Menstrual cups are a great alternative to tampons and sanitary pads, and save a lot of money as well as being good for the planet.
If you’ve never heard of them before, they’re a small cup that you insert into your vagina to catch the blood from your period.
You need to change them less than tampons or pads, and instead of throwing them away you simply wash out and re-insert.
Many people choose them for their ease of use, and since they tend to cost under £30 and last a long time, for the fact they reduce the cost of periods.
If you’re thinking of getting a menstrual cup, here’s everything you need to know about their use.
How to get started with a menstrual cup
The first thing you’ll need to do is work out what size you are.
Different brands have different sizing, but more often than not there will be two options available.
One will normally be for those under 30 who have not given birth, and another will be for those who are over 30 or have.
The size you’re looking for does not relate to your menstrual flow, but your pelvic floor tone. This helps to get a secure, leak-free fit.
How to use a menstrual cup
Before using the menstrual cup for the first time, many choose to sterilise it. Whichever brand you go for should have guidelines on how to do this, but it tends to involve boiling it or placing it in water in the microwave.
You may also need to trim the stem of the cup. Check your instructions for guidance on this.
Once your cup is clean and dry (and you’ve washed your hands) you can try insertion.
Fold the cup into a C-shape and part your labia, placing the cup into your vagina. The cup should sit lower than a tampon would, and unfold itself to create a seal.
For the first few tries, it makes sense to also wear a pad in case of leaks, as you get used to how to place it inside you correctly.
Every eight hours or so, you can squeeze the bottom of the cup to release the seal, and empty the contents. Give it a rinse or wipe and it’s ready to go back in.
Between periods you should also sterilise your cup.
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