Menstrual cups · 7 min read
What to consider with menstrual cups? The Dos & Don'ts
Menstrual cups are a very comfortable and sustainable alternative to conventional disposable products such as pads, panty liners or tampons. What's more, a menstrual cup adapts perfectly to every movement, doesn't dry out your vagina and is even suitable for swimming. We've put together helpful tips on what to look out for with menstrual cups, so you can enjoy yours for as long as possible. In our online shop you'll also find three different models – from the beginner cup to the sports model for menstruating people with a strong pelvic floor.
Menstrual cup dos
What to consider with menstrual cups: 4 things you should do
🟢 Choose a cup made of medical-grade silicone
The material a menstrual cup is made of should be stated on the packaging. Medical-grade silicone is otherwise used in prostheses, probes, implants, artificial joints and contact lenses, among other things. The material has to meet the strict quality controls and regulations of the FDA and the EU.
Menstrual cups made of medical-grade silicone are hypoallergenic, meaning they only very rarely cause allergies and are therefore considerably gentler than tampons. You can learn more about medical-grade silicone and why we rely on this material for our cups in our guide “Menstrual cups made of medical-grade silicone”.
🟢 Determine the right size
Finding the right menstrual cup size comes down to the combination of how heavy your period is and the height of your cervix. While larger cups are usually also longer and can therefore bump against your cervix, smaller cups need to be emptied more often if your flow is heavier. To know which cup fits you best, you should feel for the position of your cervix yourself during your period. You can find out how this works and which size is right for you with our size finder.
🟢 Choose the right firmness
How well trained your pelvic floor is determines the right firmness for your menstrual cup. The sportier and more active you are, the more trained your pelvic floor usually is. In that case, a firmer cup is the better choice. Sports that work the deep-lying muscles in particular make for a healthy, strong pelvic floor – especially Pilates and yoga.
If your pelvic floor is average or weaker, a slightly softer cup is more suitable. Think of it roughly like this: a firmer cup can exert more force to push the surrounding tissue aside in order to unfold. A soft cup could get squeezed during movement and therefore slip, or blood could run past it. With softer muscles, the cup needs to exert less force. After the stretching of a vaginal birth, the muscles are also weaker.
🟢 Find the right folding technique for you
Menstrual cups are inserted folded. This not only makes them smaller and narrower and easier to insert – it also lets them properly pop open, creating the suction that is needed for the cup to sit firmly and securely so nothing can leak.
C-fold, S-fold, punch-down fold or 7-fold: there are various folding techniques, all of which we explain in more detail in our guide “How to fold a menstrual cup”. Find the folding technique that suits you best. Be patient and take your time – inserting a menstrual cup takes a little practice before it happens all by itself. If your vagina is on the dry side, it helps to moisten the menstrual cup with water before inserting it.
🟢 Pay attention to hygiene
Make sure to keep things hygienic when using a menstrual cup. Your hands constantly touch all kinds of things and come into contact with countless germs. These are often harmless, but you never know in advance what kind of germs they are. This applies to cleaning, removing and inserting your menstrual cup. That way you prevent germs that are dangerous for your vagina from being transferred to the menstrual cup, and avoid infecting yourself with fungal spores when inserting or removing it.
For this reason, it is important to always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Before inserting the menstrual cup at the start of your period, you should always sterilise it in boiling water for 5 minutes. By the way: our SELENACARE menstrual cups “Premium” and “Active” come with a special sterilisation cup included, which you can also use to sterilise the cup in the microwave.
During your period, it is enough to clean it regularly with water and soap.
You can read detailed information on caring for your menstrual cup and what to do about discolouration in our guide article “Cleaning menstrual cups [care guide]”.
Menstrual cup don'ts
What to consider with menstrual cups: 4 mistakes you'd better avoid
🔴 Don't pull on the stem when removing
Unlike inserting, there is no special folding technique for removing the menstrual cup. What matters, though, is that you don't simply pull on the stem of the cup. This increases the suction and the cup clings on very tightly, which is painful. If you use an IUD for contraception, you need to be particularly careful. If you can't get a good grip on the cup, tense your pelvic floor muscles and make a gentle pushing movement to press the cup downwards.
Don't panic – nothing can happen, you will definitely get the cup out again, and it cannot get lost inside you. Just like inserting, removing your menstrual cup simply takes a bit of practice.
