Vaginal Cups. What You Need to Know
Vaginal cups or menstrual cups are becoming more popular for use during periods.
Cups are a device that is inserted into the vagina during your period. The cup catches the blood from your uterus. It is used in replace of tampons or discs.
A menstrual cup is typically made out of medical grade silicone. Some are made out of rubber, so if you are allergic to latex, make sure to get one that is made out of silicone. There are several different companies who make them. There is a quiz online called, Put a Cup in it, that claims to tell you the best cup for you. I have filled out the quiz every way possible and I get the same 3 answers so I am guessing it is funded by 3 companies. It is important to find a cup that works for you. There is some trial and error to the process of using one and finding one that you like.
Many people have been coming into our clinic lately asking us about using a menstrual cup. Some want to know how to use them. Others want to know if they are safe to use.
I will try my best to answer those 2 questions here. They are difficult to answer because there is not a lot of research out about using them. I, personally, have not learned any information about them in any of the courses I have taken and neither have the other therapists at this clinic and combined we have taken hundreds of pelvic floor courses.
How do you use them?
The first question, “How are they used?”, is an important question to answer. I remember when I bought my first cup when I was 25, I thought I was going to have to go the emergency department to get it out. My first cup was the Diva Cup which I bought at a local grocery store. Since that time, I have learned that the Diva Cup is one of the hardest material cups to use. It is hard to fold to insert it in vaginally and it is hard to remove. For me, it always leaked. I gave up using it after 5 cycles.
One of my patients used and loved the June cup so that is the cup I tried after having children. I have no complaints about the June cup. (We do not get any financial kick back for recommending this cup.) I like the June cup because it is flexible (easy to insert), it does not leak when I use it, it is easy to remove without just pulling it down. I have some patients who use it who have a prolapse and they need to cut the pull tab so that it does not stick out of their vagina when using it.
Once you have found the menstrual cup that you like, apply water-based lubricant to the rim of the cup to make it more comfortable to insert. Then you will want to fold it to get it to be as skinny as possible to insert it. I recommend inserting it in the shower if possible (no lubricant needed because of the water). A standing position with your foot up on the edge of the shower helps to open your pelvis up. This position makes it easier to insert. I have also recommended inserting it while lying on your back. This seems to help if you do have a prolapse that is causing it to not be in a good position when you insert it standing or sitting.
You can leave the cup in for up to 12 hours. When removing it, it is important to break the seal rather than just pulling the tap. The way the menstrual cup works is by creating a suction around your cervix to allow the blood to flow into the cup. The first couple of times using a cup, it might feel like you have to contort your body into a crazy position to get it out. However, once you get the hang of it, you should be able to pull it out while sitting on the toilet or standing in the shower.
I would STRONGLY recommend practicing removing it at home before trying to do it in public as it can look like a murder scene.
You can either wash it off and then reinsert it or you can just empty it into the toilet and then reinsert it (if you are in public) without washing it.
Are they safe to use?
Without much research behind the use of menstrual cups, it is hard to say if they are fully safe to use. I will use my training as a pelvic floor physical therapist to answer this question as best as possible.
Like I stated earlier, when removing it is important to break the suction before pulling the tab. From my training, my personal experience, and the report of my patients, I do think that there can be some harm done if the cups are not removed properly. If you pull the cup down every time you remove it without breaking the seal, I do believe that you can cause a prolapse of the uterus. Now, this would likely take many times of you doing this rather than one time here or there.
I do think that they are better for your body and safer to use than tampons, without as much risk of toxic shock syndrome. Personally, when I use tampons, I get cramps. When I use a menstrual cup I do not get cramps until around the 10 hour mark which reminds me I need to empty it.
They are also safer for our wallet and environment since you only need to buy one and it lasts years. I cannot find anything stating exactly how long they last, however I have had mine for 4 years and it isn’t showing any sign of being done yet.
Since there isn’t a lot of research on using a menstrual cup, we would love to know what your thoughts and experience have been so we can collect some data to share with others. This will be completely anonymous. Click the button below to fill out our survey. Thank you so much for your help!
