Are my IUD and cup a good match?

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

At a time when many young women, teenagers, or women are turning away from oral and hormonal contraception and choosing the IUD or SIU, it is essential to know if you can safely use a menstrual cup or menstrual cup.

So, IUD and cup, are they compatible? What do gynecologists and doctors say? If yes, what precautions should be taken? What are the proven risks? What about the famous suction effect? Myth or reality? Can the cup really suck out the IUD? Can the cup displace the IUD?

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

Are you particularly interested in contraception? Don’t hesitate to check out our very comprehensive dedicated article: Periods and Contraception: the effects on your menstrual flow. We discuss all the contraceptive methods offered as well as their concrete impact on menstruation.

Are you wondering about the menstrual cup, how to use it, which model to buy, which size to choose?
Find valuable information in our complete menstrual cup guide as well as in our Louloucup Menstrual Cup User Manual.

The IUD is a very effective contraceptive method. 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, it’s simply a contraceptive method used to prevent unplanned pregnancies.

Also called an IUD, intrauterine device or SIU, intrauterine system, the IUD comes in two very different versions:

• the copper IUD,
• and the hormonal IUS.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Are the menstrual cup and the IUD compatible? What are the exact risks? What recommendations should be followed?

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.

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

Before using your LoulouCup for the first time with an IUD, you can take a few precautions to make sure you have the best possible 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.

Your cup is full, and you want to remove it, empty it, and rinse it? Avoid sudden or forceful movements to prevent displacing the 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.