There’s no need to remove your menstrual cup when going to the bathroom. The menstrual cup does not interfere at all with urine flow. The menstrual cup sits inside the vagina, far from the urethra where urine exits. So you can use the bathroom as usual. The same goes for bowel movements—the cup won’t get in the way. Of course, you can empty and clean it at that time if you wish, but it’s not required. 

You may find that when wearing a cup, you feel the urge to pee more often or have some difficulty urinating. The cup you’re using might be a bit too firm and is pressing against the wall between your vagina and bladder. Try switching to a softer cup. Louloucup actually offers two models of menstrual cups for managing your period: the soft turquoise one and the firmer pink one. The Loulou turquoise cup is ideal for women with sensitive bladders or who are more prone to cramps. 

The menstrual cup is an internal hygiene product that collects and holds blood in its reservoir. If blood is kept too long, bacteria can develop. This creates a favorable environment for TSS or toxic shock syndrome. So it's recommended to empty and clean your cup every 6 hours maximum. 

Menstrual cups are completely safe when used correctly.

For a comfortable, worry-free, and leak-proof night, we recommend Louloucup period underwear. Highly reliable and super absorbent, they're an excellent nighttime alternative to the cup. The Clara high-waisted style provides wide, highly effective protection for even the heaviest flows. It's perfect for sleeping soundly and safely. No risk of staining your sheets! 

The menstrual cup should be emptied regularly, at least every 6 hours. On heavier flow days, don’t hesitate to empty it more often (every 4 hours). It’s important that the cup is positioned correctly, that you don’t feel it, and that the experience is as comfortable as possible for you. 

Don’t forget to wash your hands thoroughly before removing your cup. When emptying it, make sure to clean your menstrual cup with clear water, remove any stains or residue, and also clear the small holes along the cup’s rim. These can get blocked if your period is thick. 

The menstrual cup collects your period blood. It’s used during your period. It’s not recommended to use it outside this time in the menstrual cycle. It’s not recommended to use a cup during sexual intercourse or to retain vaginal discharge (white discharge during ovulation, for example). 

To use it properly and get the most benefit, we invite you to check out our Louloucup Menstrual Cup User Manual. We clearly explain the steps to easily and confidently insert and remove your menstrual cup. 

The only way to know if the cup is full is to check. Don’t wait until your cup is completely full before emptying it. It’s best to follow the recommendations and empty it regularly to avoid leaks and discomfort. When your period is particularly heavy, don’t hesitate to empty it more often so you can feel comfortable.

Once inserted in your vagina, the cup should not cause any discomfort, pain, or tension. You should not feel any lower abdominal pain. If you do, it means it is either positioned incorrectly or the model is not suited to your body type. It’s possible the cup is not the right size, not flexible enough, or on the contrary, not rigid enough. In any case, a cup that causes pain should be removed.

The stem of your cup can stick out, but it doesn’t have to. If your cup is correctly positioned and the stem is sticking out, it means your cup is sitting low in your vagina. If it doesn’t bother you, you can leave it like that. If it does bother you, you can always trim a few notches off the stem so it’s more comfortable. Always remove your cup before cutting the stem!

It all comes down to how it feels and your comfort.

To insert a cup easily, you need to be completely relaxed. Try not to be stressed. Stress tenses your muscles, which makes it harder to insert a menstrual cup if your vaginal muscles are tight. Wash your hands and find a calm space — in the bathroom, bedroom, or toilet. Take a deep breath and try different positions: squatting, in the shower, or with one leg raised on the edge of the bathtub or toilet. It’s also important to fold the cup to make insertion easier. If you’re not used to it yet or it’s your first time, it’s normal to hesitate. Try different folds to find the one that works for you: the C-fold, the 7-fold, or the tulip fold.

And remember, a cup should never hurt. You can find all our detailed tips for using your cup properly here.

