Menstrual cup - we will dispel ALL your fears

Cup application – difficulties

Let the first one throw the cup who has never had trouble applying it. However, practice makes perfect, and being aware of the causes of the difficulties will help you deal with them quickly.

The cup doesn't want to go into the vagina

If you feel resistance and discomfort, pay attention to three things:

• folding the cup – adjust the way you fold the cup to your manual skills and preferences;
• tense muscles – this can also be a cause of difficulties, so make sure you are in comfortable conditions and reduce tension;
• no slippage – make sure you are moist. You can moisten the cup with water or use lubricant around the circumference of the cup.

The cup is too low

Positioning the cup too low can cause significant discomfort.

• To make it move upwards, try to gently move it by pushing with the tip of your finger and working your pelvic floor muscles.
• If the cup does not budge, it may have fully unfolded and is properly suctioned. You will need to suction it out and try reinserting it .

Are you taking your first steps with a cup? Practice inserting it before your period starts! When the time comes, nothing will surprise you! Also read our article " How to insert a menstrual cup? ".

Problems with removing the menstrual cup

…can stress you out. And stress at this point becomes your biggest enemy. See what to do if you don’t know how to remove your menstrual cup.

“My vagina isn’t cooperating!”

Stress ⇋ Tense pelvic floor muscles ⇋ Difficult manipulation inside the vagina

Break the vicious circle and relax ! Only (and as much as) peace can save you here.

Make it easier for yourself and make your whole body cooperate. It starts with your head and ends with your vagina!

“I can’t find my menstrual cup!”

Believe me, it didn't get lost . It could have just wandered higher than your fingers can reach, but that's not a reason to send you to the doctor's couch.

• First, take care of relaxation . Meditation or a warm bath in the tub or shower will soothe your body, and your muscles will be more willing to cooperate.
• Calmly perform alternating contractions and relaxations of the pelvic floor muscles . The contractions should move the cup downwards.

"The cup is still"

It probably wasn't suctioned properly .

Squeeze the bottom of the base with two fingers or insert your index finger and move the edge away from the vaginal walls. Only when the vacuum is released will the cup start to move.

Remember to never forcefully pull out an undrained cup!

You can learn more about removing the cup in the article here .

Will the menstrual cup fall out?

A properly inserted menstrual cup will not fall out.

If you are concerned about your menstrual cup coming out of your body, please consider the following factors:

• Is the cup at the right height? If the cup is too low, it may feel like it's about to fall out. However, the cup's diameter is much larger than the vaginal opening, so it's unlikely to fall out.
• Is the cup size right for your vagina? Unless your cup is a few sizes too small, you can wear it without worrying about it slipping out of your body uncontrollably.
• Has the cup been properly sucked in? Its positioning in the vagina ensures adherence to its walls, and the negative pressure created guarantees the ideal positioning of the cup.

Can a menstrual cup get stuck?

The menstrual cup cannot get stuck .

However, you may have such concerns or even the impression that you do if, after inserting your fingers into your vagina, you are unable to manipulate the cup or locate it at all.

What should I do if the cup won’t budge?

• Stay calm – stress and tension will not solve the problem, but 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 tensing and relaxing. The contractions will move the cup downwards.
• Slow down the pace and vacuum – once you feel the cup, grab the base and squeeze it to suck it away from the vaginal walls. The vacuum will disappear and the cup will start to cooperate with your fingers and vagina.

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 faster!

Can a cup cause anaphylactic shock?

A consciously used cup made of a safe material minimizes the risk of anaphylactic shock.

What does conscious use of a menstrual cup mean?

Body and cup hygiene directly affects the creation of safe circumstances for its use.

Changing the cup more frequently than every 8 to 12 hours is a necessity, and neglecting it may increase the risk of toxic shock.

What menstrual cup material is safe?

The neutral and safe material of menstrual cups is medical silicone . It is neutral to the human body, so the body does not treat it as an enemy, and the risk of anaphylactic shock is small.

If you want to know if the cup is safe and what effect it has on your health, check out our article here . And how to protect yourself from a leaking cup you can read here .

Menstrual cup and intrauterine device

People wearing an IUD can use menstrual cups.

