Learn How to Use the Menstrual Cup and Place it Correctly

The menstrual cup or vaginal cup is an object made of medical silicone that is inserted into the vagina during menstruation to collect menstrual flow. In addition, there are different sizes to choose from to correctly fit each woman's vagina. However, if you're unsure which option to pick, we recommend that you choose, for example, the Lily Cup size A, which is ideal for all those women who have not given birth.

The INTIMINA Lily Cups are very comfortable, flexible, and ultra-soft, thus adapting perfectly to the vagina of each woman. They are also very easy to use and offer up to 12 hours of protection and comfort.

Unlike conventional pads or tampons, menstrual cups do not absorb blood, but retain it and remain contained within until it is removed from the vagina, the liquid is poured into the sink and cleaned.

Pay attention to the following tips to know how to place the menstrual cup.

Before using the menstrual cup, it is important that if it is new and you are going to use it for the first time, you sterilize it for 5 minutes by placing it in hot water. Once this is done, we explain step by step how to put the menstrual cup correctly

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1. Wash your hands with hot water and soap to disinfect them and, if you prefer, the first few times you can apply a little water-based lubricant on the surface of the cup to facilitate its insertion.
2. Once this is done, you must find the position that is most comfortable for you to insert it into the vagina. The most recommended are sitting, squatting, standing with one leg raised on the toilet, or kneeling with legs apart. The important thing is that you are relaxed and comfortable.
3. Now hold the menstrual cup with one hand and compress it with two fingers. Then you just have to fold it into a kind of U in the open part of the glass.
4. While holding the correctly folded cup with one hand, with the fingers of the other hand, separate the labia and insert the cup into the vagina following the direction of the spine, that is, as if it were a 45º angle.
5. Once inside, carefully release the cup and make sure it is open and in a good position by touching the rim of the cup. It should not be as high as tampons, but slightly lower.

How to Remove the Menstrual Cup

To remove it correctly, all you have to do is wash your hands, get into a comfortable position, take the cuff or the lower nipple of the cup, and gradually remove it. Throw the menstrual flow in the toilet, wash the cup with water and pH-neutral soap and it will be ready to be used again.

It is important to sterilize it once the menstruation is over so that it remains in optimal conditions for the next cycle.

To know if you have put on your menstrual cup, you must pay close attention to these details:

• Loss with the menstrual cup: the menstrual cup must completely adhere to the walls of the vagina; Therefore, if you have leaks, it is a sign that the cup has not been placed correctly.
• Pain with the menstrual cup: in the same way, if you feel vaginal pain after placing the cup, it is possible that you have not placed it completely well, but that there are folds. It could also be because you've placed your menstrual cup too far in. In that case, it is better to take it out, clean it, and put it back.
• The menstrual cup does not open: you may notice this as soon as you put it on. If you put it on and you feel that it does not open, but that it continues to remain in a U-shape or with doublets, it is that it has not been positioned correctly and you must start over.

The menstrual cup is gaining more and more followers due to its many advantages, such as

• You help the environment: being reusable, you do not need to constantly buy pads or tampons. With which, you will not be accumulating garbage and the planet will thank you.
• Economic savings: for the same reason as before, using a menstrual cup has great economic advantages since in the long run, you save a lot of money if you think about how much you spend each month on pads or tampons.
• Does not spoil underwear: As many women know, the continuous use of compresses causes your underwear to gradually wear out and give of itself. Mainly, for this reason, many women have in their drawers what they call "panties for the rule", which are usually not very attractive garments. With the menstrual cup, you can use much more beautiful panties without fear.
• It is much healthier: compresses have chemical components that are harmful to our health, especially when they are in contact with our intimate areas. For their part, tampons, in addition to the fact that they can sometimes be painful and uncomfortable for some women, have the disadvantage that they absorb not only menstruation but also vaginal flows, so necessary for our reproductive system. Therefore, the menstrual cup would be much healthier than those two conventional options.
• It is hypoallergenic: Because they are made of medical silicone, menstrual cups are 100% hypoallergenic, so no woman should have reactions of any kind to this material.

There is no set time to change the menstrual cup, that is, it all depends on each woman and her menstrual flow. If this is the first time you use a glass, we recommend that you use it on a day when you know that you will be spending a significant amount of time at home to control how long it takes to fill your glass. Do not worry if it fills up completely without realizing it, because if it is correctly placed you will not have any leaks, but it is possible that you will get stained when you remove it from your vagina.

Also read: Having Itchy Private Parts? Try These Home Remedies

First, try to remove the glass within two hours of putting it on and check how full it is. Also, keep in mind that it will depend on which day of your menstruation you are on. Little by little you will know when to change your menstrual cup.

However, the maximum recommended time that the menstrual cup can be used is 12 hours, although this will vary depending on whether your menstrual flow is more or less abundant, so you can remove it earlier. What is important is that you never wear it for more than 12 hours.

Many women wonder if they can sleep with a menstrual cup, and the answer is yes. Since the cup adheres completely to the vaginal walls and can be in place for up to 12 hours, there is no problem when sleeping with the cup on. Of course, it is recommended that as soon as you get up you empty it and clean it.

You can also do sports with it, run, jump, swim, wear a bikini/swimsuit, etc., but always remember not to exceed the maximum recommended time between one change and another.

Like with everything, the more you take care of it, the harder it is. In the case of menstrual cups, if care and washing are followed correctly after each emptying, they can last up to 15 years.

And just in case you're still not persuaded, we will tell you that it is estimated that, on average, a woman will use more than 12,000 pads, towels, or tampons throughout her life, while she would only need 1 to 10 menstrual cups. Now that you know how the menstrual cup is used and you know all its advantages, do you still think that it is more convenient to buy pads or tampons?

This article is merely informative, we do not offer medical advice or offer any sort of diagnostic. If symptoms persist, seek medical help.

Adapted and translated by The Cop Cart Staff

Sources: Uncomo