If you have already decided to start using the menstrual cup, you will have gone through two of the key moments to adapt to it: the first is choosing it (you already know that the menstrual cup has sizes and not all of them are valid for all women) and the second is knowing how to put it on. Ok, so far, all over it! Now comes another of the most feared moments: take it off!
The normal thing is that the first few times you get nervous, you don’t know how to do it and the menstrual cup gets stuck. It is also normal that right now you are wondering: how often am I going to have to do this? How often do you have to empty the menstrual cup? Well, that is precisely one of its great advantages, that you can wear it for many hours.
4 simple steps that do not fail to remove the menstrual cup
- Comfortable posture
It is essential that you look for that position in which you are most comfortable and relaxed. Like putting it on, it can be sitting, squatting, or putting one leg up on the toilet. Ideally, you can have your legs slightly bent.
- Stay relaxed
This may be the most important point to be able to remove the menstrual cup without problems. If you are nervous or tense, your vaginal muscles will also tense up and this will make it even more difficult for the cup to be pulled out. If you feel very upset, stop for a few seconds, take a deep breath and when you feel calmer, return to the mission! Let’s try again!
- Tighten the base
When you have found a 100% comfortable position and you are totally relaxed, the time has come to take action. Take the cup above the stem, squeeze the base to remove the vacuum effect that the menstrual cup has generated (if you do not remove the vacuum you can hurt yourself when removing it) and gently pull it out carefully so that the contents do not spill.
If you see that the menstrual cup refuses to come out or that it is too high and you can’t quite pull the stem, you will have to force your vaginal muscles so that they are the ones that push it down.
- Press the edge
If by squeezing the base you cannot get the menstrual cup out, try to insert your fingers a little more to press the edge of the cup. In this way, more air will enter and it will be easier for you to remove it.
How long you can wear the menstrual cup
- Now you know how to take it off, but how often you have to empty the menstrual cup is another million-dollar question. “Menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours, but it all depends on the needs of each woman,” Pilar tells us.
- The truth is that you should be the one who measures the time you need between emptying and emptying and everything will basically depend on the amount of flow that you expel. There are girls who have a low flow and, therefore, can endure many hours with the cup on without the contents spilling out; while others have a heavy flow and need to be emptied more often.
- Be that as it may, this is a great advantage of the menstrual cup with respect to tampons and pads, since no matter how much you have a heavy flow, you can always go longer without changing than if you wear a tampon or a pad.
How to clean the menstrual cup after emptying it?
Pilar Ruiz also gives us some tips so that you can correctly clean your menstrual cup after each emptying. This is essential to avoid infections and also so that your menstrual cup can last you many more years in perfect condition.
- It is important that you empty the contents of the menstrual cup down the toilet.
- The menstrual cup should be sterilized in a saucepan with boiling water for 8 minutes both at the beginning and at the end of the period.
- To clean the menstrual cup during your period, you can use soap and water (if it is neutral PH better) or toilet paper or a wipe if you are in a public bathroom.
