How to Use a Menstrual Cup

Menstrual cups collect menstrual blood instead of being absorbent, clean and reusable, so one cup can last up to 10 years. In general, menstrual cups leak less, pose less of a health risk than disposable products, and are more comfortable to use. ^{[1] X Source of Research} How to use a menstrual cup is as follows: squat with your legs extended, fold the cup into a “C” or “scallop” shape, and then gently push the cup into the vaginal opening at an approximate angle. approx 45 degrees until the vaginal opening opens and you feel comfortable. After 12 hours or less, you remove the cup by grasping the base of the cup and shaking it until it leaves the vagina, then pour the blood in the cup into the toilet. It may take you some time to get used to the use of a menstrual cup, but this product is the most hygienic and eco-friendly way to deal with your period.

Table of Contents

Steps

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Read the instructions for use that come with the menstrual cup product of your choice. Read carefully until you feel confident to take the next step. You should also check out the wikiHow article on menstrual cup cleaning for tips on how to clean the cup, and if you’re considering using this product, read how to decide whether or not to use a menstrual cup. If you don’t have a menstrual cup yet, read the wikiHow’s guide to buying a menstrual cup to learn how to choose the right cup.

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The first time you use it, you should practice pushing the cup in the private space of your bathroom . Most users won’t get used to it until they’ve used it a few times, so it’s much better to practice at home than in a public restroom. Usually people want to try a dry cup push before their period, but you really shouldn’t, because during your period your vagina is usually better lubricated and the cervix is in a different position. Therefore, you should use it for the first time during your period.

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Practice different folds. The C-fold on the instruction manual isn’t the best technique for many women. When you use the C-fold, the widest part of the cup will be pushed in first. Another way to fold is to fold the scallop (and there are many ways to choose from). Fold the scallop shape by placing your finger on the rim of the cup and pushing your finger inside the cup. Watch the video below for more folding styles.

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Wash your hands with soap and water and flush the cup to remove dirt. You should boil the cup for the first time use. Never use cup soap. This can cause yeast infections and other problems. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Relax and try not to tense your pelvic muscles. Tension in the pelvic muscles will cause pain or you may find it difficult to push the cup in. The pelvic muscles are the muscles that you use to urinate and stop urinating. Stretch and relax these muscles (also called a kegel exercise) so that you can relax them while you push the cup in. Be persistent! Using a cup for the first time is always difficult, so don’t give up if it’s difficult the first time — but take a break if you become too frustrated.

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Prepare in a comfortable position. Maybe you like to push your cup while sitting on the toilet. You can also squat in the bath or shower; stand and place one foot on the edge of the toilet or tub; lean back against the wall and squat down; or lie on the floor with your legs extended, knees bent.

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Find the cervix. Insert a finger into the vagina and feel for the cervix, it feels like touching the tip of the nose. It is a small soft knob with a recess in the middle. Aim to push the cup in the direction of the cervix for easier entry. This way you won’t accidentally poke the cup into the cervix, or push the cup over the cervix. If you can’t find your cervix then your cervix is probably pretty high, in which case it shouldn’t cause you any trouble.

If you don’t want to do this, simply aim the cup in the direction of the hollow on your back.

READ More: Louis C.K.

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Push the cup in. Fold the cup and hold it with one hand (stem facing down). Use your other hand to open your labia and find the vaginal opening. Now push the cup in at an angle of about 45 degrees towards the pubic bone, not straight up. The cup will then pop open. Continue to push the cup in until you feel comfortable. (The cup can slide down or up depending on your body, but the bottom of the cup [though not necessarily the stem] should not protrude from the vaginal opening.)

