I had heard about Menstrual Cups for YEARS before I finally got up the nerve to try one for myself. I loved the idea of reducing waste, and using a non-toxic product for my body but it totally freaked me out. So many of you feel the same way – I know because you’ve told me 😉 So I wanted to share how to use a menstrual cup for beginners – everything you need to know to get started!
This post might get a little intimate, but I want to share ALL the details to get you started on your Menstrual Cup journey! So let’s pretend we’re just girlfriends drinking wine and chatting about our periods!
HOW TO USE A MENSTRUAL CUP FOR BEGINNERS
What I’ll cover:
- What is a Menstrual Cup?!
- Reasons to switch to a Menstrual Cup
- Picking The Right Cup
- How to Use A Menstrual Cup For Beginners
- How To Clean Your Cup
- What If It Gets Stuck?!
- Does it Hurt?
WHAT IS A MENSTRUAL CUP?
Ok, so maybe you’ve heard about menstrual cups but you’re still wondering WHAT THE HECK IS IT?!
A menstrual cup is a rubber / silicone reusable cup that you insert during your period. Unlike a tampon which absorbs your period blood, a cup collects the blood until you remove and dump it.
Since one cup can be used for years, cups are an eco-friendly alternative to pads and tampons. Many brands are made of high quality, non-toxic silicone which is non-toxic to the body and can even help alleviate period discomfort!
REASONS TO SWITCH TO A MENSTRUAL CUP
- NON-TOXIC : Most pads and tampons are made from cotton which is a crop that is heavily sprayed with pesticides and herbicides! These chemicals are known to disrupt our hormones, and are even associated with cancer. A non-toxic menstrual cup is a healthy alternative!
- SAVE MONEY : The average woman who gets her period every single month from the age of 13-51 is going to spend THOUSANDS in her lifetime on tampons, pads and panty liners. This post breaks down the cost of having a period. One menstrual cup can be used for years and although it is more of an investment up front ($15-30), it will save hundreds or thousands of dollars in the long run.
- ECO-FRIENDLY : Period products create a huge amount of waste every month. A menstrual cup creates none (except the box it came in)! It’s basically a no-brainer.
- 12 HOURS : Most cups hold at least 3x the amount of liquid compared to a tampon. A woman with an average flow can get up to 12 hours without having to remove and empty her cup. Personally, I could go WAY longer than 12 hours, but 12 hours is the recommended maximum.
- LEAK-FREE : Menstrual Cups should create a leak-proof seal. Meaning less pairs of panties ruined. Less stressing about leakage and less bathroom breaks to change your tampon.
- REDUCE CRAMPING : Have you ever thought about what putting pesticide covered cotton into your vagina might be doing for your health? Probably not. Many women claim reduced cramping once they’ve transitioned to a cup.
Ok, now I’m SURE I’ve convinced you that the Menstrual Cup life is the best life. So let’s talk about MY personal favourite menstrual cup.
CHOOSING YOUR MENSTRUAL CUP
Menstrual cups are not one-size fits all! If you’ve tried a cup in the past and it didn’t work well for you, don’t give up!
SIZE
Many brands sell a small size and a regular size.
As a general rule of thumb the small cup is for those with a lighter flow (2-3 tampons per day), small physique, first time cup users, and those with a low cervix.
The regular sized cup is for those with a heavier flow (4+ tampons per day), women who have given birth, or women with a high cervix.
MATERIAL
Menstrual cups are typically made from medical grade silicone. Unless you have an allergy to silicone, this is what I would recommend! You want to avoid any materials that contain BPA/BPS.
The main difference between many different brands is the firmness. Some women like a softer cup, while others need a firmer cup in order to get a good seal.
Here’s a fun quiz to help you choose a menstrual cup! Of course, this is just an internet quiz and I’d encourage you to research beyond this. But I did get my favourite cup recommended!
MY FAVOURITE BRAND
I absolutely love the brand Saalt. Their quality is top-notch with non-toxic medical grade silicone cups. They are built to last, don’t stain, are odour-free and come with a cute carrying bag!
But on top of the quality of their cups is their mission. Thousands of women in the world are never educated about their periods and do not have the proper supplies. They often stop attending school because they cannot attend during their cycle.
