Before using your menstrual cup for the first time you should sterilize the cup in boiling water. Make sure you use enough water and that the cup doesn’t burn on the bottom of the pan. After 3-5 minutes the cup is sterilized and ready to be used.
Step 1. Insertion
Use warm water and a mild perfume-free soap for sanitizing your hands and cups. Find a comfortable position. You can either squat down, you can put one foot on the toilet, sit on the toilet or simply stand up. You’ll quickly find out what works best for you.
There are various folding methods. Experiment and find your favorite. For a punch-down fold, push the rim down to the base and pinch the cup together, so it doesn’t pop open. The punch-down fold provides the smallest diameter, thereby making insertion easier. For a C-fold fold menstrual cup in half lengthwise. For a 7-fold fold, your women cup closed and bring one top corner down diagonally to the opposite bottom corner. It’s important to completely relax when inserting the menstrual cup.
Insert the folded cup into your vagina, when the entire cup is inside, simply remove your fingers and let it pop open. Make sure the cup is unfolded by feeling around the base of the cup. It should be round or oval. If you feel any dents or folds on the base with your finger, it means that it is not unfolded. Gently hold the base of the cup, not the stem, and try to rotate it from side to side to ensure it is sealed. When in place try to pull the stem a bit. If you feel some resistance, a vacuum has been created and the cup has been placed successfully. You may want to use water or water-based lubricant to make insertion easier. If using a lubricant, simply apply a tiny amount to the rim.
When inserted correctly, our menstrual cup is entirely leak-free, and no, it won’t fall out. Due to the vacuum, the menstrual blood won’t come into contact with air, meaning no odors, ultra-hygienic and anti-bacterial.
Step 2. Wear
About 1/4 of the fluids absorbed by a tampon are natural and necessary vaginal secretions. Our menstrual cup only collects, thus eliminating irritation and dryness while ensuring the natural pH balance is kept intact. Our menstrual cup can contain three to five times as much as a regular tampon, which means most people just need to empty menstrual cup morning and evening. That means no period interruptions during work, school, sports, dancing, swimming, sleep or, you know, whenever.
Step 3. Removal
Use warm water and a mild perfume-free wash for sanitizing your hands under clean running water. Being relaxed is essential for the removal of your cup, so find a comfortable position. We suggest you try squatting down, sitting on the toilet or putting one foot on the toilet. To remove the cup, pull the stem while using your stomach muscles to push your menstrual cup downwards until you can reach the base. Gently squeeze the base to release the vacuum and slide the menstrual cup out, gently rocking it from side to side.
Empty the cup into the toilet. Rinse the cup with water and mild soap. Remember the airholes. If you don’t have access to clean water, simply use toilet paper and rinse when you’re back home, or use a sanitizing wipe.
Most people never have to because of the up to 12-hour capacity though. Once the cup is clean you can reinsert it. If your period has ended, boil the cup for 3 to 5 minutes. Or use a sanitizing wipe and store in the original cotton bag.
Tips & Facts
The cups sit below the cervix in the vaginal canal, if the cup sits too high you might experience leakage. There’s a big variance in the size and shape of the vagina. A recent study determined the average vaginal canal to be 6 centimeters deep. But it can span from 4 to 10 centimeters. All women have differently positioned cervixes and it varies how high or low, the menstrual cup is placed in the vagina. If you feel the stem and find it uncomfortable after a couple of tries, you can cut it shorter.
Did you know that the average amount of bleeding during an entire period is just 2 to 4 tablespoons? but again everyone is different and the amount of flow greatly varies from person to person. One study measured a range from just a single drop to half a liter. Until you get 100% hang of it you may want to wear a pad or panty liner. So you don’t have to worry about accidental leakage.