Having a menstrual cup is a gift sent from the menstrual gods, but it can be really frustrating having to deal with leaking problems! No one wants to deal with menstrual cup leak, bloody underwear and an emergency bathroom call. Should you lose hope in all menstrual cups? Absolutely not! There are a few reasons we think your cup might be leaking, and we’ll tell you how to fix it!
Do you have the right size cup?
Lunette offers two sizes; Model 1 and Model 2. Model 1 is designed for those with a light to moderate flow, and is a little smaller in size than Model 2, which is for those who have a moderate to heavy flow. It doesn’t matter if you’ve just started your first period ever, or if you’ve had sex, if you have a light flow, Model 1 should feel right for you. Now, if you have a pretty heavy flow and you’re using the Model 1, the reason why you’re leaking might be because you need a bigger cup! Try using the Model 2 and see how that feels. It’s a little firmer, but it will hold more menstrual blood.
You might need to empty your cup more frequently
Although we say you can empty your cup every 12 hours, some people might need to empty it earlier than others. If you have a heavier flow and you’re already using the Model 2, try emptying your cup every 4 or 6 hours to see if that does the trick and stops the menstrual leak!
Locate your cervix
This might sound a little invasive (let’s be real, nothing is invasive for us), but knowing how low or high your cervix is might help you insert your menstrual cup correctly! During menstruation, the cervix may move from its normal position. If you have a low cervix, chances are you might have to cut the stem of your cup in order for it to fit comfortably in your vagina, and if you have a tilted cervix, you might have to tilt your pelvis up and sit back a little more so that you’re not directly inserting your cup straight up. One thing to keep in mind is that your cup might be placed too high and not directly below your cervix, which could result in leakage because blood isn’t able to flow properly into the cup.
If you’re feeling a little curious, locate your cervix when you’re on your period and when you aren’t so you can see if it’s moved around! It should feel like the tip of your nose, in other words…soft and squishy!
After inserting, rotate the cup and pinch the sides to make sure it fully opens
Rotating your cup should become second nature to you soon after inserting your cup! It will prevent those unwanted air pockets and will suction onto the walls of your vagina, preventing menstrual blood from leaking around the cup.
Try a different fold method
The all time favorite C-fold might not be the one for you! It could be causing some air between the cup and the vaginal canal. Try our other folding methods like the punch-down method or triangle fold! We have a handy-dandy how-to video that shows you all the folding methods!
Squat to make insertion easier
Sometimes standing up can be uncomfortable and awkward – try squatting over your toilet or in the shower! As mentioned earlier, it will cause your pelvis to tilt a little, which can make the cup hug the vaginal canal easier.
Every time you poop, you might be pushing it down
This might not be a problem for you, but when you use the bathroom to poop, you’re pushing your menstrual cup down too (especially if you have strong pelvic floor muscles). However, because your cup has a strong suction inside the vaginal canal, it won’t fully come out and fall into the toilet. All you need to do is push it back up a little so it can go back to its normal place. Oh, and don’t forget to wash your hands every time you adjust your cup!
The air holes on your cup aren’t getting cleaned properly
You know those tiny little holes at the top of your cup? Those allow for proper suction inside your vagina. If they are blocked by blood or other bodily fluids, the cup won’t form a proper seal inside, so make sure all four air holes are open and clean every time you rinse your cup!
Try pelvic muscle exercises
If your cup leaks after you have tried all of these tips, the culprit may be your pelvic muscles. If your pelvic muscles are weak, they cannot hold the cup tight against the vaginal wall. The cup usually leaks when you get up from a seated position. Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic muscles and prevent future problems like urinary leakage.
No one wants a leaky cup, so if these tips helped you in any way, let us know, and if we didn’t mention a solution that’s helped you, also let us know! We want you to feel supported every step of the way on your menstrual cup journey
My cup leaks less than an hour after I put it in. I know it’s open properly, the tiny holes are clear, and it’s definitely not full. I’ve tried several of the folding methods but I am still having this issue. It’s really frustrating.
Hi Jessica!
Thanks for your question! We’d be happy to troubleshoot the issues you’re experiencing. Would you mind emailing us at info@lunette.com so we can ask you a few questions to better help you with this :)
Best,
Team Lunette
Hi Lunette,
So I did a test run before getting my period and I cannot get the cup to open completely. I have very tight and toned muscles and the cup keeps denting in on the sides and I can’t rotate it and I’ve tried every possible tip I’ve seen on YouTube or read and I just can’t get it to completely open. Is it possible it’s still open at the top but just slightly dented on the sides from the suction or my muscles just being really tight?
Hi Stasa!
Sorry to hear that you’ve been having problems with your cup!
The pain is most likely caused by the fact that the cup touches your cervix. It is not dangerous but it can feel very uncomfortable or even hurt. You can avoid this by placing the cup as low as possible.
The cervix may move during the period and it may be that it is sitting lower on the first two days of your period, making it a bit more challenging to get the cup positioned under the cervix.
If the cup rises by itself try this little trick to avoid it: when you insert the cup let it open before it is completely inside your vagina, and push it in when it has opened. This way the seal won’t become so strong :)
Best regards,
Team Lunette
Dear Lunette,
I’m a 17 year old virgin with a high cervix and a heavy flow and I’ve been using your size two cup for about 6 months now. It’s working perfectly except for the first and second day of my cycles. During those days I usually have very strong cramps and the cup is always pushed down immediately if I even manage to set it in place. I switched back to using pads during the first days of my period but that kind of defeats the purpose of the cup in the first place. I was wondering if you could give me some advice and tell me how I could try and fix my problem.
Thank you
With much love
Stasa