Jean Hailes for Women's Health suggests that you practise with a cup when you have plenty of time and you're not under pressure to get it right. You can practise whether or not you have your period, and if things don't go to plan, it says to stop, take a few deep breaths and try again when you feel ready.
That patience is the heart of menstrual cup success. This article doesn't retell a personal story; it's a practical guide to your first period cup cycles, drawing on Australian health sources and Lunette's own product facts.
Quick answer: Menstrual cup success is mostly practice and patience. Lunette suggests allowing two to three cycles to get familiar with insertion and removal, and Jean Hailes recommends practising when you aren't rushed and keeping pads or period underwear on hand as backup. The Lunette period cup sold in Australia can be worn for up to 8 hours.
How do you put a period cup in for the first time?
Get to know your body first, then go slowly. Before the very first use, wash your hands, check that the small air holes around the top of the cup are open and wash the cup. Boil 5 minutes before first use and after each completed cycle. Then follow these steps from Jean Hailes:
- Explore your vulva and vagina, for example by feeling them in the shower or using a handheld mirror.
- Get comfortable: try sitting, squatting or standing.
- Following the cup's instructions, guide it, rim first, towards and into your vagina, angled towards your tailbone.
- Feel around the base with a finger to check the cup has popped open.
- If the stem is too long, take the cup out and trim the stem following the product instructions.
If inserting it is hard when you don't have your period, Jean Hailes suggests trying a little water-based lubricant on the cup. Once the cup is in the right spot, you shouldn't feel it and you shouldn't have any leaks.
How do you get a period cup out?
Release the suction first. Jean Hailes advises gently inserting your fingers and pinching the base of the cup, not the stem, to release the seal before you ease it out. Tip the blood into the toilet, rinse the cup with cold water, then wash it with warm water and Lunette Cup Wash or a mild, unscented soap before putting it back in.
Cups can't get lost in the body. If you're still having trouble removing it, Jean Hailes says to visit your local health centre as soon as possible.
How often should you empty it while you're learning?
Empty it when it's full and within the time on its instructions. healthdirect explains that a menstrual cup uses suction to stay in place and needs emptying when full, and Jean Hailes says that may be 2 to 4 times a day. For the Lunette period cup sold in Australia, the limit is 8 hours. Its measuring lines (5 ml and 13.5 ml on Size 1, 7.5 ml and 15 ml on Size 2) show how much you collect, which helps you learn your own pattern.
What if it still isn't working after a few periods?
Check the size and give it a fair go. Jean Hailes suggests starting with a small cup, and notes that cups come in different shapes and sizes to suit your body and periods. For Lunette, Size 1 suits a light to medium flow, a low cervix, teens, strong pelvic floor muscles or a sensitive bladder, while Size 2 is the pick for a heavier flow or a higher cervix. If the cup clearly doesn't work after two to three cycles, Lunette refunds it or sends the other size. For more first-time tips, see our article on switching from tampons to menstrual cups.
When to see a doctor
- You can't remove the cup: go to your local health centre as soon as possible.
- Your periods are heavier than usual, last more than 8 days, or come with severe pain that disrupts your daily activities.
- You have a sudden high temperature, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness or a sunburn-like rash: these can be signs of toxic shock syndrome, so call triple zero (000) or go to your nearest emergency department, as healthdirect advises.
Frequently asked questions
Can a period cup get lost inside you?
No. Jean Hailes states that cups and tampons can't get lost in the body. If you're having trouble taking it out, release the suction by pinching the base rather than the stem, and if you still can't remove it, visit your local health centre as soon as possible.
Should I start with a smaller period cup?
Jean Hailes says it's a good idea to start with a small cup. Lunette's Size 1 is the smaller and softer of its two cups: 41 mm wide, holding 25 ml, with a 25 mm stem. Lunette recommends it for a light to medium flow, a low cervix, teens or a sensitive bladder.
What backup should I use while I'm learning?
Jean Hailes suggests keeping other period products, such as pads or period underwear, on hand for backup. That way a cup that isn't quite sitting right yet won't spoil your day, and you can build confidence over your first few cycles before relying on the cup alone.
Feeling ready to start? Find your fit in the period cup size guide, then choose the Lunette period cup, made in Finland from 100% medical-grade silicone, with Lunette's promise to refund or swap sizes if it clearly doesn't work after a fair try.
This article is general information, not personal medical advice. Speak with your GP, or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222, if you have any concerns.
