Life

Can You Use A Menstrual Cup After Giving Birth?

by Lindsay E. Mack

Chances are you’ve heard all about menstrual cups, the reusable, flexible silicone cups that are shaking up the feminine hygiene game. Some of their claims seem almost too good to be true, as many women now use them exclusively in place of pads or tampons. But how well do menstrual cups work on a post-birth body? Do they still function just as well, or will women who have given birth need to use the old-school methods of period management?

There are only a few cases in which the cups should not be used, so overall, women who have given birth can also make use of these reusable cups. In many ways they are a better choice for mothers, because you won’t have to worry about needing to make a sudden dash to the drugstore if your period happens to occur at an inopportune moment, or you suddenly run out of tampons. (Because hauling the kids with you to the store can make even the quickest trip about a thousand times more difficult.) Just keep a clean cup in your purse and you’re good to go. Read on to see if menstrual cups might be a good choice for you, and how to find the cup that will work with your body.

In general, many mothers can use menstrual cups, but they may need to go through a bit of trial and error to get the right fit, brand, and size. The Diva Cup, for instance, comes in two sizes: one for women 30 and under who have never birthed a child, and one for women women over 30 and/or those who have given birth. You may need to experiment to find which one best fits your body. The site also notes that women should not use the cup for postnatal bleeding, and advises women to consult with a physician before using the cup soon after giving birth. The Lunette cup also comes in two sizes, although the site notes that many women can still use their smaller cup even after giving birth. Finding the right fit is really just a matter of trial and error, because every woman's body is a little different.

And for many mothers, the hassle of going through the brands to find the right cup is well worth the effort. After all, it's great to have a device that can safely take care of your period for up to 12 hours when you're busy wrangling children. So unless you've just given birth very recently, trying out a menstrual cup for the first time (or using your old one again) is probably safe. And when in doubt: have a chat with your doctor.