Taking a menstrual cup out is the step that worries new users most. The good news: once you know the trick, removal takes seconds. The trick is to break the seal before you pull. This guide shows you how to remove a menstrual cup step by step, and what to do if it feels stuck or out of reach.
Quick answer: To remove a menstrual cup, wash your hands, relax and bear down gently with your pelvic floor until you can reach the base. Pinch the base (not the stem) to release the seal, then rock the cup gently from side to side as you ease it out, keeping it upright. Empty, rinse and reinsert. A cup can't get lost inside you.
How to remove a menstrual cup, step by step
- Wash your hands. Then sit on the toilet or squat, whichever relaxes you more.
- Relax. Tense muscles hold the cup tighter. Take a slow breath.
- Bear down gently. Push with your pelvic floor muscles, as if you were having a bowel movement. This brings the cup lower.
- Find the base. Slide your fingers in until you feel the stem, then follow it up to the base of the cup.
- Pinch the base to break the seal. Squeeze the bottom part of the cup between your thumb and forefinger until you feel or hear the suction release.
- Rock and ease it out. Keep pinching and gently rock the cup from side to side while pulling down slowly. Keep it upright so it doesn't spill.
- Empty, rinse and reinsert. Empty the cup into the toilet, rinse it or clean it with Lunette Cup Wash, and put it back in.
Don't pull the cup out by the stem alone. Grip the base and break the seal first.
Why does removing a cup feel hard at first?
A menstrual cup stays in place with light suction. Once it opens, it seals against the walls of your vagina. That seal is what stops leaks, and it's also why a cup that you simply pull feels stuck. The small holes just under the rim help release the seal; clean them well so they stay open.
Most people find removal awkward the first few times and quick after that. A large review of menstrual cup studies found that adopting a cup usually takes a familiarisation phase over several cycles.
What to do if you can't reach your cup
If your fingers feel too short or the cup has moved up, don't worry. Your vagina is closed at the top by the cervix, so the cup can only go so far.
- Change position. Squat low, or put one foot up on the toilet seat or the edge of the bath.
- Bear down for longer. Push gently with your pelvic floor muscles and keep pushing while you reach. It can take a few tries.
- Wait a little. If you're tense, stop, do something else for a few minutes and try again. Relaxed muscles make the cup easier to reach.
- Use the side of the cup. Slide one finger along the side of the cup, between the cup and the vaginal wall, and bend your finger when you reach the rim. This breaks the seal so you can bring the cup down. Watch out for long fingernails.
If the cup often rides up, it may be because your cervix is high. See how far up a menstrual cup goes for where it should sit.
What to do if your cup feels stuck
- Break the seal properly. Pinch the base firmly until you feel the suction release. If you can't feel it release, try the finger-along-the-side trick above.
- Fold the cup on the way out. Grip the cup with your thumb, forefinger and middle finger and push your thumb between the other two. This folds the cup into a C-shape, making it narrower and easier to remove.
- Rock, don't yank. Small side-to-side movements work better than pulling hard.
- Get help if you need it. If you still can't remove it after several calm tries, contact a doctor or nurse. In the review of 43 studies, professional help to remove a vaginal cup was reported by only two users, so it's rare, but there's no need to struggle on your own.
When to get medical help
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is rare, but the NHS notes it can happen when using a tampon or a menstrual cup. Remove your cup and get urgent medical help if you suddenly feel unwell during your period, with a high temperature, feeling hot, cold or shivery, muscle aches, a rash, vomiting or diarrhoea.
Make removal easier next time
- Check your size. If removal is always hard, your cup may be a poor fit. A strong pelvic floor often suits the softer Lunette Size 1; a high cervix often suits Size 2. Our menstrual cup size guide compares them.
- Practise at home first. You don't have to wait for your period: a dry run when you have time and privacy is fine.
- Out and about? Lunette Cup Wipes clean your cup when there's no sink.
- Boil it between periods. Boil 5 minutes before first use and after each completed cycle.
For folding and inserting, see how to use a menstrual cup. And if you're still choosing, the Lunette menstrual cup comes in two sizes, made in Finland from 100% medical-grade silicone.
Removing a menstrual cup: frequently asked questions
How do you take out a menstrual cup?
Wash your hands, relax and bear down gently until you can reach the base. Pinch the base to break the seal, then rock the cup from side to side as you ease it out, keeping it upright. Empty it into the toilet, rinse it and reinsert it.
Can a menstrual cup get stuck?
It can feel stuck, but it can't get lost. The cervix closes the top of the vagina, so the cup can only move up so far. Usually the seal just hasn't been released. Relax, squat, bear down and pinch the base, or slide a finger along the side to the rim.
What if my fingers are too short to reach my cup?
Squat low or raise one foot, then bear down with your pelvic floor muscles and keep pushing while you reach. This brings the cup lower. If it keeps riding up, a high cervix may be the reason; ask yourself whether the other size would sit better.
Does removing a menstrual cup hurt?
It can feel strange the first few times. If it's uncomfortable, the seal may still be on, or the cup may be coming out fully open. Pinch the base until the seal releases, or fold the cup with your fingers, and ease it out slowly.
How often should I remove my menstrual cup?
Most people empty a Lunette cup two to four times a day. You can wear it for up to 12 hours; in Germany and Australia the limit is 8 hours, and in France 6 to 8 hours with no overnight use.
Sources
- van Eijk AM et al. Menstrual cup use, leakage, acceptability, safety, and availability: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Public Health, 2019.
- NHS: Toxic shock syndrome
This article is for general information and isn't medical advice.
