8 FAQ about menstrual cups
Menstrual cups are hardly a new idea. In fact, the first menstrual cup was invented in 1937 by a woman named Leona Chalmers. It was met with a lot of resistance and didn’t make as big as an impact as Chalmers had hoped. Over the years, menstrual cups have become more and more popular but, still, people have a lot of questions about this seemingly-odd bell-shaped cup. Understandably! With pads and tampons being the most mainstream types of period care products, it can be hard to find solid information on menstrual cups. Fear not - we are here to answer your bloodiest questions.
1. What are the holes in menstrual cups for?
Those holes at the top of the cup are not there for decoration! They play an important role in making sure that the cup is easy to remove. These holes can get blood caught in them over time, so make sure to clean your cup thoroughly after every cycle.
2. How much blood can a menstrual cup hold?
Lunette menstrual cups come in 2 sizes. Model 1 can hold about .85 fluid ounces of blood and Model 2 can hold up to 1 ounce. This might not seem like much but the average person only releases about 2-3 tablespoons (or 1.5 ounces) of blood during each period.
3. Can you wear a menstrual cup longer than you can wear a tampon?
Oh yeah you can! Tampons shouldn’t be left in for more than 4 to 8 hours, depending on your flow because they absorb (and dry!) and can cause micro wounds. Menstrual cups are good to go for up to 12 hours. That’s right - you can stop worrying about whether you have enough tampons to last through the day. But, if you have a heavy period, you might want to empty it more often to prevent leakage.
4. Can you get Toxic Shock Syndrome from a menstrual cup?
Great question! It’s possible but highly unlikely. There are very few cases of TSS relating to menstrual cup use that have been reported. At least of one of the cases was due to very prolonged use. Neither of the cases were related to Lunette Menstrual Cups.
5. You aren’t supposed to use a tampon on light flow days but can you use a menstrual cup?
The reason you shouldn’t use a tampon on light flow days or spotting days is because your vagina is much drier during this time. Since tampons are absorbent, this could dry you out even more and increase your risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome. Menstrual cups are non-absorbent (they collect the blood, instead of soaking it up) so you can use it whenever you’d like.
6. How long should a menstrual cup last?
Menstrual cups can last for several years. We recommend replacing your period cup every 1-2 years. You should replace yours if it has any tears, holes, or just isn’t in good condition anymore.
7. Can I do inverted yoga poses with a menstrual cup in?
There has been a lot of debate over whether you can do yoga while on your period and even more questions about whether doing upside down poses will cause your blood to leak all over you. Thanks to the suction of the menstrual cup, this isn’t something you should worry about. Staying upside down for a long time might weaken the seal but if you’re just going through asanas in a class, rest easy.
8. If I’m allergic to latex, can I still use a menstrual cup?
You sure can if the cup is made of silicone! Lunette menstrual cups are made of medical grade silicone, so you can bleed without worrying about a latex allergy.
Menstrual cups are the period care of the future. The more you know about how they work, the easier it will be to rock your cup all period long. Check out all our menstrual cup options at Lunette.
Read more FAQ's on our support page.
27 comments
hi
do i have to use my cup right after boiling?
Hi tillie!
Even if you haven’t used your cup in a year or so, you can still start using it again now :) Just make sure that your cup is in good condition, so that it does not have scratches, cracks or any signs of deterioration and you are good to go. If your cup does not seem to be completely intact and in good condition, please replace it!
-Team Lunette
i bought a cup last year and tried it a few times but it didn’t work out for me so it’s been sitting in my cupboard for a year. i would like to try it again no is it ok to use it or is it too old?
Hi Asli,
thank you for your message. A menstrual cup won’t loosen or widen the vagina. When you have the cup in your vagina, your vaginal and pelvic floor muscles keep it in. So you actually kinda work out when you wear the cup.
Best regards, Team Lunette
Hi!
I love using Lunette but have a concern. Somehow it feels like it might cause my vagina to expand and lose tightness over time. Is it something I should worry about?
Thanks<3
Hi Rio! How exciting that you’re thinking of switching to a Cup! You can absolutely still use a Cup with a very light period, you can use water or water based lubricant of the Cup to help with insertion. :)
-Team Lunette
Hi Lunette!
I have been wanting to try menstrual cups for a while now. However, I have a very light and irregular periods. (Very light like I mostly use liners instead of pads)
Can I still use the cup or would I be in more risk of painful insertion of the cup since it is not that lubricated?
Hope you can enlighten me. Thanks!
Hi Hiasmin!
Regardless of you flow you cannot use the cup for more than 12h. The cup has to be emptied and cleaned every 12h at minimum to avoid risk of infection.
Wishing you all the best!
Team Lunette
Hi. Can I use the cup more than 12 hours? I have a light flow.
Hi Sonaali,
Thanks for your question! The blood flows into the vagina and thus into the cup through the tiny hole in the cervix. It is not possible for the blood to flow back into the womb, not even if you’re upside down. The muscles of the uterus push the menstrual blood out actively from the uterus. If you have other questions about switching to a cup please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@lunette.com and one of our amazing Menstrual Mentors will be glad to assist you! :)
Best,
Team Lunette
Hi! I’m considering switching over to menstrual cups, but there is one doubt i cant find an answer to anywhere. How is it that while sleeping the blood does not flow backward into the cervix, how is that not a problem?
Hi Yi Hui,
We’d love to help troubleshoot the leaking you’re experiencing! Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@lunette.com so we can figure out exactly what’s causing the leakage :)
Best,
Team Lunette
I’m using a menstrual cup and I notice after I put it in after a few hours I go to toilet and I use a tissue to wipe down there, there’s some brown spotting but no clear red blood, what does it mean? am I half leaking?
Hi Farnaz!
Yes you can totally use your Lunette Cup size 2 on your lighter days aswell! If insertion is a bit more difficult, try another fold or use some water-based lubrication to ease with insertion.
Best regards,
Team Lunette
I have never used a menstrual cup and I am considering purchasing a lunette cup. Since I have a heavy flow during my first three days of period, I am thinking to buy size 2. Can I use size 2 cup also for when my period is light?
Hey Sabrina,
Great question!!
Depending on your flow, the cup can be worn for up to 12 hours straight. That’s when you’ll want to be sure you remove the cup and clean it thoroughly before reinserting for up to another 12 hours.
For more questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a shout at info@lunette.com.
I noticed it says they’re good to go for 12 hours, does that mean if you can only wear it for 12 hours before having to take a few hour break and then being able to wear it again or does it mean that if you sanitise it/ clean it after 12 hours you can put it straight back in? Thanks!!
Great question, Priyanka Kawrani!
Our menstrual cups are totally reusable. Depending on how well your cup is taken care of, it can last for YEARS.
If you’d like help in deciding which size cup you should purchase, give us a shout at info@lunette.com. <3
Can we use same cup in every month or we have to change monthlyhow long can we use single cup
You are very welcome, Anonymous. <3
Thanks a million💙this was really helpful🖤🖤
I’m so happy you all found this information helpful!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@lunette.com with any other questions you may have about menstrual cups and how to use them! <3
Thank you for all the FAQs because I had a couple of these on my mind.
Thanks a lot for the information.
I love my lunette cup! I would used to always leak with tampons and hated the feel with pads. I started using a lunette cup about 2 years ago and have loved it ever since! I’ve never leaked with a cup which has saved me money from having to buy new underwear after every period! Lunette has also saved me a TON of money. I used to go through almost a box of a 32 count box of tampons every time I had my period too! The cup has saved my wallet and my clothes!
