Getting used to a cup usually takes a few cycles: in one study, most users needed about three. After that you usually can't feel it at all, and it leaks no more often than pads or tampons. Here are the common worries, one by one.
How does a cup work?
A cup is made of soft silicone or rubber. You fold it and put it into your vagina, where it opens up. It collects blood instead of soaking it up and holds more than a tampon. One cup can last up to 10 years.
How long you can wear it is in your model's instructions, because wear times differ. On heavy days you'll need to empty it sooner. After your period, cups are usually boiled for a few minutes and left to dry, unless the instructions say otherwise.
How do I put it in the first time?
Try the first time at home on a calm evening, when you don't have to rush anywhere. Wash your hands and wet the rim of the cup with water. Fold it the way the instructions show and slide it in the way you would a tampon.
Once it's in, twist it slightly so it opens. It shouldn't hurt: if it does, take it out and try another day.
Will it hurt? What if it leaks?
If the cup has opened properly and it's the right size, you usually can't feel it. If it presses, drags or makes it hard to pee, it's sitting wrong or doesn't suit you. Take it out and try again, or try another model.
About 1 in 10 new users get leaks at first. Usually the cup hasn't fully opened or it's already full. While you're getting used to it, back it up with a panty liner or period underwear.
If a cup never feels right, that's fine too. Pads, tampons and period underwear are just as good a choice.
Common questions
Can I use a cup before I've had sex?
Yes. A cup has nothing to do with sexual experience, and studies have included schoolgirls aged 12–19. Start with the small size and take your time: learning may take a little longer.
How do I choose a size?
Many brands make two sizes. The small one is usually suggested if you're under 30 and haven't had a vaginal birth. The large one is for after a vaginal birth or over 30. It's only a rough guide: if the first cup doesn't suit you, try another size or shape.
Can I use a cup if I have a coil (IUD)?
Talk to your doctor first: a cup may make a coil more likely to slip out. If you use one, always break the seal before pulling the cup out. Take care not to catch the coil's threads.
How do I empty it in a public toilet?
Wash your hands, tip the cup into the toilet and rinse it with water from a small bottle you've brought. Give it a proper wash with mild, unscented soap when you're home.
In short
- Try it first at home on a calm evening
- Pinch the base before you pull
- Empty it as your model's instructions say, sooner on heavy days
Source: The Lancet Public Health: menstrual cup review
Educational content; it does not replace professional medical advice.