I switched over to using the menstrual cup 2 years ago when I was 8 months postpartum, and my menstrual cycle returned. I had heard of menstrual cups at a women’s gathering I had gone to months back, and the idea of using one resonated with me, but I procrastinated for so long around actually making the switch.

I had heard and read of all the benefits of using a menstrual cup and my husband even gifted me one because he had heard how excited I was to try one and guess what ? That cup sat and sat as I told myself maybe next month and the next month, until I finally gave it a try and I have been using it ever since!

The unfamiliarity around switching to a menstrual cup and the commitment to the learning process that follows can be intimidating and overall it can seem like a-lot! As moms we have enough going on with our kids, work, everyday life and trying to keep ourselves together on a day to day basis, and to add something else on top of that just sounds like a burden, I get it !

But girl let me tell you, investing time into yourself and your health and getting to explore the benefits and comfort that the menstrual cups can offer you is all well worth it!

If you have been thinking of switching over to using the menstrual cup and just not sure where to start, or how to start, then this post is for you!

In this post I will be going over all the key points you need to know about getting started with using a menstrual cup!

With a little research and a little practice, you will be poppin that thang in and out and carrying on about your day flowing with ease, and It’s such an empowering experience.

Okay, Let’s go!

So,What is a Menstrual Cup?

A menstrual cup is a reusable, flexible cone-shaped cup made from silicone, latex, or TPE that is placed in your vagina to catch menstrual blood.

How does it work?

Before your period comes or before it fully begins, this cup is inserted in your vagina, sliding right under your cervix. Menstrual cups create an airtight seal when resting against the vaginal walls, which prevents leaking and allows the cup to stay in place.

Menstrual cups collect your blood, whereas for tampons and pads your blood is being absorbed.

This cup is folded and inserted into the vagina. There are specific ways to fold the cup for insertion, and we will get into that here in just a little bit.

Once the menstrual cup is in, it will open up (if placed correctly) right underneath your cervix and the menstrual blood drips right into the cup!

How to insert and remove a menstrual cup?

How to clean a menstrual cup?

Cleaning your mentstrual cup is easy and simple. Simply wash it with hot water and a use a natural soap free of synthetic fragrances or added additives.

I use Dr.Bonners Castile unscented soap and hot water to clean my cup after each use. There are also specific cleaners just for menstrual cups that you can check out!

Most Menstrual cup brands recommend that you boil the cup when you first get it to sanitize it. You can do this by boiling the menstrual cup in water over the stove for 3-5 minutes. To stay up on sanitizing your cup, you can do this after each cycle before putting it away.

What can you do when wearing a menstrual cup?

Menstrual cups are very flexible and mold to your body which makes them very comfortable to wear and you can’t even feel that it’s up there! With its air-tight seal, which prevents leaks, you can be as active as you are when you are not on your menstrual and pretty much do everything the same while wearing a cup.

You can exercise, swim, sleep, use the bathroom, and in some cases have sex as well. It’s all a part of the exploration with your menstrual cup, you will find what you are comfortable doing with it.

Can a menstrual cup get stuck ?

When I first started learning the ends and out of using my menstrual cup, I panicked one time and thought that my cup was stuck! I panicked, which caused me to tighten my vaginal muscles, which made it harder to get the cup out because my vagina was pulling the cup in even deeper!

So long story short, to answer that question, no menstrual cups cannot get stuck. They have nowhere to go because they are blocked by your cervix and are too low in your vaginal canal to go anywhere. If at some point you feel like your menstrual cup gets stuck, stay calm, relax your pelvic muscles to help ease it out.

Another thing that sometimes happens is your cervix may change positions, turning to the side or rising higher making it more difficult to reach your cup. Check you’re positioning when removing the cup, this sometimes can help you get a better feel for your cup.

Benefits of using a menstrual cup

Its Natural

Since a menstrual cup is simply only collecting menstrual blood, and not absorbing it, it allows the vagina to maintain its PH balance and preserve all the healthy bacteria that is meant to stay in the vagina to serve as protection as well vaginal fluids. Have you ever went to put a tampon in and it was dry and uncomfortable to insert? This is because, when using tampons, menstrual blood and all other vaginal fluids are absorbed leaving things feeling pretty dry down there.

