• What is a menstrual cup?

A menstrual cup is a small cup that’s inserted into the vagina to catch the flow of menstrual blood during a woman’s period.

• Can you feel the cup while wearing it?

No. If the cup is inserted and opened up properly, you should not be able to feel the cup while wearing it.

• Does the cup hurt when inserting or removing?

For some women, the cup will be a bit uncomfortable while inserting or removing, especially during the first few times using the cup. However, with practice, the cup becomes easier to use and should not cause discomfort when inserting or removing.

• Is a menstrual cup messy to use?

elacup is a lot less messy than you’d think! The cup holds your menstrual fluid and with careful removal, you can easily dispose of the blood with no spills or mess.

• Can anyone wear a cup?

Yes, virtually anyone can wear elacup. Even women who can’t wear tampons due to the discomfort find menstrual cups much more comfortable to use.

• Can the cup get stuck or lost inside you?

You may panic and feel that the cup is lost or stuck inside you, but don’t worry—it’s not. It’s physically impossible for the cup to fit in the opening of the cervix, so there’s no way elacup can get lost in your body or reach your uterus. The cup can’t leave your vaginal canal, which is only a few inches long.

• How do I know which size will fit?

elacup has guidelines to help you choose your first cup; however, every woman’s body is different and so not every woman will fit the descriptions of the cup.

• Can I trim the stem?

Yes, but before doing this, be sure you know where your cervix is so that you know whether or not you actually need to trim the stem. For most women, the entire cup including the stem will fit comfortably in the vaginal canal and so the stem will not need to be trimmed.

• How do I know if the cup is in correctly?

When the cup is in correctly, it shouldn’t move around—when you tug on the stem, it should have resistance and feel in place. elacup should be comfortable when it’s in correctly and you shouldn’t feel anything—the stem should not be poking out.

• Will anyone know I’m wearing a menstrual cup?

Nope! elacup fits securely inside of you and should not be visible at all from the outside.

• Do I need to wear a pad with the cup in just in case?

You may consider wearing a pad with your menstrual cup for the first few days of using it just until you get the hang of it and can be sure your cup doesn’t leak. On average, it takes women three periods to get used to the cup, so be patient and don’t give up!

• How often do I need to empty the cup?

Only by getting more familiar with your menstrual flow will you know when you need to empty your cup. We don’t recommend leaving elacup in for any longer than 12 hours.

For many women, they’ll need to empty their cup more often on the first couple days due to a heavier flow, approximately every few hours. However, as your period goes on and your flow lightens, you may be able to wear the cup for up to 12 hours a day.

• How do I know when the cup is full?

You won’t be able to know when the cup is full unless it overflows and starts leaking. Monitoring your blood flow throughout your cycle when first using the cup can help you accurately predict when your cup needs to be emptied.

• Will a menstrual cup break the hymen? 

Using a menstrual cup does have the potential to stretch or break the hymen. The hymen is a type of membrane that rests at the entrance of your vagina and partially covers it but doesn’t completely seal it. Every woman’s hymen is different and some women don’t even have a hymen.

The hymen is elastic and in many cases, penetrative sex may stretch the hymen but not tear or break it. Using a tampon can also cause the hymen to stretch or tear. It’s possible that the hymen can tear from doing practically anything, from yoga to horseback riding. However, if having an intact hymen is important to you, using a menstrual cup may not be the best choice for period protection.

• Can I wear the cup if I’m a virgin?

Yes!

• Can I have sex with the cup in?

You cannot have penetrative vaginal sex with your menstrual cup in, but you can have other types of sex, and, of course, you can masturbate if you like while the cup is in.

• Can I go to the bathroom with the cup in?

Yes! Urinating and defecating will not affect the cup, although if you choose to defecate while your cup is in, this could break the seal of the cup and so you may need to adjust it after having a bowel movement.

• Can I use the cup if I have a tilted cervix or a tilted uterus?

Yes!

• Can I use the cup if I have a low cervix or a short vaginal canal?

Yes, although you may be better off choosing the mini size or the smaller size of elacup for the best fit.

• Can I use the cup if I have an IUD or use a contraceptive ring?

Yes, but there are precautions you should take with both. An Intra Uterine Device (IUD) usually has strings that dangle at the opening of the cervix, so you may need to ask your doctor to trim them so they don’t interfere with the cup.

Using a menstrual cup can dislodge an IUD as can some other activities, so always exercise caution. You can do this by making sure your menstrual cup is in the right position and isn’t touching the IUD strings.

If you wear a contraceptive ring, it might be difficult to remove the cup without removing the ring. You should insert the ring before you insert your cup. If the ring does get removed with your cup, don’t panic, you can simply place it back in. You should always follow up with your doctor with any concerns you have regarding use of the menstrual cup and contraceptives based on your unique anatomy.

• Can I use the cup if I have endometriosis?

Yes!

• Can I use a cup for postpartum bleeding?

No, you should not use the cup for bleeding after childbirth. This is because your flow will be very heavy and you’ll want to monitor it to be sure everything is normal.

• Can I wear the cup while exercising?

Yes, you can wear the cup while doing all forms of exercising, including swimming.

• How do I change the cup in a public restroom?

Changing the cup in a public restroom is easier than you think. You may choose to carry a small bottle of soap in your bag for this purpose. You simply remove, empty, then will need to access a sink to thoroughly wash the cup before reinserting.

• Can the cup cause a yeast infection or UTI?

No. However, it’s essential to follow the directions when using elacup to prevent infection; this mainly includes washing your hands and the cup when any contact is made. In addition, should you have a yeast infection or a urinary tract infection, be sure to use the sanitizing container to ensure all bacteria is removed from your cup before using it again.

• Can I sleep with a menstrual cup in?

Yes!