Here’s Exactly What to Do If Your Menstrual Cup Gets Stuck |

Menstrual cups Menstrual cups have been a real eye-opener. They’re much better for the environment than most pads and tampons, most of them allow you to have sex on your period without getting your hands dirty, and many people who menstruate find that they’re not as much of a hassle as other menstrual products. Of course, everyone has different products that work for them, but many people have embraced (and loved) menstrual cups. Until, of course, they get stuck. It doesn’t happen all the time, but it can definitely happen.

What do you do when your menstrual cup Are you stuck? This can be a panic moment, but it’s best to stay calm.

Get a menstrual cup Stuck menstrual products are completely normal, and the occasional sticky situation is certainly not a reason to rule out these products altogether. If you can learn to stay calm and breathe through it, you’ll find that products getting stuck aren’t really a problem. Most people hardly ever have this problem once they get used to how the cup works. Remember how scary tampons can be and how quickly you get used to them? There can be a steep learning curve when it comes to sticking things inside yourself.

So if you realize your menstrual cup If your nose is stuck, don’t worry: here are some steps to take to get it out. In most cases, you’ll have it fixed in no time: just remember to breathe.

Relax and take a moment

It’s easier said than done, I know, but it’s really important to relax, for a number of reasons. First of all, there’s really no need to panic. It may feel like your menstrual cup is lost and wandering around inside your body (and no one wants to imagine a Free Willy moment in her vagina), but it can’t go anywhere. It’s nothing sinister, it won’t hurt you, it’s completely normal for it to get stuck from time to time. So just try to relax. This will also help you get the cup out, because clenching yourself and tensing all your muscles won’t get you anywhere.

Read the instructions

After you’ve taken a breath, read the instructions for your menstrual cup. Sure, there are some general rules that we’ll cover, but every cup is a little different. Your first step should be to see if you can find anything on the product’s packaging or website, in case there are steps you need to follow that are specific to that product.

Assume the position

As I said, there is no way the cup will float inside you. You just have to get it close enough to your vaginal opening that you can access it. Squatting is usually the best position for this, as it shortens the length of your vaginal canal. If this is really uncomfortable, you can try lying on your bag with your legs in the air, which also shortens it.

Push

Once you’re in position, it’s time to get those muscles working. Some sites suggest pushing down to help move the suction cup forward, while others suggest using small thrusts to move it down and give you a better grip on the tip. Experiment with both and see what works for you, but just make sure to keep breathing!

Do not use tools

Okay, it might be tempting to put something up there and help dislodge the cup, but please, please, don’t do that. The only things that should go up there (for now) are clean fingers, so resist the urge to dig around or shove anything inside yourself. If you feel like you’re panicking and can’t help yourself, just take a second to help yourself calm down.

Break the seal

The key to getting a menstrual cup The way menstrual cups work is by breaking the seal. The way they work so effectively is that they form a suction cup type seal that allows them to collect your menstrual blood without it leaking, which is great, until you want to remove it.

You may find that after following the steps above, you have managed to move the cup down so that you can firmly grasp the stem and slowly pull it out, breaking the seal. If this doesn’t work and you can feel the cup, you can try gently pressing on the rim of the cup and breaking the seal that way, which may make it easier to remove.

Go to the doctor if you are really worried

Finally, if you really can’t get rid of it and want peace of mind, you can simply consult a doctor. You won’t be the first person to consult a doctor for help with the menstrual cup and you won’t be the last: it’s completely common. If you can’t relax enough to do it yourself and want to put an end to the whole stressful situation, it can sometimes be helpful to seek professional help.

It’s totally understandable that you might have a moment of panic when you realize a cup seems lost somewhere inside your vagina – but it’s not really lost at all, it’s just slightly out of reach. Stay calm, breathe, and you should have it back in no time.

/Shutterstock