Are my IUD and cup a good match?

Are there any contraindications to using a menstrual cup to collect your flow when you have a copper IUD or a hormonal IUD? Are the cup and the IUD good friends? That’s a very good question!

At a time when many young women, teenagers, and adults are turning away from **oral and hormonal contraception** and choosing an IUD instead, it’s essential to know whether you can safely use a **menstrual cup**.

So, IUD and cup—are they compatible? What do gynecologists and doctors say? If yes, what precautions should you take? What are the proven risks? And what about the famous suction effect? Myth or reality? Can a cup really pull out an IUD? Can a cup displace an IUD?

Louloucup is taking a closer look today at a central and very important question of female intimacy.

Contraception and cups: let’s break it down!

Let’s talk contraception

Are you particularly interested in contraception? Feel free to read our very comprehensive dedicated article: Periods and Contraception: how they affect your menstrual flow. We cover all the available contraceptive methods and their concrete impact on your periods.

Let’s talk cups

You’re wondering about the menstrual cup, how to use it, which model to buy, which size to pick?
Find all the key information in our complete menstrual cup guide and in our Louloucup Menstrual Cup User Manual.

What is an IUD?

The IUD is a very effective method of contraception. The name can be misleading, but of course an IUD does not make you sterile! Not at all. Just like the pill, the patch or the implant, for example, it’s simply a contraceptive method to prevent unplanned pregnancies.

Called an IUD, intrauterine device, or IUS, intrauterine system, the coil comes in two very different versions:

• the copper IUD,
• and the hormonal IUS.

How does the IUD work?

In both cases, the IUD looks like a small plastic T.

With a copper IUD, the device is wrapped in a copper wire. With a hormonal IUS, the device contains a dose of hormones. That’s it.

While copper blocks sperm, hormones act on the menstrual cycle. The two types of IUDs therefore work in completely different ways. However, they share the same goal: preventing pregnancy.

How is an IUD inserted?

The IUD is inserted and placed in the uterine cavity. The procedure is very quick, less than 15 minutes. It may be recommended to take a painkiller beforehand. The procedure should not be painful. The woman may feel a slight, uncomfortable pinch and should, above all, feel reassured and guided throughout insertion by the healthcare professional.

An IUD must be inserted by a healthcare professional trained in this procedure; it can be fitted by a general practitioner, a gynecologist or a midwife. The IUD is an effective contraceptive method as soon as it’s inserted.

A copper IUD can also be used as emergency contraception. Once in place, it can stay for several years (between 2 and 10 years depending on the model). It can be removed at any time, whenever the patient wishes.

Two types of IUDs: copper IUD and hormonal IUS

Spotlight on the copper IUD (also called IUD)

The copper in the IUD helps trap the sperm. It doesn’t contain hormones, which is a major advantage for women who don’t tolerate them well. It’s considered one of the best hormone‑free contraceptive methods.

On the other hand, a copper IUD can affect the length and intensity of your period. Especially during the first cycles after insertion, your periods can be very heavy, even hemorrhagic. Their duration is also longer, around 7 to 10 days. For other women, the IUD is very well tolerated and they notice very few changes.

Focus on the hormonal IUD (also called LNG-IUS)

Unlike the copper IUD, the hormonal IUD contains a synthetic progestin hormone. It increases the thickness of the cervical mucus (a glycoprotein secretion located at the cervix) and thus prevents sperm from passing through.

If the copper IUD increases the volume of your period, the hormonal IUD, on the other hand, reduces menstrual flow and can even stop it altogether in the long term.

How is an IUD removed?

An IUD can be removed in just a few seconds by a healthcare professional. The doctor, gynecologist or midwife gently pulls on the strings to extract it. The pain is generally milder than what is felt during insertion.

A quick reminder: you need to be aware that not everyone can tolerate an IUD. It can be naturally expelled by your body, either because your system doesn’t accept it, because it was placed too low, because the shape of your uterus isn’t suitable, or simply due to uterine contractions. In general, this expulsion often occurs within the first 3 months after insertion.

One thing is certain though: your cup will not cause your IUD to be expelled.

Using an IUD and a menstrual cup 

Are the menstrual cup and IUD compatible? What are the exact risks? What recommendations should you follow?

Yes, cups and IUDs are friends!

To date, there are no contraindications to using a menstrual cup when you have an IUD. However, at Louloucup, we strongly recommend getting approval from your doctor, midwife, or gynecologist before using one.

Be careful, however, of the risk of displacement

If the famous suction effect (which is a myth) has no impact on the IUD, a recent medical and scientific review has raised concerns about the risk of IUD displacement if the cup is removed too abruptly. This is in fact the main risk: the risk of IUD displacement.

Precautions to take before using a menstrual cup with an IUD 

Abefore your first time using your LoulouCup with an IUD, a few precautions can be taken to have the best experience:

• Adjust the length of the IUD strings. Ask the healthcare professional who fitted your IUD to cut the strings short enough to avoid them getting caught between the vaginal wall and the rim of the cup.
  
  
• Wait 3 months after having an IUD fitted before using a menstrual cup. This time frame corresponds to the period during which the IUD can be expelled naturally.
  
  
• Ask a gynecologist about the length of your cervix to determine where you should stop when positioning your menstrual cup.

The right things to do when removing your menstrual cup

Your cup is full and you want to remove it, empty it and rinse it? Avoid any sudden or forceful movements, as you risk *dislodging your IUD*!

1. Take the time to get into a comfortable position and wash your hands thoroughly.
2. With your fingertips, feel for the stem, then gently slide your index finger between the vaginal wall and the cup to break the seal.
3. You can then gently remove your cup by pulling on the stem or pinching the base of the cup.
4. Once removed, empty your cup and wash it carefully. You can then put it back in place.

To learn more...

Wondering whether to use a menstrual cup? Check out our other blog posts dedicated to menstrual cups:

• Menstrual cup and toxic shock: what is the real risk?
• Menstrual cup risks
• Menstrual cups: the zero-waste alternative for your period

Loulou cups

Louloucup is a French brand of cups and pretty, high-quality period panties designed to make life easier for women and teen girls during their periods.

Our Loulou cups are super soft and very easy to use

 

Our menstrual cups are made in France. Discover our full story! We offer two cup models, the classic Pink and the soft Turquoise, each in two different sizes. Super budget-friendly bundles let you buy cups + panties together for **long‑lasting period protection** that’s kind to your body, day and night.