Saalt has donated over 7000 cups to girls and women all over the globe. They educate young girls about their menstrual cycles. Providing a girl with the supplies she needs plus the knowledge to stay clean and healthy during her periods can change her life forever.
HOW TO USE A MENSTRUAL CUP FOR BEGINNERS
The concept of inserting a piece of plastic into your vagina is intimidating to most women! I’m not going to lie and say it’s easy. For myself and for many other cup users, there is a learning curve. But don’t let that scare you away!
Step-by-step how to use a menstrual cup for beginners :
- Wash your hands and cup with a mild soap.
- Don’t dry off the cup. That little bit of water acts as a lubricant.
- Do some cup origami! There are three common folds: C-Fold, Punch-Down Fold, and 7-Fold (Photos from Saalt)
4. Try different positions while inserting your cup. Sit, stand, squat or stand with one foot on the toilet seat / edge of the bathtub.
5. Hold your cup in whatever fold you’ve chosen (I do the C-Fold or 7-Fold).
6. Spread your legs and gently insert the cup rim-first into your vagina.
7. Slowly and carefully slide it back at an angle towards your tailbone, not straight up. You want to ensure it is fully inside you. Sometimes the steam will stick out a little bit (you can cut that if it’s irritating).
8. Let go slowly and you should the cup open up inside you – this may or may not be super noticeable!
9. You can run your finger around the cup or gently twist the cup to ensure it has opened up.
10. You did it!!!
Tips for Beginners:
- My first tip is to try your cup out on a day when you’re at home, or at least a day when you aren’t super busy and can attempt inserting it multiple times.
- Patience! It took me several attempts (and youtube videos!) before I got my first good seal. It took several months before I was 100% confident.
- Watch Youtube videos! Here’s a video that helped me! No, they aren’t gross and nobody actually shows you anything you don’t want to see LOL
- DO NOT attempt wearing a menstrual cup when you plan on spending the day at a waterpark or beach!
- Wear a pad or panty liner while you’re learning. I use reusable organic pads on days when I don’t feel like changing my cup.
REMOVING YOUR MENSTRUAL CUP
If at any point your cup starts leaking, it should be removed. Either you don’t have a good seal or it’s full!
One of the most common (and scary!) problems that women come across is not being able to remove the cup. DON’T WORRY! This is because your cervix naturally moved up and down. It’s very common to have a high cervix first thing in the morning.
It is impossibly for your cup to go anywhere since your Cervix is blocking it! While it may feel as if it’s never coming out, I promise you it will!
RELAX. If you just wait another hour or two, it will likely move down on it’s own.
If you don’t have time to wait, squatting will help move the cup down. It also helps to “bear down” which is the action of using your pelvic muscles as if you’re going to the bathroom.
Once you can reach your cup pinch the sides together to break the seal. Avoid pulling on the steam.
Carefully remove the cup and dump the contents into the toilet. This shouldn’t be a messy process.
CLEANING YOUR MENSTRUAL CUP
Now that you know how to use a menstrual cup for beginners, most people have questions about how to clean their menstrual cup!
DAILY CLEANING
When you remove your cup you should rinse it with cold water first to avoid staining. Blood + hot water = stains!
You can use mild, unscented soap on your cup in between uses if you’d like. But just water is also fine.
Note: If you need to empty your cup in a public washroom, it’s totally fine to reinsert it without washing it off. Just don’t do that several times in a row! You can also carry wipes to clean it, but please never flush any wipes!! But since you can go 12 hours without emptying the cup, it’s usually possible to plan around having to empty it in public 🙂
After rinsing your cup you can reinsert it.
WEEKLY CLEANING
Once you’ve completed your cycle you should clean your cup thoroughly and store it until next month.
This video shows how you can properly sanitize your cup.
This does NOT have to be done in between uses. It’s just a good idea to do this cleaning once a month to reduce discolouration and odours.
DOES WEARING A MENSTRUAL CUP HURT?
No! A properly inserted cup should not hurt. You actually shouldn’t be able to feel it at all!
If you can really feel your cup inside you, you may want to try positioning it higher or at a different angle. Don’t be afraid to wiggle it around once it’s opened up.
If you still feel a lot of pain, you may need to try a different shape cup or a cup with a different firmness! But don’t give up 🙂
For more FAQs about the menstrual cup, head over here!
