We all have that friend who was an early adopter of menstrual cups. She likes the cups she chose and is happy to tell you all the cool benefits: they are sustainable, they are comfortable, and they are easy to clean and store, so you will never get a nearly empty tampon box on the first day Stuck in a new era, of course, they are quite easy and intuitive to use.

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It is the latter point that stops many users who have used tampons and sanitary napkins for a long time. Are they really that easy to use? Easier than my preferred tampon applicator? How about touching and cleaning the cup during the day or when your monthly visitor ceremoniously exits?

What I want to say here is that for those who lack confidence and have a lot of menstrual anxiety, they really are. Although no menstrual product is one size fits all, and there is no guarantee that something useful to your friends who like cups will be useful to you, uncovering the mystery of menstrual cups is a good way to get rid of tension before trying it. Therefore, here is a shameless, no stupid question guide that will guide you to use the menstrual cup as expected and make the most of it.

Before we start, here is a rule of thumb/blanket disclaimer regarding all things about menstrual health: If you are not sure whether the cup is right for you, please ask more about comfort, cleanliness or any personal or specific questions about wearing a cup Your obstetrician and gynecologist is a great resource. They have seen and heard all this before and only care about the health and happiness of you and your vulva, so don't hesitate to give up your exploratory questions on your next date.

Now, let's talk about the cup!

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According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): “Menstrual cups are made of plastic or rubber. They are inserted into the vagina to catch menstruation. You take out and empty the cup every 8-12 hours. Some cups are thrown away after only one use. Yes. The others can be washed and reused."

Nowadays, the menstrual cup market is low-key and prosperous, with various models (usually made of medical grade silicone or latex). More and more people are starting to use the cup, taking into account the different experiences of different people at different times (from old experts with high flow to new menstruation, to people with light bleeding, to suffering from uterine fibroids or intrauterine fibroids. People with membranous ectopic disease and other diseases), there are a large number of brand design special cups suitable for different bodies. Likewise, if you feel a little overwhelmed by the options available, your doctor may offer some suggestions for you and your specific menstrual situation. When you shop, read the brand and check the reviews (ideally, a well-loved and well-maintained cup can last for 1-2 years-so be picky because you need to be here!)

Most companies in this field are very calm and transparent about the specifications of their products, so you usually use a lot of data. For example, Intimina's cups are designed to be folded and ultra-thin (we are talking about thin tampons), suitable for people with higher cervix or high flow rate (lily cup), the cup can be folded to be used with caution during the journey (lily cup) Compact) and the Ziggy Cup specially designed for menstrual work.

If in doubt, it is best to learn more about what you put in your vagina. Therefore, when researching, please really make yourself a geek and consider your lifestyle and menstrual cycle.

Okay, now you have got your cup. Congratulations! Your first task is to evaluate it and all the content that comes with it: A cool suitcase? Special instructions from the manufacturer? Familiar with all this.

Then you will want to disinfect it. You did it for your water bottle, you should definitely do it for anything in your body! Check the instructions for your cup or go to the manufacturer's website for professional tips or contraindications for your specific cup, but usually, you will want to provide it with the same TLC as a baby bottle. Experts usually recommend boiling your cup when you get it for the first time (and at the end of each period) to achieve optimal sterility, and you want to immerse it in a pot of water and boil it for 5-8 minutes (Do not let the cup touch the bottom or sides of the pot to help maintain the integrity of its material). From there, you can drain and let it air dry in a safe and clean place.

There are also some cup cleaning spray cleaners on the market (this one can also clean the pelvic floor/Kegel exercise tool!), and even menstrual cup steamers and sterilizers-but true professionals know (provided that your cup does not warn you) The opposite is the case)) Bottle sterilizing tablets are a brilliant trick that you may already have in your home.

At first glance, this may seem time-consuming and a bit high to maintain, but if you like your own cup, it will reward you by keeping it clean and reliable through many, many cycles. Also: In my experience, a thorough cleaning actually takes less time than the last-minute tampon run.

For starters, this is the tricky part: figuring out how to place the cup where it belongs. Especially if you are accustomed to using tampons or sanitary napkins, this may seem daunting, because most cups are designed to hold up to 12 hours of menstruation, and it is often seen. But the cup we recommend is soft, suitable for vulva, suitable for you, so don't be nervous!

