How to Use a Menstrual Cup

When most women hear the word menstrual cup they not only have questions about what it is, but have many questions on how to use it and what size to purchase. We are here to help answer those questions.

So you’ve done your research and you are ready to purchase a menstrual cup, but you have no clue what size you should get. The first thing to remember is all vaginas are not created equal. Please be mindful that this is only a guide and you may not fit the cup size recommended below. There is no one size fits all when it comes to menstrual cups as every woman's body is unique and different. Our recommendations are based on average. You may need to test both sizes to see what works best for you, although when using the guide most women will get the right size the first time around. 

Small: under 30 years old and/or have not experienced childbirth

Large: 30 years old and over and/or have experienced childbirth (vaginally or by c-section)

Before Your Period/First Time Use

When you first receive your menstrual cup you want to wash your cup using a MILD soap (no scented or oil-based soap) and warm water. After washing your cup, it is very important to sterilize it in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Make sure the pot has enough water and that the cup is fully submerged in water to prevent burning. Sterilize your cup before and after each cycle! Before you handle your sterilized cup, be sure to wash your hands. Now that your cup is clean and ready for use, you have to determine which folding technique is right for you. There are several folding techniques, but the punch down fold is our favorite. To do this fold you take your index finger and push one side of the rim down to the base and squeeze the sides together. Other folds include: C-Fold (flatten the cup, bend it at the middle and bring both ends together), 7-Fold (flatten the cup and fold one side over at a slight angle), and the S-Fold (flatten the cup, fold on one end and fold at the other end in the opposite direction). More folding techniques can be found under the 'How It Works' tab on the website.

Now that you have the fold you’d like to try you are ready to insert the cup into your vagina. While standing or sitting on the toilet, prop one leg up and slowly insert the cup into your vagina as high as it will go. If you are having difficulty it helps to dampen your cup and fingers with water. Try to rotate the cup and pull at the stem to ensure it is fully open and in the correct position. You can also take your finger and fill around the base of the cup to ensure there are no dents (be sure to wet your finger with water first). If the cup doesn’t move, you are good to go!

During Your Period

While you are on your period and actively using the cup we recommend that each time the cup is full empty the contents in the toilet, wipe the remaining residue with toilet tissue, then rinse the cup in clean running water making sure to properly flush the holes. To flush the holes, fill the cup with water while holding it in one hand then place your other hand with an open palm across the top/rim of the cup creating a suction. Then squeeze the base of the cup and the water should come shooting out. Make sure you do this over the sink or you could get wet. After a thorough rinse simply reinsert it. It's not necessary to use soap after removing the cup each time throughout your cycle but if this is your preferred method just make sure the soap is safe for menstrual cup cleaning. 

After Your Period

When your period has ended make sure to sterilize it again in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. If you are unable to boil the cup after your cycle just wash it with soap and water. When it is completely dry store it in your cotton bag until your next cycle and remember to sterilize again before your next use. 

Click the link to get your Happy Hour Menstrual Cup!