Menstrual Cup 101

When my cycle returned after my 3rd baby (14 months postpartum...one of the benefits to nursing babies around the clock!) I decided I was done with tampons. Menstrual cups seemed like an economical eco-friendly option worth trying - and I’m so glad I did! There can be a slight learning curve...like finding the right fold to make inserting easy, experimenting with how to create a seal near your cervix to avoid any leaks, and then of course breaking the seal so you can actually remove it - ha :) But really, once you practice a bit it gets easier and you’ll find your period so much less annoying. And since a cup collects vs absorbs, it can hold 3x the amount of a single tampon! I’ve been using my original cup for 8 years - talk about economical and ecological. Most companies have a guarantee of up to 2 years, but mine is still in the same exact condition as I bought it and stain-free too!
Note: I did have a missed miscarriage and 2 more babies during that 8 year period totaling about 54 months without a cycle. Even with the breaks from pregnancies and natural breastfeeding amenorrhea, they really do seem to last forever. Even Kim from PUT A CUP IN IT (a fab YouTube channel for all things menstrual cups) shared that her original cup is still her go-to and has lasted 7+ years. It happens to be the same brand I started with as well!

A cup collects 3x what a tampon can hold!

Sanitizing my menstrual cup in boiling water for 5 minutes after my cycle. The whisk keeps it from floating to the top. Now it’s ready for next month!

Lunette size 2 is the cup I decided on back in 2013, and still the one I use every month. Lunette is out of Finland and uses a high-quality medical-grade soft silicone. My cycles aren’t very heavy, but the larger size is always recommended if you’ve been pregnant and birthed a baby. Here’s a great video to help explain sizing in general.
I’ve found that using a “C” fold and getting into a deep squat is super efficient and makes insertion a breeze. Then I keep my thumb and index finger at the base of the cup to do a full twist/spin to ensure that it’s open and in the best position. My first day is the heaviest so I will empty it every few hours if I’m home. If I’m not home, I’ll wear a pair of THINX underwear or reusable pad too just in case. But on the following days, I only empty once in the morning and then also before bed. That’s it! Dump blood in the toilet, rinse the cup with water in the sink, and every other emptying I use soap and hot water. I first tried using a gentle castile soap to clean it and realized I needed something better suited to silicone and eventually purchased the Lunette cup wash.

It was totally worth it and my first bottle lasted 5 years! At the end of my cycle, I wash it with the special soap one last time and then boil it for 5 minutes. To keep it submerged and from bobbing up and down, I place it inside a wire whisk. Boom. Let it dry, then place it in the fancy little pouch (or just loosely wrap it in a paper towel like me and stash it in your bathroom drawer) and it will be ready for your next cycle!

Many new menstrual cup companies have emerged over the last 10 years and it can be pretty overwhelming, but I just urge you to try one! It could quite possibly change your life. I know that may seem a bit dramatic, but I’m still a little upset I didn’t start using one sooner.
Through my research, I’ve found a couple of other companies to recommend as well: Saalt and OrganiCup. Their reviews are fantastic and I recently purchased the Saalt cup wash since my Lunette wash finally ran out. I’m really happy with it! 

Check out my favorite step-by-step guide and video here.

Have you tried using a menstrual cup? What have you learned that could help others shorten the learning curve? Any questions for me? Let’s chat below!