FAQ Cups

The Femi.Eko® menstrual cup is a feminine intimate product made of medical degree silicone- Wacker German Medical Silicone. The cup is inserted into the vagina and collects the menstrual blood. If used correctly, the cup is the most efficient product to protect against any flow of blood, without disturbing your daily activities.

The menstrual cup is not just comfortable, but it is safe for health and more convenient for your monthly care. It will help you save money and live a stress-free life, eliminating the constant shame and discomfort that women usually feel monthly, when using unreliable menstrual products.

The menstrual cup brings with itself the freedom to swim, cycle, and even get a night’s sleep with no worry of dirty sheets or leakage.

A menstrual cup is the safest way to protect against leakage. To enjoy the benefits of the cup please choose the right size and insert the cup correctly.

You must empty the cup at least every 10 to 12 hours, depending on your flow, to avoid leakage.

The experience of inserting and removing the cup correctly may take a few tries, but once that is done you can enjoy 100% protection.

The most important thing is to choose the correct size.

Femi.Eko® cups have an anatomical shape and they are made from soft medical silicone. Here is how to choose the best fit:

Size A – for women with low to high period flow, under 30 years

Size B – for women that gave birth, over 30 years, with high period flow

Our cups are developed to fit any type of cervix, having a long tail, that can be adjusted by cutting it according to the length that is comfortable for you.

If you pick the correct cup size, then you will not feel discomfort and won’t have any leakage.

First, congrats for thinking of it :). We know it takes a leap of faith to change the old ways, but this is the best decision for a more sustainable period.

Don’t be discouraged by what you might have already read. It could be easier than expected to start.

The best start is to read our manual (that comes in the box your product is shipped with). Give it a minimum of 3 months to try the cup to have the perfect experience. And yes, we said PERFECT, because you will be perfectly surprised how much you struggled in your life until you found this stress-free way of managing your period.

If you still struggle to find the right size for you or if you want to see if the cup is the product you should be using, just take our test and see for yourself.

If you have any issues like urinary tract infections (UTIs), an intrauterine device inserted, anatomical peculiarities like uterine retroversion, or postpartum scars, we recommend talking with your doctor first.

You can use a menstrual cup if you are a virgin because inserting it correctly will not harm your hymen.

We only recommend cup size A, as it is a friendly product for 1^st period, virgins, and teenagers.

STEP 1: Hygiene is important every time we speak of our private parts. So, wash your hands thoroughly before you use the cup.

STEP 2: Fold your sanitised Femi.Eko® Menstrual Cup into a C shape, to make the insertion easier. If it’s your first time using a menstrual cup it will help you to breathe and remember it’s normal to try a few times before getting the cup in the right position.

STEP 3: Hold the cup in the C shape and get into a position that allows you to comfortably access your vagina opening. You could raise one leg or stand on the toilet seat. Whatever works for you is perfect!

STEP 4: Open your vagina with one hand and then insert the cup (still folded, remember? 🙂 in your vagina as far as it will comfortably go. Don’t fret if you don’t get it right the first time. You didn’t learn to cycle right on, did you? Just relax and try again. It is worth it, trust us!

STEP 5: Twist the cup in your vagina to make sure it opened completely and formed a seal inside. This is important because it will ensure no leaks will happen for up to 12 hours.

When your cycle is over, just wash the cup, sanitise it, and deposit it in your Femi.Eko® special pouch you received in the original package.

To release the cup, you can insert your finger alongside it to release the suction or just gently pinch on the stem (at the base of the cup).

Don’t pull it without breaking the vacuum seal with your finger! All you need is to push the cup out with the muscles of your pelvic floor and press on its base with the finger, so you break the seal, then grab it with two fingers on both sides and remove it in a rotation move. You will not feel any discomfort or pain if all is done right.

Removing the cup can be easy, but this will come with the experience of a few periods. Give it time and don’t stress.

If you can’t find the cup inside, stand down, push your pelvic muscles (as you would take a poo), and try again to get it with your fingers.

Don’t worry, the cup has nowhere to go, it is still in, and it will come out! Just relax, take some big breaths, and try again.

Be patient and don’t be brutal. Do not introduce any harmful objects inside.

You can wear your cup for up to 12 hours, and the recommendation is to empty it two times a day or every 10 to 12 hours. If you have a heavy flow, you should empty it more often, as this will help you avoid leaks.

You should always clean the Femi.Eko® Menstrual Cup after each use. If not available, you may clean it with water and natural soap, and rinse thoroughly. The hardened bits of blood can be cleaned with a gentle brush. If the holes of the cup are stuck with blood, fill the Femi.Eko® Menstrual Cup with water, put the palm on top of it, and then just squeeze the cup, so water can flush through the holes.

Before you first use the cup or between periods, you may want to sterilise it. Put water to boil and add the Femi.Eko® Menstrual Cup into the bubbly water for up to 10 minutes for the first time, and only for 5 minutes after. If you have a steriliser available, then use that. Don’t worry: the cup will not change properties once boiled but take care that the water used does not have too much limestone, then you may experience some limestone deposits.

