If you’re using a menstrual cup for the first time, you’ll need to check out our menstrual cup tips first. Or, maybe you’ve been using a period cup for a while now, but are having a few problems such as leaking, or cramps.
Perhaps you’re a tried and true menstrual cup user, but just want to make your experience as awesome as possible. Whatever the case, these menstrual cup tips will help you get the most out of your cup. And, you’ll be able to do it all in style!
Tip #1: Keep it Clean
First up on our list of menstrual cup tips is how to look after your body, as well as your cup. An important thing to remember is that you need to wash your hands before inserting, or removing a menstrual cup.
It’s a bad, bad idea to introduce all those germs on your hands into your vaginal canal. This leads to things we all want to avoid like yeast infections. Use soap and water. Wash your hands well. Then, get up in there and find your cup!
Related to this, it’s also wise to keep your menstrual cup clean during your cycle. Whenever you’re at home, or in a private bathroom with a sink (try the handicapped ones when in public), wash your cup with soap and warm water after taking it out. Then, reinsert it. It doesn’t really matter what kind of soap it is, as long as you wash it well.
If you’re at home, you could even use an old toothbrush to clean all those nooks and crannies. For example, the holes in the Diva Cup that aid in suctioning it to your vaginal canal walls.
If you have a bit of money to burn, check out the Diva Wash or the Lunette Feelbetter Wash. They are a wee bit expensive, but the good news is that they really work. They keep your menstrual cup spic and span and smelling good. Plus, you have to use the tiniest of amounts each time so it’ll last you a year or two. You can buy the DivaWash on Amazon:
For even more menstrual cup tips related to cleaning, see: How to Deep Clean a Menstrual Cup. This is what you’d do with your cup when your period is done.
Tip #2: Menstrual Cups Like to Breathe
Number two on our list of menstrual cup tips is to let it breathe. Everyone likes breathing! Your cup is no exception. This is the most important tip for the end of your period. NEVER, EVER put your menstrual cup into something like a tupperware container with the lid on. This is bacteria breeding heaven. Then, next month when you go to use your cup, it’ll stink, and be slimy, and repulsive. And you likely will never, ever want to put it into your body ever again.
Trust us, whatever else you do between periods, this is the #1 rule that must always be followed. Use the little cotton bag that comes with the top-quality cups like the Lunette Cup, or the MoonCup. If you don’t have a little cotton bag, wrap it loosely in a paper towel. Or, put it into a tupperware container in the drawer, but don’t put the lid on it.
Tip #3: Don’t Give Up!
Menstrual cups require a learning curve. Tampons do not. You just put the tampon up in there and it’s hard to go wrong. Chances are, you figured it out on your first or second try and have been having great success ever since. Menstrual cups, on the hard require some practice to get it right. By get it right, we mean ease of insertion and removal, as well as preventing leaking.
The key is to not give up. It takes most people at least a few cycles to perfect it. Yes, it can take 5-6 cycles before you really fine-tune your menstrual cup operations. In the meantime, be patient with yourself and keep trying. You’ll gradually get better and start to love your menstrual cup more and more.
Tip #4: Try a Different Fold
If you’re finding that your menstrual cup doesn’t “pop” open once it’s inside of you, you might have a menstrual cup that is too soft and flimsy. For example, some of the cheap cups from China like the Leasen Cup, or the Vida Cup never really “pop” no matter what you do.
But, for the higher quality, stiffer cups, it’s likely a matter of trying a couple of different things. The first thing you can do is rotate the cup. Rotate it a full circle clockwise once it’s inside of you. Then, counterclockwise. This should work.
The next thing you can try is running your finger around the edge of it, for the full circle. One direction, then the other. This should also assist in helping to seal the cup to your vaginal walls.
Finally, if neither of these things work, try a different fold. Get creative. Find something that works for you!
Tip #5: Insert it Horizontally (Towards your Tailbone)
Tampons are inserted vertically. Menstrual Cups are not. You need to insert them horizontally, towards your cervix. If you’re sitting on a toilet, push it to the back of the toilet, not up towards the sky.
Tip #6: You can Trim the Stem, or Turn it Inside Out
Next up on our list of menstrual cup tips is one related to comfort. If you find that the stem of your menstrual cup is sticking out, you probably should be using a menstrual cup designed for people with a low cervix. But, before you go spend more money, try making your old menstrual cup work first.
The first thing you can do it turn the cup inside out. This means that the stem will be in the centre of your cup, where the fluid collects. The negative to this is that it will reduce the capacity of your cup by quite a bit, which isn’t great if you have a heavy period.
If you’ve tried that out, but it didn’t work for you, you can cut the stem of your cup. This will reduce the total length and you may find it a bit more comfortable. You might also find it a wee bit more difficult to remove, but most people grab the cylinder part of the cup to remove it, and not the stem so it shouldn’t be a big deal.
Tip #7: There IS a Cup for You
Okay, so tips #3, 4, 5, and 6 didn’t work for you. Your cup is still uncomfortable. It keeps leaking no matter what you do. You’ve tried to make it work for at least three cycles. The good news is that there are million and one different cups. You can check out our Menstrual Cup Comparison Chart for help in choosing another one.
Tip #8: All about Public Toilets
It’s way easier to deal with your menstrual cup when at home. You have a sink with water. There is soap. You have Diva Wash. It’s super easy.
On the road, not so much. The next best option besides your own bathroom is a toilet and sink in a small room together. Then, you do much the same as at home.
The least best option is a bathroom with multiple sinks and toilets. If this is the case, wash your hands before going into the stall. Remove the cup. Dump the contents into the toilet. Use a wet nap/toilet paper or something similar to clean it out a bit. Try not to touch anything else with your hands. Reinsert it.
Be sure to wash it very, very thoroughly the next time you’re in a private bathroom. It’s actually not such a big deal so don’t let this stop you from using a menstrual cup when on the road.
Tip #9: Pair it with a Reusable Cloth Pad
For even more environmentally friendly awesome, you’re going to want to pair your menstrual cup with a reusable cloth pad. This is a perfect option if you’re a beginner to menstrual cups and are worried about leaking. It’s also a an excellent option for overnight use if you like the sleep and don’t want to get up in the night to change your cup. It can overflow a little on the pad, and you can deal with everything in the morning.
Check out our Top 5 Reusable Cloth Pads. There are options ranging from pantyliners, to overnight cloth pads. Or, head on over to Amazon to pick up our top-rated reusable cloth pad for yourself:
Tip #10: Good Things Don’t Last Forever
Last up on our list of menstrual cup tips is, “Good things don’t last forever.” Unfortunately, menstrual cups have a lifespan to them and need to eventually be replaced. A lot of menstrual cup companies have an official recommendation of 2-3 years.
However, in our experience, they can last a lot longer if you take care of them well. Up to five years for the top-quality silicone ones, and 10 years or more for the Keeper. This means cleaning them regularly during your period, storing them correctly, deep cleaning them between periods, etc.
Yes! That’s some great news for the environment, as well as money-saving potential. Love it? We sure do here at Reusable Menstrual Cups.
Menstrual Cup Tips: Awesome? We Hope So!
Did you like these menstrual cup tips? We hope so! We’ve tried our best to make it easy for every single person to have success with menstrual cups. Now it’s your turn. Please leave a comment below and tell us your top menstrual cup tip. It could be related to insertion, and removal, cleaning, storage, etc. Or, perhaps you have a recommend for a period cup that you think it awesome. We’d love to hear it! Please and thank you.
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