It is very common for many women to feel limited in the activities they can do during their menstruation. This is because conventional menstrual management products are not made with comfort in mind. But the menstrual cup is not only an environmentally friendly alternative, it is safe and much more comfortable for numerous activities.
Sleeping with a menstrual cup
It is important that you measure well the times and the times you should empty the cup if your bleeding is abundant. The first few days of your period you may have to do it every few hours and the last few days you may have to wear it for up to 12 hours. So if you know that when your period starts you should change your menstrual cup every four hours, for example, you may want to set an alarm to empty it.
As you become familiar with the amount of your menstrual blood, you can easily figure out how to have a quiet and comfortable night. If your menstrual cup is correctly positioned you don't have to worry during the night. No matter how much you move around, you can toss and turn as much as you want and still the vacuum generated by the cup will prevent the blood from leaking out.
Playing sports
Any sport will be easy to do and you will feel very comfortable with the cup on. Many users of the cup are already athletes and the change they have felt is incredible. For example, some marathon runners used to use tampons and sanitary napkins at the same time and suffered from irritation in the groin. With the use of the menstrual cup they stopped worrying because there is nothing rubbing against their skin.
Because the cup collects blood (instead of absorbing it) and is very safe, you don't have to worry about sudden movements or possible accidents while using it. Everything will stay in place while you move without any risk of leaks or accidents.
Swimming with a menstrual cup
Just as you can practice sports without any problems, you can also swim and it is much more comfortable than trying to do it with a tampon, let alone a sanitary napkin. You won't have to worry about emptying the cup more often because it won't absorb the water, so if you already know about how often you can go without emptying the cup, going swimming doesn't change anything.
If your menstrual cup is properly positioned, you don't have to worry about leaks either, because movement will not affect its position inside you. You can empty it just before entering the water so you can make sure it won't fill up while you're swimming.
Having sex with a menstrual cup
It is important to clarify that you should not have penetrative sex while you are wearing your menstrual cup. It would be very uncomfortable for you, because the cup occupies much of your vagina, so when pushing it up you would feel too much discomfort. In addition, the vacuum may break and cause the accumulated blood to leak out.
But good sex does not necessarily involve penetration, so you can concentrate on clitoral arousal through other sexual practices. If you prefer penetrative sex, all you have to do is take out your cup, rinse it and put it back in when you're done. No more looking for trash cans to throw away your tampon or needing sanitary napkins.
After postpartum
It is not recommended to use it in the postpartum period, because if your delivery was vaginal you will have wounds and inflammation that can cause a lot of discomfort when introducing something into the vagina, such as the menstrual cup. In addition, postpartum bleeding is different from menstruation, so it is better to rest the cup during this period.
If you were already using the cup before giving birth, take into account all the changes your body has undergone. Once you have recovered and after discussing it with your gynecologist, you can of course go back to using your cup as usual. Take the time to reconnect with your body and your vagina.
Going to the bathroom
Some people think that you have to remove the menstrual cup to go to the bathroom, but this myth comes from ignorance. Women have three orifices: urethra, vulva and anus. Urine, menstruation and feces are expelled through each respectively, so they do not come out of the same orifice.
If you are wearing the cup and want to go to the bathroom, you can do so without having to take it off. However, when you defecate you must be careful because if you make too much force the vaginal walls contract, causing the cup down a little. It will not come out, but you will probably have to put it back in when you finish.
Making the switch to a menstrual cup is not only beneficial for the environment, but also for your safety and comfort. Your menstruation can stop being a time to be limited and just be something extra that happens in your day. Don't forget the importance of using certified menstrual cups made with quality materials so you can do all these activities and more.
