Healthshots
By Aayushi Gupta
Published Mar 21, 2022
First, wash your hands thoroughly before touching the menstrual cup.
Unwrap the menstrual cup. If it is your first time, it is okay to glaze the rim with a water based lubricant to lessen resistance.
Now get into a position in which you feel comfortable for inserting a menstrual cup. Most people either lift a leg to insert it or go into a deep squat position. You can choose what works for you.
Now to insert a menstrual cup, there are three kinds of folds—C-fold, 7-fold, and U-fold. Choose a fold that seems comfortable to you and take your time to make that choice if you're using it for the first time.
Now, take a deep breath to calm your muscles, then slowly insert the menstrual cup in your vaginal entrance (use your hands to move your vaginal lips apart).
When you feel that the menstrual cup is no longer moving upward, loosen the fold. You'll sense that it will pop up on its own.
Try to rotate the cup once it is inserted to make sure the passage is sealed securely to prevent leaks. Remove the cup and try inserting it again if you feel uneasy.
Ideally, you should remove the menstrual cup after 8 to 12 hours of using it. Wash your hands before removing it, and to prevent spilling blood, we advise sitting on a toilet seat or putting something down on the floor.
To reduce the suction, try rotating the cup a little. Pinch the cup and take it out once the seal has become somewhat loose.
Flush the toilet after emptying the cup into it. If you want to re-insert it, clean it off with a fresh piece of paper before doing so.