How to remove menstrual cup? Instructions

How does a menstrual cup work?

Menstrual cups are hygiene products that are a great alternative to pads andtampons . Their advantage is that they can be used multiple times . You can use one cup for up to 10 years !

Using a menstrual cup allows you to control the amount of menstrual blood and fluid loss during your period because it is a collector . It collects menstrual fluids instead of absorbing them.

It is most often made of medical silicone , safe for the body.

Buying a menstrual cup is a one-time expense that pays for itself after just a few months of use.

Menstrual cups, when placed in the vagina , create a vacuum , thanks to which they adhere to the vaginal walls and remain stationary in it. Properly applying a menstrual cup reduces the risk of leakage , and you can enjoy freshness and even forget that you are menstruating!

You can learn how to properly insert the cup here , and how to prevent blood from leaking from the cup here .

How often should you empty your menstrual cup?

The menstrual cup should be emptied depending on the amount of bleeding . However, during the first, heaviest days of bleeding, it is usually recommended to empty the cup every 3 to 5 hours .

With less heavy bleeding, you can empty the cup every 12 hours! However, this is the maximum time the cup can be in the vagina. Exceeding this limit can cause too much fluid to accumulate in the cup and poses a risk to maintaining proper hygiene.

Remember that the frequency of emptying is an individual matter and depends on the amount of your bleeding . By using a cup, you will get to know your cycle better and you will know when and how often to empty your menstrual cup.

Removing Menstrual Cups: Step by Step

You already know how to insert a menstrual cup. You use it and enjoy its many benefits. Now we invite you to familiarize yourself with a short cheat sheet on how to properly remove the cup . It's all in your hands!

Hygiene

Any activity involving direct contact with intimate areas requires a serious approach to hygiene.

For this reason , you should wash your hands thoroughly before reaching into your panties and removing the cup ! 

Also, take care of the cleanliness of the pussy. You can wash it with water or use a wet wipe . This will reduce the risk of introducing bacteria from the edges of the vulva into the vagina.

Comfortable position

Take a position in which you feel comfortable and have optimal access to the vagina.

This may be the same position in which you applied the cup. Pay attention to whether the pelvic floor muscles have the opportunity to relax in the chosen body position.

In a standing position, with one leg resting on the bathtub, crouching or sitting - it all depends on you and your comfort . And this is particularly important in this process.

Peace and relaxation

You will achieve complete peace of mind thanks to comfort and… practice.

At first, taking out your menstrual cup may make you feel anxious or even stressed – and this is normal .

However, stress causes the muscles to tighten and makes the process of removing the cup much more difficult. It is very important to relax the muscles during this activity , so make sure you have comfortable conditions and give yourself time .

Work your pelvic floor muscles

Relaxed pelvic floor muscles will not only make it easier to manipulate the cup inside, but they can also be great partners in lowering it!

Squeezing and relaxing the muscles with gentle pressure will move the menstrual cup towards the exit of the body.

Insert your fingers into your vagina

With clean fingers, spread your labia and gently insert them into the vagina.

The thumb and index or middle finger are most commonly used . You can of course use a different combination. It is important to effectively manipulate the messengers inside the vagina.

Locate the cup

Once you have inserted your fingers inside, locate the cup.

You may immediately feel its base or the end in the form of a loop or stem. If you can't locate the cup, try relaxing your muscles even more and after a while perform a few erectile contractions.

Grab and squeeze the menstrual cup

With the cup within reach, you must first release the vacuum it creates. To do this:

• Grab the base of the cup with two fingers and squeeze it or…
• … insert one finger along one side of the cup and press inwards, pulling it away from the vaginal wall.

Cup suction

This is a crucial step, without which removing the cup can cause pain and discomfort, or even damage the cup.

The suction of the cup will be the result of squeezing or pulling it away from the vaginal walls. It may be accompanied by the sound of air being sucked out, which you will also feel inside. It is a very gentle action that will not cause you discomfort.

Rocking vertical movement downwards

The suctioned cup in your fingers is ready to be removed . The movement with which you take it out of the vagina should be slow and gently rocking from side to side .

Rocking too hard may cause the contents to spill and trigger a red alarm, so keep it in an upright position .

As the menstrual cup gets closer to exiting the vagina, you can gently squeeze its edges to reduce its diameter and provide even more comfort.

Help yourself with a loop or a stalk!

The ending of the cup not only makes it easier to locate it in the vagina , but also ensures the stability of the handle during its further journey.