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Make sure the cup is fully open. You may hear or feel a “pop”. That is an indication that the cup is open. If you don’t, put your finger around the bottom of the cup, it should be round or at least oval. (The cup may never fully open, depending on your body shape.) If the cup doesn’t open, you can open it with one hand. You should also try doing some Kegel exercises, squats, jumping jacks or spinning the cup in a circle by twisting the bottom of the cup. You can also press your finger against part of the vaginal wall to let air in and pop the cup out. Usually you will feel more comfortable when the cup is near the cervix, not as far as shown in the instructions. Once in place, you can also pull the cup down slightly to be sure to create a vacuum zone (that’s why there are small holes) – this is part of the reason the cup stays still.

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Wait 12 hours later. If your period is heavy, you may need to remove the cup more often, as this is the maximum recommended time. The first time you use the cup, you may have to experiment a bit to determine how long you can leave it in before it leaks. (It’s better to bring a spare tampon; cloth tampons are a good choice because they’re reusable.)

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Take out the cup. Squeeze the muscle to let the cup slide down on its own, keep squeezing until you can reach the base of the cup. Shake the cup up and down. Hold firmly to the bottom of the cup, not just the stem, and keep pulling it out. Squeeze the bottom of the cup to help break the vacuum and make it easier to remove the cup. When pulling the cup to the vaginal opening, remember to take the cup out in a vertical direction to avoid spilling. If the rim is too wide for easy removal, fold the cup into a C or scallop shape with your fingers before removing it from your vagina. If you’re removing the cup over the toilet, you can let your menstrual blood flow “backwards,” just keep your hand out of the way of the liquid.

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Pour menstrual blood from the cup into the toilet or sink. Rinse the cup with water. To clean the suction holes, soak the cup in water and bend the cup where the suction hole is. You can also fill the cup with water, cover it with the palm of your hand, and then squeeze the cup so that the water comes out of these holes. Dry the cup if it’s too slippery (although a smooth cup can make it easier to push in) and push it back into the vagina.

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Learn how to clean cups. You can boil the cup, use sterilized tablets, wipe it with alcohol, or choose another way. See wikiHow’s instructions on how to clean a menstrual cup and choose what works best for you.

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Remember that it takes time to get used to the use of a menstrual cup. Please be patient. The time to get used to this cup is usually about 3-4 cycles, and if you find it doesn’t work for you then that’s okay. If you still want to use a reusable product, try cloth tampons or sponges.

