Let’s face it gals, none of us like that ‘special’ time of the month and await it (other than those times of course if you’ve missed your period date or if you’re having irregular period troubles like PCOD/PCOS). In that case, you must visit a gynaecologist. Either way, maintaining hygiene and a healthy reproductive system is paramount to keeping away unwanted infections. Women now have myriad options to choose from. There are non-toxic tampons and sanitary pads. You could even let it all flow out while wearing the period-proof underwear and not wear tampons or pads that add to unsustainable waste production. To make a sustainable choice, opt for a unique feminine hygiene product: the menstrual cup. It may seem complicated, but trust me, you will learn how to use a menstrual cup in no time! It’s a life-changer, and you’ll agree to this when you hear it from Ira Guha, founder of Asan Cup, who is thriving to change the period care industry in the country. Here are some insights on how to use menstrual cups for beginners.
What’s a Menstrual Cup?
A menstrual cup that’s also called a period cup is actually a small, reusable silicone cup-shaped female hygiene product that has a small toggle at the end. It’s designed to store menstrual flow sustainably. Some silicone cups are also made of other materials than silicone. It’s an environmentally friendly alternative to tampons and sanitary pads. Its flexible, funnel shape ideally fits inside the vagina to collect period flow efficiently avoiding spillage.
Depending on your flow days, you can use a menstrual cup for up to 12 hours. Given that menstrual cups are simply reusable for 6 months to 10 years with proper care, using them greatly decreases daily wastage and discarded packaging. Remember: plastic takes about 50 or more years to start decomposing.
How Does it Work?
Menstrual cups when inserted inside the vagina, can stay in for about 12 hours before being emptied, rinsed, and disinfected to be used again. This means you can use a menstrual cup while you’re asleep or even all day long. However, during heavy flow days, you may have to empty a menstrual cup more often but you can use the same size menstrual cup for heaviest and lightest days. In fact, for those ambiguous days, you can even wear it when you’re anticipating your menstrual flow or on the days when you’re unsure if it’s over.
If you know how to use menstrual cups correctly, they will have fewer leaks than sanitary pads and tampons and drastically less odour, too. Consider those fewer trips to the pharmacy or local stores and marts to restock on tampons and sanitary pads. The impact that sanitary pads and tampons leave on the environment is also reduced when you use a menstrual cup. So along with blood flow, they also reduce your carbon footprint.
How to Buy a Menstrual Cup?
Before being rash and buying a menstrual cup, consult your gynaecologist. You can always choose amongst the brands you want to buy from, but first, you got to know what size you need to fit correctly. Most menstrual cup brands have cups in small and large sizes. To find the right fit, you and your doctor should consider the following aspects:
- Age
- Cervix length
- Period Flow (heavy/medium/light)
- Firmness and cup flexibility
- Cup capacity
- Pelvic floor muscle strength
- If you’ve had a vaginal birth
For younger women under 30 years who haven’t delivered vaginally, it’s recommended to use a smaller menstrual cup. Larger menstrual cups are recommended for women above 30 years, who have vaginally given birth or have a heavier period flow. A regular-sized cup should hold about 25ml and a larger one would be 30ml or more (This may vary as per the brand you choose). Keep a note of these factors before buying to avoid a wrong purchase.
How to use a Menstrual Cup for Beginners?
If you’re a beginner reading this, let me be honest and tell you it may feel slightly uncomfortable at first. But ‘greasing’ your cup can smoothen the process of inserting your menstrual cup. Before putting it in, wet the rim using a lubricant, trust me it’s much easier to insert it (not trying to sound coy here!).
Learn how to use a menstrual cup in a few easy steps…
Ensure your menstrual cup is stored hygienically in a dry place. Wash your hands thoroughly and sanitise the cup too before lubricating them.
STEP 1 - Folding the menstrual cup
● For easy and quick insertion, I recommend trying the 7-fold or the triangle fold. This makes the opening of the menstrual cup narrower, making it a lot easier and smaller to push inside the vaginal opening.
