How to use your menstrual cup?

May 11, 2022

Want to switch up your period protection? Tired of tampons and disposable pads? Looking for a menstrual product that’s healthier for you, but also washable and eco‑friendly? The menstrual cup is, along with period panties, the perfect alternative for finally experiencing your period without pollution, irritation, or stress.

Not fully convinced? Check out our article Menstrual cups vs tampons: making the right choice for your health and the environment as a teen.

Menstrual cups have the advantage of containing no harmful chemicals. That’s benefit no. 1. The Loulou cup is made solely from medical-grade silicone and nothing else. No alcohol, fragrance, plastic, BPA or latex. Nothing.

Ok, the composition is clean, but how do you actually use a cup properly? How do you wear a cup? How do you insert a menstrual cup? This might be your first time using a menstrual cup.

Don’t worry, we’ll explain everything. Have lots of questions about how to use a menstrual cup? You can also find tons of information in our various blog posts:

Discover the menstrual cup

🩸 Intimate, feminine internal protection

First of all, the menstrual cup is an intravaginal product. Unlike period panties, the cup is an internal period product. It is inserted into the vagina to collect and hold your menstrual flow. Nothing sticks out, nothing is visible. Just like a tampon, the cup is a super discreet menstrual product. It’s invisible.

🩸 What does a menstrual cup look like?

A menstrual cup looks like a small medical-grade silicone receptacle with a stem. It has the shape of a small upside-down bell. This little object is soft and very flexible. The silicone cup can easily be folded in on itself. This is necessary to insert it into your vagina. To the touch, you’ll notice that the Loulou cup is really extra soft.

🩸 What is a menstrual cup made of?

The Loulou menstrual cup is very soft because it’s made from medical-grade silicone. Its composition is safe: the cup contains no phthalates, no latex, no bisphenol, no alcohol and no fragrance. Hypoallergenic, the Loulou cup does not cause irritation, allergies, reactions or intimate dryness. It respects your intimacy and your vaginal flora.

Unlike tampons and pads, the cup has a safe, transparent composition that’s kind to your health and intimate area. Unlike with a tampon, you know exactly what you’re using and what you’re inserting into your vagina.

🩸 How exactly does a menstrual cup work?

Its mechanism is actually very simple to understand. This little bell-shaped cup placed at the entrance of the vagina collects menstrual blood as it flows. The cup collects and holds the menstrual fluid so it can’t leak out. With a cup, leaks are no longer an issue. It’s a generous reservoir that can stay in place for several hours without reaching capacity;

The cup holds the blood, unlike a tampon which absorbs it. At regular intervals, ideally every four hours, you’ll need to remove the cup, empty it and rinse it. But don’t worry, the reservoir is large enough that it won’t fill up too quickly.

🩸 Choosing the right cup

Choosing your cup (its size, firmness) depends on several factors: how toned your pelvic floor is, how heavy your menstrual flow is, and whether you’ve had a vaginal birth. Choosing the right menstrual cup size is important for a successful experience.

All the benefits of the menstrual cup

The cup is an internal menstrual protection that acts as a container. It’s completely discreet—nothing sticks out! It’s also great for avoiding bad odors because the blood isn’t exposed to air and can’t oxidize. The cup is appreciated for being extremely discreet—no panty lines on your butt. It’s also loved for its comfort: no bad smells, no irritation.

A cup holds 3 times more than tampons can absorb. It’s therefore the perfect intimate solution for managing heavy menstrual flow or very heavy menstrual flow.

A healthy alternative to tampons, the cup is ideal for exercising or swimming. Just insert it into your vagina and you’re good to go, free to move. You can swim, dive, sunbathe and run with complete freedom.

💧 The menstrual cup: a great solution for swimming with total peace of mind

The concept is really simple: the cup is inserted, worn, emptied, washed, then reused. It’s therefore an eco-friendly feminine product that can last for years.

Inserting a menstrual cup

For all our tips on how to use a menstrual cup, you can read our Complete Guide to Menstrual Cups.

🩸 What steps should you follow?

Sterilize your cup at the beginning of each cycle, either with a sterilizer or in a saucepan of boiling water.
Make sure to wash your hands before insertion.
Get into a relaxed, comfortable position. The best positions for inserting your cup are: standing with one leg raised, squatting, or sitting on the toilet. It’s not recommended to insert it lying down, as this can lead to incorrect placement of the menstrual cup. Don’t worry, you’ll quickly get the hang of it.
Then fold the cup. Take the time to handle it and try the different folding methods offered: C-fold, seven-fold, or tulip-fold.
Gently insert the folded cup into your vagina while staying relaxed.
Make sure that once released, your cup has fully opened against the vaginal walls. It shouldn’t hurt or feel uncomfortable. If it does, the cup is not positioned correctly.
You can wash your hands again and enjoy several hours of freedom.

🩸 What precautions should you take when using your cup?

A menstrual cup is still a device that must be used carefully, following these recommendations:

rinse it well between each use and clean it every day; if you can, we recommend alternating between two menstrual cups and sterilizing them more often;
use a neutral soap or an intimate wash gel for your personal hygiene;
wash your hands before inserting and removing it;
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) can occur when internal menstrual products are worn for too long. It affects women who carry the S. aureus bacteria that produce TSST-1 toxins. You should therefore never wear a cup for more than 6 hours at a time.
always get into the habit of automatically sterilizing your menstrual cup at the start of each cycle;
do not wear a cup in case of yeast infection, vaginal sensitivity or vaginal infection;
do not keep it in during sexual intercourse;
don’t wear it at night; opt for period panties instead;
do not wear them during postpartum bleeding. It’s important to always ask your gynecologist or midwife for advice.

What are the different Louloucup models?

Louloucup, a French brand of washable, eco-friendly menstrual products, offers two distinct models of menstrual cups made in France:

- a soft Turquoise menstrual cup for the most sensitive vaginas;

- a Classic Pink menstrual cup, a little firmer, for women who have given birth vaginally in particular.

Both menstrual cup models are available in two sizes:

- a small size for light to normal menstrual flow;

- a medium size for normal to very heavy menstrual flow.

You can create a custom pack or set made up of a Louloucup and period panties. That way, you get super-effective protection day and night for calm, stress-free periods.

Louloucup also offers cup + sterilizer + pouch sets so you’re ready for anything. We’ve thought of everything, including very handy sterilizers—keep them in mind to make life easier!

The good news? With Louloucup, the more period panties or cups you add to your bundle, the more the unit price of each menstrual product drops! A great deal! And with Louloucup, shipping is always free in France and Europe, and your order is always dispatched within 48 hours. So go for it! What are you waiting for to build your new menstrual routine?

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