How to remove a menstrual cup correctly?

Question

Alayka abbasi · Accepted Answer

Hi,It is often daunting, looking at the size of a menstrual cup and trying to work it out. However, once you have successfully inserted the cup, you may also want to remove the cup with the same amount of ease. It&rsquo;s really no rocket science but knowing how to remove a menstrual cup is very important. Mentioned below are some helpful tips to assist you with your menstrual cup removal.Here are some tips that will help you with the question of how to remove menstrual cup:Bear Down - Sometimes a menstrual cup will move up the vagina canal and this is completely normal. Simply push down or bear down with your stomach muscles, then reach inside the vagina and pull on the stem until you can feel the base of the cup with your fingers.Squat - If you still cannot reach the cup, squat on the floor. This will help lower the cup and make it easier to reach.Relax - Similar to when you are inserting the cup, while removing the cup make sure that you are relaxed so that your vaginal muscles do not become tense and make removal resistant Grip and pinch - Make sure your fingers are clean and dry then reach inside the vagina and pull on the stem until you can reach the base of the cup. Pinch as far up the cup as possible and squeeze it for a few seconds to loosen the seal of the cup around your vaginal walls. Once you have squeezed the base to release the air, pull the cup from a sideways angle.Break the side seal - In this method, you can carefully insert one finger up the side of the cup and kind of push it in to break the seal.This is actually very hard to do if you have a larger sized cup or if you are sexually inactive. Only use this method when necessary.If you are having trouble removing your menstrual cup, refer to these 5 helpful tips mentioned above to know how to remove menstrual cup.

Neha Parab · Answer

Hi ,I can understand your concern about how to remove a menstrual cup. We have to be cautious about leakage, spilling, pain and even maintaining hygiene during our monthly periods. As menstrual cups are designed to collect the blood, it is also specially made for quick removal after 8 hours and reinserting a new one or using the same one after properly cleaning it out. Inserting the cup for the first time might be a bit tricky but the process of removal can also be a bit of a task.Here are some of the essential tips you need to follow when it comes to answering the question of how to remove a menstrual cup:Make sure you clean your hands first, as bacteria from your fingers could be easily transferred to the surface of your cup and then cause an infection down there.Keep some clean toilet paper ready to catch any spillage or residue of the blood and clean up any blood clots while removing the cup. Next step is to relax your mind and body because when you&rsquo;re experiencing some stress, the muscles around the vagina may pull in and tighten up. This may make the removal a bit difficult and slightly painful too. Find a comfortable position. It can be squatting or standing with one leg on the toilet seat. Remember, you have to first locate the stem of the cup. As you find the stem, slowly using your thumb and index finger, reach the base of the cup that&rsquo;s slightly above the stem and squeeze it gently.Once you squeeze the cup you may feel the air suction losing the grip from the vaginal wall. Don&rsquo;t worry if you don&rsquo;t feel the suction or squeezing sound, that is normal fro some women. Here comes the tricky part, slowly move the cup and pull it out gently and slowly. The time you feel the rim of the menstrual cup coming close to the opening of your vagina, hold it in a vertical position to avoid any spillage.Note - Don&rsquo;t panic if the cup has slipped in deeper into the canal on its own, that is why it is designed to be. In such cases, while removing, just tighten your stomach muscles and push it down.I hope this helps you to clear your doubts regarding how to remove menstrual cup.

Priyanka Pujari · Answer

Hey!A menstrual cup is a bell-shaped product that can be inserted into the vagina to collect blood during a woman&rsquo;s monthly periodic cycle. These menstrual cups are an alternative to pads or tampons. Menstrual cups are usually made of medically approved rubber, silicone or plastic. Menstrual cups are mostly reusable. All you have to do is remove it once it&rsquo;s filled, clean it and then insert it again. You also get disposable menstrual cups but they&rsquo;re bad for the environment. Now, how to remove menstrual cup is something that a lot of women are confused about. Following the right steps while removing the menstrual cup is essential for its usage in the most effective manner while making sure your hygiene isn&rsquo;t compromised. Considering how heavy or light your flow is, you have to remove the menstrual cup to further clean it thoroughly. Usually, you can keep the menstrual cup in for around 6 to 8 hours but remember, if you have a heavy flow, make sure to remove and clean it before going to bed.Here are a few steps explaining exactly how to remove menstrual cup correctly.Make sure to wash your hands clean. Now, to remove the cup, place your pointer finger and the thumb into your vagina to get a grip on the stem of the menstrual cup.Next, gently pull out the stem of the cup until you find the base.Pinch the base slightly to unseal the menstrual cup from the vaginal walls and pull it down to remove the cup. Lastly, empty the cup into the toilet bowl. Do not empty it into the wash basin. These are a few easy steps that explain how to remove menstrual cup. If you clean and maintain them well, a menstrual cup can last upto 6 months to 10 years. Disposable cups however, have to be discarded as soon as you remove them

Q: How to remove a menstrual cup correctly?