There is, however, a risk that the position of the IUD will be disturbed when manipulating the cup inside the vagina . This risk is related to its lower part – the threads protruding into the vagina from the cervical canal. You can minimize this risk by asking your gynecologist to shorten the threads of your IUD.

Can the cup be inserted too deep?

Contrary to myths and irrational beliefs, the cup will not disappear into the depths of your vagina.

However, if your cervix is ​​located high, the cup may move upwards and become difficult to feel. Its many hours of stay in the vagina also contribute to migration .

What to do if the cup is too deep?

• Stay calm – stress and tension will not help here, and will only cause tension in the pelvic floor muscles and make it more difficult to manipulate the cup.
• Relax – take a bath, do some relaxation exercises – choose what best helps you relax.
• Work your muscles – do some conscious contraction and relaxation. Vaginal contractions will move the cup downwards.

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

Menstrual cup won’t suck in – what should I do?

If the cup does not seal properly, you do not have to re-apply it immediately .

What to do if the cup does not latch on?

• Try to relax – tense muscles are the main cause of the cup not settling in.
• Gently pull the menstrual cup by the loop or the end of the stem – this movement may cause the cup to re-suck, which may be sufficient this time.
• If the cup is still not unfolded, grab the base of the cup with two fingers and squeeze , gently moving it side to side and rotating it .
• Make sure the holes at the edge of the cup are clear – they are responsible for creating a vacuum and sucking the cup in. If menstrual fluid is stuck in the holes, it can prevent the pressure from being regulated correctly and make it difficult to suck the menstrual cup in.

If none of the above methods work, reinsert the menstrual cup .

Make sure your menstrual cup is the right size for you . A cup that is too large may not have enough space to open and suck properly.

You can learn how to fit your menstrual cup in our article .

Is the vacuum created by the cup harmful to health?

The pressure generated by the menstrual cup is not harmful to health because it is low - regulated thanks to the holes at its edge, it does not have a negative effect on the body.

It is important to release the vacuum before removing the cup . How?

Squeeze the cup at its base or tilt its edge away from the vaginal wall. This action is usually accompanied by a specific sound and a painless "release" of tension felt inside.

Remember to keep the holes clean . If they are blocked, the pressure is not regulated, which results in stronger or weaker suction of the cup.

Discomfort when wearing a cup

Discomfort when wearing the cup is most often caused by incorrect application .

The cup does not unfold inside

The irregular shape of the cup may press against the vaginal walls. 

• Relax your pelvic floor muscles. They can hold the cup in a grip that is too strong, preventing it from unfolding.
• Insert a clean index finger into the vagina and try to deform the cup by gently squeezing it.
• Grab the base of the cup and move it gently.
• If you still feel discomfort, re-apply.

The cup is too low

The pressure in the lower part of your vagina makes it difficult to perform almost every movement. When you insert your finger into your vagina, you immediately feel the loop or stem of the cup and have the feeling that it will "fall out".

• Relax your pelvic floor muscles.
• Insert a clean finger into the vagina and gently push the cup upwards , using your muscles to help.
• If the cup is not moving, do not struggle with it. Make sure to suction it properly and remove it from the body.
• Reinsert the cup , making sure it is slightly higher in the vagina before suction.

Irritation due to lack of moisture

The stress and tension caused by using the cup can cause dryness in the intimate areas, even during menstruation, and lead to irritation.

Be sure to moisturize during application. Some people find that just a little warm water will suffice, while others prefer to apply some lubricant to the rim of the cup .

Wrong cup size

A menstrual cup that is too large will exert pressure regardless of correct insertion.

In this case, choose a smaller size or consult a gynecologist who will help you make the right choice.

How to check the fill level of the cup?

Unfortunately, unlike a sanitary pad, you cannot constantly check the filling level of the menstrual cup in the vagina.

Its condition, just like a tampon, is only noticeable after it has been removed from the body.

If you want to check the amount of menstrual fluid, you should remove the cup from the vagina .

Its filling level depends on your cycle, the intensity of your period and the distribution of forces during menstruation. During the use of the cup you will get the best feeling and with time you will be able to adjust the frequency of emptying.