🔴 Don't insert it too deep
You don't need to insert the menstrual cup as deep as a tampon. It is perfectly sufficient to place it 1-2 cm past the vaginal opening.
The cup then unfolds and, thanks to the vacuum created, sits securely and firmly – but in no way feels uncomfortable or like it's pressing. On the contrary: when the menstrual cup sits correctly, you won't feel it at all. If you insert the cup too deep, it can press against your cervix, which then feels uncomfortable.
🔴 Don't clean it in the washing machine or dishwasher
As a general rule, we cannot recommend cleaning it in the washing machine or dishwasher for hygiene reasons.
The water temperature in the washing machine is not sufficient to clean the menstrual cup thoroughly. In addition, laundry detergents and washing-up liquids are not suitable for the pH level of the intimate area. The spinning of the drum can also cause damage.
🔴 Don't use a menstrual cup for postpartum bleeding
During the postpartum period – the first six weeks after giving birth – you should avoid menstrual cups and tampons. The lochia must be able to flow out unhindered, as otherwise the risk of a bacterial infection increases significantly.
Instead, you should use the special maternity pads designed for heavy bleeding. On maternity wards, these are often laid out in the bathrooms. Alternatively, we can also recommend our bladder weakness underwear or period underwear – they are sustainable because they're washable, and as comfortable as normal underwear, without any nappy feeling.
Cups by SELENACARE
SELENACARE menstrual cups
Sustainability is very close to our hearts. Did you know that disposable period products take up to 500 years to break down? We want as many menstruating people as possible to switch to sustainable period products. The initial cost is a little higher, but the investment pays off after a very short time.
On average, every menstruating person has their period 500 times, with five days of bleeding each. It's incredible how much waste adds up when an average of 3-4 tampons, panty liners or pads are needed per cycle day. That amounts to 10,000 – 17,000 period products per person.
Just work out how much waste and money you can save each year with a menstrual cup. A menstrual cup isn't made from renewable raw materials either, but with a lifespan of several years, it lasts considerably longer.
Where to buy a menstrual cup
The SELENACARE menstrual cup is one of the best-selling menstrual cups at dm. You'll also find it in many other drugstores in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, such as Müller, BIPA and Budni. And of course, you can conveniently order online too – right here in our online shop.
Empfohlene Produkte
¡Nuestra última innovación es una verdadera revolución en el segmento de la ropa interior menstrual! ¡Nuestro nuevo tejido autoadhesivo permite la combinación de la ropa interior menstrual con compresas intercambiables - ¡una verdadera innovación y evolución para el sector de la higiene menstrual sostenible! Un tejido revolucionario En estrecha colaboración con nuestros diseñadores y expertos textiles, SELENACARE ha desarrollado una nueva tecnología que redefine la flexibilidad durante la menstruación - ¡un tejido autoadhesivo! Este tejido se cose en la entrepierna de la Braga Básica SELENACARE Easy Comfort, así como en las compresas absorbentes, facilitando el intercambio y evitando el desplazamiento de las mismas. De esta manera las compresas se pueden intercambiar fácilmente sin tener que quitarse la braga. El tejido autoadhesivo permite que las compresas se cambien fácilmente en la braga básica SELENACARE Easy Comfort, tal como se hace con las compresas desechables tradicionales. ¡Pero las Compresas Easy Comfort se pueden reutilizar ya que son lavables! ¡Dile "Adiós" a los momentos incómodos de cambio y "Hola" a una sensación de flexibilidad absoluta durante tu menstruación! El Set SELENACARE Easy Comfort El Set SELENACARE Easy Comfort se compone de dos partes. La Braga Básica SELENACARE Easy Comfort que está equipada con el tejido autoadhesivo en la entrepierna - una base genial para las Compresas SELENACARE Easy Comfort, que componen la segunda parte del set menstrual. Compresas Easy Comfort con bolsa impermeable Las compresas Easy Comfort están equipadas con un tejido autoadhesivo en la parte inferior y encajan perfectamente en la braga básica, insertándose en el área de la entrepierna. Gracias a la propiedad autoadhesiva, la compresa permanece firme en su lugar y no se desplaza. Con diferentes niveles de absorción, son perfectas para acompañarte en cada etapa de tu menstruación - desde el flujo ligero al abundante ¡te sentirás siempre segura! Una vez que la Compresa Easy Comfort llega a su capacidad máxima de absorción, se puede extraer fácilmente de la braga básica y reemplazarse por una nueva. No es necesario quitarse la braga para cambiar la compresa, Simplemente sustitúyela, guarda la compresa usada en la bolsa impermeable, lávala y reutilízala.
