Can I Use A Menstrual Cup With An Iud

And then you lot've e'er used a menstrual loving cup but you're thinking about getting an IUD. Or, maybe yous already have an IUD but you'd like to try to utilize a menstrual cup.

Either way, you've probably wondered if it's even possible (or safe) to use both an IUD and menstrual cup together at the same time.

To clear up any confusion, here'southward a quick look at how IUDs and menstrual cups work, how they can be used together, and a few explanations for some of the most mutual concerns.

Can you utilise a menstrual cup with an IUD?

Yes! Yous tin can absolutely employ an IUD and a menstrual cup at the same time – every bit long equally both devices are inserted and used correctly.

How tin y'all apply a menstrual cup and IUD together?

Before using your menstrual cup and IUD together, it'southward important to get comfortable and familiarize yourself with each on its own.

Get comfortable with your IUD

An IUD (Intrauterine Device) is a pocket-size, t-shaped piece of plastic with a string attached that is placed inside of your uterus to preclude pregnancy.

There are two different types of IUDs: hormonal and copper.

Hormonal IUDs are coated with progestin (a synthetic grade of the hormone progesterone) which helps to prevent pregnancy past partially stopping ovulation, thinning the uterine lining, and thickening the cervical fungus.
Copper IUDs on the other hand are like in shape, just rather than being coated in progestin, are instead wrapped in a copper wire which is toxic for sperm.

All IUDs must exist inserted and taken out past a doctor and can even last up to 10 years within the body. Most women with IUDs will continue to take their period, although it might exist irregular, lighter, or heavier than normal depending on the type. Intermenstrual bleeding tin besides exist common in those with IUDs.

Once inserted, IUDs are painless and by and large cannot be "felt". The but thing that you may be able to "feel" or "bear upon" is the finish of the small string that runs from the device to the vagina.

IUDs are perfectly safe, all the same, there are some gamble factors to familiarize yourself with – especially if y'all programme to besides apply a menstrual loving cup aslope your IUD.

These include:

The chance that your torso may naturally reject and expel your IUD within the first 3-half dozen months.
Increased cramping and heavier than normal menstrual bleeding.
The chance of improper insertion by your doctor, which could lead to expulsion.

After your IUD is inserted, you lot may feel some initial discomfort or cramping. This is normal and should get away within a few hours or days for most women.

Become comfortable with your menstrual cup

A menstrual cup is a loving cup-shaped device with a stem that is inserted into the vagina to collect fluid during your period. Typically made of either hypo-allergenic prophylactic or silicone, menstrual cups are perfectly safety, re-usable, and a cost-effective alternative to pads and tampons.

Upon insertion into the lower part of the vagina, the rim of the menstrual loving cup creates a "seal" around the vaginal wall. This allows blood to be collected into the loving cup without leaking or spilling everywhere. When it'south ready to be emptied, all y'all have to exercise is but compression the rim to release the seal and slowly have information technology out of your vagina to avert spillage.

When used correctly, menstrual cups feel painless, practice non leak, and should not extend beyond the vaginal culvert.

Overall, menstrual cups are safe, effective, and harmless. However, similar other feminine hygiene products, there are a few risk factors to consider.

These include:

Chance of irritation or discomfort if the cup is the wrong size.
Potential spills and/or leakage due to the loving cup beingness too full or inserted incorrectly.

If you've never used a menstrual loving cup before, experiment with a few insertion methods first in gild to find one that you lot are comfortable with. Information technology'southward okay if it takes a bit of exercise!

Answers to your IUD and menstrual cup concerns

At present that you're comfortable with both IUDs and menstrual cups, y'all tin then beginning using them at the same time. If you lot've never done this earlier, you volition no doubt have some questions.

To help, here are some answers to three of the almost common concerns about using a menstrual cup with an IUD.

No, your menstrual cup cannot pull out your IUD

Many women worry that using a menstrual cup could potentially pull out or dislodge their IUD. Specifically, they are agape of the following scenarios:

That the string on their IUD could somehow go caught in the menstrual cup's rim, causing it to exist dislodged or disturbed.
That the menstrual cup's suction is and so strong that it could pull out the IUD.

While these may seem similar reasonable concerns, the fact of the matter is that there is lilliputian to no evidence of menstrual cups existence a gamble gene for IUD expulsion.

Still, if yous do take an IUD, information technology is yet important to make certain that yous are using your menstrual cup properly to prevent complications. Here are a few tips to consider:

Check the positioning of your IUD cord. If your IUD string is long plenty to be felt, make sure to check its positioning while inserting your menstrual loving cup. Ideally, it should be resting either slightly above or on the inside of the cup – i.e. not caught in the rim.
Check the positioning of your menstrual loving cup. Most menstrual cups are intended to sit lower in the vagina, and may not even touch your IUD strings. To give yourself some peace of mind, make sure that you are comfortable with your menstrual cup and how it is positioned inside of your body. Once again – this may take some do!
Remove your menstrual cup properly. Whether you take an IUD or not, menstrual cups should e'er be removed by pinching the rim to release the suction, and so gently taken out without force. Never remove a menstrual cup by pulling it out with its stalk – especially if you take an IUD.

No, your menstrual cup cannot impact the effectiveness of your IUD

Another common business concern is that a menstrual cup could cause your IUD to be less effective at preventing pregnancy – and this could not be further from the truth!

Remember, your IUD and menstrual cup sit down separately inside of your uterus and vagina. Using a menstrual cup will non cause your IUD to terminate working, and your IUD will not prevent your menstrual cup from collecting fluid.

The simply way that a menstrual cup could potentially impact the effectiveness of your IUD is in the unlikely event that your IUD becomes dislodged due to menstrual cup misuse. However, this is extremely rare and should not happen in cases where the menstrual cup is being inserted and taken out properly.

No, your IUD cannot interfere with your menstrual loving cup

Fifty-fifty though you may exist able to feel your IUD cord while inserting your menstrual loving cup, it's important to remember that these are two separate devices that, when used properly, should non interfere with each other.

If you are still concerned about using a menstrual cup alongside your IUD, you might discover the following tips to exist helpful.

Subsequently your IUD is inserted, requite your torso three months before using a menstrual loving cup. Everyone with an IUD runs the risk that their body will naturally "expel" or "reject" it. This can happen due to certain factors like age, IUD positioning, and medical history. Even so, once you've had your IUD for iii months problem-free, your risk of expulsion is greatly reduced. To avoid complicating this process whatsoever further, let your trunk adapt for 3 months prior to using your menstrual cup.
Have your IUD string cutting if information technology feels as well long. If yous have tried to employ your menstrual loving cup simply you feel like your IUD strings are too long, it is possible to accept your gynecologist give them a trim. Just let them know ahead of your adjacent cheque-up and they tin can shorten them for you lot.
Permit your medico know that you plan to employ a menstrual cup. When you are having your IUD inserted, it's e'er a good idea to give your doctor a heads up that yous programme to use a menstrual cup while on your period. Your doctor volition then be able to give you more personalized data virtually when the all-time fourth dimension to utilise your menstrual cup volition exist and how to use information technology with your specific brand of IUD.