you have trouble putting in your cup, speak with your doctor.

When to take your menstrual cup out

You can wear a menstrual cup for 6 to 12 hours, depending on whether or not you have a heavy flow. This means you can use a cup for overnight protection.

You should permanently remove your menstrual cup by the 12-hour mark. If it becomes full before then, you’ll have to empty it ahead of schedule to avoid leaks.

How to take your menstrual cup out

To take out a menstrual cup, follow these steps:

  1. Wash your hands thoroughly.
  2. Place your index finger and thumb into your vagina. Pull the stem of the cup gently until you can reach the base.
  3. Pinch the base to release the seal and pull down to remove the cup.
  4. Once it’s out, empty the cup into the sink or toilet.

Cup aftercare

Reusable menstrual cups should be washed and cleaned before reinserting into your vagina. Your cup should be emptied at least twice a day.

Reusable menstrual cups are durable and can last  6 months to 10 years with proper care. Throw away disposable cups after removal.

What are the advantages of using menstrual cups?

A menstrual cup

  • is affordable
  • is safer than tampons
  • holds more blood than pads or tampons
  • is better for the environment than pads or tampons
  • can’t be felt during sex (some brands)
  • can be worn with an IUD

Was this helpful?

Many women choose to use menstrual cups because:

  • They’re budget-friendly. You pay a one-time price for a reusable menstrual cup, unlike tampons or pads, which must be continually bought and can cost upward of $100 a year.
  • Menstrual cups are safer. Because menstrual cups collect rather than absorb blood, you’re not at risk of getting  toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare bacterial infection associated with tampon use.
  • Menstrual cups hold more blood. A menstrual cup can hold about one to two ounces of menstrual flow. Tampons, on the other hand, can only hold up to a third of an ounce.
  • They’re eco-friendly. Reusable menstrual cups can last a long time, so you’re not contributing more waste to the environment.
  • You can have sex. Most reusable cups must be removed before sex, but the soft disposable ones can stay in while you get intimate. Not only will your partner not feel the cup, but you won’t have to worry about leaks.
  • You can wear a cup with an IUD. Some companies claim a menstrual cup could dislodge an IUD, but a  2012 studyTrusted Source debunked that belief. If you’re concerned, though, check with your doctor about using a menstrual cup.