Siéntete completamente protegida y libre con la ropa interior menstrual SELENACARE Free-Cut. Invisible bajo la ropa, te ofrece comodidad, discreción y máxima absorbencia durante la menstruación. Esta braguita en tallas XS-M, así como L-XXL, se ha desarrollado especialmente para días medios y satisface las más altas exigencias. Perfección invisible para ti Gracias al innovador diseño Free-Cut y al fino material, la ropa interior menstrual SELENACARE Free-Cut no deja marcas antiestéticas bajo las prendas ajustadas. Puedes moverte libremente y sentirte completamente cómoda sin preocuparte por las marcas visibles. Con esta ropa interior, te sentirás confiada y segura en cualquier situación. Máxima comodidad y flexibilidad para ti La ropa interior menstrual Free-Cut de SELENACARE no solo te ofrece protección, sino también una comodidad excepcional. El material de microfibra superelástica se adapta perfectamente a tu cuerpo y ofrece la máxima flexibilidad. Tanto si trabajas como si haces ejercicio o sencillamente descansas, esta ropa interior te garantiza un ajuste óptimo y libertad de movimientos. Protección fiable para días medios La ropa interior menstrual ha sido especialmente diseñada para días de flujo medio, para ofrecerte un alto nivel de protección. Las capas absorbentes del interior de la ropa interior retienen el líquido de forma segura y evitan fugas no deseadas. Puedes confiar en su fiabilidad todos los días de la menstruación. Es tu compañera perfecta durante el periodo. Experimenta la comodidad, discreción y protección que te mereces. Ten confianza y disfruta de tu libertad sea cual sea el día.
Las braguitas menstruales Hipster convencen por su corte moderno y su ajuste supercómodo. Como en todos nuestros modelos, la superficie de absorción integrada está incorporada de forma discreta e invisible en la braguita menstrual. Las bragas menstruales absorben hasta 25 ml de líquido. Gracias a la pernera baja y a la cintura media, se adaptan perfectamente al cuerpo y dan sensación de seguridad. Días de flujo ligero, medio o abundante La intensidad de la menstruación puede variar a lo largo del ciclo. La ropa interior menstrual Hipster es ideal para los días de flujo ligero y medio del periodo. Proporciona una sensación de sequedad y no permite la salida de líquidos. En los días de flujo más abundante, recomendamos utilizar la ropa interior en combinación con una copa menstrual o un tampón. Si tienes la regla o manchas, puedes utilizar una compresa higiénica o una compresa lavable, dependiendo de la intensidad del flujo. Sin restricciones, siempre bien protegida Realmente no hay ningún límite en el uso de la ropa interior menstrual. Puedes utilizarla en tu tiempo libre, en el trabajo o cuando estés de vacaciones. Además de la sangre, también absorbe el sudor y otros fluidos y los sella de forma fiable. Como el material es absorbente, también proporciona una sensación muy segura durante la práctica deportiva. Después de usarlas, puedes lavar las braguitas con agua fría, secarlas al aire y reutilizarlas. Esto las convierte en una alternativa cómoda, sostenible y respetuosa con el medio ambiente en comparación con los tampones y las compresas desechables. No solo se reducen los residuos, sino que también se ahorra dinero gracias a su larga vida útil. Higiene y frescor a base de cloruro de plata (principio activo biocida según la lista del artículo 95): Las capas absorbentes de los productos SELENACARE están equipadas con el acabado protector antimicrobiano y biocida SILVERPLUS® del GRUPO RUDOLF. Impide la proliferación de las bacterias causantes del mal olor. SILVERPLUS® es la tecnología líder de iones de plata y está certificada según la norma OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. OEKO-TEX garantiza que todos los componentes se han sometido a pruebas para detectar sustancias nocivas y que el producto es inocuo para la salud.
Otros también leen
The Hymen – What Is It Actually? And What's Really True?
Sex Without a Condom – Conscious, Close and Honest
