7 Tips to help you navigate the menstrual cup learning curve.
By Jemimah Nagasha - Friday, April 23
If you’re reading this blog post, that means you’re on your journey towards a more eco-friendly period.
Yes, I know using a menstrual cup can be scary
especially because of the steep learning curve everyone on the Internet talks about.
For me, it actually took me 2 months to get the hang of it and then everything started working out really well so here are my tips on how to make the menstrual cup work for you.
1. The right cup for you.
How do you know which one is the right one for you?
The first step to using menstrual cups is to find the right one for you. There are many different kinds in the market.
At Eco Options, we shall ask you a few questions to help us help you get the perfect cup for you.
2. It’s so big, how do I get it in ?
When you see your cup for the first time you
might be thinking how the heck do I put it in,
it’s so big… it’s so wide… how do I do it?
There are a couple of folds that you can use to insert your cup. The most popular is the C fold and the punch down fold (my favorite)
Before I became the master of the cup,
I watched what felt like a million videos but I still couldn’t get it just right consistently which was extremely frustrating.
Until one day I literally woke up to an epiphany.
The secret is in your posture!
Here is what I do, step by step.
- Ensure your hands and menstrual cup are clean (you know, hygiene purposes)
- While putting the cup in, raise one leg slightly onto something near you (toilet seat, bed etc). With the second leg down, bend over a little and insert the cup.
3. How I fold my cup.
- I fold the cup into my favorite fold (the Punch down fold) and keep it folded as I’m putting it in.
When my cup is half way in, I unfold… then
I let go and it opens like that and then I push it in
as far as is comfortable for you.
You don’t need to cut your cup’s stem
but if you have a lower cervix then you
should cut the stem because it’s
uncomfortable when it’s hanging outside.
4. Making sure the cup is really in…
finally when it’s already inside,
I check by tugging it very very lightly.
If you can feel your cup clinging
on to the walls but not moving down then you’ve got it right.
Now that we got it in, let’s talk about taking it out.
5. Taking the cup out.
How often do you take it out?
it depends on how heavy your flow is and how
big your cup is.
I usually change my cup after 12 hours.
How do I take it out?
The first step to removing a menstrual cup is to break the seal. This is done by pinching the base of the cup slightly and gently pulling the cup out of your vaginal canal.
6. The “I just woke up” catastrophe.
You’ve just woken up and you can’t reach your cup. It’s stuck there forever!
Calm down, it’s not stuck there forever.
I’ve been there. A lot of girls have been
there. Yes, it’s really scary and I almost cried
in the first five minutes of me not
getting my cup out.
You need to relax. Literally. That’s
what you need to do.
Bear down your abdominal muscles (like you’re about to poop) just a little. Squat, because it’ll be easier to reach in this position. And then, reach in and find the stem of the cup; break the seal and gently pull the cup out.
7. Can I poop with a menstrual cup in?
You need to poop? all I can say is, take it out when you feel the urge to poop!
Take your cup out!
If you have any more questions, feel free to contact us on our social media pages @EcoOptions_