Better Vaginal Health

When using a menstrual cup, which is a medical grade silicone, it is a much healthier option because it isn’t adding any chemicals when you use it. It eliminates chemicals, pesticides, chlorine, and fragrances that are found in tampons and pads from being introduced to your vagina which overall isnt healthy for your reproductive system. 

The opportunity to learn your body and cycle

When using a menstrual cup, since all your blood is being collected in a cup, you have the opportunity to see the color, consistency, and visually see your menstrual flow. You can learn so much about your menstrual health just by visually seeing it.

Also…

Using a menstrual cup allows you to learn more about your cervix, if it sits high or low, how it is positioned (it is tilted a little, push back a little), how to locate it, what it feels like, etc.
You can become more intune with your cycle, and your body on a whole other level.

Cheaper/ Saves you money

Menstrual cups are reusable. So, besides the upfront investment price that you will pay for the actual cup, after that, there will be no more worries around buying feminine products every month! Simply use your cup each month, clean it after your menstrual and put it up until next time! And your menstrual cups last for up to 10 years, imagine how much money you will be saving!

Eliminates Odor

With a menstrual cup, your blood is being collected and concealed inside of you, allowing it to stay in liquid form and it is not being introduced to the air. When blood gets in the air, that is what causes bacteria to grow and create a smell, for example when using pads.

Comfortable and Convenient

Once you learn how to put your cup in, correctly and find the right brand and size cup that works for you, it comfortable and you do not even know it’s there. It is easy to put in, you can pack in with you anywhere, and you don’t have to worry about making any more tampon and pad runs to the store!
The flexible silicone/latex material the cups are made out of mold to your body, allowing you to continue with your normal activities and can be left in for up to 12 hours!

Eco Friendly

We all have seen and heard of the conditions of our planet right now, landfills and waste are out of control! Some of these items that end up in landfills such as tampons and pads can be eliminated. By using Menstrual cups eliminates waste in landfills because menstrual cups are reusable.

Things to consider about using a menstrual cup

Now while I have listed the benefits of a menstrual cup above, it would not be fair to list out only benefits and not list out other aspects around the menstrual cup to consider when deciding to switch over.
I would not necessarily call these things that I am going to list here disadvantages but more highlighting that with all change, may come to some discomfort and a relearning of our prior thoughts and beliefs. Some things to consider when switching over are:

You may get some blood on your hands

Yes, there will be times, well most of the times you may get blood on your fingers as your insert and take out your menstrual cup. Is it messy? No, not really, it’s just a part of the process of inserting and taking out your menstrual cup.

Something to consider if you do not like touching blood is that we have been taught that our menstrual blood is nasty when really, it’s a natural function of our bodies and this is a way of normalizing just that.

There is a learning curve/ process

Switching to a menstrual cup may take some practice. It May take some leaks, buying an extra cup, using backup, learning how to feel for your cervix, etc. There is a learning process, that may include learning things like  

• The brand and size cup that works for you, to get the best results 
• Learning how to insert the cup and taking it out
• Learning the kind of fold that works best for insertion and position that feels best when inserting for you
• Placing it correctly so you do not have leaks 
• Cleaning & storing your cup 
• Learning about your cervix

I list these things as a way to show that the process of starting to use a menstrual cup is not a quick switch but also through practicing and exploring this new way of caring for your menstrual cycle will allow you to learn more intimately about your body and in return may take some time. 

Initial Cost

Menstrual cups can be a little pricey, ranging anywhere from 20 to 40 dollars and that can be something that holds you up, the initial investment in this new, unknown journey and I get that! One of the reasons I held out honestly for so long on buying a menstrual cup was because of the initial cost, I was being cheap.

But keep in mind that it is a one-time purchase and a step towards not having to buy tampons and pads in the future.

Emptying Menstrual cup in Public Restrooms

This is still something I rarely do. I think in the 2 years that I have been using my menstrual cup, I have had to change in a public bathroom about 3-4 times, and that’s because menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours so you really can get away with being out without having to empty your cup.
Something else that I do when I’m on my heavier days is, I will empty my cup before I leave the house if I know I will be out for a while. I do this just as a little extra precaution for myself.

If you must change in public, wash your hands, grab some extra paper towels to take into the stall with you, and use it to help clean your hands, cup and a place to set cup down if you need to.

