How to empty a menstrual cup in public

[@porkchopzdotcom3655]

I usually just bring a water bottle with me that I use specifically for when I'm on my period I rinse it out, dry it with some toilet paper and then when I'm done my period I throw the bottle away

[@BestGodBeanOfficial]

I just always have a water bottle in my bag constantly cuz I get thirsty easily

[@audeai4021]

​@@MissPeyton8 There are some really good travel sized Peri bottle that have a small carry-bag, you can fill it before going to school if you are worried about filling it before going to the stall.

[@LauraBidingCitizen]

@@MissPeyton8Why would you look sus? You take your bag into your own stall don’t you?

[@mamacoco820]

Throwing bottles away after periods might defeat the point of the cups being environment friendly

[@moublabla2306]

I have one very durable bottle (kind of that trekking/for sport design you can clip to bag to camping) that I use only on period to clean menstrual cup. Works just fine for 4 years

[@katekorosh7773]

me living in an asian country which has taps or pipes for water in each stall-

[@lilymulligan8180]

Every time I have to dump my cup in a public stall, I swear I get blood EVERYWHERE. my hands, the toilet seat, the floor, the wall, the toilet paper roll.... I spent more time cleaning up the splatters than I do the cup itself lol

[@MaryMary-tf8gc]

Thanks for cleaning it 🥹🥹🙏🏻🙏🏻 As a building cleaner for many many years, you have no idea how much we truly appreciate your gesture ❤❤❤❤

[@louiselessels117]

I'll place some toilet paper in the toilet bowl, before emptying, to minimize mess.

[@jclyntoledo]

You probably don't need this and I've already figured it out but just in case you want some advice. Always bring a pair or 2 of disposable gloves. Also remember to grab hand towels before you step into the stall and please wet one just to have for the cup cleaning/wiping. Also if you have a clean zip lock bag you can use it to store the damp hand towels so you don't accidentally drop it. You can also have a travel sized spray bottle with you. Remember to fully remove your pants and undies; usually there's a door hook for jackets you can use to hang the pants and undies. Fully line the toilet and drop the dry hand towels around the bottom of the toilet. If you are in a single stall then consider standing at the sink when cleaning it and just line the floor of the sink and anywhere you may step. Also for a single stall please consider using 1-2 alcohol pads to sanitize your cup then let it dry as much as possible and rinse off one last time then insert. Hope this helps! 😊

[@bryonyw4739]

I always find it awkward washing my hands before going into a cubicle if people are there but always do 🤣

[@sassyscorpio5537]

honestly, even without cups, it should be normal to wash your hands before XD public area's are nastyyy and we be touching all of that and then our clothes and when we wipe? eugh washing shouldn't be weird XD

[@dawnriddler]

I always wash my hands before, and use toilet paper to open any doors, public bathrooms are gross

[@jclyntoledo]

Yes but please still wash your hands before handling menstrual cups or disc's or anything that is going inside you 😊

[@minhazarook]

another reason why hand bidets are important

[@jclyntoledo]

Yes!

[@ashleycook6025]

I take my cup to annual training for the US army reserve. I keep a small spray bottle with a mix of a few drops of dish detergent (scent free dawn) bc it rinses clean, and water and when we're in te feild I have to have a water source on me at all times any way so it's not unusual to see me go into a port-o-jon with my back pack water source. the little hose is easy to use and I just hold the mouthpeice in my teeth until I'm done. spray and rinse my hands, privates and thighs, remove and clean the cup with the same spray and potable water, replace the cup, wash and rinse my hands again, pull my britches up, head out and CM. Wake up a little early take an extra minute before hitting the rack..think about the up coming day and decide if I need to take a minute earlier or later than usual. takes a minute longer than normally using the jon and if no jon is available I have to dig a small hole like i'm taking a dump to empty and clean the cup into (we're in the woods usually, don't want to attract wildlife) and I usually bring a Battle Buddy to turn her back and keep a watch out for me. But I hate using disposables while we're out, tampons can go in the port=o=jon but the vacuum truck that come around can experience problems if too many pads or tampon applicators are present in that unit...and handling garbage during AT is a BIG problem. I've always got a little spray bottle of soapy water on me for washing my hands if I need. I keep a little bottle of dawn in my gear and it works great for deep cleaning after not having a shower for several days, cleaning gear or clothes etc and one of the things we and our chain of command go out of our way to ensure is having enough potable water around, so I never run out of spray or water. though I do bring multiple types of tampons with me in case someone else needs them or...I ever experience accidentally dropping my cup while cleaning it in the jon.

