Flex Ed

7 tips & tricks for using your Flex Cup

Jan 27, 2020

Menstrual cup hacks to makfoame your period feel like a non-issue

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™. So, if you’re new here, give it a read. Already mastered cup insertion and removal but looking for pro tips? We’ve got you covered there, too.

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 and from our savvy customers and Uterati community members. Read on for seven expert tips and tricks for using your Flex Cup.

1. How do I clean Flex 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 pack of Flex Wipes with you. Use them to wipe down the inside and outside of your cup before reinserting.

Forget your wipes and no sink in sight? No worries. Bring a water bottle or cup of water into the stall to give your cup a quick rinse (over the toilet) before reinserting.

2. What if my menstrual cup smells… bad?

Let’s keep it real: sometimes vaginas get a little smelly (just 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, though – if you’re noticing anything concerning, we strongly encourage you to chat with your doctor or health provider.

Side note: If you have a yeast or bacterial infection, don’t use a menstrual cup until the infection has completely cleared.

If you’re just noticing some funky smells from your Flex Cup, you’re definitely not alone – and you can totally get rid of it. Here are a few approaches that should eliminate any odors coming from your period cup:

Be proactive. The best way to get rid of odors is to prevent them. As long as you follow the care instructions for your cup, you shouldn’t notice any odors. Clean your cup with Flex Foaming Cleanser (or another brand of oil- and fragrance-free soap) between uses whenever possible and dry it thoroughly before storing.
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 the above doesn’t do the trick, soaking your cup in warm, soapy water for 20- 30 minutes and then boiling it to sanitize should get rid of any unwanted smells.

3. The stopper has popped out! Is my cup broken?

It’s not broken. Flex Cup’s innovative pull tab was designed to make the sometimes-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:

4. Help! I’m experiencing menstrual cup leakage

The two main causes of period cup leaking are placement issues and, with Flex Cup, 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.

Learn more about menstrual cup leaks and how to prevent them in this article.

5. I have a high or 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 cervix types and heights.

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 Flex 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 primary care provider or OB-GYN: They may be able to provide you with more information about how to get a cup to work with your unique anatomy.

6. 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’re 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) – so it blocks anything else from getting up there. If you’re looking for a period product that can be worn during penetrative sex or masturbation, we recommend trying a menstrual disc like Flex Disc™.

Flex Disc sits in the vaginal fornix, the widest part of the vaginal canal at the very back, near your cervix, so it doesn’t get in the way.

7. Can I wear Flex Cup with an IUD?

The short answer is yes. However, if you have an IUD, we recommend consulting your doctor before using a menstrual cup (any brand). While uncommon, there is a risk of dislodging, displacing or removing the IUD when removing your cup. Learn more in this article.

Bonus points for Flex Cup? Your risk for displacing your IUD may be lower since Flex Cup’s innovative pull tab breaks the seal for you during removal, so you don’t have the same intense “suction effect” that you get with other menstrual cup brands.

If you are at all concerned about possibly dislodging your IUD while removing Flex, you can make an appointment with your doctor or nurse practitioner and ask them to trim your IUD strings so that they are flush with your cervix. This won’t impact the function of your IUD or its removal when you are ready to remove it, but it will decrease the likelihood of accidental dislodging.

OB-GYNs and NPs trim IUD strings frequently for other reasons, such as when a partner says that they can feel the strings.

Have a question about your Flex Cup or want to share your own pro tips? Our Flexperts are ready to help you out. Shoot us an email at help@flexfits.com.

This article is informational only and is not offered as medical advice, nor does it substitute for a consultation with your physician. If you have any gynecological/medical concerns or conditions, please consult your physician.