Menstrual Cup Tutorial

This post may contain affiliate links. Check out my disclosure for more info.

I LOVE my menstrual cup! I know I’ve said it before but it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Or Theo chocolate. Or my organic cotton fleece sweatpants! Seriously, I love it.

I don’t have to change it as often as a pad or tampon, it’s way cheaper, and the best part – I’m not generating mountains of landfill waste so it’s great for the environment!

If any of you are still on the fence or have questions, or maybe have tried it but don’t quite have the hang of it – this post is for you!

When I first started menstruating, I had no idea these things existed! I think every girl in my age group read “The Care and Keeping of You” to get their menstrual info (anyone else out there who read that?!). Anyway, there was no mention of cups or anything beyond tampons and pads. I was thrilled when I found the Diva Cup and started using it and I have not shut up about it since! My goal is to make menstrual cups as much (or more) of a viable option as pads and tampons are today.

Here is what I’ve learned in the last 4+ years I’ve been a menstrual cup convert:

Pros

Less Waste: I don’t know about you but when I was using tampons, I would go through at least a box each cycle. At LEAST. I could probably use up an entire aisle of menstrual products in the many years that I will be menstruating. With a cup, the only waste is the fluid that is collected and flushed away. Plus, the cup itself lasts years generating almost no waste.

Less money: It may be a larger upfront investment but it pays off after a couple cycles. Even on sale, I would spend about $50-$100 per year on tampons. After spending about a third of that, my cup has lasted for years.

Less disruptive: it only needs to be emptied every 12 hours – I usually empty it once in the morning and once in the morning (unless my flow is super heavy). No more hauling tampons to work, school, and on every trip to the bathroom!

Not only do you not have to change it as much as a tampon but you can also do so much more with it in! You can swim, go to the bathroom, do yoga – you can pretty much stick to your normal routine!

You never have to have the last minute rush to the store for tampons (your significant other will thank you!).

Cons

Learning Curve: it does take a cycle or two to get the hang of it! The insertion process is a little tricky so it takes time to figure out how to get it in correctly and remove it without spills. That being said…

It can get messy: In the beginning, it might take a bit to figure out how to remove it (which is why I’ve created the tutorial below!). It is also not very convenient to change the cup in public restroom! Since you rinse it out after emptying it, I always try to just change it when I have a private bathroom with a sink. If you have to change it and can’t get to a sink, just wipe it out with toilet paper and re-insert it.

Menstrual Cup Tutorial

Step 1: The Fold

In order to insert it, you will have to get the right fold. There are a couple options on the box (and countless others online) but I have found that a “U” shaped fold works best.

Step 2: Insertion

Hold the cup closed in its folded position with your index finger and thumb. Guide the cup in keeping it closed in the folded position – you may need to use your other hand to push it all the way in. I find it is easiest to this while slightly squatting. Make sure it is all the way inside the vaginal canal – there shouldn’t be any part of the cup still outside (but the tip will be close to the opening).

Step 3: The Seal

This is the critical part! Once the cup is inside, it will need to unfold and open fully in order to create a seal and actually hold blood. There are two ways to do this: you can run your index finger around the outside of the cup, pressing on the vaginal walls to make sure it has expanded fully. You can also grip the base of the cup with your index finger and thumb and turn the cup in a full rotation to make sure it has expanded. I often do both! If the cup doesn’t expand fully, it will not hold anything!

Step 4: Wearing it

Once you’ve positioned it correctly, you shouldn’t be able to feel the cup at all! Seriously, I can do all of my normal activities without feeling it. Sometimes people are able to feel the tip protruding so you can always cut a bit off if it is uncomfortable. Otherwise, you can wear it around doing everything as normal!

Step 5: Removal

This is the part that most people are freaked out about but honestly, it is not a big deal! After 12 hours (or less), you will need to empty it. I always time it so that I am at home or in a private bathroom when I empty my cup. To remove it, squat over the toilet and reach up with your index finger to push in one of the sides breaking the seal. I find it’s helpful to bear down a bit and help push it out. Carefully pull it out, keeping the cup upright. Pour the contents into the toilet. It may look horrifying but it’ll be gone in a flush!

Step 6: Rinse & Repeat

Rinse out the cup at the sink (or in the shower for a mess-free process). Don’t use any strong or smelly soap – a mild soap or just water will do. Make sure the tiny holes at the top of the cup are also flushed clean as they help create the seal when you re-insert it.

When it’s clean, just refold and insert it! Super easy. If you don’t have access to a sink and need to empty it, just wipe it with toilet paper and re-insert it. You can clean it fully when you’re home.

That’s it! Once you get the hang of it, it will just be second nature. Since you probably still have questions, I wanted to address the most common questions people have about the cup. If you have any additional Qs you want to be answered, just comment!

Q&A

What do the different sizes mean?

There are two different sizes for the Diva Cup (which is the cup I use). The first size (Diva Cup 1) is a bit smaller and is for women who have not undergone childbirth. Size two in the Diva Cup is for women who have given birth or who are over 30 years old.

Can you feel it inside you?

No! You shouldn’t feel it inside you (similarly to a tampon) but sometimes people feel the tip at the bottom and trim it for more comfort. I don’t feel my cup unless I am contorted in some strange yoga position.

Can you use the bathroom without removing it?

Yes! I always hated having to take out my tampon every time I went to the bathroom. Or, worse, try to hold the tampon string out of the way. Now, I don’t have to! I can basically forget about my cup until I have to empty it.

Can you have sex with it in?

No. The cup fills up your vaginal canal – if you want something else to take its place then take it out! There IS a menstrual cup that can be used during sex. It is a bit different than the DivaCup and it is, unfortunately, semi-disposable but it works! Check it out here.

Can it cause TSS?

No. Unlike tampons, there is no risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome with a cup. I know the TSS risk always freaks newly menstruating folks out there. You don’t have to worry about that with a cup!

Does it leak?

It can but it shouldn’t. If it is inserted improperly (the cup doesn’t open completely) then it doesn’t create a seal and it can leak. I have also found that my cup will start to leak if it’s very full (we’re talking overflowing full). So, on the super heavy days, I empty it more often (about once every 6 hours). I also sometimes add a reusable pantyliner on very heavy days (or nights) just in case.

 

My cycle has COMPLETELY changed because of my menstrual cup. It’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve been able to reduce my waste and it has made my period much less of a hassle! I hope we can normalize menstrual cups and make them an easy to use option for everyone!

Do you have any other questions about using menstrual cups? Comment below or email me and I will update the post with all of your questions!