Spilling fluids

Well done! You've successfully removed your menstrual cup!

However, to successfully complete the mission, you must pour the fluids down the drain or into the toilet.

The cup may be filled to the brim with menstrual fluid, so it is important to hold it steadily in an upright position.

Washing the cup and storing it

To remove any residue from the cup's contents, rinse the cup under running water (remember: first cold, then warm). Depending on whether you plan to reinsert it soon or your period has just ended, you can use an intimate hygiene fluid to wash it or disinfect it by boiling it in boiling water.

Re-use the washed cup or dry it and store it in a suitable bag or container.

You can learn about the best ways to keep menstrual cups clean and store them conveniently in our article: " How to clean a menstrual cup? "

Menstrual cup – how to remove if:

Sometimes things don't go as planned. On the way to removing the cup, you may encounter adventures that will make the whole process a bit more difficult. Based on the most common problems, we have prepared a cup emergency service!

Tight muscles make it impossible to manipulate the inside of the vagina

Muscle tension makes it much more difficult to remove the cup. The stress resulting from the inability to manipulate the cup perpetuates a vicious cycle of tension and prevents relaxation. So, above all, relax! 

Give yourself a moment to calm down, take a few deep breaths. A relaxing shower or bath will help.

Tight muscles can also be caused by improper body position . If you have only tried to remove the cup standing up, try squatting or sitting down, and vice versa. You know best what your body needs.

The cup is not moving

A cup that is not moving may indicate that it was not suctioned properly .

Try doing this again. This may require squeezing the base a little harder , or using your index finger to push the rim of the cup away from the vaginal walls.

Only when the vacuum is released will the cup stop offering resistance and begin to move.

Remember not to pull the cup out with force under any circumstances!

Make sure you have the right cup size . A cup that is too large can press against the vaginal walls and make it difficult to move. It is better to choose a smaller cup.

You can learn how to adjust the size of your menstrual cup in our article here .

The cup slips out of your fingers

The cup "leaking" can be caused by a large accumulation of mucus with menstrual fluid . Their occurrence is natural and advisable when removing the cup. Natural lubrication ensures a smooth process and no chafing. Sometimes, however, it also makes it difficult to grab the base of the cup with stability.

You can then remove excess mucus by washing it off your fingers under running water .

There are also special rubber finger covers available on the market that provide better grip on the cup and make it easier to remove.

If the problem is not due to moisture and excessive slippage, pay attention to the hardness of your cup . A very hard material can make it difficult to manipulate the cup inside the vagina. It requires more force and dexterity to change its shape, so when you squeeze the base, a cup that is too hard can slip out of your fingers. In this case, a soft cup will work better.

I can't find the cup in my vagina

Just because you don't feel the menstrual cup after inserting your fingers into your vagina doesn't mean you need to visit a gynecologist or the ER. This situation most often happens in people with a high cervix or after wearing a menstrual cup for many hours.

If you have more questions about the cup, read our article " Menstrual cup - we will dispel ALL your concerns ".

What to do if the cup is too deep?

• First of all, don't panic! Stress and tension won't solve the problem, they will only cause more tension in the pelvic floor muscles.
• Relax. A warm bath, yoga or meditation – choose what best affects your calmness and restores calm breathing.
• Work your muscles. Do conscious contraction and release. The contractions will move the cup downwards.

If you are worried about possibly "losing" the cup in your vagina, do not cut off the stem or the loop . Their presence will allow you to locate the cup more quickly and reduce stress.

And if you want to learn more about using the cup in different conditions, read our article " Menstrual cup - survival replacement ".

Removing the cup – just like inserting it – requires learning. Following a few rules can make it easier for you to use it and make you forget about period discomfort once and for all!

MP de Araujo, L. Chimello, BP Brigido et al., Evaluation of the safety and comfort of menstrual cup during sport. A prospective cohort study , Brazil 2020, p. 1-13.
C. Howard, CL Rose, K. Trouton et al., FLOW (finding lasting options for women). Multicentre randomized controlled trial comparing tampons with menstrual cups , "Canadian Family Physician" 2011, vol. 57, p. 208-215.
A. Shihata, S. Brody, An Innovative, Reusable Menstrual Cup that Enhances the Quality of Women's Lives during Menstruation , "British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research" 2014, vol. 4, i. 19, p. 3581-3590.
J. Sundqvist, A cup of freedom? A study of the menstrual cup's impact on girls' capabilities , Madrid 2015, p. 37.