User experience will be affected by factors like design, size and softness of the cup. Even if you are not new to menstrual cups, you might still have frustrations while you are using a new cup. The following are some commonly faced situations and related suggestions for your reference.

Usage:

• Can I use a cup overnight?
1. Yes, but you are suggested to remove and clean your cup once before you go to bed and after you wake up the next morning. This is to reduce the risk of infection due to a prolonged insertion. Also, unless the cup is too soft for you, sleeping positions would not affect your use.
• Can I use a cup for swimming, diving or hot spring(onsen)?
1. Yes. Water would not get into your body easily because of water pressure, but it can still get in after certain movements, so you are reminded to remove your cup and clean it right after you leave water. Also, air pressure drastically changes once you leave water. Leakage might happen easily if your cup is already or almost filled up. Hot water accelerates blood flow and circulation, so menstrual flow would also temporarily increase, making leakage and faint happening easier. You are suggested to avoid activities like going to hot springs if you have anemia or you are having a heavy flow.
• I am a virgin. Can I use menstrual cups?
1. Sure, but you should clarify why you would relate sexual experience to menstrual cup usage. If you are afraid your hymen would hinder the insertion of your cup, that might be the case. Hymen is a thin but elastic tissue at the vagina orifice, and each hymen is in a different shape. As it is close to the entrance, be prepared that it might bring you pain or even break and bleed when objects pass through. You may try inserting your finger to see if your hymen hurts when something passes through, and get used to it. It may help reduce the bodily and psychological resistance when you insert a cup. If you worry how others perceive if they know your hymen is “broken”, that would be another topic, and you may refer to this blog. 
• Can using menstrual cups cause a loose vagina?
1. Using tampons and menstrual cups will not cause a loose vagina. Researches also support that penetrative sex has no linkage with vaginal tensions. Vagina is an elastic muscle, and its “tightness” is controlled by the muscles around. Even if one has had vaginal birth, the loosened muscles would gradually recover, sometimes might get back to a similar condition to that before giving birth. Not to say the width and depth of each vagina is different, so comparing the “tightness” of vaginas or adding meanings to it is actually meaningless.
2. The core reasons for vaginal laxity is the weakening of pelvic floor and vaginal muscles due to aging, nutrient loss, overstretching during pregnancy and prolonged pressures. Instead of using intrusive menstrual products, doing pelvic floor exercises, avoiding excessive weight loss, taking good rest and being cautious of your diets are the correct ways to prevent vaginal laxity.

Leakage:

1. Why is my cup always slipping out?
• If your cup always slips out or leaks without much blood inside, usually it is caused by an unopened cup rim or the cup is in the wrong position, so that the cup cannot sit well and the menses cannot be collected in it. You may slightly move or spin your cup to check if the seal is formed. It can also help the rim to open up. You may also remove your cup and insert it again to a higher position to ensure it is not sitting too low in your vagina.
• If it does not fix after all the adjustments, you may need a cup with a wider rim or harder body.
2. Why would my cup suddenly leak after a few hours? The cup is not even full!
• Vagina is an oblique canal but not vertical, so the cup is tilted when it sits inside. If you find the cup is half filled when you remove it after leakage, it means it might have already filled up and overflew in your body. 
• If there are air-holes on your cup, menses may leak through the air-holes when the cup is almost filled up. Emptying your cup more frequently can help avoid this problem, or you may try a cup with higher capacity.
3. I am using a ball-shaped cup. Why would my cup suddenly leak after a while?
• You may first check if your cup has opened properly. When you move, your muscles around the vagina contract and give pressure to your cup. Unlike cone-shaped cups, the round-shaped body would be easier to turn sideways or even rotate like a ball inside the slippery vagina after you move. Once the cup rim turns to an angle that makes it not able to collect the menses properly, leakage may happen. You may check if the cup remains the same direction and position when you inserted it if you find leakage happens after a while.
4. Why would my cup leak only when I move around or do exercises but not sitting still?
• If your cup only leak when you move, probably your cup is too soft for you. As the muscles around give pressure to the cup along your move, menses would be squeezed out easily if your cup is too soft. You may consider a harder cup if this is the case.

Discomforts:

1. Why is it so hard to push my cup in?
• If you feel it stuck and cannot push it further but most parts of the cup are still exposed, just take a break and relax. Vagina is surrounded by muscles and they contract when you feel stress. This would make your cup even harder to insert and you may hurt yourself if you forcefully push it in. A different position may also help reduce the tensions.
• Our vagina rejects foreign matters by contracting muscles around. Try putting your finger inside your vagina before inserting a cup if you have never tried putting anything in. It can help your body get used to the insertion and better relax when you put a cup in.
• Hymen is near the vaginal orifice and has different shapes, so it could bring you pain while using insertive products. You may try inserting your finger to see if your hymen hurts when something passes through, and get used to it. It may help reduce the bodily and psychological resistance when you insert a cup. If you worry how others perceive if they know your hymen is “broken”, that would be another topic, and you may refer to this blog. 
• You may also have difficulty if you have a low cervix or your vaginal canal is too short for the cup. You can try measuring the height of your cervix to see whether you need a “low cervix cup” or a menstrual disc.
2. Why would my lower abdomen feel sore sooner after I insert my cup?
• That might be the “suction pain”. It sometimes happens to, mainly, ball-shaped cups as they do not have air-holes, so that the air pressure inside the cup is much lower, creating a more severe suction and causing pain. Remove your cup and reinsert it again without folding the rim too small can help letting more air pass through and reduce suction.
3. Why would my vagina feel itchy after using a menstrual cup?
• Usually it is because your cup has not been cleansed properly. You should remove your cup immediately. Clean it and sanitize it thoroughly before reinserting it. If the condition persists, stop using your cup and seek medical help to avoid further inflammations or infections.
4. Why would I feel trouble peeing and pooping when I am using a menstrual cup?
• A cup that is too firm or too big could bring pressure to the urethra, bladder or rectum, causing frequent urination, defecation and urine flow interruption, or pressure to the lower abdomen. You may try repositioning your cup to see if it is only a positioning issue, but if it does not help, you may consider a smaller cup or a softer cup.

Maintenance:

1. What should I use to clean my cup?
• There are specialized cleansers from certain brands, but you may simply rub your cup gently with neutral soap by hand. 
2. How should I store my cup?
• Keep it inside a breathable bag and store in a dry and cool place. Avoid storing it in a sealed container.
3. Any other things to pay attention to about cleaning my cup?
• Do not clean with irritants like bleach or alcohol, and never clean with brushed or it will damage your cup.
• Clean the air holes, stem/grip and cup edge regularly.
4. My cup is yellowing. Should I replace it?
• Each cup has its own suggested replacement time and standard. In general yellowing is a normal process and you do not need to replace it just because the colour changes. It does not mean your cup is dirty or its function changes, but there are specialized bleaching detergents for menstrual cups that you may consider using.

When should I replace my cup?

• Each brand has its own recommendation on cup replacement time and standard. In general, you are recommended to replace your cup when you experience any of the followings:
1. Odor, scratches, abrasions, powder residues or flaking on the cup body;
2. Oily or sticky to touch;
3. Used irritative detergents like bleach, or oil and fragrance-based cleansers before;
4. Feeling unwell or getting infected after use;
5. Other bad conditions.

(*The information above is for general reference only. Please refer to the user manual for more accurate information about your cup.)

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