For your first periods together, you can protect your underwear by using a panty liner (we recommend our organic cotton panty liner ). This will help you avoid any lasting mementos from learning to menstruate with a cup.

How often should I change my cup?

The menstrual cup should be emptied depending on the amount of bleeding .

• During the first, heaviest days of menstruation, it is recommended to empty the cup every 3 to 5 hours .
• When bleeding is less heavy, you can empty the cup even every 12 hours!

However, this is the maximum time the cup can stay inside the body. Exceeding this limit can cause too much menstrual fluid to accumulate and poses a risk to maintaining proper hygiene and health.

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

You can learn more about replacing the cup from our article: Menstrual cup - replacement in different conditions .

Menstrual cup and urination

As we well know (because we know, right?), the urethra and the vagina are two independent friends that do not interfere with each other during work.

This is why…

• The cup does not interfere with urination.
• You don't have to take the cup out when peeing.
• It does not impede the flow of urine through the urethra.

If you feel discomfort when urinating with a menstrual cup in place, report it to your gynecologist!

The cup falls out during defecation

For some an unpleasant vision, for others an unpleasant… experience.

Yes, this can happen. The pressure to have a bowel movement during a bowel movement can push the cup down the vagina, and its lowering can cause it to slide out completely.

Causes of cup loss during defecation

However, the cup falling out during defecation is not the norm, and the occurrence of this phenomenon has its causes. What are they?

Menstrual cup size too small

The effects of a cup that is too small can be felt not only during bowel movements. Leaking and problems with suction can also indicate a size mismatch.

The cup is placed too low

If the cup is too close to the vaginal opening , contractions can push it out. If the cup is too low, it causes discomfort during daily use.

The cup is not sucked in properly

If your finger slipped during insertion and the cup didn't open properly, it probably didn't suck either. As a result, it doesn't stick to the vaginal walls and wanders, also getting closer to its opening. Then, during a bowel movement, the cup, not supported by the vacuum, can come out of the body.

Too much pressure during defecation

Remember that too much pressure to defecate in case of recurrent constipation can not only lead to the cup falling out , but also cause diseases of the lower digestive tract.

What to do if your menstrual cup falls into the toilet?

It happened. The cup fell out and is in the toilet. It's not the end of the world! First of all:

• Don't flush it down the toilet! Your first instinct might be to do so, but it's not a good idea. Why? The possibility of a clogged drain, potential problems at the sewage treatment plant, and the loss of a cup don't sound like the best thing, do they?
• Disinfection and sterilization! Regardless of the condition the cup is in, it does not mean the end of its life. After proper, fully conscious and thorough sterilization and disinfection, you can still use it.

Remember, just washing under running water is not enough . It is necessary to expose the menstrual cup to high temperatures, for example by boiling it in boiling water. You can also kill bacteria and microorganisms with products designed to clean the menstrual cup.

You can learn how to properly wash and maintain menstrual cup hygiene here .

If you know that you are not able to take care of hygiene and proper cleaning of the menstrual cup, do not risk it . Transferring bacteria and microorganisms found in the toilet to the inside of the body is dangerous to your health!

Does the menstrual cup increase the risk of intimate infections and TSS?

Correct use of the cup does not increase the risk of intimate infections or toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

• A menstrual cup is usually made of medical silicone, a material safe for the body .
• Compared to tampons and pads, it is a collector – it does not absorb menstrual fluids, but collects them. This prevents the vagina from drying out and helps maintain its proper pH .
• Does not contain bleaching substances or dioxins harmful to the body .

The cup on its side offers you a safe period – it's up to you to make it so!

Maintain the hygiene of your menstrual cup, follow the recommendations and remember to empty it at least every 12 hours, and you will reduce the risk of intimate infections and protect yourself from toxic shock syndrome.

If you suspect TSS, see a doctor immediately!

Menstrual cup leaking – what to do?

A leak is a sign that something is wrong!

What to do if your cup is leaking? Find out the cause!

Incorrect menstrual cup size

Menstrual cups that are too small will not absorb into the vagina because they will not adhere tightly to its walls. Their movement and too small capacity result in leakage, regardless of your efforts. In such cases, it is necessary to change to a larger cup .

