Yes!Youcansleep with a menstrual cup in!In fact, compared to bulky pads or tampons, many DivaCup users prefer it. Tampons should never be worn for more thantherecommended time(usually between 4 to 8 hours); theDivaCupcan be worn for up to 12 hours.If you’re still unsure, or you’ve had troublewith leaking or discomfortwhen sleepingwith a menstrual cup inin the past, don’t worry! We have a few tips tohelpensure youget a great sleep while using theDivaCup.
Can my menstrual cup get lost inside my body while I am sleeping?
It is impossible for a menstrual cup to get lost inside your body,asleep or awake.Thevagin*lcanal is an elastic, muscular tube only about3-4 inches long until it reaches the cervix, which stops the menstrual cup from going into the uterus. It does not connect to other parts of the body soyour menstrual cup will not get lost.
What if I can’t reach my menstrual cup in the morning?
First, do not panic. Your menstrual cup may have shifted upwards while you were sleeping but it is not lost inside of you (as mentioned above, that’simpossible).
The vagin*l muscles are what hold theDivaCupin place.Sometimes during sleepthe musclesrelaxa bit more than when you are awake,whichmayloosen the positioning ofyour menstrualcup,causing it to slightly move.To help bring it back down, simply takea deep breath and relaxyourpelvic floor muscles.Todo this, take a deep breath in, breathe out and release the pelvic floor muscles (likethe feeling you have after having to urinate and finally being able to). Once relaxed and in a comfortable position (standing, sitting on the toilet, or squatting), gently insert your thumb and index finger into your vagin* until you can reach the stem.
Toremove your menstrual cup, gentlypull the stem horizontally until you can firmly pinch the base of the cup to release the air. Squeeze the cup gently, and angle it slightly sideways while moving it from side to side to release the seal as you remove it. When it is completely removed, hold the cup upright so that the contents remain inside the cup. Simply empty the contents into the toilet.
If after trying our tips, you are still unable to removetheDivaCupwe would recommend that you seek medical assistance for removal oftheDivaCup.
Won’t my menstrual cup overflow if I wear it all night?
Most likely not.TheDivaCupprovides up to 12 hours of leak-free protection. Since most people sleep an average of 7-9 hours each night, you shouldn’t have to worry about leaking while you sleep.
The average person may lose anywhere between70-80 mlof fluidduring menstruation. 35-40ml of that is blood and the rest is mucus and uterine tissue.That means that on average, approximately 50% of what is lost during menstruation is blood.
It is not uncommon, however, to lose between 160-170ml of fluid or up to 80ml of blood. Still, 95% of menstruators lose less than 80ml of blood during the course of their period. This is, on average, over the course of 4-7 days, so it is unlikely that 30ml will be exceeded in one night.
OurDivaCupModel 1 holds30 mlof menstrual flow,Model 2 holds 32 ml,andModel 0 holds 20 ml of flow. For comparison, the average regular sized tampon holds about 5 ml of menstrual flow.
However, some people do experienceheavier periodsand find they need to empty and clean their menstrual cup everyfewhours.Therefore,it’s a good idea to try theDivaCupthroughout the day first to learn your flow.The measurement lines on yourDivaCuphelp you keep track of your flow. You can report these details to a healthcare provider if needed.
My menstrual cup isn’t full, so why does it still leak?
We do know ofsome,who while sleeping, may experience leaking due to their muscles relaxing so much that it loosens the seal of the cup. For thisreason,ensuring the cup is angled correctlyand inserted properlyis important.For more tips on how to insert theDivaCup, check outour video aboutinsertion.If you are still having difficulties, please reach out toourConsumer Experience Team.
What if I sleep for a longer than 12 hours?
It’s very important that youempty and clean yourDivaCupevery 12 hours at most. If you’re not feeling well, or think you may sleep for longer than 12 hours for whatever reason, we recommend you either set your alarm to get up, empty and clean yourDivaCupand then go back to sleep. Or, you can try another reusable option such as period underwear or cloth pads.
It’s also important to know theDivaCupis only regulated to be worn for 8 hours in Australia.
Getting enough sleep is so important for your overall health! Even more so when you’re on your period and likely more tired than usual. Although it’s common to have trouble sleeping while you have your period, there are some things you can do to for better sleep during your menstrual cycle.
Sweet dreams!
