No. You can go to the toilet as normal when wearing a menstrual cup. Some people prefer to remove their menstrual cup for a bowel movement but the choice is yours. Does a period cup smell? Putting in the cup for the first time was easier than putting in my first tampon. I had to boil my cup in water for about five minutes before inserting it. While it was boiling, I looked at the instructions and noticed they gave me multiple options for folding; the c-fold (flattening and pinching the sides together), the punch-down (pressing down on the rim to collapse the cup), or the 7-fold (squeezing the cup and folding the top right corner down). Knowing I had multiple inserting options made the process quite easy because even if one specific process was difficult, I had other choices.

If you’ve tried a lot of different menstrual cups and been less than thrilled with the outcome, it might be time to give the original a try. The DivaCup was one of the first cups to be talked about publicly, converting many a menstruating person over to the world of cups when it first hit the market 15 years ago. In December 2021, we asked 382 people who had used a menstrual cup in the past two years to tell us whether they thought the brand or brands they used were good for comfort, durability, value for money, and protection from leaks.Reduces waste (51%)*' Definitely SO much better for the environment. This is my main reason for using, but I found there is a learning curve' Most menstrual cups are made with medical-grade silicon, while some are made from medical-grade TPE (rubber and/or plastic). Both are safe and durable; it shouldn’t make a difference unless you have an allergy to either material, but you might find one type more comfortable. Cup size Uncomfortable (16%) ' I started out loving them but over time they started to cause me pain. My body shape has changed and I think my cervix moved. I had to cut use right down.' I can wear them for long periods of time (39%)' I think they are brilliant, last longer than a tampon and no leakage.'

Some brands sell small sterilising pots which you pop in the microwave to steam clean the cup, which seem like a neat solution, and others make standalone steamer units. You also have to make sure you can physically insert and remove the cup without damaging the sensitive tissue in and around your vagina and that you’re comfortable handling menstrual blood. It can however take some trial and error to find the right one for you, and get the hang of using one. Saalt cups have been described as modern period magic and often the first cup, the one cup and the last cup you'll ever need. The proprietary bulb shape makes it the easiest cup to insert and open, ensuring a seal so comfortable that you forget it's there. Once inserted correctly you won't be able to feel the cup and can go about your day with zero worries. The Saalt cup with be the first cup and last cup you'll ever need! Some respondents in our survey said it took a while to get used to their menstrual cup and find a comfortable position, but overall 61% told us they liked or loved their menstrual cup.Not sure menstrual cups are for you? See our full guide to eco menstrual products for alternative options including period pants, washable pads and reusable tampon applicators Saalt started with a phone call Cherie made to an aunt in Venezuela, where pads and tampons had not been available in stores for years. She immediately thought of her daughters and what she would do if she found herself in the same situation. The dependence she and others had on disposables kept her up at night. According to Dr. Taylor, the height of the cervix(i.e., how much room there is in your vagina before you reach the cervix) pretty commonly varies from person to person and isn’t something to worry too much about. “The vagina is very adaptable and will mold to the cup as needed, holding the cervix higher when placed correctly,” she says.