If you’re just starting to use a menstrual cup, leaks are sometimes part of the learning curve. It can be incredibly frustrating and finding your panties ruined… or worse…. is never a fun surprise. Equally frustrating is not knowing why the cup is leaking and how to fix it.
In this video you’ll see how you can fix it!
What am I doing wrong?
The first thing is to define what can be considered a leak. If it leaks a little but with a panty liner you can hold it all day, it’s within the realm of what’s normal. These small leaks can be from your own blood that is already in the vaginal canal or in the vulva when you insert your menstrual cup. These small traces stain a little.
If the spotting is due to this, it will happen soon after you put the cup in, but not during the rest of the day.
If the spotting is droplets and occurs throughout the day, the cup is not working properly.
So let’s look at the most common reasons and what we can do about it:
Causes of menstrual cup leaks
Size
One of the most common reasons; the cup size is not right for you. Even if you have followed the instructions according to your age or whether or not you have had a vaginal birth. Sometimes the condition of your pelvic floor, the width of your hips, your weight or even your height can also play a role. Try the following size we send you.
Your insertion method
As you can see in this video, there are 3 ways to fold the menstrual cup for insertion. If you suffer from leakage, I recommend you try the “C” shape, it has the best opening and rarely holds the folds. However, if the biggest difficulty for you is inserting it, then try the “V” shape.
Does not open well inside your body
If even if you change the way you insert it, you still have leaks, try testing its full opening with these two tricks:
Run your finger along the base of the cup. If you notice any bulge with your finger, press inwards, you will notice how it softens. That means it has opened correctly.
Turn the cup on itself: this is sometimes a bit tricky to do, but if you are relaxed and the area is lubricated, you won’t have any problems. Take the cup by its tail and twist it around itself. As you twist it, it should finish opening if it hasn’t already.
Cup material
Make sure your cup is made of hypoallergenic medical silicone, such as the PERIODINO.. menstrual cup.
If you are using another brand and your cup leaks or deforms inside your body, it is probably because the material is not rigid enough. The cup should be firm but not rigid. The PERIODINO cup, for example, has a firm top ring, which prevents it from deforming, but it has a fairly soft body, which prevents it from hurting or bothering you.
When do I know I need to change cups?
Give yourself at least three cycles to assess whether the leaks you have remain. Don’t give up at the first change because the cup is a matter of practice and you have to give it time.
But if the months go by, you’ve followed all the advice available and it still doesn’t work for you… then it’s time to use another menstrual alternative, and they do exist.😉