● Using both your hands, fold the menstrual cup in half at the opening such that either side touches an imaginary centre of the rim.
● Bring either of the corners down towards the cup base, that’s how the body of the body forms a triangular shape.
● To make the 7-fold, follow the same half fold and instead of bringing down the edge to the base, fold it to create the shape of ‘7’ instead of a triangle one.
STEP 2 - Inserting the menstrual cup
● To insert a menstrual cup, first, squat or sit on a toilet seat (this position relaxes the pelvic floor muscles).
● With the folded cup in your dominant hand, use your free hand to gently part the labia to expose the vagina opening.
● Gently insert your cup tilting it towards your lower back at an angle. Your menstrual cup won’t stay up high as your tampon, it will rather sit closer to the vagina entry.
● The cup should pop open inside and create a light suction seal. This keeps it in place but if it still feels like it’s sliding out, then it’s likely it did not seal correctly. You can then use your dominant hand’s index finger and run it around the outer area of the cup or simply rotate it until it feels comfortably placed.
When to take out your menstrual cup?
It’s essential to know this: Many brands do claim you can leave it in for 12 hours, but to avoid risks of infection and serious conditions, you must only wear it for up to 8 hours at a time.
You can take out and rinse your cup as often as you feel the need/urge to do so, but never leave it in for too long. Similar to tampons, you may experience a ‘full’/’heavy’ sensation inside the vaginal opening, this could be a warning sign to go change and stay fresh.
How to take out your menstrual cup?
This can be daunting but you’ll get it with a little practice.
● In a squatting position in the shower or on a toilet seat, insert two clean fingers into your vagina and try to feel the ridges of the cup (use the toggle/stem as a guide).
● Remove the suction seal by pinching the ridges gently.
● Slide out the cup slowly and then empty it into the toilet. If there’s a little resistance, rock the cup side-to-side while releasing it. Ensure not to squeeze it too tightly to avoid spillage.
● Rinse the cup thoroughly and re-insert as you need.
How to clean a menstrual cup?
Cleaning your cup between uses is very easy - simply use cold running water to rinse it and then warm water with a mild oil-free soap works just fine. Ensure to sanitise your cup between cycles and store it in its pod when unused. You could follow a professional guide to care for your menstrual cup to increase its life to 10 years!
Pros and Cons of using a Menstrual Cup
Pros
- Budget-friendly: Pay a one-time price for reusable cups that last years instead of buying tampons and pads each month.
- Eco-friendly: Lesser disposable period products filling the landfills.
- Safer than tampons: No risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), a rare infection associated with tampons. However, wash your hands and cup before use.
- Lesser changes: Menstrual cups hold more blood than tampons and pads. This reduces the number of times one has to change.
- Good leak protection: When inserted correctly, cups can reduce leakage due to their suction seal design.
Cons
- A learning curve: Using the cup takes practice, and you may not get it right at first. Backup protection is needed like period underwear or a pad to avoid leaks.
- Difficulty in inserting: it takes many tries to master the right way of inserting the cup.
- Removing inconvenience: The stem is just a guide and not something to pull to remove the cup. So, inserting fingers inside and removing the cup would be slightly inconvenient for beginners.
- Slight chance of infection: Cleaning and sterilising the cup before and after use is essential to maintain hygiene and avoid infections. Washing hands is highly necessary at every step of using menstrual cups.
Conclusion
The best way to determine if menstrual cups are for you is by researching, analysing, and actually trying them. Consulting gynaecologists will only make this process faster and more understandable. It’s never too late to make a sustainable period product choice.
FAQs
How far up should I insert my menstrual cup?
The cup should be fully inserted inside the vagina with the stem/toggle of the cup pushed in approximately ½ inch of your vaginal opening. slightly lower than where the tampon would be.
Can I practice inserting a menstrual cup when not on period?
This is a bad idea! For many reasons, the cup is designed and regulated for use only during menstruation, meaning the success element here is menstrual flow.