Menstrual Cups Insertion & Removal Help

Insertion/Removal

How do I use a menstrual cup?

Here are the basic steps to insert your menstrual cup. For more information, please refer to our blog post here.

  1. Using warm water and mild soap, wash your hands and cup under clean running water
  2. Choose a folding method and fold the cup
  3. You can stand, squat, sit, or raise one of your legs. Hold your cup firmly and guide it towards your vagina
  4. Relax your pelvic muscles and gently separate your labia with your other hand
  5. Guide your cup into your vagina, pointing it upwards toward the base of your spine.
  6. Try to keep the cup folded until the cup body is entirely inside of your vagina
  7. Gently release the folded cup – the cup will pop open and create a sealing suction
  8. Run a finger along the base of the cup to ensure that it has opened completely – if you feel any folds, hold the base of your cup and gently rotate it until it opens completely and creates a sealing suction
  9. Gently hold the base of the cup, not the stem, and try to rotate it from side to side to ensure it is sealed

What are the different folds I can try?

There are several folds that we recommend for both beginners and experienced users, as they are the easiest to master and work well for our cups.

  • C fold / Shell fold
  • Punch down fold
  • 7 fold
  • Labia fold
  • Half diamond fold

There are many other folds that have been tried and tested by cup users around the world. Do experiment with different folds and see which works best for you!

Can I practice putting my cup in and taking it out, before my period starts?

Yes, absolutely! In fact, you are encouraged to do so. Trying out the cup before your period comes can help you to master the techniques of inserting and removing it! We suggest doing some "dry runs" before your period, to get familiar with your body and how the cup sits in your vagina. When your period actually comes, it'll be much easier since you already know what to do. It is perfectly safe. You can even wear the cup ahead of time, when you are expecting your period.

I need to use a lubricant to make inserting a cup easier. Which kind should I use?

Water-based lubricants can be used with menstrual cups. Please do not use oil-based or silicone-based lubricants as the ingredients may degrade silicone, rendering your cup unuseable.

If possible, we also recommend avoiding lubricants that contain glycerin. Glycerin is a sugar alcohol compound, and can feed yeast in the vaginal environment, which may cause yeast infections or thrush.

Will I feel the cup when I wear it?

Most people cannot feel the cup if it is inserted correctly, especially if they trim the stem (but only trim as much as is necessary). Others are slightly aware that the cup is there, the same way they are aware that a tampon is in. But the cup is soft and as long as you have a good size for your needs, and it is inserted correctly, it should not hurt.

Will the cup fly out when I do sports?

No. The cup is held in place by your vaginal muscles and will not fall out of your vagina. In fact, it should not move at all.

Do I need to remove the cup when urinating/having a bowel movement?

No, the hole you urinate from (the urethra) and the vagina are not the same hole. The cup will not get in the way, or fall out when you pee.

Some people prefer to remove their cup before a bowel movement as the pushing during a bowel movement may move the cup further down their vagina (but probably not enough to push it all the way out). If you do not wish to remove the cup but it has moved, you can adjust it by pushing it further back into the vagina after the bowel movement.

Do I need to trim the stem of the cup?

The position of your cervix could change during menstruation, usually moving lower down the vagina. Get through at least one period to see how your cervix height fluctuates to establish if you need to trim the stem. See if you need the stem for removal on any of the days you are on your period. If your cup sits comfortably in your vagina and the stem does not stick out, then you do not need to trim it. However, if the cup is inserted correctly and you have worn it for some time, and the stem pokes your underwear or sticks out of your vagina, consider trimming your stem. (Some cups' stem should not be trimmed - refer to individual product pages for more info.)

Be absolutely sure before you modify your cup.  Don't lop off the entire stem at once; you can always trim more later but you can never put any back.

Never attempt to trim the cup’s stem while it is still inside of you; remove the cup and trim the stem accordingly.

My cup is leaking!

If you're sure that your cup has opened fully in your vagina, but you still experience leaking, it could be one of the following:

If it's full blown "nothing getting into the cup" leakage, then you have missed your cervix. Find your cervix and point the opening toward it during insertion.

If it's leaking like it's overflowing even though it's only partially full, then your cervix might be low and taking up some of the space in your cup. Empty your cup more often.

The third kind of leak is what we call "residual slobber." That's when the flow that finds its way into the nooks and crannies of your vagina on the far side of your cup works its way out. It usually looks like a little bit of spotting.

Can the cup get stuck or lost inside me?

No, the cup cannot get lost inside you, because it is trapped by the walls and the closed end of your vagina. You are sort of like a pocket up inside, there is nowhere for a cup (or anything else) to go.

Will the cup hurt when I am removing it?

Not if you break the seal properly. A virgin or first-time user may have some discomfort the first few times, but it will lessen with practice. Squeeze the cup gently, to let some air in and break the seal. Inserting a finger alongside the cup also helps this process.  Sometimes there are certain vaginal conditions (such as vaginismus) that can cause pain with any kind of insertion, even small objects.  There are other conditions that can cause this too.  If you suspect that you may have such a condition, please see your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Help, I can't remove my cup!

Sometimes you may have trouble removing the cup because it is so far inside the vagina that you can't get a hold of the bottom or stem (sometimes this happens during the night). First of all, do not panic! After waking up, wait at least half an hour to allow the cup to settle and then remove.

Breathe deeply, relax your vaginal muscles, and try to grasp the bottom or stem of the cup with your fingers. You can bear down your weight (pushing downward using the same muscles as when making a bowel movement) in order for the cup to move down. Squatting helps open the vagina and bring the cup down to the vaginal opening. The cup can’t get lost in the vagina; it will ultimately slip down by force of gravity. Find a comfortable position that will allow you to remove the cup more easily: try straddling the toilet bowl with the vagina open and legs relaxed. The vagina has a natural curve and the cup is usually above the pubic bone when sitting. Grasp the bottom of the cup tightly with your forefinger and thumb and pinch to release the suction, rock it back and forth, and gently ease it out.