Things to know about Menstrual Cup ~ A Thread

What is a Menstrual Cup: Going by the name they are cups used as way of period blood collection; made of silicone, latex, or a thermoplastic isomer, which basically meansthey're soft, modelable and hypoallergenic
#MenstruationMatters

Use: Much like Tampons, MCs are inserted up inside the vagina to collect period blood.
Unlike Tampons, or pads, both of which absorb the blood, the cup collects it, and thus can be emptied out and reinserted as and when needed. 2/n

Cup sizes: Many people are under the impression that MCs are huge and "not for virgins". That is quite a misconception. Menstrual Cups are actually quite comfortablly small (refer to picture for scale).
They come in different sizes for different women (explained further) 3/n

Cup Sizes 2: Depending on company, MCs may come in small, medium, large, XL, etc sizes. So how to determine which one suits you?

Several factors come into play
-Flow: heavier the flow, bigger the cup size recommend, obviously
-Cervical Height: Women with a higher cervix 4/n

Might find a larger size MC to be more comfortable
-Birth: Women who have given birth vaginally or are older may find a bigger size cup more comfortable
-Uterus tilt/shape: The structure of your uterus may affect the size of the Menstrual Cup you might find comfortable. 5/n

So you'll have to find the best combination. If you have a heavy flow, but a lower cervix, you might have to go with a smaller cup size and empty it more frequently.

Sounds too daunting? Don't worry. Know and explore your body to understand it better. 6/n

For most women, a simple age guide might help. Basically, the younger you are, the smaller the size you'll need, but of course, the above factors are important.
There are various guides online to find ways to find your cervix height. Comment/DM if it's still confusing.
7/n

Insertion: The cup has a mouth or opening that might seem bigger than your vagina. The cup is foldable and thus, is inserted after folding it in a suitable way. Basically, origamy it. Your packet might mention the "C-Fold" or the "Punch Down fold" but there are many more 8/n

The idea is to fold the opening down to a position or way that makes it comfortable to insert in. Once the cup is in, it pops open on its own, creating a very secure vacuum seal that prevents any leaks. 9/n

Removal: DO NOT SIMPLY YANK IT OUT. To remove MC, pinch it, closer to its mouth, to break the seal. You may find all the blood gushes out and soils your hand, which can be a little daunting & gross, especially for beginners & those a little uncomfortable with period blood.10/n

Once the seal is broken, the cup can slide out comfortably and the blood can be emptied out in the toilet or the sink.
11/n

Reinsertion: Wash the cup thoroughly with water and a non scented cleaning cleaning product (there are special MC cleaning products out there, but it's more of a matter of preference)
Clean the vagina with water to clean residual blood (DO NOT WIPE IT )12/n

Wiping the vagina will lead to it being temporarily dry and the last thing you want to do is insert MC without lubrication. 13/n

The most important thing to know is that this entire process is supposed to be painless. If at any given time, you're experiencing any kind of pain or discomfort, stop and take a breath, you're doing something wrong: Size or technique. N/n
(Refer to subsequent threads for more)