FAQs

A menstrual cup is a type of reusable feminine hygiene product. It’s a small, flexible funnel-shaped cup made of rubber or silicone that you insert into your vagina to catch and collect period fluid. (Healthline.com)

If you can put in a tampon, you should find it relatively easy to insert a menstrual cup. Just follow these steps to use a cup:

1.) Wash your hands thoroughly.

2.) Apply water or a water-based lube to the rim of the cup.

3.) Tightly fold the menstrual cup in half, holding it in one hand with the rim facing up.

4.) Insert the cup, rim up, into your vagina like you would a tampon without an applicator. It should sit a few inches below your cervix.

5.) Once the cup is in your vagina, rotate it. It will spring open to create an airtight seal that stops leaks.

You shouldn’t feel your menstrual cup if you’ve inserted the cup correctly. You should also be able to move, jump, sit, stand, and do other everyday activities without your cup falling out. If you’re having trouble putting in your cup, speak with your doctor.

You can wear a menstrual cup for 6 to 12 hours, depending on whether or not you have a heavy flow. This means you can use a cup for overnight protection.

You should always remove your menstrual cup by the 12-hour mark. If it becomes full before then, you’ll have to empty it ahead of schedule to avoid leaks.

To take out a menstrual cup, just follow these steps:

1.) Wash your hands thoroughly.

2.) Place your index finger and thumb into your vagina. Pull the stem of the cup gently until you can reach the base.

3.) Pinch the base to release the seal and pull down to remove the cup.

4.) Once it’s out, empty the cup into the sink or toilet.

Our cup is made of medical-grade silicone that’s US-FDA, and SGS approved. 

Menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours before they should be emptied and washed (1,2). Some people with heavy periods may need to empty their cup more often. This means that menstrual cups are also safe to wear throughout the night, so feel free to hit that snooze button. Every person and every period is different, so experiment to see what works best for you.

Nope. Vaginas have the capacity to stretch and expand to fit objects like menstrual cups, but once the object is removed, they return to their folded and compressed state. Vaginas are made of mucosal and muscle tissue that doesn’t “stretch out”—it’s not like an elastic hair band.

Yes, you can! Sleeping while wearing a menstrual cup is a great alternative to wearing bulky maxi-pads or wearing a tampon for more than 8 hours. Menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours, so pop a cup in just before bed and rest easy (1,2).

Yes. Your vagina does not undergo some huge change when you have sex—it’s still the same amazing organ. If you haven’t yet had sex, used tampons, or masturbated with a sex toy or finger, it may take you a bit longer to get the hang of a menstrual cup.

Get to know your body. Use your fingers to find the opening of your vagina. Using a mirror—either handheld or place one on the floor and stand over it—can be helpful here if you’ve never looked at your own vulva.

Explore your vagina and which direction it runs. With clean hands, try inserting a finger into your vagina to learn how long your vagina is and see if you can find your cervix. The cervix is located at the end of the vagina and should feel firm and round, like the tip of your nose. You’ll notice that the walls of your vagina are soft, moist, and can easily move when pressed against to create space.

Sometimes it can be difficult to find the stem of the menstrual cup when you want to remove it. If this happens to you, don’t panic. Your vagina is a tube that runs from your cervix to the outside of your body and is usually between 7 to 12 cm long (6,7). A menstrual cup cannot pass through your cervix, which means it has nowhere else to go—it cannot get lost inside of you.

If you cannot locate the stem of your menstrual cup, here are some tips to help you get it out.

- Try changing positions, like sitting or squatting

- Increase your internal abdominal pressure to help move the menstrual cup down the vagina by “bearing down” as if you are going to have a bowel movement

- If this still doesn’t help, give the menstrual cup some time—remember menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours. Allow more time to pass for the menstrual cup to fill with blood. This will help move the menstrual cup further down the vaginal canal. 

If you still cannot locate the menstrual cup, do not use a tool or object to try to remove it. Instead consult a medical professional.

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a type of long acting contraceptive that is inserted through the vagina into the uterus. The main body of the IUD sits in the uterus, while two small plastic strings hang out a couple centimetres outside of the cervix.

Some people with IUDs fear that using a menstrual cup with dislodge their IUD. Many menstrual cup brands (5,11,12) provide guidance on the use of a menstrual cup with IUDs. If you want to use a menstrual cup with your IUD, here are some tips:

Wait at least three months after IUD insertion before using your menstrual cup

Check your IUD strings before the start or end of each period

When taking out the cup, make sure you break the seal

The cup should sit low in your vagina, with a space between your cervix and the cup. If you have a low sitting cervix (or are unsure), speak to your healthcare provider (11,12)

So far, there has only been one study that investigated if there was a link between IUD expulsion rates and menstrual cup use. This study only looked at expulsion rates within the first six weeks after the IUDs were inserted and showed that use of pads, cups, or tampons doesn’t affect the expulsion rate (13). While this study is a good start, more research is needed in this area.

Many people safely and happily use IUDs with their menstrual cup, but of course there are also some rare stories where IUDs have become dislodged.

If you aren’t sure if you feel comfortable using a menstrual cup and an IUD together—that's fine. For more information for what is the right choice for you, ask your healthcare provider.

Not at all! Even when removing the cup you should have little to no blood on your hands- remove while over the toilet or in the shower.

When you have a cup that fits your needs (that’s where our quiz comes in) it should be entirely undetectable (or at least very close!) If you do notice the cup, it is most commonly that the cup is not inserted properly (remove and try again) or the stem that you are feeling (which can be easily trimmed or removed). If neither of these things helps, you may have a cup that will work (catch your flow) but isn’t the best for your shape. If it doesn’t bother you, you can keep on using it. If it does, we recommend trying another cup that is softer than your current cup (we also have a firmness chart).

Only if you tell them.

No. Blood typically only has an odour when it comes into contact with oxygen. That said, if you wear your cup for longer than 12 hours you may notice it has a scent once removed.

YES! If it weren’t possible we would not be cup users. Both of us actually chop all stems – no questions. For us, and for many, the stem can be annoying and isn’t required for removal.

That said, be sure that you can reach the cup before the big chop. If you have a high cervix (if when placing a finger fully in, you cannot feel anything but the walls of your vagina) removing the stem will make the cup difficult to reach if the body of the cup is not long enough on its own. Also consider grip rings — if you have a higher cervix and no grip rings, that can also be an issue.