The best menstrual cup for your body should be completely comfortable. You shouldn’t experience any pain or even discomfort while wearing a menstrual cup or disc. If you’re experiencing menstrual cup pain, watch this video to better understand the potential causes of discomfort. And, better yet, we also have the solutions that can help you wear your cup all day with comfort. Check it out:
Menstrual Cup Pain During Insertion
If it hurts when you insert your menstrual cup the most likely culprit is a lack of proper lubrication coupled with the cup’s folded size. Adding a cup safe water-based lubricant to the rim of your cup can make insertion easier. It can also eliminate the pain you may experience when inserting the cup. If lubricant alone doesn’t help try experimenting with other menstrual cup folds. The “Punchdown Fold” method can be more comfortable for insertion, because the tip is narrow and the cup slowly tapers. If the cup needs to be even smaller you can try the “Labia Fold” (works best with softer firmness cups).
If you find insertion painful, because it feels like something is blocking the cup, you may have a low cervix and your cup is coming into contact with it. Do not force a cup into your body if something is blocking it and you’re in pain. Take the menstrual cup quiz to find the brands that are best suited for a low cervix instead of trying to force a cup to fit.
If it feels like your vagina is extremely tight and trying to insert your menstrual cup or even a tampon can’t be done, this could be a sign of vaginismus. Vaginismus is a muscle response, either physical or emotional in nature, when the vaginal muscles tightly contract during penetration. It’s treatable, so if you suspect this might be your issue see your care provider for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Menstrual Cup Pain During Wear
One of the biggest reasons to switch to a menstrual cup is that it’s more comfortable to wear than tampons. If that isn’t your experience so far, then you must be wondering what all the hype is about! Well, your cup shouldn’t cause any pain or discomfort during wear.
The most common cause of menstrual cup pain during wear is that the cup is too firm. This means that the cup is exerting an outward force that is felt by other organs and parts of your body. Not everyone’s anatomy disagrees with firm cups but lots of users find a softer menstrual cup works better for them. If you are finding that your cramps get worse (not better, as is often reported by cup users) or that you feel the urge to urinate, that’s a sign that you need a softer cup or a menstrual disc.
If you have painful periods due to a health condition it’s still possible to use a menstrual cup or disc. In fact, many people with endometriosis, PCOS, and fibroids find these products the best option since they also tend to have heavy periods. Softer firmness cups or discs might be an overall more comfortable experience for you.
Menstrual Cup Suction Pain
Extremely sharp and painful cramps are a sign that the cup is touching or even suctioning to your cervix. This is not a fun or comfortable experience. Many times the cup will walk itself up and find the cervix during wear, even if you try to position the cup lower when you insert it.
To fix this issue you either need a wider diameter cup that won’t suction to the cervix or a shorter cup. You can also switch to reusable menstrual discs since these are suction-free.
How to Remove a Menstrual Cup Without Pain
Even though most menstrual cups have a long stem at their base this is not what you should use to remove your cup. Simply tugging the stem to remove your menstrual cup may cause pain or discomfort because the cup has created a “suction” inside your vaginal canal. Removing without breaking the suction is a common mistake, but easy to fix. Simply make sure you always pinch the base enough to bring the rim away from your vaginal wall, thus breaking the seal to remove.
Another potential cause for painful removals is the size of the cup. We fold the cup to insert it, but it’s not folded when we remove it. For some users, this can be painful, especially for cups that are a wider diameter or firm. A firm cup applies outward pressure and if you pull it straight down that could hurt on the way out.
Instead, try angling the cup while removing it at the widest part, the rim, while it exits your body. This reduces the overall size.
A messier option but even more effective way to remove your cup without pain is to fold it in half while removing it. Be sure to have your body positioned over your toilet or do this in the shower.
What Menstrual Cup is Right for Me?
Even with some of these suggestions, it’s possible only a new menstrual cup or disc will address the cause of your pain, because your current product just isn’t right for you.
Our popular menstrual cup quiz has been designed to help you troubleshoot your issues to find a better product, and hopefully, help you find period nirvana. Try it today and see what 9 years of menstrual cup experience and expertise can build! The Period Nirvana menstrual cup quiz is unbiased, has 27 total outcomes, and includes results not sold or carried by Period.Shop for a diverse and accurate experience for every user.
Hi Kim,
Thanks for your article. I am a first time cup user. Each time I insert my cup, I don’t hear the pop sound and I still get stained. When I remove the cup, the cup comes out exactly the same way I folded the cup while trying to insert. What do I do to resolve this?
You can try moving your finger against your vaginal wall while the cup is inserted. Essentially circling the cup with your fingertip. This could give the cup some room to pop-open. You can also try ‘pumping’ the cup from the base while it’s inserted to help encourage it to unfold. You can try different folds, which may work better for you. And lastly, you may need a firmer cup that while ‘pop’ more easily.