[@jclyntoledo]

Not to burst your bubble but you're actually not supposed to use regular soap or detergent for that. It can actually cause it to break down or you end up with a yeast infection. It's better to actually buy menstrual cup soap from the companies that make them or just get alcohol pads 😊.

[@oliviastrees]

As a college student who only really has access to communal bathrooms, I literally just take my disc/cup out of the stall and wash it in the sink... lmao. It's scary at first, but I've realized no one really looks at you while washing hands!

[@lapislazulilaura8306]

I will full on walk out there and rinse it. I don't give a f, have to do what I have to do - and I expect other woman to understand since we all go through it 🐱

[@Ameenasbasement]

Eew, though bleeding is normal, it is considered to be unhygienic to do that. And it’s not her appealing to look at other people’s blood regardless of the situation or circumstance.

[@latricia2906]

Respect 🫡

[@leeyubinsproperty]

@lilsweetie7421 ah yes, cleaning is unhygienic now 💀

[@doeeyes2]

Please dont do this. Blood can carry disease, as a woman i would be horrified to see a female do this in public... not to mention that sink is full of germs. Omg i cant ✋

[@jeopardy60611]

I get the impression that the cup is easier than using disposable protection. You don't have to carry so much stuff, and you don't have to worry about running out of disposable stuff. You can go for a whole 12 hours, or close to that, without having to take care of the cup, so I imagine you are so much less stressed than someone who has to keep changing disposable stuff.

[@lottl_6282]

i usually take sensitive wet wipes for my hands and use toilet paper for the cup, works perfectly fine also in school :)

[@LA-fr4gp]

tysm! i’m considering getting them !

[@zoey8572]

Thank you for answering these questions.

[@Luubelaar]

Or if you carry a water bottle in your bag (like me), you can rinse off the cup and wipe with some TP.

[@nri363]

But why do we even wipe it that it's dry. I hold it under water so that it's wet when I put it in for the first time cause for me it feels so much better and in my body its wet so it hasn't to be dry.

[@Velociraptour]

A spray bottle with water works for me. The pressure from the spray gets rid of any blockage in the air holes that could prevent the cup making a seal.

[@summerknabe2560]

Omg don’t wipe it with toilet paper it rips and gets all over the cup. Speaking from experience because bathrooms have like 1 ply toilet paper

[@PeriodNirvana]

tampons are 100% lint :P and cups get micro dust on them you don't even see. A tiny but of lint is not going to be harmful but you can always just skip wiping it with TP if you don't want to

[@alinamorov7075]

​@@PeriodNirvana This isn't true. First of all, "lint" isn't a material, so I'm assuming you meant linen? Tampons are made out of cotton, rayon, or a blend of the two. Most TP is made out of tree pulp, water, and bleach, as well as chemicals that extract fibers. But most importantly, a tampon is designed to be suitable and safe for women to insert in their vaginas. Toilet paper is not made nor safe to have inside your vagina. It can cause irritations and serious infections.

[@PeriodNirvana]

@@alinamorov7075 I think you’re giving this comment way more thought than needed. I meant lint. It was a joke.

[@alinamorov7075]

@@PeriodNirvana It's not funny to give false/wrong advice 👍

[@azuzziken]

@@alinamorov7075 How is it wrong since both cotton and paper are the same material. It's cellulose. Get over yourself

[@rae-leef.3463]

I have to empty mine very three hours for the first three days of my period. I am putting it in correctly, I just have such heavy flow that it’s overfilled within three hours. Like I’ve carefully pulled mine out a few times and it’s basically to the brim. After the first three days I can leave it for linger as my flow becomes lighter

[@LoveLove-wn4hz]

Omg I was wondering about this 😧

[@alliem9404]

I like to go somewhere like a coffee shop that likely has a single bathroom or in a larger place I see if they have a “family bathroom” …both are just 1 room with a sink and toilet in it, very private and chill. Also I try to keep a pack of wet wipes in my purse for emergency pre-sink hand cleanup if I’m stuck using a traditional stall bathroom

[@latricia2906]

Thank you! I have wondered how I would do this in a work environment 😅

[@squeakybb]

I would also recommend making a clean spot with toilet paper or paper towels to set the cup down on if you leaked or have a heavy wipe job like I usually do.

[@ZomBunny]

I use period underwear and now fully appreciate that I made the right choice. I work 12hr shifts, with transit time and every thing its about 13.5hrs from when I leave home to returning, or nearly 15 if I have to take the bus. And I feel weird opening a pad if someone else is in the bathroom, anything more than that and I might die from anxiety.