Determine which menstrual cup to get

If you haven’t already started to notice, there are so many types and brands of menstrual cups around and this can be a lot to take in when your beginning this journey, I know.
Some cups are firmer, some softer, some cups are bigger, smaller, some cups are shaped differently, there is a wide variety!

How do you know which one to choose?

Some factors that can be helpful to take into consideration when choosing a menstrual cup so that you can find the cup that is going to be a comfortable fit, will not cause leakage, and will stay in place are:

Your Age and If you have been pregnant before

Companies have created their sizes for menstrual cups based on women’s age and if they have been pregnant before to help determine a women’s vaginal muscle tone and what cup size will fit best. These guidelines can be accurate but also can be different for each person and also the sizes can be different for each company. Just remember they are just guidelines.

For example
Some companies say women who are under 30, who have never had a full-term pregnancy are recommended to get the smaller sizes, usually size small.

And women over 30, who have had a pregnancy or multiple, are recommended to get one of the larger cups.
But then there are other companies, like the menstrual cup company that my cup is from, Genial Day, and they have 3 sizes of cups. Based there sizing off of age rages 18 through 25 and up.

I ended up getting a size medium cup which according to their guidelines, I should have actually got a large cup because I am over 25 and have had 3 pregnancies and my cup fits and does its job just fine.

So, with that being said, keep in mind that these are just guidelines to help but you know your body best and to make the decision that fills best for you. Once you get your cup, that will be the best way to determine if it’s a good fit or not.

Cervix height

I’m not going to get too much into this but pretty much your cervix height can determine how high your cervix sits in your vagina and can be measured. I will leave a link below for you to get more information on how to measure your cervix.
Measuring your cervix can be helpful for you to find a cup that is the right length with your cervix, and that you have a comfortable fit wearing your cup so that it is not hanging too low. A cup that is too long, can be uncomfortable. Check out more information on this here.

Soft Cup? Firm Cup?

Okay so, some cups are soft and some cups are more firm. Choosing around this aspect of the cup can help with preventing leaks and help with making sure you find a cup that feels comfortable to wear.

Soft cups are more flexible and tend to bend a lot easier which makes them more comfortable to wear. It can feel like nothing is there. On the flip side of that, with these cups being softer, easier to bend, they may not open as easily when inserting. To avoid leaks, you may have to assist the cup to open up once it’s inside of you.

Firmer cups are obviously firm, so they have more resistance and open up a lot easier when inserted, less likely to fold over when inside of you and leak. These cups also are good for staying in place, which makes them good for doing activities like yoga, running, etc. Sometimes because the cup is firmer, it may be able to be felt more when wearing and even more when using the bathroom.

My experience with my menstrual cup

In 2019 I began my journey using a menstrual cup. As I mentioned above, my husband surprised me and bought me my first menstrual cup. I know aren’t we so romantic, he contributed to nurturing my sacred space.

Okay anyways, at this point the pressure was on, I had no more excuses to not give this menstrual cup game a try.
I started off using and I am still using the Genial Day cup, it’s a size Medium and it’s made of medical-grade TPE which is a more flexible, durable, sustainable, and recyclable material.

Getting started I was all over the internet trying to learn about this cup, how to insert it, and just overall inform myself on this new way of caring for my menstrual cycle. I had my share of leaks, and these were usually because my cup was placed wrong, sitting crooked or I just completely missed where my cervix when placing my menstrual cup to where the cup was sitting on the side of my cervix!

Once I got my placement down, I began to enjoy using the menstrual cup, it was convenient because I didn’t have to constantly change it, I didn’t feel it, and I enjoyed learning more about my menstrual cycle.

It made me feel more intune with my body, my flow and once again became another empowering experience for me to learn from and evolve from.
I don’t want to make this too long but overall my experience with switching to a menstrual cup was defiantly a learning curve in the beginning but now it’s like second nature and I love how I don’t have to worry about making last-minute runs to the store for pads!

Making the switch to a menstrual cup is one of the many ways to honor your body, nurture your womb space and become more intune with yourself!

I hope you have found this post helpful for you and your journey! I will add the links to some helpful resources that you can look into for additional information! Keep an open mind during this experience, be patient with yourself and embrace the learning process of getting to learn how to use a menstrual cup while also learning more about your menstrual flow!

Click here to learn about more different ways to fold menstrual cup.

I wish you the best on your journey, truly.

Stay tune, in tune and forever evolving.

Stephanie