How to use a menstrual cup

Here are our customers' favourite menstrual cup folding techniques, along with instructions on how to insert, remove, clean and store your cup.

It might take you a few tries to learn to use your cup, but once you've found what works for your body you'll wonder how you ever lived without one.

Folding the cup

Method 1 – Diagonal fold

Squeeze the rim together pushing one ‘side’ slightly below the other.

 Use your other hand 
to twist the cup ...

 

... until it looks like this ...

This method allows you to hold the cup quite low as you insert it, which makes things a lot easier. This fold also seems to pop open inside you more easily. If this doesn't suit you, try another fold, like this one:

Method 2 – Origami fold

Push the edge of the rim down inside the cup.

 

Keep pushing it right into the bottom of the cup until it looks like this ...

Inserting the cup

  1. Wash your hands and ensure the cup is clean – follow cup cleaning instructions below.
  2. Get comfortable so your muscles are relaxed – sit on the toilet or stand. You might find you're concentrating so hard on getting the cup folded that you're a bit tense. Relaaax.
  3. Fold the cup (as shown above) and push it into your vagina, holding it folded for as long as you can.
  4. Let the cup go and it will unfold. Give it a slight twist or a gentle wriggle to make sure it has unfolded correctly and that it’s comfortable. The stem should be just inside your vagina, not poking outside your body.

If the stem is too long trim it with a sharp blade – a millimetre at a time. (Note: remove the cup before trimming the stem :))

Don’t remove the stem entirely; it is a vital part of the cup (it prevents the cup doing somersaults during use). Complete removal of the stem also voids your three-month Keeper warranty.

Removing the cup

  1. Wash your hands.
  2. If you're using a public loo dampen a piece of hand towel to take into the stall with you.
  3. Get comfortable so your muscles are relaxed – sit on the toilet or stand in the shower. 
  4. Put a sheet of toilet paper into the toilet – this prevents splashing, catches the blood and helps it flush easily.
  5. Slide your fingers up the stem to the bottom of the cup, pinch the base firmly with the tips of your fingers to break the suction, and ‘rock’ it or ‘walk’ it out in gentle back and forth motions. Try to keep it horizontal to avoid spills.
  6. If the cup is hard to reach, RELAX, then push down with your abdominal muscles until you can feel the stem.
  7. Still holding the cup by the base, empty it into the toilet, rinse with drinking water or wipe with damp tissue or paper towel, and re-insert it.

Empty your cup every 4 to 8 hours, depending on how heavy your period is. Give it a thorough clean at least once a day, following the everyday cup cleaning instructions below.

The cup can safely be left in overnight. Give it a good wash the next morning and it’ll be ready to wear again. 

Caring for your cup – before first use, every day, and at the end of your period

Before you use your Lunette or Keeper each month

  • Check the tiny air holes at the top of the cup are clear.
  • Wash the cup in hot soapy water (use mild personal soap).

Then:

  • Keeper: rinse in vinegar-water solution – 1 tablespoon of vinegar in a cup of water. 
Don’t ever boil your Keeper!
  • Lunette: boil in a big saucepan of water for 10 minutes – don’t let the Lunette touch the hot bottom or sides of saucepan.

Everyday cleaning

Rinse your cup in clean cold water or wipe it out each time you empty it.

At least once a day wash your cup thoroughly with hot soapy water and rinse it well. Squeeze the cup while submerged to make sure all the little holes near the rim are clear.

You can boil your Lunette each day if you like.

When you’ve finished your period

Rinse your cup in clean cold water then wash it in hot water with a little mild personal soap. Flush out the little holes, and clean the rim and stem (using a small toothbrush will help). 

Then:

  • Keeper: soak for 5 minutes in just-boiled water, then rinse in vinegar solution.
  • Lunette: boil for 2 to 5 minutes.

Allow the cup to dry, then store it in its bag.