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 your cup is full is to check. Don’t wait until your cup is full to empty it. It’s best to follow the recommendations and empty it regularly to avoid leaks and discomfort. When your period is especially heavy, don’t hesitate to empty it more often to stay 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 may stick out, but it doesn’t have to. If the cup is properly placed and the stem is sticking out, it means your cup is positioned low in your vagina. If it doesn’t bother you, you can leave it as is. 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 trimming the stem! 

It’s a matter of personal feeling, sensation, and comfort. 

To insert a cup without difficulty, you need to be completely relaxed. Try not to be stressed—stress tightens your muscles, making it harder to insert a menstrual cup if your vaginal muscles are tense. Wash your hands and find a quiet place, like your bathroom or bedroom. Take a deep breath and try different positions: squatting, in the shower, or with one leg up on the edge of the tub or toilet. It's also important to fold the cup to make insertion easier. If you’re new to this or it’s your first time, it’s totally normal to feel unsure. Try different folds to see which works best for you: the C-fold, 7-fold, or tulip fold.

And remember, a cup should never hurt. Find all our detailed tips for proper cup use 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 at a pharmacy, parapharmacy, supermarket, or online. Check out our collection of Loulou cups in our shop. You can choose between two models (soft or classic) and two sizes (small or medium) to suit all body types, profiles, and menstrual flows.

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

Several factors are important when choosing the right menstrual cup: whether you’ve given birth vaginally or not, if you have any bladder sensitivities, if you’re athletic, and the nature of your menstrual flow.

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

You should choose your menstrual cup size based on your menstrual flow:

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

However, flow isn’t the only factor to consider when choosing your cup size. The small size is suitable for a young girl or young woman with strong pelvic muscles, while the medium size is better for more mature women with relaxed pelvic muscles.

To help you: Menstrual cup size: how to choose?

To remove your menstrual cup, follow our tips:

• Relax, don’t stress, breathe (it’s important to release your muscles, it’ll make removal easier),
• Wash your hands,
• Squat down, place one foot on the edge of your bathtub or on the toilet (find a comfortable position),
• With your fingertips, you can feel the stem, gently pull it if you’re having trouble grabbing the base of your cup,
• Once your cup has moved down a bit, you can grab the base and pinch it lightly,
• By pinching it, you let air out and break the seal, so it’s very important to pinch the base of your cup,
• Tilt your cup from left to right to gradually lower it,
• 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 just fine!
• Fold your cup however you like: C-fold, tulip-fold, or seven-fold.
• Once your cup is folded, get into position: squat, raise one leg, etc.
• Gently insert the cup into your vagina.
• Once it’s fully inside, let go — it will unfold against the walls of your vagina.

For help: How to use your menstrual cup?

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

For help: Menstrual cup hygiene and care: mistakes to avoid

At the beginning and end of each cycle, you should sterilize your menstrual cup. There are two ways to do this: either boil it in a saucepan of water for a good 5 minutes, or use a microwave with a compatible sterilizer (Louloucup offers one in their shop).

For help: Cup sterilizer: 2 ways to sterilize your cup.

The menstrual cup is not recommended during the postpartum period to collect lochia and other discharge after childbirth. The menstrual cup is also not recommended in cases of infection. If in doubt, always consult your midwife or gynecologist before switching to a cup.

Yes, absolutely! It’s actually a great alternative to disposable tampons. The menstrual cup is a highly reliable internal period protection for swimmers. With the 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 help: The menstrual cup: a great solution for swimming with peace of mind.