Because menstrual cups are reusable and can last a long time, the difference between each brand lies within the materials. There are many types of materials, including silicone or rubber-like material - each has varying firmness and flexibility depending on the material. But all in all, the product should be well-balanced and certified with medical standards that it is safe for use. This includes the packing process, which should be hygienic and met standards.
As many Thai women are unaware or are still hesitating whether or not to use menstrual cups, the number of users in Thailand is relatively low. However, menstrual cups have been widely used in other countries for a long period of time. In addition, the waste reduction and eco-friendly trend contributes to the rise of Thai women using menstrual cups.
Us ladies might be afraid to use menstrual cups, especially during the first insertion. It can be a challenge at first, or for quite some time in some women, but your body will adapt eventually.
Vaginas can stretch and expand to fit inserting objects, and will return to their original state once the object has been pulled out. Therefore, using menstrual cups will not change or stretch out your vagina in a way that could affect sexual pleasure.
Wearing a menstrual cup will not interfere with urination and can also be worn during number two. However, there could be times that the cup would make number two a little more difficult, due to the lesser space in your pelvis. After you finish, be sure to check whether the cup is still in place or not.
Menstrual cups can be worn up to 12 hours, so they can be used as an alternative to bulky sanitary pads or tampons, without having to worry about leaking when you toss and turn. However, you should remove the cup and clean it after you wake up.
There are many factors that determine the right cup size - age, cervix length, the heaviness of your menstrual flow, and the strength of your muscle, for instance. Our recommendation for women under 30 years old who have never experienced sexual intercourse or have never given birth would be to use a small-sized. If it is not enough or does not fit, then you could switch to a larger size. For women who have given birth or have a heavy flow, selecting a larger size would be more appropriate.
1. Choosing a cup size based on cervix length
Insert your finger into your vagina, if you can fit your whole finger, any size would fit. If you can insert 2 knuckles or less, choose ‘Size Min’.
2.Choosing a cup sized based on your menstrual flow
Use ‘Size Max’ on heavy days
Use ‘Size Min’ on light days
That is possible. If you choose a menstrual cup that is too small, it could be easy to insert, but might cause leaking or fall out when there is a high impact movement. For women who have high cervix, a loose menstrual cup could shimmy in too deep, making it difficult to remove.
If a menstrual cup is too small, its rim would not fit perfectly with your vaginal wall, which could cause leaking from the side of the cup and makes it easy to fall out. However, if your period is light, there should not be any problem.
We recommend you to choose the appropriate size for your body. If the cup is too big, you could experience difficulties during insertion or feel uncomfortable while wearing it. In case of heavy period, we recommend you to remove and empty it more often. If you are experiencing an excessively heavy flow, please consult a gynecologist for further diagnosis.
The number of cups you need depends on your lifestyle. Many of you might be more familiar with sanitary napkins, but you can have 1-2 menstrual cups for when you want to exercise and go swimming during heavy days. You won’t have to worry any longer - live life easier and improve your quality of life. For those of you who want to switch to menstrual cups entirely, you can clean and reuse the cups. You can purchase menstrual cups based on the number of period days, or you can simply clean and reuse the same ones.
Menstrual cups are made of silicone. Once they have been used for a long period of time, they would turn yellow. However, that does not affect the quality of menstrual cups. If you find that your menstrual cups have become less flexible, do not return to its original shape like before, or have leakage, we recommend you to buy a new one. Most menstrual cups can be used for many years and can last up to 10 years.
We recommend you to wear a menstrual cup for 6-12 hours. You can wear it overnight, but should clean or empty it every 12 hour. For hygienic purpose, please clean it 2-4 times a day.
We recommend you to remove your menstrual cup before having penetrative sexual intercourse in order to prevent it from interfering. However, if you do not wish to remove it, you can partake in other sexual practices, such as kissing, stimulating clitoris, or having oral sex.
There are many reasons why you cannot insert your menstrual cup. Most of the time, new users are afraid and hesitate to wear one. This causes muscle tension and anxiety while trying to insert a cup. We recommend you to relax your muscles, take a deep breath, squat down, and use lubricant before insertion to make it easier. During first times around, you should try inserting it at home until you are familiar with it. Be careful of making a mess if you practice insertion when having your period.
We recommend you to lubricate your menstrual cup with clean water or lubricant first to make it easier for insertion, and to prevent abrasion causing by the friction between the cup and your vaginal wall, which could lead to infection in some cases. Do not forget to wash your hands and cut your nails before insertion.
Every time you wish to insert a menstrual cup, you have to fold its rim into a small shape to make it easier for insertion. The variety of folding methods serve the same purpose of insertion, so it depends on each individual’s preference. You can try different methods to see which is the most convenient and easiest for you.
After you insert your menstrual cup, you should hear a “pop”, causing by the silicone returning to its original state. If you do not hear a pop, please remove the cup and re-insert it, or use your finger to feel around the rim to see if it is tightly sealed, then pull the cup’s stem. If it fits, you would not be able to pull it out easily.
If you feel uncomfortable while wearing a menstrual cup, it is possible that the cup is not in the right place. We recommend you to remove and re-insert it. If you no longer feel uncomfortable, then it is probably caused by cup insertion. If not, then it is probably caused by something else.
Menstrual cups will not get stuck inside, so you do not have to be worried. It might feel uncomfortable during your the first couple of times. You should try to relax your muscles and take a deep breath. Then squat down, squeeze the base of the cup, and gently pull it out, while pushing the cup down with your stomach muscles to make the removal easier. You can also rotate or move it gently. Some people choose to wait until the 12th hour, when gravity will make the removal easier.
You should squat down and try to remove it again. You could apply more pressure by bearing down lightly with your stomach muscles as if having a bowel movement, which would make it easier to remove. If you still could not take it out, please seek assistance from a physician. Do not use any object to pull it out as it might cause other problems.
The stem of a menstrual cup makes pulling out easier. If you find the stem too long and uncomfortable, we recommend you to trim a small amount and try it on until you feel comfortable. But do not trim it too short, because it will make the removal difficult.
There are many probable causes - for example, you could be wearing the cup incorrectly, or the cup is too small. In such cases, the rim of the cup is not tightly sealed with your vaginal wall, causing leakage from the side.
Menstrual cups are made of high heat resistant silicone, so we recommend you to disinfect by putting them in boiling hot water for 3-5 minutes before use.
There are many methods to disinfect menstrual cups, such as steaming, and using a UVC sterilizer or a bottle sterilizer.
If you have to change and empty your menstrual cup during the day, you can sanitize it with clean water or soap before re-insertion. If you find it inconvenient to do so, for example, you have no access to clean water, you could use a disinfectant wipe or tissue paper to clean it. However, this is recommended in emergency cases only, and the cup should be thoroughly cleaned again when you are home.
We recommend gentle soaps for sensitive area, in order to prevent allergenic or hypoallergenic reactions, causing by acidic soaps.
For hygienic purpose, we recommend you to sanitize your cup as frequent as possible. For those who have purchased many cups, you can rinse them with water and boil them all at once for convenience.
You should store your menstrual cup in a clean place or in a ventilated bag to prevent dampness.
Before use, we recommend you to rinse your menstrual cup in clean water to get rid of dust and blood stain, then sanitize it in boiling water. But during the day, it is fine to clean the cup with soap.