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So, you’re curious about menstrual cups? About two years ago, I was too. I was thinking; how on earth do these work and how is it not a murder massacre every time you go to the bathroom? I’m here to tell you, I’m sold, and you should be too.
Menstrual cups are an investment that will last you around five years and they are an environmentally friendly alternative to tampons, sanitary cloth, disposable pads or nothing – which is many people’s reality who are living in poverty or in developing countries.
You won’t have to send your partner to the store for pads or tampons unexpectedly, you won’t have to whisper to your co-worker if they have an extra tampon, you won’t have to stuff a tampon in your pocket to make the journey to the bathroom and you won’t have to subject your body to the chemicals and potentially hazardous ingredients in other hygiene products.
Did you know that an estimated 20 billion pads and tampons are discarded in North America? Some disposable tampon applicators can take 25 years to break down. Often these products end up in landfills or are incinerated, which isn’t making Mother Nature very happy with us.
I feel you swaying but you still have questions. Let me think about what my questions were and see if we can knock some off your list:
How do you clean it?
When you first get your cup, or at the end of your cycle, you’ll want to give it a good wash with warm water and a very mild, unscented water-based (oil-free) soap like Dr. Bronner’s or Cetaphil. Then you’re going to boil your cup for 4-5 minutes in a pot with the cup in a whisk so it doesn’t touch the bottom of the pot. Voila, you are ready to go for insertion or storage.
Midcycle you will take your cup out (oh I’m going to get gritty with the details later on this), dump out the contents in the toilet and either place it on some toilet paper on whatever surface is beside you or go straight to rinsing under the tap if you can reach from where you’re sitting. Do your business, wipe yourself then give your cup a good rinse under the tap and then put it back in. You’ll be surprised at how much this becomes second nature after a few cycles.
How do you store it?
A lot of the time your cup will come with an adorable storage bag but if not, you can use any breathable container.
How do you know which cup to try?
Cups come in all different shapes, sizes and colours. There is no one size fits all so you’re going to have to measure how far in your cervix is with your finger. Also, your cervix will be in different positions at different times in your cycle. You can measure before your period then during your period; by measure I mean inserting your finger and feeling for your cervix then measuring how far that is with a ruler.
You’ll also need to consider Your Flow; how light or heavy your period usually is. Different cups have different capacities. You will notice that cups have a wide range of capacity measured in mL.
Then there’s Cup Firmness; consider your activity level and basic anatomy. Some cup brands base size and firmness on whether you have carried and birthed a child – don’t buy into that – you can still be either a size small or large whether you have carried or birthed a child.
Put a Cup in It has put together a fantastic quiz that will point you in the right direction and set you on a good path to finding the right menstrual cup for your body; take it here:
Okay, let’s back up; how am I supposed to know where my cervix is?
You can do this, I promise you it’s not Narnia in there. If this part of the process makes you nervous I recommend doing this in the shower with a leg propped up after you have had a nice glass of wine or cup of tea. Once you insert your finger (use lube if that is more comfortable) you’re going to feel around, a lot of it is going to feel the same but you’re looking (or feeling) for a nub that feels like the tip of your nose. That’s your cervix! With further inspection you’ll notice it’s somewhat circular and doesn’t like to be poked too much. Take note of how far your finger is inside when touching your cervix and measure it with a ruler in Centimeters. If you can’t feel your cervix assume it is a centimeter or two longer than the whole length of your finger.
Insertion – Pop – Seal – Cup Dance
This is the meat and potatoes of menstrual cups – you have to get really comfy with your body and find the most comfortable insertion method and fold that works best for you. I’ll break down what I do:
So, the cup is in, you’re sitting on your throne and ready to empty it…
Go in with your thumb and pointer finger and pinch the bottom of the cup. This will break the seal and make it possible to move the cup down. At the same time, bare down a little bit and engage the same muscles you use to have a bowel movement. This will push the cup down naturally. Carefully slide it out, keeping a good grip but not pinching anymore. Dump contents in the toilet. Either go right for the rinse if you can reach or set the cup on some toilet paper you prepped on whatever surface is by you. Do your business, wipe, then wash your hands and give the cup a good rinse. I like to keep the cup wet, it’s easier to insert slick. Then fold and insert.
Did it pop? Does it feel comfortable? If so, great! If not, I’ll share my method. So, it’s in but it feels weird. You’re going to need to help it along. I’ll go in with my middle or pointer finger up the side of the cup and feel for my cervix. Once I know where it is I’ll guide the cup by spinning it from the bottom. I’ll run my finger around the top of the cup to ensure it’s fully opened and then give a final spin to create suction. Wipe, wash your hands then do the cup dance. It’s like a little wiggle wiggle from the hips then dip into a squat or two. Exercise – man this cup business is good. It should feel like nothing is there and you are fabulous and carry on with your day.
What if I’m in a stall bathroom in public?
There’s no surface to place it on, no sink nearby, other people are around. No problem! The beauty of a cup is often you won’t have to change very often – you can even go 12 hours. Usually you can be strategic and ensure you’re in a comfortable place but if not, no worries. You’re going to take it out, dump contents, wipe the cup with toilet paper and put it right back in. Clean up the best you can and head to the sink – trust me, no one is looking at your hands.
Folds
Origami time kids, ha ha. This one is going to completely depend on you personally. All vaginas are unique so you’re going to have to try a few different variations until you find the fold that works best for your anatomy. You’ll know you have found the fold for you when you can easily insert the cup, it pops open for you inside and you don’t have any leaks.
These are some common folds you can try:
How long until I actually get the hang of this?
It took me 5-7 cycles until I felt I had it down. Give it time and you’ll be rewarded with the peace of mind that menstrual cups bring.
Can you pee/poop with the cup in?
Yes! If it’s comfortable for you then go for it. Some find the counter pressure hard to manage but others have no issue at all.
Stains
Stains happen, it doesn’t mean your cup is not clean. What I like to do every few months is put my cup in a champagne flute (takes less liquid) or any other container where it will be fully submerged and use 1/3 ratio peroxide and 2/3 ratio water and let sit for a few hours or overnight.
Where do you purchase them?
More and more stores are starting to carry menstrual cups – grocery, health food, baby boutiques, etc. Of course, you can also find a wider variety online.
I like Ruby Cup as it does a ‘Buy One, Give One’ program. For every cup they sell, they donate a cup to a menustrator without access to menstrual care products. https://rubycup.com
Other popular options: Saalt or Diva Cup.
Cloth Pads
Cloth pads are a terrific compliment to menstrual cups, especially until you get the hang of it. They come in so many different absorbencies, shapes and sizes. They feel amazing on and keep you dry. Extremely comfortable, don’t slide around and don’t crinkle and stick, ugh. I highly recommend getting a few panty liner or light cloth pads to accompany your cup.
Switching to a menstrual cup was one of the best decisions I’ve made for myself. I feel good about not wasting all the pads and tampons every month. I feel good that it works. I feel good that it’s easy.
What do you think? Do you use a Menstrual Cup? Has it Changed your Life? Did I sway you to Try?
