What is a menstrual cup?

A menstrual cup is a reusable period hygiene product. They are made out of rubber or silicone, they are flexible and designed to collect blood inside your vagina, whilst you are on your period. Unlike tampons or sanitary pads, they do not absorb blood, they collect it. It depends on your flow, but you can usually wear a cup for up to 12 hours.

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How to choose the size of your menstrual cup:

You can now buy menstrual cups from most pharmacies and online. They come in lots of different colours, and all shapes and sizes. In order to decide what size cup works for you, you should think of the following:

• Your age
• If you've given birth 
• Length of your cervix
• If you have a heavy flow or a light flow

Smaller cups are usually recommended for younger people (under 30) and women who have not given birth vaginally. Larger sizes are recommended for people who have given birth vaginally, or who have a heavier flow.

How to put your menstrual cup in:

1. First things first, make sure that you wash your hands! You don't want to get any bacteria in there. Don't be gross, hygiene is sexy! 
2. Apply some water, or lube to the rim of the cup. 
3. Fold the menstrual cup in half. Have the rim facing up.
4. Insert the cup into your vagina, with the rim up. It will sit a few inches below your cervix. 
5. Once the cup is in your vagina it will open and begin to collect blood, preventing leaks.

If the cup has been inserted correctly then you should be able to move around freely without the cup falling out or feeling it too much.

When do you take the cup out and how?

The cup can be worn anywhere from 6-12 hours. The cup can be used overnight. But this purely depends on your flow and what you are comfortable with.

1. When removing the cup make sure that you wash your hands.
2. Place two fingers into your vagina and pull the stem of the cup gently. 
3. Pull the base to release and move the cup out of your vagina. 
4. Empty the cup in your sink or toilet.

How to clean the cup:

What is great about the cup is that you can reuse it. But, this also means that you need to make sure that you clean it properly. After the cup has been removed you need to make sure that you clean and wipe it down before reinserting the cup.

Here is what NOT to use to clean your cup:

1. Oil-based soap 
2. Antibacterial soap 
3. Scented soap 
4. Bleach
5. Scented soap 
6. Dishwashing liquid 
7. Hydrogen peroxide 
8. Alcohol 
9. Vinegar

How to clean your cup:

Before and after your period you should always sterilize your cup. This can be done by rinsing the cup thoroughly and then placing it in boiling water for a couple minutes. Once you have taken it out of the boiling water then you should let it cool and dry off.

How to store your cup:

When you have finished using your menstrual cup, clean and dry it and then store it in a breathable, organic cotton bag.