Are you thinking of replacing disposable menstrual products with menstrual cups? Maybe you’ve just made your first menstrual cup purchase and need some beginner tips to set you off.
Well here is a quick disclaimer. There is no cookie-cutter formula for getting your grip on menstrual cups. Every menstrual cup journey is unique in its own right. On the other hand, strong self-awareness is the secret to unpacking all the incredulous rewards of using cups.
Knowing your body and your preferences will make the experience super easy and fun too.
As a seasoned menstrual cup devotee, I’ve rounded up a few tips for beginners that will help welcome you to the cup life.
- Know Your Body.
How well do you know your body? When it comes to using menstrual cups, having a tight grip on your body structure will make the difference. Female bodies differ in cervix height, menstrual cycles, and pelvic muscle strength.
If you’ve never stuck your fingers up there, then this is a perfect time. You can easily use your fingers to locate your cervix. It feels exactly like the tip of your nose.
This Ruby Cup, for instance, is befitting for women with a high cervix, while this Daisy Menstrual cup is suitable for females with a lower cervix.
- Choose the Right Menstrual Cup.
Typically, we have a variety of menstrual cups dotting the markets. For a beginner user, the process of identifying a befitting cup can be vexing, if not confusing. Nevertheless, this doesn’t have to be the case’ there are enough cups designed for every female.
To make it easier for you, here is a breakdown of some factors that influence the size and shape of cups:
- Age–
You will notice that manufacturers design menstrual cups with specific age brackets in mind. The most probable categorizations you will come across is under 30 and over 30 categories.
For menstruating teenage girls, for example, this Lunette Reusable Menstrual Cup is the ultimate option. Young users hail this small silicone menstrual cup for its unmatched comfort and ease of use. If you are over 30 and have a heavy flow, this DivaCup’s model 2 will suit you best.
- Previous Vaginal Childbirth
While you should not use a menstrual cup during postpartum bleeding, you can use it after you heal. Your pelvic muscles may weaken after birth, prompting you to move up from a size 1 cup to a size 2. However, this isn’t always the case. You can always maintain your cup size so long as your flow remains light.
You can find some top-rate post-birth menstrual cups on Amazon.
- Menstrual flow
Usually, the frequency with which you change your tampon or sanitary towel will dictate the heaviness of your flow. With menstrual cups, you don’t need to worry about your heavier or lighter days.
Menstrual cups can hold up to three times the amount of period blood that a pad or tampon would. Whether you need menstrual cups for regular to heavy flow or for light flow, you will find one.
- Sexual Experience
Can a menstrual cup cause the hymen to break? Yes. Can you use a menstrual cup with zero sexual experience? Also, YES! Thing is, you only lose your virginity when you have sex.
We can’t however discount the fact that inserting a cup or even a tampon can feel awkward for a virgin. On the other hand, virgin females can still wear small-size menstrual cups like these ones without feeling a thing. All you need is to practice being gentle, especially as you insert your menstrual cup.
- Bladder Sensitivity
Does wearing a menstrual cup escalate your trips to the loo? If so, then you have a sensitive bladder. In this case, a menstrual cup manufactured from super soft and flexible silicone would be a prolific option.
This Saalt soft menstrual cup is specifically designed for people with similar sensitivities and severe menstrual cramps. It will hold up for up to 12 hours with no chances of leakage, while still upholding ease on your bladder.
- Relax, It Gets Better With Time.
Let’s face it. Jamming a silicone, bell-shaped object up your vagina during ‘that time of the month’ doesn’t sound interesting. But here’s the thing, tension and anxiety is NOT an option for a first-time cup user. Vaginal muscles tend to tighten under such circumstances, paving way for an awkwardly painful first-time experience.
If you are hoping for an easier, comfortable trial, ensure you are in a super-relaxed mode. For example, you could do it in the shower after a warm, refreshing bath.
- Find a Good Angle For Insertion.
When it comes to inserting menstrual cups, a good angle is paramount. For successful results, you can squat, crouch with one leg raised, or hover over a toilet seat. The right position will enhance proper positioning.
Next, you will need to fold your menstrual cup into half then insert it with the rim facing up. Complete disappearance of the Cup’s stem will be an indication that the cup is in. Try different movements to assess its comfortability.
If the menstrual cup is your size, then the cup will sit in securely. You won’t even notice it’s there.
- Always Lubricate
If you are experimenting while off your period, then you should lubricate the rim of your menstrual cup with water or a water-based lubricant. Do the same to your vaginal opening. This will reduce friction, hence making insertion very comfortable.
Avoid silicone-based lubricants, as they will damage the menstrual cup.
- Always Cleanse Your Menstrual Cup Before and After Use.
If there’s one tip every menstrual cup beginner should grasp, it is menstrual cup hygiene. This object is bound to spend up to 12 hours in your vagina. Since no one likes period odor, cleaning your menstrual cup properly is non-negotiable.
The most recommended cleaning techniques are boiling for up to 20 minutes and using color-free liquid soaps. These techniques will get rid of germs, odor, and stains. You will then have a fresh and longer-lasting cup.
Alternatively, you can use liquid soaps that have no colorings, chemicals or perfumes. Lunette, one of the record-setting menstrual cup brands has one such liquid cleanser.
The Lunette Feel Better Cup Cleanser is simply perfect for sanitizing silicone menstrual cups. Manufactured from chemical-free Lemon and Eucalyptus oils, this cleanser will leave your cup smelling super-fresh. Its PH levels also blend in perfectly with that of your vagina, and you won’t experience any irritations when wearing your menstrual cup.
- Experiment when you are Off Your Periods.
If you’ve never tried a menstrual cup before, a trial is always welcome. I strongly advise that you first try it out when you are off your periods. This will save you from hormonal agitation in case it doesn’t work out perfectly. It will also be less messy since blood won’t be involved.
Once you have inserted your menstrual cup successfully, try walking around your room to have a glimpse on how it feels.
- A Disposable Menstrual Cup Before You Make Your Mind.
Trying out a menstrual cup for the first time sounds like a gamble, especially if you are a menstrual cup beginner. Well if you can’t resist the urge of using one, but you still have your reservations, worry not. Menstrual cups come in reusable and disposable options, although most tend to fall in the former category.
Disposable menstrual cups are cheaper, but still unpack all the benefits of a standard reusable menstrual cup. For a start, try out these soft cup disposable menstrual discs and thank me later.
Making the switch to menstrual cups can be intimidating at a glance, but it shouldn’t be. With
the above prolific tips for menstrual cup beginners, you will have a super-easy time using yours. Welcome to the cup life!
