Menstrual cups · 8 min read
Inserting a Menstrual Cup: The Best Folding Techniques for Pain-Free Insertion & Removal
Folding a menstrual cup may be a little tricky for beginners – which is exactly why we've written this guide. We want to take away any uncertainty you might have about menstrual cups and share all our experience with you, so that inserting a menstrual cup quickly becomes really easy for you (it does take a bit of practice, after all).
How best to insert your menstrual cup, which folding techniques there are, and what you can do if the cup doesn't unfold – you'll find it all here.
How do you insert a menstrual cup?
Most menstrual cups are made of soft silicone that you can bend, fold and shape. Since the cup comes into contact with your mucous membranes, it's best to only ever use a menstrual cup made of 100% medical-grade silicone. The material is particularly high quality, and intolerances are very rare with it. With SELENACARE period cups, you can rely on them being made of 100% medical-grade silicone. We want only the best for you!
The menstrual cup is inserted folded, which makes it considerably smaller. Inserting it feels roughly similar to inserting a tampon. The same applies here: don't be too impatient. It can take a few attempts before you can insert the menstrual cup properly. But you'll notice that you quickly get the hang of it.
Unlike a tampon, which absorbs all moisture, a menstrual cup is also comfortable to insert when your vagina is on the dry side. You can additionally wet the menstrual cup with water before inserting it, which makes insertion even easier and more comfortable.
Instructions: inserting a menstrual cup
- Optional: wet the menstrual cup with water
- Fold the menstrual cup (e.g. C-fold, punch-down fold)
- Hold the folded menstrual cup firmly and guide it to your vagina
- Now you can let go with your ring finger and little finger and keep pushing it up with your remaining fingers
- Let go in the middle of the vagina – the cup unfolds by itself (if necessary, twist, press or pull it down a little)
Menstrual cup folding techniques
The folding techniques
There are different ways of folding a menstrual cup. The best way to find out which technique feels most comfortable for you is simply to try them all. By the way, there are quite a few more folding techniques out there – and perhaps you'll even invent your very own. In our experience, the following folds have proven themselves best:
C-fold
This fold is often also called the heart fold, as its shape resembles a heart.
Punch-down fold
In shape, it resembles a seashell. Thanks to the air inside, it pops open particularly well. Simply press one rim of the cup down and inwards with your thumb, and you have the desired shape.
Fold-down fold
Possibly the smallest way to fold the cup – but it also takes a bit more practice. First press the cup together in the middle, then fold one corner down.
Don't be discouraged if the folding techniques don't work right from the start. It takes a few attempts, but you'll get better every time. If the menstrual cup doesn't unfold, take it out again, rinse it under cold water and give it another go.
Soft period cups are easier to fold, but they can also bend more easily during insertion. We only recommend reaching for a firm cup if you have a particularly well-trained pelvic floor.
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Pain when inserting a menstrual cup?
Just as with a tampon, a period cup shouldn't hurt either when inserting or while wearing it. So as a general rule: if you get on well with tampons, you will with a menstrual cup too.
The most common cause of pain when using a menstrual cup is incorrect use – for example, because the cup sits too deep and touches the cervix. That's why it's so important to feel for the height of your cervix beforehand and then choose the right cup size.
If the menstrual cup sits very deep, removing it becomes harder. The more you have to fiddle around to get the cup out again, the more uncomfortable the whole procedure naturally becomes. Inserted too deep, it can also happen that the cervix gets caught when releasing the suction – and that is particularly unpleasant!
How do I know the menstrual cup is sitting correctly?
Unlike with a tampon, it's completely sufficient to insert the menstrual cup only far enough for it to unfold fully. That's roughly 1–2 cm past the vaginal opening.
If it feels more comfortable for you, you can also place the cup directly below the cervix.
By the way, firmer menstrual cups pop open – that is, unfold – best, as there's correspondingly more force behind them. However, we only recommend a firmer cup (like our SELENACARE Active) if your pelvic floor is particularly well trained. A softer cup (SELENACARE Premium or Basic) could slip more easily here or be compressed by the tissue, which can cause it to leak.
If you want to know more about which cup is right for you, you'll find answers to your questions in our guide “Which menstrual cup should I buy?”.
Can a menstrual cup slip up too far?
Depending on how deep you insert the menstrual cup – just above the pubic bone or right at the cervix – the cup has room to slip upwards. But it can't go any further than the cervix. So don't panic: the cup cannot get lost inside you, and you can always retrieve it yourself.
By the way, the cup can also slip upwards while you're lying down. If you wear the cup overnight, you may have noticed this already. It usually sorts itself out on its own after around 30 minutes on your feet.
Can you feel the menstrual cup?
Even if it might not look like it at first glance, a menstrual cup is particularly comfortable to wear – even more comfortable than a tampon. The prerequisite, of course, is that it's the right size and sitting correctly.
You can't feel an inserted menstrual cup at all. Many of our customers even report that at times they forget they're on their period.
A menstrual cup that's too big presses against your cervix, which feels like pressure or a pulling sensation. If you can feel your menstrual cup, try a smaller size.
How do you remove a menstrual cup?
There's no special (folding) technique for removing a menstrual cup. What matters is that you don't simply pull on the cup. The suction that has formed – which is important so that nothing leaks – would otherwise increase, and that can hurt.
Instructions: removing a menstrual cup
- Optional: if you can't get a good grip on the cup, pull carefully and gently on the stem, wiggling it back and forth a little if necessary. Tensing your pelvic floor and pushing downwards also helps you reach the cup more easily.
- Press your index finger against one side of the menstrual cup to release the suction.
- Grip it with your thumb and index finger and pull it out slowly. If you feel a pulling sensation, the suction hasn't been fully released yet – repeat step 1.
- Empty the cup into the toilet.
Menstrual cup won't come out?
If you can't get a good grip on the cup, tense your pelvic floor muscles and use them to push it downwards. Still not working? Try a different position, for example standing, squatting or with one leg raised. Don't worry, nothing can happen – the cup can never slip in deeper than your cervix, and you will definitely be able to get it out again yourself. Once the cup is out, simply empty it. Wash it briefly but thoroughly with a mild soap and plenty of water, and insert it again. We've summarised how best to care for your menstrual cup in our guide “Cleaning your menstrual cup”.
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