Menstrual cups that are too large will not fully unfold in the vagina, which means that menstrual fluid can bypass the interior of the cup and flow carelessly down the sides. If you feel pressure in your vagina, the cup cannot unfold freely - you may need to change to a smaller cup .

The cup did not unfold properly

When the cup is inside but not fully unfolded, some of the menstrual fluid will not end up in the cup but directly on your underwear.

You can learn how to properly apply the cup from our article .

The cup is full

Heavy bleeding or wearing the cup for a long time can cause it to fill to the max. Excess menstrual fluid can leak out of the cup and flow down the vagina.

Monitor your cycle and flow. This will help you better assess when it's time to empty and avoid leakage!

Menstrual cup and pelvic floor muscles

The pelvic floor muscles play an almost primary role in the art of "menstruation with a cup."

Thanks to their cooperation, you can correctly insert and remove the cup . The relaxed pelvic floor muscles allow you to manipulate the cup inside the vagina.

Most often, the state of their tension depends on how you feel and whether you are stressed - that is why control and the ability to work (with) the pelvic muscles are so important!

Menstrual cup and cervical height

The height of your cervix is ​​one of the most important factors when choosing a menstrual cup. It will help you determine what length is right for you.

• People whose cervix is ​​located higher should choose longer cups . This minimizes the risk of the cup moving too high, which can be problematic when locating it when removing it.
• People with a lower cervix should choose a shorter cup length . The tips of longer cups may be too close to the vaginal opening and be (un)likely uncomfortable.

Remember that even if you insert the cup correctly, but its stem is sticking out of the vagina, you can safely cut it off!

Do you know your cervix well?

How to measure cervical height?

The easiest way to measure your cervical height is to insert your (clean!) index or middle finger into your vagina until you feel the cervix (the soft, smooth tissue that feels different from the vaginal wall).

Then, using your thumb, mark the point of entry into the vagina on your finger .

After removing your finger, use a ruler to measure the distance from the marking to the tip of your finger.

Remember that the cervix changes throughout the cycle. For the most accurate result, measure in the first few days of your period!

Can I wear a menstrual cup at night?

Yes , you can also wear a menstrual cup at night .

Its action is just as effective in the lying position.

• If your nighttime flow is not heavy, you can sleep soundly! Since the cup can be replaced every 8 hours, it will provide you with a comfortable, leak-free sleep.
• However, if moonlight increases your bleeding, you may need to empty your cup during the night.

Menstrual cup and sports

You can do any type of sport with a menstrual cup .

Without discomfort, without shame and without limitations.

Regardless of whether you practice acrobatics, running or horse riding. Maximum safety, comfort and the possibility of changing even every 8 hours give you the scope to show off and the opportunity to develop your passions.

Can I swim with the cup in?

Yes, you can definitely swim with a cup. However…

Discovering its benefits and using them is only safe if you maintain hygiene! Immediately after swimming or during a pee break , empty and wash the cup.

The combination of bacteria from water that has entered the vagina with the mucus and menstrual fluid on the walls of the cup is a direct route to infection and unpleasant odor.

Has your cup changed color and stinks? All is not lost yet! Find out how to restore its former glory in the article " How to clean a menstrual cup ?".

How to properly store a menstrual cup?

The menstrual cup can be stored in:

• Cotton bag . In addition to the aesthetics of storage, the bag provides airflow and allows the cup to breathe. Remember to wash the fabric of the bag from time to time. Pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendations and use mild detergents for washing.
• Container. If you decide to use a menstrual container, make sure it has enough air circulation .
• Toilet paper/tissue. If you need to store your cup temporarily and don't have a bag or container on hand, you can improvise and wrap it in toilet paper or tissue.

What should you remember when storing your menstrual cup?

• Before you take a final look at your cup and say goodbye to it for the next few weeks, disinfect it .
• Remember to let your menstrual cup dry completely before placing it in a bag or container. Moisture encourages bacteria to grow and affects the smell.
• Provide the cup with air access and make sure it is stored at room temperature .

By learning about the idea of ​​menstrual cups and the sea of ​​possibilities they offer, you can consciously decide about the future of your cooperation.

If you already know the theory behind the menstrual cup, check it out and see how it works in practice!