Ways to pleat the cup:

Technique 1: The C-fold

Rinse your hands and the cup with warm water.

Hold: Squeeze the sides of the cup together.

Fold: Fold the cup in half and hold the folded sides firmly between your thumb and forefinger.

The cup can store blood for 12 hours, but must be inserted and removed every 4 to 8 hours.

Insertion: Relax and push the curved edge of the folded cup into the vaginal entrance.

Technique 2: The punchdown

Squeeze: Use your finger to press the lip/rim of the cup down towards the base of the cup.

Squeeze: Take your finger away while squeezing the edges together to prevent the cup from popping open.

Insertion: For easiest insertion of the menstrual cup, push the cup a little way into the vagina so that it opens, then push the rest of the way in.

Preparations for insertion:

Properly sanitising a menstrual cup can help reduce the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

Clean the cup thoroughly before first use

Wash your hands with clean water after removing the cup, especially in a public toilet.

Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap.

Remove the menstrual cup and clean your cup between periods.

Find a comfortable sitting, standing, squatting or kneeling position.

Insert the cup:

Moisten your menstrual cup to make it easier to insert.

Use a water-based lubricant to make it easier to insert the menstrual cup.

Hold the menstrual cup with your thumb and index finger as deep as possible in the cup and keep it folded.

Insert the cup into the vagina.

With your other hand, guide the cup upwards at the entrance to the vagina and towards your back.

The cup collects the blood and protects you even on heavier days.

The menstrual cup has been designed to be worn as deep as possible in the vagina.

Make the seal:

Make sure that the cup has fully opened and that a seal has been created.

Insert the menstrual cup correctly and seal it with the suction holes.

Run your finger along the side of the menstrual cup to make sure it is fully open.

The rim of the menstrual cup is important to prevent menstrual blood from leaking out.

Press the bottom of the cup in and turn it. Make sure that this is the base of the cup and not the stem.

Tighten your menstrual cup with your vaginal muscles.

Trim the stem:

It is important to trim the stem of the menstrual cup for insertion and removal.

Make sure that you have trimmed the stem to the right length for you.

With reusable menstrual cups, the stem does not need to be recut for each menstrual cycle.

The end of the cup's stem should sit comfortably in the vagina.

If you find that the cup is uncomfortable when sitting or walking, you will probably need to shorten the stem slightly

Preparations for removal:

Relax your body and take your time.

Loosen the seal Squat down or sit on the toilet.

Press on the bottom of the menstrual cup to loosen the seal.

Use the handle of the menstrual cup to make it easier to remove the cup.

When the base of the cup is almost pulled out of the vagina, tilt the cup slightly to one side to remove half of the rim before tilting it in the other direction to release the other half.

Empty the contents of the cup into the toilet, rinse and reinsert.

Cleaning methods:

There are a number of different cleaning methods you can use to keep your cup clean:

Remove and clean with a ph-neutral intimate wash

Use the BeYou Menstrual Cup Foam Cleaner to thoroughly clean your cup. Simply squirt a small amount of the cleanser onto the cup and lather it up with your hands to create a foam. Turn the cup upside down if necessary. After cleaning, rinse with clean water.

If you are in a public toilet without your foam cleanser, take a small bottle of water into the cubicle to rinse out your menstrual cup, or simply emptyit and put it back in, remembering to wash the cup more thoroughly next time.

Completely cover with water and boil in a designated pot for 5 to 7 minutes. Do not leave the boiling pot unattended and make sure the cup has cooled completely before putting it back in.