Menstrual cups have existed for a long time. However, it is only recently, with the ever-growing concern for the environment coupled with a sliver of menstrual awareness that women are opening their eyes to this great sustainable alternative! Ladies, if you have decided to switch to the cup, you’ve made the right choice! Although, they sound and may even look scary to use, once you get the hang of using these bad boys, you’ll never go back to those uncomfortable pads or tampons. Most women who have tried them out swear by them; however, that fact doesn’t omit the fright of the occurrence of a terrible experience when using the cup for the first time. In order to ensure that you don’t have to deal with that messy situation, we’ve got some pointers for you to understand how to use a menstrual cup. 

1. Have I inserted my cup correctly?- First and foremost, you need to know how the cup should feel inside you, once inserted. Your cup is of the right size and has been inserted properly if:
   1. It doesn’t hurt
   2. It doesn’t feel uncomfortable
   3. The stem of the cup is not protruding out of your vaginal canal
   4. There is no leakage
   5. If you feel any sort of pain or discomfort, the stem is protruding or there is leakage, you have done something wrong while inserting it. You also may have got the wrong size of cup for yourself.
      
      
2. Carefully read the instructions - You may have done tons of research before trying out the cup and may be super excited to try it on immediately but never forget to read the instructions. Make sure to try out the folding technique mentioned in the instructions before actually jumping right into it. Always use as directed and make sure to pay heed to the warnings.
   
   Also Read - What are Menstrual Cups?
   
   
3. Relax while inserting - Inserting a menstrual cup for the first time is not an easy task for sure. However, relaxing your muscles and mind will definitely make the insertion easier. If you are unsuccessful in the first attempt – you are bound to get tense, so make sure to take a couple of deep breaths, relax, and then try again. It requires patience and once you get the hang of it, you’ll get it up there in no time!
   
   
4. Lubricate if needed - If you’re having a tough time pushing the cup into your vagina, try wetting the rim of the cup in order to help it slide inside easily and cause less friction. You could also try using a water-based lubricant for this purpose or even try it out in the shower.
   
   
5. Insert at a 45 degree angle - Most women make the mistake of inserting the cup vertically when trying it out for the first time. This in not the most efficient way to insert a cup – make sure to squat and slide the cup inwards at a horizontal 45 degree angle.
   
   
6. Make sure the vacuum is created - Once you have inserted the cup, a vacuum is usually created which prevents the cup from leaking, unless it’s been inserted incorrectly. At times you may have to rotate the cup 360 degrees in order to ensure this seal is created along the vaginal wall. Some women can hear a “pop” sound whereas others cant – you can tell if it’s created the vacuum by checking the rim with your fingers. If part of the rim seems to be bent or scrunched then it hasn’t opened up properly.
   
   
7. Don’t push it up too far - While it is important to know how to slide the menstrual cup inside your vagina, it is equally essential to know when to stop pushing it in. Menstrual cups are not supposed to go be lodged as far up as tampons, yet they shouldn’t be left hanging too low. The correct position of the cup is usually when the tip of the stem of the menstrual cup is 1 cm inside the vaginal opening. If it is protruding out of your vagina, it’s too low - you need to push it further up.
   
   
8. Trimming the stem - Trimming the stem is usually not advisable as it can leave sharp edges, which can give you cuts inside your vagina. However, some women have a low cervix and in their case the stem might hang outside the vaginal opening. To prevent this issue, you may trim the stem half cm at a time so that you do not end up cutting the stem too short. Also make sure to round off the edges to prevent any cuts.
   
   
9. Don’t pull on the stem to remove the cup - When your menstrual cup is full, you’ll need to remove it and wash it before inserting it again. Never pull on the stem in order to remove your cup – it’s a disaster waiting to happen! Remove the cup by firmly gripping the base; and if the base is too slippery, use a tissue to wipe it dry before pulling it out.
   
   
10. Make sure you get the correct size - Never buy a menstrual cup without reading the size description. Every brand has different sizing so if you have previously used a small cup from one Brand, do not assume that the small cup is the correct size for an alternate brand. It is very important to buy the correct size because this cup needs to create a suction seal (or vacuum) with your vaginal walls. If the size is incorrect, it may leak and cause pain and discomfort. The cup size depends on the following factors – your age, whether you have given birth vaginally, your body frame and your menstrual flow.