Inserting a cup isn’t that complicated. It just takes a little practice and getting past any worries. Don’t hesitate to follow all our tips on the best way to insert and remove a menstrual cup with our Louloucup Menstrual Cup User Manual or in our Complete Guide to Menstrual Cups. Follow our instructions: 

• Wash your hands.
• Sterilize the cup if it’s your first time using it or you’re at the start of your cycle.
• Fold your cup to make insertion easier.
• Gently insert your cup into your vagina.
• Release the cup and let it unfold against the walls of your vagina. The cup should sit at the entrance or a little deeper inside your vagina, just below the cervix. It’s exactly the same for a retroverted uterus. The cup is properly positioned to collect your blood.
• Check with your fingertips that your cup is in place. You shouldn’t feel any discomfort or pain. 

Up to 25% of women have a retroverted uterus. This means that, unlike an anteverted uterus, which tilts forward toward the bladder, a retroverted uterus tilts backward toward the rectum. This feature does not prevent you from using a menstrual cup to collect your period flow. Remember, the cup sits in the vagina below the cervix. So, regardless of the position and orientation of your uterus, the cup can collect the blood without any problem. 

You can easily find a menstrual cup today in pharmacies, parapharmacies, supermarkets or online. Discover our Loulou cup collection in our shop. You can choose between two models (soft or classic) and two sizes (small or medium) to suit all body types, all profiles and all menstrual flows.

You can keep a menstrual cup in for up to six consecutive hours. For extra comfort, and if you know you have a very heavy flow, you can remove it, empty it, wash it and reinsert it after four hours. In any case, it will never be completely full, don’t worry!

Several criteria matter when choosing the right menstrual cup: whether you’ve never given birth or have had a vaginal delivery, if you have any bladder sensitivity, whether you’re sporty, and of course the nature of your menstrual flow.

To help you decide: Soft or classic menstrual cup: which is the best menstrual cup?

You’ll choose your menstrual cup size based on your flow:

• for a light to medium flow, size S is perfect,
• for a medium to heavy flow, size M is more suitable.

However, flow is not the only factor to consider when choosing your cup size. The small size is suitable for a teenage girl or young woman with good pelvic floor tone, while the medium size is better for more mature women with a more relaxed pelvic floor.

To help you decide: Menstrual cup sizes: how to choose?

To remove your menstrual cup, follow our tips:

• relax, don’t stress, breathe (it’s important to relax your muscles, removal will be easier),
• wash your hands,
• squat down or place one foot on the edge of the bathtub or toilet (find a comfortable position),
• with your fingertips, feel for the stem and gently pull it if you’re having trouble reaching the base of your cup,
• once your cup has moved down a little, grab the base and pinch it slightly,
• by pinching it, you release the air and break the seal, so it’s very important to pinch the base of your cup,
• tilt your cup gently from side to side to help it slide down bit by bit,
• once it’s out, you can empty and rinse your cup!

To insert your menstrual cup, follow our tips:

• Breathe and relax, don’t stress, everything will be fine!
• Fold your cup however you like: in a C-fold, tulip fold or 7-fold.
• Once your cup is folded, get into position: squatting, one leg raised, etc.
• Gently insert the cup into your vagina.
• Once it’s fully inside, let go – it will pop open and sit against your vaginal walls.

For more help: How to use your menstrual cup?

When you use your cup during your period, rinse it with cold or lukewarm water and a little mild soap or intimate wash. Then simply reinsert it.

For more help: Hygiene and care for your menstrual cup: mistakes to avoid

At the beginning and end of each cycle, you must sterilize your menstrual cup. Two possible methods: either in a saucepan of boiling water for a good 5 minutes, or in the microwave with a suitable sterilizer (Louloucup offers them in its shop).

To help you: Cup sterilizer: 2 ways to sterilize your cup.

A menstrual cup is not recommended in the postpartum period to collect lochia and other discharge after childbirth. A period cup is also not recommended in case of infections. If you are unsure, always ask your midwife or gynecologist for advice before switching to a cup.

Yes, absolutely! It’s actually a great alternative to disposable tampons. The menstrual cup is a very reliable internal period product for swimmers. With a cup, you can swim laps, have fun at the beach or surf in the ocean! You can finally enjoy all your water activities with peace of mind.

For more help: The menstrual cup: a great solution for swimming with total peace of mind.