[@lynettemiller6519]

If I know I'm going to be out for a long time, I wear period underwear as a backup to my cup

[@SayaSayonaraSayora]

I decided to go with a 50 ml cup because I had to dump my previous one every 4 hours on my heaviest days and I hated trying to insert my cup while standing up bc it wouldn't open

[@minjay44]

I have 2 cups, I keep a clean one in a small Tupperware container I use the stall with a sink if possible and use the clean one and clean the used one in whatever sink available. If it’s not easy to clean, I clean it with TP as best I can and clean it later at home

[@shanikpakeer]

12 hours?! I have to empty it every 3-4 hours on heaviest days

[@seanceknowles2911]

Everyone is different. I am definitely I the 12 he range this is why I considered cup’s because it as if I don’t have a period to worry about but twice per day in the 3 day cycle

[@dawnriddler]

I need 4h the first day, after that it's 7-8, on the 3rd day I can do 12h, and later on 8-10h. But I also have an XL cup.

[@fauxvixen]

Grab a hip flask, very clean one - get some nice clean cup safe water/sanitiser etc fill your hip flask. Just if your feeling like being a bit more extra then a water bottle 🤔

[@lynettemiller6519]

My cups came two in a pack. Pop the clean one in, wrap the dirty one in tp and put it in your purse, and done. Or, as others have said, bring a bottle of water to rinse. I've even heard you can pee to rinse, but don't quote me on that one

[@josie574]

THANK YOU ❤

[@mandarinz69]

Just be careful not to drop it since it is slippery with blood. I once dropped mine and it landed halfway between two stalls 😂

[@oliviastrees]

I've done that. Landed in the toilet - dehumanizing tbh 😂

[@mandarinz69]

@@oliviastrees ugh its horrible. Mines landed in the toilet too but it's been my own toilet so I fished it out. I guess I'd do the same in a public restroom but god ew lol

[@littlebear1672]

I have been using a menstrual cup for a few years and i am one of the people who leaves and go to the sink to clean. This is so great. I didn't know. Thank you very much.

[@lonneke2127]

I admire your confidence👏🏻👏🏻

[@stephatiowa29]

Omg thank you

[@lumpyloo9026]

I ised a menstrual cup for the last 10 years of my period. I absolutely loved it!!! My daughter is 12.. she's been using tampons for about 4 months... abt what age do you think is appropriate to begin cup use?

[@cuwhereyouare2855]

O man that answered my question

[@Kiki.shannan]

If there is a handicap bathroom that's like it's only thing that has like a sink that's where I go. At work we have a division of men and women's bathroom and there's only one toilet so it's really nice so I can clean my cup in the sink. But when I worked at a grocery store I would have to use the handicap stall / parents tall. Because it has its own thinking it. And I do plan ahead I brought wipes with me and I also brought extra pads and an extra plastic bag because sometimes you cramp really bad and even though those menstrual cups are supposed to help with cramps sometimes you just don't want to deal with it.

[@kareenguilloux1991]

If there is a sink in the stall I'll rinse it. If not I just empty it & put my cup or disk back in. I'm a new user only a few months but I've been so happy with the change.

[@Userhandleidk]

I would never do it anywhere other than my shower lol

[@alicecain4851]

thanks!

[@GetOfflineGetGood]

This is another good reason for there to be more single occupancy gender neutral bathrooms.

[@BlurHere]

This is why I switched to a disc. I had dropped my cup in the toilet cuz I struggled. Luckily I had a back up but I was a bloody mess 😔. So now the cups are for night time.

[@juliaemma5258]

I used to bring a small water bottle in my bag and clean it that way but i always hated having to put it back in bc i like to squat and put it in bc i never found it comfortable to put it in sitting down but you can be squatting in a stall 😩

[@absterasgard1528]

i usually just dump the contents in toliet. Then flush. go over to the sink and wash it. then just back in the stall to insert

[@66satanic_panic66]

So this doesn’t have to do with menstrual cups, but tampons. I’m 15 and just put in a tampon for the first time and I’m scared it’s gonna fall out? It was a bit of a struggle to figure out how to get it in comfortably (THANK YOU KZbin-) but I feel like it going to fall out and now I’m really paranoid about it. I only have one or two more though and my mom doesn’t buy me tampons and I don’t have a job or source of income so I can’t buy them myself. I could ask the school nurse since (according to other girls) they have a whole ass closet full of tampons and pads and will let us take whatever we need. However, they make us scan our ID cards and document that we came. Idk about if they document EXACTLY what we take, but if that isn’t an option does anyone have any ideas? Tysm!

