Cup Tips and Help

It can be a bit daunting using a cup the first few times.  If you aren't familiar or comfortable with your body, it might be helpful to get yourself aquainted first.  Don't be shy!   The following are some tips and advice collected from other cup users.

Cleaning

• To clean the airholes, fill the cup with water, place your palm on top, turn this upside down so your palm is over the cup and squeeze the cup - this should force the water out through the holes.
• Make sure the rim full pops out (You can feel this if you run a finger around the cup once inside).
• Squatting is a recommended position for insertion/removal.
• Don't let it get overfull, as emptying could then be messier.
• Carry a moistened face cloth or a bottle of water with you if you need to empty the cup while out.
• A kegel as you remove the cup can help.

• Trim your fingernails before using the cup.
• You may need to trim the stick (But try with it uncut, and don't cut it all off  in case you have to return it - as some manufacturers won't take it back if the stem is cut off)
• Remove the cup slowly, and make sure you have broken the seal, don't just yank it out.
• Let the cup open as soon as the rim is in, then push it up further if you need to, or do a few kegels to move it further up.
• Turning the cup can help it get fully open and create a seal.
• If you are having difficulty, try a different fold.
• If you can feel it, or its uncomfortable its probably in the wrong spot.

• It doesn't go in as far as a tampon, it should sit just inside the vagina.
• If it gets "lost" don't panic.  Relax and do some kegels (pelvic floor exercises) to push it back out.
• Emptying it in the shower (while showering) means you don't need to worry about spills.
• When emptying the cup into the toilet, flush straight away (or put toilet paper in the bowl first) or the blood will sink to the bottom and hard to flush out.
• Don't be alarmed if the contents of the cup isn't all liquid blood - menstrual flow is blood and tissue.
Because they don't absorb like tampons do, you can have a "dry run" to test it out before your period so that you are comfortable using it before you need to.  Although until you are bleeding you won't know if it is working properly, it is helpful for learning insertion and removal and getting to know your body.

There is a large live journal community devoted to menstrual cups, where you can post questions and seek others advice - however... there is also a large memories section where you can look at previous posts because chances are the questions you have will have been asked many times before.  Here is a link to that memories section directly.

http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=menstrual_cups

I use the "C" fold.  I fold the cup in half (with both hands), and hold it in that position with my first finger and thumb - running down the length of the cup, so that my fingertips are at the rim end.

Links to other sites discussing Menstrual Cups
http://pacificcoast.net/~manymoons/keepercompared.html
http://www.mum.org/MenCups.htm
http://www.mum.org/CupComm.htm
http://www.biologydaily.com/biology/Menstrual_cup
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_cup
http://www.ampnet.co.uk/femorabilia/mooncup.html
http://www.geocities.com/angua_nemi/tamp_moon.html(Shows a size comparison between tampons (dry and wet) and cups)
http://www.myvag.net/blood/product/cup
http://www.moonhutnaturals.com/articles/inserts.php
http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/14210
http://www.busybusymomma.com/MC.html(has pics of 3 cups side by side though the stems have been removed on 2 of them)
http://menstrualcups.org/wiki/index.php?MenstrualCupsFaq
http://menstrualcups.org(Basically just the homepage for the Menstrual Cups live journal listed below)
http://kuukuppikunta.net(Looks like a great site solely on menstrual cups but no English version :( )
http://kuukuppikunta.net/foorumi/viewtopic.php?t=1409
http://kuukuppikunta.net/ala.php?sivu=fakta#merkit

Links to Forums/Boards/Live Journals discussing Menstrual Cups
http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups
http://community.livejournal.com/aussie_cup
http://www.ciao.co.uk/Menstrual_Cup_5221094_4
http://members.essentialbaby.com.au/index.php?showtopic=206214
http://members.essentialbaby.com.au/index.php?showtopic=110263
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MoonKeeperDivas
http://www.forum.nappycino.com/showthread.php?t=4615(has links to other threads that discus it)