How Old Do You Need To Be To Use A Menstrual Cup?
How old do you need to be to use a menstural cup?
There is no right age when to start wearing a menstrual cup and some cup manufacturers make smaller menstrual cup size or specific teen cups which can be used from the first period. There is no reason you can't use reusable menstrual cups from your very first period however teens muscles tend to be tighter and more tense which can make inserting and removing a little more tricky until you can the hang of it and this is completely normal. Some companies say they have cup users as young as 12 using their menstrual cups to manage their menstrual cycle.
What is a menstrual cup?
A reusable menstrual cup is a type internal menstrual products. It is a cup that sits in the vaginal canal and collects menstrual blood and is usually made of medical grade silicone.
What's the best menstrual cup for your first time?
Finding the right menstrual cup can can require you to be familiar with your body anatomy which some younger people may find difficult it is better to wait for the first few cycles before recommending period cups.
There are a few things that go into finding your perfect menstrual cup. We consdier cervix height and flow when we look at getting a cup that suits you best. You may need wait a few cycles to be able to get this information, whether you have a heavy flow or a lighter menstrual flow. You can read about how to measure your cervix height here, they come in three different measurements, high cervix, medium cervix, low cervix.
The Meluna Small, Saalt Teen and Lumma Short are all a smaller cup that are designed for teens.
How to insert a menstrual cup for the first time?
Top tips to insert your menstrual cup for the first time
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Relax and take a deep breath- inserting anything into your vagina for the first time can be a bit daunting.
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Take the time to get comfortable and familiar with your body- You can use a mirror to help you check things out and explore your body more. If you're unsure of anything then seek advice from a trusted family member. Getting familar with your body can be really empowering and the more knowledge you have of your body then the better you will be at tracking changes.
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Sometimes using a silicone safe lubricant can help- A water based lubricant is safe to use with your menstrual cup (which is usually made of medical grade silicone). A small amount of this can help make inserting easier.
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Practice different folds, find a full list here but most will use the 'punch down fold' or the 'C fold'.
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Practice inserting your period cup in advance of your period- one of the best things about menstrual cups is that it doesn't absorb menstrual fluid, just collects it, unlike tampons. This means that it's possible to practice inerting your cup at any point in your cycle. You can practice different folds and see what works for your body.
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Check the stem- most menstrual cups have a stem to help with removal. If this is outside your vaginal opening then you can trim it for comfort.
What are the benefits of menstrual cups for teenagers?
- A menstrual cup is an eco friendly, zero waste period product.
- Most period cup users rave about how easy and worry free using a menstrual cup is.
- Once you have the cup that suits you it should feel comfortable.
- If you are particulaly sporty or enjoy swimming you might be more keen to try menstrual cups and find the period product that is the perfect fit for you.
- A menstrual cup is a great period product because you only need the one.
- Unlike Pads or Period Pants where you will need a Light, medium, heavy flow, the one menstrual cup is able to be used for all menstrual flows.
- A menstrual cup can be worn for up to 10hours at at time so it can help to avoid needing to change your period protection during school or in a public restroom.
What are the other options?
If you or your teen isn't ready to use a menstrual cup there are other period products that are very popular with teens they may love period underwear and pads. Period Pants are the number one choice for many of my friend's teenagers and it's all they wear.
You can fill in our questionnaire here to see what period product would suit you or your teen best.