[@twineberry]

If it’s been 12 hours and you put it back in without washing it out would anything happen or is it just gross to do

[@vibharkashyap]

this is never a problem in india and most other asian countries as we have a bidet or a water jet inside the washroom cubicle

[@Daisyisnotaflower]

As soon i sit down on the toilet, i usually have to pee, and i don't want to remove my cup with pee hands. So what I do is: I enter my stall and put down a waterbottle with the cap taken off. I go pee and wipe,then i leave the stall to wash my hands and pray that no one enters my stall in the mean time. If they try to, I'd probably say something like 'Sorry, I still need that stall'. Then I go back in to remove the cup using my right hand, use the water bottle in my (clean) left hand to wash the cup, put it back in with my right hand, rinse my hand with the waterbottle, pack my things, leave the stall and wash my hands.

[@priscillaguzman5786]

I usually just take out my disk first thing in the morning to empty and wash and then leave it in the rest of then day and make sure it’s still properly positioned when I go to the bathroom throughout the day, and then when I get home I take it out, clean it and reinsert and start all over the next day. It works and I’ve never overflowed my disk thankfully

[@jitteryhands16]

I didn’t understand why this was a problem before I remembered most countries do not have bidets.

[@tunaspew]

if you use an accessible bathroom, there's usually a sink in there, completely private.

[@xFuzzyLove]

Water bottle and wipes for me prefered. I would never use anything from the actual public bathroom for something that goes inside my body, id rather just put it back in after dumping

[@chomparrific4600]

What if it's been 12 hours or 15?

[@adrianagflores5587]

Water wipes would come in handy .

[@alexej8175]

If I don't wash my menstrual cup, it doesn't unfold when I put it back inside. It stays folded, won't let air in to suck vacuum. Because then those little holes are still filled with blood? What can I do about that? It sometimes takes minutes if washing to get those holes open again

[@jenniferabreu1205]

I use the collapsible sterilizer. I fill it with water before I enter the stall. Enter the stall, set my sterilizer on the metal waste basket thing, squat on the toilet, remove my disc or cup, put it in the sterilizer, put the top on really well, shake it to clean it, take it out and insert it, empty the bloody water into toilet and dry my sterilizer with toilet paper.

[@cookiedove659]

I am going to move to hostel in sometime and I am just scared what if we don't get personal toilet. Will I not be able to use period cups anymore.

[@musiciseverything120]

Why would the common bathroom keep you from using a cup/disc? Are you worried about washing it in front of others?

[@Brynwyn123]

Time it so nobody else is in there? Educate anyone who sees by accident? Just make sure you clean the sink afterwards and work out a good way to sanitise at the end of your cycle

[@khanna9626]

Yea none of this advice works for me… hopefully the disc self emptying feature works better for me..😅

[@simonemoore3846]

How do you know when it’s time to empty your cup?

[@rangerungu_]

For me, I just empty my cup every 6-8 hours. I set an alarm to remind myself to empty my cup because I might forgot I have it in. On heavier day, I usually empty it when I feel like there's air bubble.

[@simonemoore3846]

@@rangerungu_ thank you!

[@bbypom]

I changed mine in a stall once and it literally flew out of my hand onto the floor. I cried lol

[@Alinusik06]

I have two Cups and just switch between them

[@dawnriddler]

I just bring a mini spray bottle (it can fit in my pocket), put water into it before entering the stall. Once I'm in I dump it, spray it, wipe it with wipes and toilet paper and insert it.

[@lovingthelessloved3679]

its wild that we are embaressed to change our menstrual products in a privet room amoung other menstruators (mostly, except for trans people and others that dont bleed, for whatever reason). i was probably in my 30s before i stopped fake coughing to cover the sound of opening my pad wrapper. lets end the shame and normalize periods already.

[@sjasonfrost6923]

What about carrying a second cup

[@samiasaid5164]

Or encourage all stalls to have pushshowers. They are the best. Most suoth Asian stalls have it.

[@yourlocaldevil3452]

i have school, and only a 4 minute passing period ( which i need 2 minutes to go to class) would i be able to empty it out just at lunch?

[@lucyla9947]

Considering the fact that emptying is just taking it out dumping it and then putting it back in you will probably be able to do so. Though clean it when you get home.

[@LoreEclectic]

You should be able to just dump it in the morning before school and after. You shouldn't have to do it at school. But if you have a heavy flow and need to change it then yes you should be able to

[@stormie9077]

If you really want to rinse it in the stall you could totally carry one of those Peri bottles with you and fill it up before you go into the stall and keep wet wipes with you for your hands 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@1980tiffani]

My issue is I insert in the shower (at the beginning of the day)… when it’s time to empty. Mid-day, it never goes in as smoothly, it hurts the second time around..