Advice

If you find the stem of the cup uncomfortable, you can remove all or part of it. Make sure the top is smooth to avoid stabbing, but remember that you can only hold the bottom of the cup when you want to remove it.
During the first use, you may find it necessary to cut the stem of the cup so that it does not stick out of the vaginal opening. This is normal.
Menstrual cups have the function of collecting menstrual blood, not absorbent, so you don’t have to take out the cup as often as changing tampons. This means you can use the cup before your period starts. You can also use a cup to collect more cervical mucus.
Cups are usually manufactured in two sizes. The small is recommended for women under 30, and the large is for people over 30 and/or who have had a vaginal birth. However, one brand’s large can be the same size as another brand’s small! It is therefore important that you consider the extent of your bleeding and your body composition, rather than just focusing on this guide. For more information you should check out the wikiHow article on how to choose a menstrual cup.
Some women find it easier to put the cup in with a little lubricant. If you’re using a lubricant, apply it to the vagina instead of the cup to avoid slipping. Use only water-based lubricants.
If you use a diaphragm to prevent pregnancy, it also acts as a menstrual cup! (Very similar in shape to a disposable menstrual cup.) However, to preserve the life of the diaphragm, you should only use the diaphragm if it is made of silicone, not rubber.
If you don’t like stick or cup tampons but still want to use reusable products, consider using cloth tampons. You can buy it online or make your own.
If you want, you can store your menstrual blood in a jar and use it to water your plants. The nutrient-rich components of menstrual blood can be used for a variety of purposes, including diluting it with water to make fertilizer for plants or as a ground cover.
Public toilets are divided into separate chambers and have a wash basin that is a suitable place to take out cups. For toilets without separate compartments and sinks, you should bring feminine toilet tissue and small water bottles to wash cups, or use toilet paper. You can also simply pour out the menstrual blood and push the cup back without rinsing.
If you find a reusable menstrual cup unsanitary, you can use a disposable product, which is available in North America at most drugstores. It consists of a ring and a plastic bag that is inserted into the vagina like a diaphragm. See the wikiHow article on how to use a disposable menstrual cup.
A recent study found that the leak rate of menstrual cups is only half that of tampons, so don’t let this put you off. ^{[3] X Research Source} However, if the cup is leaking, we have several solutions:
- The cup is overflowing. This is probably the easiest problem to solve. If the cup leaks when you take it out, it’s almost full. You simply have to change the cup more often. You should buy a cup with a larger capacity if you have to change the cup too often according to your feelings. See How to buy a menstrual cup.
- The cup does not open completely. Perhaps menstrual blood will leak a lot when this problem occurs. That’s because the cup doesn’t open completely, so you have to check to make sure it’s fully open once you put it in. You need to put your finger around the bottom of the cup, it should be round or at least oval. (The cup may never open completely, depending on your body shape.) If the cup doesn’t open, you can open it with one hand. You should also try doing some Kegel exercises or rotating the cup in a circle by twisting the bottom of the cup. You can also press your finger against part of the vaginal wall to let air in and pop the cup out. Another important point is that you should try folding the cup in different ways.
- The cervix takes up space in the cup. If the cup is leaking and when you take it out it’s only half full, that’s a sign that the cervix has entered the cup and is taking up some of the space. To solve this problem, set the cup as low as possible while still being comfortable. If the leak doesn’t go away, the cup may be too long, you need to buy a shorter and rafter for a larger capacity.
- Residual menstrual bleeding : This is a condition when you have a very slight leak. There may still be some blood on the vaginal wall after you change the cup, and the blood will drip down onto your underwear. You should clean it thoroughly after changing the cup, but that doesn’t help much. Because the amount of blood leaking is very small, you only need to use disposable tampons or cloth tampons to feel dry.
- You place the cup deep through the cervix. If you feel a sharp pain while inserting the cup and then there’s a lot of leakage, you’ve probably pushed the cup through your cervix. The cervix is very soft, and if the cup is really pressed on it, you will be sore. The solution is to put the cup lower. Use your hand to feel the cervix to feel its position before pushing the cup in; Keep in mind that the cervix can move on different days of your cycle, so it’s a good idea to check each cup if this is common.
- You point the cup away from the cervix. With this in mind, you also need to know roughly the position of the cervix. This happens when you aim the mouth of the cup against the vaginal wall instead of the cervix. Pay close attention to the cervical position and cup ejection angle during cup insertion.

Warning

Be careful to hold the cup upright when taking it out to prevent spills.
On heavy bleeding days, the cup may overflow; you should bring a spare tampon and take out the cup more often these days.
Don’t be discouraged if someone dreads the idea of using a menstrual cup. Some people are open-minded about this, but not all. The way to start this topic is, “Have you ever heard of a menstrual cup?” That way you can anticipate their reaction, and whether to convince them to try a menstrual cup to share their experience with you.
Menstrual cups are not birth control and must be removed before having sex. (However, disposable menstrual cups can be used with a contraceptive during sex.)
Don’t forget that you’re using a menstrual cup. Remember to take out menstrual blood and clean the cup after 12 hours maximum. If you leave the cup for longer, you need to watch out for signs of infection. There have been no cases of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) associated with menstrual cups, but if you experience symptoms of TSS contact your doctor right away.
Don’t worry because the position of the cup is not the same as shown in the picture. The important thing is that the cup doesn’t leak and you don’t feel it in your body. Depending on the shape of the vagina and the position of the cervix, the cup can be positioned high or low. After the cup is inserted, it will normally move on its own by gravity. Both pictures on the right are the correct placement of the cup.

Steps

Advice

Warning

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