Viv Menstrual Cup Pro Tips

A Guide to your New Viv Menstrual Cup

This is for the menstruators looking at their new menstrual cup wondering HOW the heck they work.

Will it fit? How do I clean it? What size do I get?

Buckle up, Viv has you covered.

Part 1: Who can use menstrual cups?

Anyone who wants to use a menstrual cup can try one. There is no age requirement or exclusivity to cups! Picking the right cup depends on several factors. You might think that if you have a heavy flow you'll need a larger cup, but that's not the case! Cup sizing is more based on your anatomy, past experience with cups, and birthing history. If you're a beginner cup user or have never given birth vaginally, a smaller cup is probably best for you. If you've used cups before and know you need a larger size OR you've given birth vaginally, you may want to opt for a larger cup! If you have an IUD, we alway recommend speaking with your doctor before using a cup. For some, the cup works perfectly with an IUD, but there is a chance the suction of the cup could have an effect on your IUD depending on your anatomy. Check with your doctor! 

Part 2: Insertion and removal (*insert intense music*)

Trust me, it’s way less intimidating than it looks. Here’s a list of steps for a quick and painless cup insertion:

1. Make sure your hands are clean.

2. Get into a comfortable squatting or standing position with your legs spread.

3. Fold the menstrual cup (try some of the folding options that come with your cup, or check out our learning center)

4. Find your vaginal opening, and slowly slide your menstrual cup in, in the direction of your tailbone.

5. Breathe! This isn’t so bad right?

6. Once you can no longer hold the cup in a folded position, let it go in your vagina. You should feel it open up! If you want it to go deeper, push the menstrual cup gently so you no longer feel the ring stem in your vaginal opening.

7. Using the ring stem, rotate the menstrual cup to ensure that it is sealed and secured and you are set for up to 12 hours!

12 hours are up? Here’s how to remove your menstrual cup:

1. Get those hands clean again!

2. Get into a comfortable squatting or standing position with your legs spread (the same position you were in to insert it will probably work great!)

3. Find the ring stem and adjust to get the cup in a comfortable position. Slide a finger up and pinch the bottom of the cup - this will break the suction seal!

4. Carefully slide the cup out using the ring stem. Make sure the suction seal is broken before pulling or tugging on the stem.

5. Empty the blood out of the cup.

6. Rinse your cup with warm water and the Viv Cup Wash, and you're ready to reinsert!

Part 3: Boiling vs intermittent cleaning (yes, there’s a difference!)

Intermittent cleaning is used to maintain your menstrual cup by using warm water and a gentle soap between insertions. Boiling your cup, however, is used to fully sanitize your menstrual cup.

When to sterilize:

1. Before using a brand new menstrual cup for the first time.

2. Between menstrual cycles (once a month)

How to sterilize:

1. Boil a few inches of water in a pot

2. Drop your cup in the boiling water for a couple minutes (no more than 10 minutes). Make sure the cup does not stick to the bottom of the pot!

Use your Viv Cup wash to keep your cup clean during your period, in between insertions and removals. Keeping your cup clean & sterilized will help prevent infection, and help your cup last as long as possible!

Part 4: When is it time to get a new menstrual cup?

Eventually, it’ll be time to part with your menstrual cup. You’ll have to look it in the eye and say "it’s not you, it’s me."

With good care, the cup was made to last 5-10 years. Yep, you can reuse the same cup for YEARS! However, some gynecologists recommend replacing menstrual cups every couple years. The Viv Cup is made of 100% medical-grade silicone, so you don't have to worry about an expiration date or the material breaking down. If your cup experiences any tearing, holes, or breakage, that's a good sign that it's time to get a new cup!