[@alexandriasousa7597]

Babes get a water based lube

[@musiciseverything120]

You may need a different cup or different size. Also! I've found menstrual disks to be much more comfortable to insert (and just better all around) so you might want to look into them!

[@chew_1993]

I’m a medical lab tech so I am in nitrile gloves for most of my life anyway, I keep disposable gloves in my home bathroom and in my purse. If I’m going to be pushing something into my body in a public restroom I’m going to use a glove, that’s just how it is 😂. Unless I’m putting my disc in after I take a shower I use gloves. I know you don’t have to but I’m hyper aware of the fact that I work with a lot of pathogens in my job

[@chesirecat2323]

This is such a good and obvious idea. I may get some disposable gloves to avoid infections.

[@Byursh]

Yes, cause most bathrooms don’t have soap so you can’t even wash your hand properly. So carrying plastic gloves and intimate wipes is better than using public toilet rolls, cause there are a lot of bacteria particles on it.

[@jinxingxuelang]

from experience in my dorm that had mixed bathrooms and stalls with basins outside, nobody gives a fuck, dump it pull your pants up and go wash it

[@emeleenpollock6176]

Can you swim with a menstrual cup?

[@Byursh]

Yes

[@loristrout4741]

I keep baby wipes in my purse all the time but I use Cloth Sanitary Pads That I make and sell but I am an Old lady compared to you so I no longer have a period I have Urinary Incontinence.

[@solala1312]

I use toilet paper to clean if there is no water anywhere.

[@ozzynation1866]

It’s not as easy as you think it is especially if you’re one that has practically been raped a few times in life and is scared to death of stuff down there

[@Jamaican19Girl]

Nah I walk to the sink idc idc 😂 I just put a little tissue in my panties while I rinse it then go back in a stall. Sometimes I’m lucky to have a bottle of water with me so I just use some of that 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@yourerightimwrong4567]

And wash your hands BEFORE going into the stall, and use a paper towel to open and lock the stall...

[@nri363]

Just wash your hands when you enter the bathroom and then go to the toilet and when you want to clean it under water use a water bottle and do it over the toilet.

[@MGM2000]

Public showers aren't really a big deal either. I would rather see a menstrual cup come out than a tampon

[@iamthepinknarwhal]

Well... Yeah. What else are y'all doing?

[@mahamlawrence]

Petition to install bidets or showers in all bathrooms everywhere That would make everything 100x easier

[@doeeyes2]

Luckily i can change mine every mornng and night and I do it in the shower. Just me??

[@A158s]

I feel u could bring a water bottle and pour it in the cup swish about and dump in the toilet

[@lizziebinx1351]

without washing your hands first??? you have to open the door to the bathroom so your hands are contaminated

[@jodiradelet6131]

Orrr buy a spare one! Tadaaa

[@devito9908]

I would have filled one every two hours..

[@sparkyblue7016]

All of your washrooms really need a jet spray for this. i dont know why bathroom stall in other countries dont have it. Its a life saver.

[@leonie_scholz]

Umm, urine is sterile, so I just pee on it 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Girlsgirl03]

Just wipe it with feminine wipes

[@kitty1977]

I wear the menstrual disc when I go in office and it auto dumps so no need to even go through all of that. It's amazing. I can't wait for my next period.

[@domesticgoddess9969]

Auto dumps..? Can you explain

[@musiciseverything120]

​​@@domesticgoddess9969 I'm trying the Hello Disc for the first time recently and I noticed when I sat down on the toilet and needed to go #2, before I took the disc out it had started to "leak" into the toilet. I realized this was the auto empty feature people talked about! If you bear down on the toilet and kinda lean forward, the disc will empty itself. When I stop bearing down it sort of goes back into place but I don't trust it yet so I've been repositioning it to make sure it's secure which means my hands do still get a little dirty, but much less than usual. I'm looking forward to perfecting my technique haha. But yeah I've seen this feature mentioned several different places about the Hello Disc.

[@musiciseverything120]

Which menstrual disc do you use? My Hello Disc does this too!

[@kitty1977]

​@@musiciseverything120this is exactly what happens to me. Matter of fact I use that disc more than the cups for my entire cycle. It's way easier. I also always tuck it back behind the pelvic bone after it auto dumps bcuz of trust issues too girl 😂

[@rynk105]

It's easy in those toilet with bum gun/bidet lol but yes seeing this I realized at some place the public toilet doesn't always have water. Even in the hotel room toilet. 🥲 Especially in western country.

[@codicoccc262]

“remove it like you would at home” wtf does that mean