For people who are old enough to use a diaphragm or birth control ring, the concept is not much different. Otherwise, think of it as folding the cup and inserting it like a tampon, without an applicator. As with many activities involving this area of ​​the body, squatting can help you best insert and remove your menstrual cup. Usually, your cup manufacturer will provide photos of different folding methods that best suit their design and materials, but most experienced cup lovers will tell you that you will find the most effective and comfortable one that suits you through trial and error The folding method. Some common ones:

"C" and "U" folds: A super common way of folding, you fold the cup into the letter C or U. Fold the cup in half and bend it into the desired shape, you will want to hold it close to the edge to keep it folded and inserted.

'Punch Down': Push down the front edge of the cup with your index finger. When you insert the now-pointed tip into the vagina, you will hold the bottom of it to keep it folded.

Once it is inside and in place, your cup will open (because it will catch menstruation rather than just absorb it). You may need to gently push it-place it on the cup with one finger to open it, twist it or rotate it slightly-to make it sit as comfortable as possible, but when the cup is sealed in place, you often Will feel it. If it feels abrupt, painful, or has just disappeared, you can remove it at any time and try again. Sometimes, I even recommend that novices try it before menstruation, so that you don’t have to deal with cramps, bleeding or high pressure time limits while learning about the new cup.

If you are having trouble inserting your favorite cup, you may need to choose a thinner folded cup or reconsider some other options ("kiss a few frogs", etc.)

Once your cup is secured and sealed, you can start your day. you did it! If you are really nervous about leakage after the first use (in my experience, this anxiety will disappear after a year or two), you can wear a cushion or a pair of reliable menstrual-friendly underwear during your maiden voyage. If you are in an office or school and are nervous about reinsertion and removal, the standby product may also give you peace of mind until you feel safe about the ability to fold.

As we said, the cup is designed to be worn for a long time. Ideally, you will not manage a complete cup in public (at work or school or anywhere other than your own bathroom). Location. However, if your cup is full, or if you experience a water leak or need to remove the cup for any other reason, you need to take it out, rinse it and reinsert it.

In the spirit of high transparency, you will want to pay attention to making yourself nervous while ranking second. Although the menstrual cup is usually very tight and can handle the work of collecting menstruation, you don't want to break the cup while resting in the toilet! This is not a terrible universal phenomenon, and it definitely varies depending on the cup you use and your own vulva situation, but if you are looking forward to that kind of bathroom adventure, follow your instincts and remove your cup. It is perfectly fine to urinate with your menstrual cup. The force of your water flow is unlikely to interfere with it, but you can always check your seal after completion to ensure safety.

Removing the menstrual cup during or after wearing it for a day is something that many people prefer to do in their own toilets or single-person toilets, because there is a non-zero chance of getting menstruation in your hands. In this house, we don't like menstrual stigma, and operate from a natural baseline, from your body, there is nothing to be ashamed of! However, if you feel squeamish when you take out the cup and deal with your menstruation the first few times, that's okay.

Most menstrual cups have a small handle to make it easier to disassemble. TBH's instinct of "if it doesn't have a bell mouth, don't put it there" may make people prefer a cup with a handle. For handleless cups, we strongly recommend checking the manufacturer's instructions (but squatting and pinching the bottom of the cup may be a good starting point).

“Removing and cleaning the cup can be troublesome, especially for new users,” as previously said Thaïs Aliabadi, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in SheKnows. "It can also be difficult or embarrassing to do this in a public toilet, because if it can be reused, you need to clean it in the sink. As you use the cup more and more, you can remove it and clean it. ."

Otherwise, you will want to wash your hands (this is a must if you are going there and have touched various surfaces), and if you want, you can get a wet tissue or a wipe that is friendly to the pH of the vagina. This can be done, if it becomes a little messy, please wipe your hands or cups. Then you will enter and grab the stem (or gently pinch the bottom of the cup) to release the seal and pull it out. Remember, your cup is holding liquid, so you may not want to yank or yank it too hard onto your underwear or the floor. Pour out the contents of the toilet, wipe or rinse (depending on the environment and your comfort level), and then reinsert it at your leisure.

If you have come this far, you are already a master in my heart. After a whole period of folding, inserting, removing and cleaning the menstrual cup, you tend to have a very firm grasp of what is right for you and your menstrual volume.

As we mentioned, the experts hope that you sterilize the cup before putting it away at the end of your menstruation, as this will prevent any annoying things from staying on her or growing on her in the next few weeks . Before bidding farewell to a few glorious menopausal weeks, boil it again (or whatever disinfection procedure you use) and store it in a dry and safe place. They usually come with a storage bag, but you can also get something that suits your style and bathroom organization needs almost anywhere (by the way, some of them on Etsy are an atmosphere).

You have it! You are now closer to becoming a menstrual cup specialist. May your glass never overflow.

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