Our article on how to use a menstrual cup for beginners covers all of the basics you need to know when you’re new to the FLEX Cup. Now that you’re no longer a period cup newbie, you might have some questions about the nuances of this magical product. We’ve collected some menstrual cup wisdom for you here, both from our own experience as well from our savvy customers and coveted Uterati community members. Read on for our favorite pro-tips on using a FLEX menstrual cup.

Cleaning Your Cup In Public Restrooms (Or Out In The Wild)

In the comfort of your own home, it’s easy to go to the sink to wash your cup out between uses in private. But realistically speaking, a lot of your cup changes will happen when you’re out living your best life: at work, on vacation, swimming, hiking, working out, or just being an all-around badass.

When on the go, regular warm tap water will get the job done until you can properly clean your cup. Personally, we’re up for strutting to the sink with pride (we all have periods, it’s okay), but if you’d feel more comfortable in a private stall or can’t make it to a sink, bring a water bottle or cup of water into the stall to give your cup a quick rinse before reinserting.

When Your Menstrual Cup Smells Like Trouble

Let’s keep it real: sometimes vaginas get a little smelly like any other part of the body. It’s perfectly normal to experience a bit of odor during your period. You know your body best, and if you’re noticing anything concerning, we strongly encourage you to chat with your doctor or health provider. It never hurts to get a second opinion to put your mind at ease and make sure things are copacetic. If you have a yeast or bacterial infection, do not use a FLEX Cup until the infection has completely cleared.

If you’re just noticing some funky smells from your FLEX Cup, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few approaches that should get rid of any cup related odors:

• Be proactive. The best way to get rid of odors is to prevent them; as long as you follow the care instructions, you should not notice any odors coming from your cup.
• Boil your cup. If, despite your diligent efforts, your cup still smells less than fresh, give it a good boil for 10 minutes to sanitize it and voila, the smell should be outta there!
• Pre-soak then boil your cup. If that doesn’t do the trick, soaking it in warm, soapy water (make sure it's oil-free and fragrance-free soap!) for 20- 30 minutes and then boiling it to sanitize should get rid of any unwanted smells as well.

The Stopper Has Popped Out- Is My Cup Broken?

It's not broken. FLEX Cup's innovative pull tab was designed to make the difficult process of removing a menstrual cup that much easier. With this change, we know that sometimes we can get a bit excited and pull a little too hard, causing the pull tab’s stopper to pop through the hole.

If this happens to you, don’t worry; this does not change your cup's effectiveness in any way, and it's an easy fix! Simply work the stopper back through the hole of your cup like so:

Why Is My Menstrual Cup Leaking?

The two main causes of leaking are placement issues, and not properly positioning the pull tab. The pull tab should be pulled through the bottom of your cup as shown here:

To ensure the cup is inserted properly, be sure to check that the cup has opened fully. You can do this by running a finger along the bottom of the cup. If you feel any pleats or indentations, that means it has not opened fully, and that gap will cause a leakage issue. This trick also helps to create a bit more space for your cup to open completely.

I Have A High Cervix or I Have A Low Cervix - Will FLEX Cup Work For Me?

We worked hard to be as inclusive as possible for all types of anatomies and abilities. FLEX Cup's unique pull tab was designed to help with the cup removal for people with a wide range of cervices. Even if you have a high cervix, you should be able to reach the pull tab and remove your cup with ease. If you'd like to extend the stem so that it is a bit longer, the tab has about 1-1.5 inches of variable length. Simply pull down on the ring until you’ve reached the desired length, but be gentle: pulling the tab too far will cause the cup to start to cave in at the top and may cause leakage.

We were also able to make the body of the cup slightly shorter than most cups, which may be more comfortable for users with a low cervix. If you are unsure, you can always chat about this with your doctor or health provider- they may be able to provide you with more information about how it will work for you!

Can I Wear FLEX Cup During Sex?

If it’s non-penetrative sex or foreplay, go for it! Did you know you can have oral sex with your FLEX period cup in? Make sure the pull tab is tucked in enough so that it doesn’t get tugged or in the way, and you are ready to go!

If you are having penetrative sex, you must remove your FLEX Cup first since it sits in the vaginal canal (like a tampon). If you’re looking for a period product that can be worn during sex, we recommend trying a menstrual disc like FLEX Disc.

Have a question about your FLEX period cup, or want to share your own pro tips? Our FLEXperts are on call to help you out. Give us a ring at (800) 921-0882 or shoot over an email to hello@flexfits.com.