The Ins and Outs of Using a Menstrual Cup
“And one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears.”
Disclaimer:
I am happy to share my experience and journey with switching to one, especially if it helps someone. So please, feel free to send me a message if you want to talk more or have questions.
However, if you are not comfortable talking about our bodies then this post may make you a little uncomfortable.
If me getting personal will make you uncomfortable, this post is probably not for you.
Menstrual Cups
I knew I wanted to make the switch long before I actually pulled the trigger and bought one. There are so many different brands and options, it was overwhelming. I read articles, watched youtube videos, and scrolled through many websites before I made an impulse purchase. Well, kind of an impulse decision. The one I bought was one of the brands that I was considering, but I was so fed up with my cycle (babies change everything) that I went with the one I could buy in-store instead of having to order and wait for it to arrive.
Why Switch To One:
No risk of getting TSS
No Toxic Chemicals
Holds more
Affordable and so cost-efficient
Better for the environment (can last up to 10 years!)
Some say it even helps reduce menstrual pain
Promotes natural PH Balance
Choosing One:
This can be tricky. There are different sizes, shapes, stem ends, and firmnesses… and guess what, it’s not consistent from brand to brand. 😩 Each brand will differ, resulting in more work for you (or perhaps it will benefit you once you know exactly what you are needing… an act of elimination).
Prior to getting one, I had even asked my OBGYN what she thought my cervix was and to see if she could help me figure out size or shape. She just said “you’re normal” which basically was pointless to me.
I took this quiz and that at least helped narrow down the choices and give me an idea of where to start. Bonus, it’s only 9 questions.
Honestly, though, I think you just have to bite the bullet and get one, anyone. It may not be “perfect” but ultimately it should do the job for the most part. They are pricey, I know, so it’s hard to do so and you want it to perfect, but I believe you won’t really know what works until you try. Most people I know who use them end up saying “I think I’m going to try a different brand once it is time to replace this one just to see and compare.”
I originally bought the Saalt in size small. It worked pretty well, but I ended up going back and getting the regular size. I now use the small as soon as I start spotting and at the very end of my cycle and I use the regular in the middle, during my heavier days. It has been working for me, I’m able to use both, and I don’t feel like I wasted $35+ dollars.
Putting it in:
If you aren’t already, get comfortable with your body.
There are different folds you can use to insert. You’ll need to try a few of them to see which one is going to work best for you and the anatomy of your body. You are looking for ease of insertion AND seeing which one “pops” open the best, allowing for a great suction. You can see a few different folds here.
Also, when you insert you’ll need to go at an angle, towards your tailbone (not straight upward).
Going into it I was secretly hoping that I would get lucky and would be able to figure it out quickly and wouldn’t have any problems with leaking. That’s not the case. Think about it, you only take it in and out twice (sometimes more if you have a heavy cycle) a day and only for a short period (no pun intended) of time during the month - that’s not a lot of time to figure it out and test different methods. Take a deep breath, give yourself some grace, and know that it may take a good few months (or in my case many months) to figure this whole thing out.
Making sure it’s sealed all the way:
The cup needs to be fully open and have a good seal in order to prevent leaking.
I had a hard time, in the beginning, getting it to completely seal. It seemed to be sealed but I kept finding it be leaking or having heavier spotting. It was usually never terrible, but nonetheless, still really annoying and more than what is “normal” while using a cup. I never used any sort of panty liner, I know I can’t be the only one who only wears certain underwear during that time of the month. 😉 However, using a panty liner or a pair of period underwear might save you some frustration.
To make sure that it is completely sealed there are a few ways to help:
You can tug slightly on the stem, you will be able to feel the suction and that it’s not going anywhere.
Run a finger around the edge to make sure it sealed, or to help it pop open completely so that it can seal the way it needs to.
Or, rotate the cup by pinching the base (not just the stem) and turning it.
Another reason you could be having leaking is that during your cycle, your cervix can actually change positions. It may tilt or even hang lower. You’ll need to make sure the cup is not too high, it needs to be under the cervix OR depending on your anatomy, that the cervix is actually inside of the cup. This was my problem, my cervix was constantly changing. While I was doing everything “ the right way”, it was crucial for me and my anatomy to check every single insertion where my cervix was at and to strategically place it right under it. That means doing a rim check, to make sure that it was opened up all the way AND to feel if my cervix was in the correct spot. Sometimes that meant moving the cup around a little bit. No worries, it doesn’t take that long nor is it very annoying once I got a hang of exactly what I was needing to do. It literally adds just a couple more seconds.
I told you you’re going to get real comfortable with your body if you were already.
Getting it out:
Really wasn’t as hard as you’d think. You ultimately need to break the seal. You do so by using your finger to push the cup inward, either at the rim or the base of the cup. Once the seal is broken you can easily remove it. by pulling it out.
It will always be a little messy, however, I have found that if I use a finger to slightly push the rim of the menstrual cup slightly and hold it there as I remove it, it contains the majority until you dump it and is less of a mess. When removing via the base method; pinch the base of the cup (above the stem!) with your fingers and wiggle the cup side to side as you pull it out. Try to keep it upright to avoid spilling.
Another way to help minimize the mess is to empty more frequently. Think about it, if you are changing it only morning and night it is holding 12 hours worth. If you change it one in the middle of the day it’s not as full therefore when you break the seal to empty there’s less in there to “overflow”.
On my heavy days, I will try to empty and clean in the middle of the day and I have noticed a big difference.
Cleaning:
Upon removal wash with mild, non-fragrant, natural soap, and hot water (as hot as you can stand) and then rinse in cold. Doing this will kill bacteria and keep it from smelling. I started out using my hand soap but later on, ended up buying the Saalt cup cleaner. IF you want to sanitize it you are able to boil it for 4-5 minutes.
Using it in public:
I have traveled while using one and have had to empty it in public. While it may not be ideal, it is possible but takes some prior thought and preparation. I bring a water bottle in along with some hand sanitizing wipes. Make sure your hands are clean prior to removal, use the water bottle rinse after dumping, and then use the wipes again to sanitize and clean up before stepping out. Do what is comfortable to you though. If you feel like it’s too much, use tampons/pads for times like those. There’s nothing wrong with that.
What am I missing? If there is something more that you’d like for me to cover or elaborate on please ask, I’d be more than happy to do so. Either way, I hope that some of this information was helpful and useful to you.
xo,
Alison
