Menstrual Cup FAQ: Common Questions About Using, Cleaning & Choosing a Cup
Menstrual cups are simple once you know your own routine, but there are a lot of questions at the beginning: Which size? Which firmness? Why is it leaking? How often should it be emptied? What if it moves higher? This Peachcup FAQ answers the practical questions in one place.
Choosing a menstrual cup
What is a menstrual cup?
A menstrual cup is a reusable internal period product that collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it. Peachcup is made from medical-grade silicone and uses a circular ring stem at the base.
What Peachcup sizes are available?
Peachcup comes in Small 24 ml, Medium 28 ml, and Large 32 ml. Small measures 6.6 cm in total length with a 4.1 cm outer diameter, Medium 7.2 cm with a 4.4 cm diameter, and Large 7.5 cm with a 4.7 cm diameter.
How do I choose the right size?
Compare cervix height, flow, diameter preference, capacity, and reach. A lower cervix often points toward a shorter size, while a higher cervix may make a longer cup easier to reach. Heavy flow can make extra capacity useful, but capacity should not override comfort and anatomy.
Do age or childbirth determine menstrual cup size?
They can be clues, but they are not universal rules. Pregnancy, birth, hormones, and age can affect anatomy and pelvic-floor tone, yet people with the same age or childbirth history can still need very different cup dimensions. Actual fit, cervix height, flow, and comfort are more useful final checks.
What firmness should I choose?
Soft is the most flexible and may suit pressure-sensitive users. Medium Firm balances flexibility and structure. Extra Firm offers the strongest resistance to compression and can be useful when softer cups collapse, are difficult to open, or shift during high-impact activity. Firmness availability varies by size.
Can I use different cups on different days?
Yes. Flow and cervix height can change through the same period. You may prefer a smaller cup on lighter days, greater capacity on your strongest days, or a firmer cup for certain workouts if softer silicone tends to compress.
Insertion and opening
How do I insert a menstrual cup?
Wash your hands, fold the cup, relax your pelvic floor, gently insert the folded cup, then allow it to open comfortably inside the vaginal canal. The cup should sit fully inside rather than leaving the ring outside the vaginal opening.
Which fold is easiest?
There is no single easiest fold for everyone. The C-fold is simple, the punch-down fold creates a particularly small insertion point, and the 7-fold gives you a tapered edge. Try the one you can hold securely and get to open reliably.
How do I know if the cup opened?
Gently feel around the base. The cup should no longer have a sharp inward fold. You can rotate, wiggle, or reposition it slightly if needed. Firmer cups generally have stronger spring-back, while softer cups may need more technique.
Why does my menstrual cup leak right after insertion?
Immediate leaking usually points to opening or positioning rather than capacity. Check that the cup is not still folded and that menstrual flow is entering the cup rather than passing beside it because of cervix position.
Why does my cup leak only after several hours?
If the cup is full when you remove it, it has probably reached capacity. Empty it sooner or consider a higher-capacity size if the larger dimensions are comfortable for you.
Wear, sleep, swimming, and exercise
How long can I wear Peachcup?
Peachcup can provide up to 12 hours of menstrual protection before emptying, depending on your individual flow and product instructions. On heavy-flow days, you may need to empty it much sooner.
Can I sleep with a menstrual cup?
Many people use menstrual cups overnight as long as the total wear time stays within the product instructions and their flow does not require earlier emptying. Empty the cup before bed if that better matches your schedule and flow.
Can I swim with a menstrual cup?
A properly positioned menstrual cup is designed for internal wear and can generally be used during activities such as swimming. Make sure the cup is comfortable and open before getting in the water, and follow the stated wear-time and care instructions.
Can I exercise with a menstrual cup?
Yes, if it is comfortable and secure for you. If a softer cup repeatedly collapses or shifts during running, lifting, dance, jumping, or other high-impact activity, a firmer option in the correct size may resist pelvic-floor compression better.
Removal
How do I remove Peachcup?
Wash your hands, relax, locate the ring and base, then release the seal by gently pressing one side of the cup inward near the base. Once the seal is released, use the ring to help guide the cup lower, grip the base with your fingers, and remove slowly.
Should I pull the cup out by the ring stem?
Do not force a sealed cup out by the ring alone. The ring is helpful for locating and gently guiding Peachcup, but release the seal first and take a secure grip on the cup body for controlled removal.
Can a menstrual cup get lost inside me?
No. The vaginal canal does not open into the abdominal cavity; the cervix is at the upper end. A cup can move higher and become harder to reach, but it cannot travel through the cervix into the uterus.
What if my cup is difficult to reach?
Stay calm, relax, change position, and gently bear down to bring the cup lower. If this happens consistently, a longer size may be easier to reach. If you cannot remove the cup or have significant pain, seek appropriate medical care.
Comfort and fit
Should I be able to feel my menstrual cup?
You may be aware of it while learning, but a well-fitting cup should not cause persistent pain. If you are constantly aware of pressure, reassess placement, diameter, size, and firmness.
Why does my cup make me feel like I need to pee?
The cup may be creating pressure against the bladder or urethral area. Try adjusting placement and consider whether a softer firmness or smaller diameter would feel better. Persistent urinary symptoms or pain should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.
Why does the ring sit too low?
Your cervix may be lower and the cup may be too long for your current anatomy. Compare a shorter Peachcup size rather than trying to force the cup higher.
Why does my cup move higher during the day?
Cups can settle into a comfortable position based on anatomy and muscle movement, and cervix height can change through the cycle. If the cup remains comfortable and easy enough to remove, this is not automatically a problem. If it becomes consistently difficult to reach, compare a longer size.
Cleaning and care
How should I clean Peachcup?
Wash your hands before handling it and follow the current Peachcup care instructions for cleaning during your period and between cycles. Avoid improvising with harsh chemicals or cleaning methods not recommended for the product.
What if my cup becomes stained or discolored?
Silicone can develop cosmetic staining with use. Staining does not automatically mean the cup is unsafe, but inspect it for changes in texture, damage, persistent odor, or other signs of deterioration and follow current care instructions.
How long can a reusable menstrual cup last?
With appropriate care, a Peachcup may be reusable for up to 10 years. Actual lifespan depends on condition and care. Replace the cup if it becomes damaged or shows significant deterioration.
Health and safety
What should I do if using the cup hurts?
Remove it. Pain is not something you need to push through. Reassess size, firmness, fold, and placement. Seek appropriate medical advice for severe or persistent pain or other concerning symptoms.
When should I contact a healthcare professional?
Seek appropriate medical care for severe or persistent pain, fever, unusual symptoms, urinary problems that do not resolve after removing the cup, or if you are unable to remove the cup despite relaxing and trying the usual steps.
Peachcup fit support
If your first Peachcup is not the right size or firmness, Peachlife offers free returns, fit replacements, and exchanges to help you find a better option. Standard policy terms apply. Reach out through website chat or email customerservice@peachlifeinc.com.
For more detail on fit, see our complete size and firmness guide. For technique, see how to use a menstrual cup step by step.
