How to use a menstrual cup
Meet Flex Cup
It’s the menstrual cup you know and love, but with one major upgrade: Flex Cup changes the period cup game with its patented pull-tab that makes removal easier than ever.
Made with medical-grade silicone and without BPAs, phthalates, or natural rubber latex, Flex Cup is the easy and sustainable tampon alternative you’ve been searching for. It’s reusable, stain-proof, and doesn’t absorb odor—plus, it’s engineered with just enough rigidity to make insertion a breeze.
Insertion, wear, and removal
FLEX CUP INSERTION
STEP 1: REFRESH YOUR CUP
Clean your cup. If it’s your first time using your Flex Cup, give it a quick wash with a mild soap or Flex Foaming Cleanser. To completely sanitize your cup in between periods, you can boil it for 10 minutes on the stove (but keep an eye on it while doing so and do not allow your cup to come in contact with the sides of the pot).
STEP 2: FIND YOUR FOLD
Experiment with folding techniques.There are lots of different ways you can fold your cup for insertion but one of our favorites is called the punchdown fold. To do it, simply push one side of the cup’s rim down towards the base with your thumb, then pinch the sides together.
STEP 3: GET IN POSITION
Get into a comfortable position. Either sitting on the toilet, standing with one leg elevated, or squatting with knees wide—and take a breath to relax your pelvic floor. While holding the cup in its folded position, insert it into the vaginal canal. You don’t have to push it too far back (and it’s normal for the pull-tab to hang slightly outside your body).
STEP 4: CHECK YOUR PLACEMENT
To make sure the cup has popped open fully, insert a finger into your vagina and run it around the outside of the cup, feeling for any pleats or indentations. If you notice any, try twisting the cup slightly or pressing gently against your vaginal walls to help it open up. You’ll know your cup is in the right place when you can get up and move around without leaks or discomfort.
Go about your day! Wear Flex Cup for up to 12 hours at a time. Since Size 01 has the capacity of two super tampons and Size 02 holds as much as three super tampons, you’ll be covered for hours (even on your heavy days).
FLEX CUP REMOVAL
STEP 6: REMOVE YOUR CUP LIKE A PRO
When you’re ready to remove your cup, start by washing your hands. Hop on the toilet or
remove your cup while showering for 100% mess-free removal. Then, simply reach for the pull-tab and grab (or loop your finger through) while pulling down gently. The pull-tab breaks the seal for you, helping the cup slide out easily. Be careful not to pull too hard or too fast to avoid spills.
STEP 7: RINSE AND REPEAT
Dump the contents of the cup into the toilet and then take it to the sink for a rinse. Whenever possible, wash your cup with a mild soap—or with specially-formulated Flex Foaming Cleanser—before reinserting. If you’re out and about with no access to a sink, use Flex Wipes (they’re plant-based!) to clean off your cup before reinserting.
View the official Flex Cup Instructions for Use.
Insert the cup low
Flex Cup does not need to sit super high up in the vaginal canal. How far up it should go depends on your unique anatomy and personal preference: Just make sure that the cup has enough room to pop open all the way. For some, Flex Cup might only need to be inserted about a knuckle deep. If the pull-tab hangs outside your body, you can twist it so that the ring lies parallel to your labia for added comfort. You can also tuck the pull-tab up into your vaginal canal, so it sits alongside the cup.
Twist to place
Pinch and twist the base of the cup as you insert it. This will set the cup into place, help it pop open, and ensure it's properly sealed against the vaginal walls. To be extra sure you’re protected against leaks, run a finger around the base of the cup once it's comfortably positione.
Use wipes to clean your cup in public restrooms
If you’d rather not walk your cup to the row of sinks in a public restroom (we get it!), you can easily clean it off while in the toilet stall with a pack of Flex Wipes. First, just dump the contents of the cup into the toilet. Grab a wipe and go over the inside and outside of the cup—you can unthread the pull-tab if you’d like. Once that’s done, use an extra wipe to clean your fingers, reinsert the cup, and you’re good to go!
HELP IS HERE
Still have Qs? Reach out to our Flexperts via email, and a real human will get back to you.