Don’t use harmful chemicals to clean the cup, such as vinegar, tea-tree oil, castile soap, antibacterial soap, common hand sanitizers, hydrogen peroxide, and other home remedies, and don’t place it in the dishwasher because it can damage the silicone and cause infections.

Sometimes you may have to empty your menstrual cup while in a public toilet. Don’t worry! Just follow this routine: wash your hands thoroughly, remove the cup, spill the blood in the public toilet, rinse it with water (you can take a bottle with you in the restroom), reintroduce the cup, and then wash your hands.

We know, many of the toilets have no tap near the toilet, so the bottle of water that you take with you can solve this problem.

Femi.Eko® menstrual cup is anatomically developed to prevent leaking, if inserted and used correctly. But there can be some exceptions, such as: –

– if the cup is small

– if a menstrual cup is not inserted properly

– if your flow is too heavy

– if it is not emptied as frequently as needed.

You should be aware that sometimes the cup can shift due to bowel or cervical movement, resulting in leakage.

The menstrual cup is suited to protect you while training and will give you the freedom to enjoy any sports activity. When inserted correctly, the cup will prevent leaks and any discomfort. You can dance, take a yoga class, cycle, run or jump as you wish, the cup will protect you.

If you want to further ease your mind about any leakage, you can try Femi.Eko® reusable pads or period underwear in combination with the cup.

The menstrual cup has nothing to do with your menstrual pain or cramps, and many women experience fewer cramps while using menstrual cups and reusable period products, as they are less harmful to the natural flow and do not contain bleaching composites, such as tampons and sanitary pads.

The natural flow of the blood is not stopped while using a cup and the cup does not absorb the blood nor does it prevent the natural secretions, which, when done, can disrupt the natural period process.

If you suffer from period cramps or if they become worse, make an appointment with your doctor to figure out the reason.

It is not recommended to use a menstrual cup while having inserted an IUD.

There is a possibility that the string of the IUD may move while inserting or removing the cup, and therefore we recommend talking to your doctor if you really want to use a cup to protect you while on period.

Also, the doctor will decide if it’s necessary to shorten the string attached to the IUD so that you won’t pull it out when you remove your menstrual cup.

We recommend using products like reusable pads or period underwear during your period if you have an IUD inserted.

Femi.Eko® menstrual cup is specially developed to be comfortable, made of very soft medical silicone, and with an anatomical shape. You should not feel any type of pain while using a menstrual cup. The only time you could feel a slight discomfort is when inserting the cup for the first time.

Like any other period products, if not used correctly, they can.

Consider though those menstrual cups are a safer way to pass through the period days than tampons or sanitary pads, as they block air and therefore bacteria from being created.

Always wash your hands with soap or use a sanitizer before and after inserting and removing the menstrual cup.

Empty the cup at least every 10 to 12 hours to minimise the risks of infections.

You don’t need to lubricate the cup to insert it, but if you do make sure to use a safe lubricant. Don’t use harmful chemicals to clean the cup, such as vinegar, tea-tree oil, castile soap, antibacterial soap, common hand sanitizers, hydrogen peroxide, and other home remedies, and don’t place it in the dishwasher because it can damage the silicone and cause infections.

Wash the cup with plain water or boil it for 5–10 minutes when your menstruation is over, and again wash it before using it again and sterilise it.

Keep the cup in the cotton bag you received in the package.

No, remove the cup before having sex. It is not safe to keep it inside you.

Remove the Femi.Eko® cup before having sex (and remember that the Femi.Eko® Menstrual Cup will not protect you from being pregnant or sexually transmitted diseases).

We encourage you to change the Femi.Eko® Menstrual Cup at least every 2 years, even though you can use it up to 5 years.

Also, we recommend replacing your Femi.Eko® Menstrual Cup if:

• you had yeast or bacterial infection and you used it while you had it
• if you dropped it in the toilet
• if you notice any sticky or powdery film on top of the cup.

While replacing your Femi.Eko® Menstrual Cup with a new Femi.Eko® Menstrual Cup, remember to disinfect the cup and then recycle it. Be responsible and don’t simply throw it away.

You should discuss the use of the cup with your doctor if:

• You use an intrauterine device for birth control (sometimes it’s necessary to shorten the string attached to the IUD so that you won’t pull it out when you remove your menstrual cup)
• You had TSS
• You recently had gynaecological surgery, given birth, or had a miscarriage
• You have a vaginal infection
• You’ve never had sexual intercourse and you’re concerned about maintaining your hymen
• If you have increasing cramps, blood between periods, or any type of pain.

Don’t use a menstrual cup if you may feel fever or nausea related to its usage. Remove it immediately if you have any doubts that it can cause any reaction.

Femi.Eko® menstrual cups have the following capacity:

SIZE A- max. volume 26 ml.

SIZE B- max. volume 32 ml.

Each woman is different as are their periods, so if you have a heavy flow you may want to empty your cup more often.