Making the switch to a menstrual cup—or to a different menstrual cup from the one you’ve been using—can be a big leap. Whether you’re a seasoned cup pro or a total newbie, there’s always a little apprehension when it comes to a new cup—and that’s totally understandable.
Spoiler alert—cup leakage does happen. It’s true, it does. In other words, if you’re wondering something along the lines of, “why is my menstrual cup leaking?”—know you’re not alone.
Although menstrual cups are a great choice for most – it doesn’t mean they’ll work perfectly the first few times you use one (however, for some people, they do!).
But the good news is that cup leakage – while a little unpleasant – is pretty easy to diagnose, meaning a cup could still be the optimal must-have when it comes to caring for and celebrating your cycle.
The Most Common Reasons Your Menstrual Cup is Leaking
Cup Folds
If you find yourself dealing with a leaking menstrual cup, the first thing to troubleshoot is how you’re inserting your cup.
Though menstrual cups are simple to use and uber-comfy, getting used to positioning them, inserting them, and making sure they’re fitting properly takes a little practice.
Cups are designed to be easy to use, that’s why they’re so flexible (and so foldy!). When inserting a cup, you typically fold, pinch, and position the cup to crease just right—then, once inserted, it should pop right open so that it suctions snugly to the walls of your vagina.
If you've tried time and time again but haven't had any luck - you may need to get a firmer cup. We created the June Cup Firm for those who have a hard time getting their cup to open. The stronger silicone makes it easier for the cup to pop open when inserting in the vagina.
Every now and again, a fold or a crease doesn’t fully expand causing a little bit of leakage. A quick adjustment can definitely do the trick here.
Need a little 101 briefing on properly inserting your menstrual cup? Check out our Step-by-Step Guide that gives you some extra insight and guidance on how to use the June Cup!
Remember, your cup should be comfortable and the process should be pain-free—it might just take a little practice, and that’s A-OK.
A Little Overflow
The June Cup is designed to offer leak-free protection for anywhere from 10-12 hours. However, if you have a heavier flow, you might need to empty your cup more often. If your cup overflows with blood, it will bypass the seal and leak a little. Our advice for avoiding this type of leak? Get to know your flow. No, you probably can’t get it down to an exact science every time (hey—sometimes flows surprise us all, right?), but if you know your flow is heavier the first few days of your cycle, maybe opt to change your cup a little sooner to beat the leak.
You can even do a quick check every 3-4 hours to help you get a feel for your flow and how it works with the June Cup. It might take a cycle or two (maybe even three!) to get the hang of it, so don’t feel funny about checking or emptying your cup more frequently when you’re first getting started.
Size Does Matter
The right fit is everything when it comes to the perfect-for-you menstrual cup. Just like there are different sizes of clothing that might fit each of us differently, menstrual cups also fit us differently—what might be the right size for you might not be the perfect fit for your best friend.
At June Cup, we offer a variety of sizes, ranging from mini to small to large. The fit all depends on your unique body, your unique flow, and your unique circumstances—there’s no wrong answer and there’s no wrong size!
Because cups are designed to be flexible but also reliable, the sizing does really matter—you want to make sure the insertion is comfortable and never painful, but you also want to be sure there’s a tight enough fit to suction where it needs to and avoid all leakage.
If you notice that your cup won’t fully open once inserted (like with the crease problems we discussed earlier), your cup might be too large and a downsize might be best. If you notice your cup is leaking no matter what happens and that removal is trickier than you think it should be, it’s possible that your cup is a little too small.
When deciding on size, it’s also important to consider things like your cervix capacity. If you notice that your cervix dips into your cup, it’s possible that you have a low cervix capacity. Ultimately, that’s not an issue for using your cup, but might be an important distinction when it comes to picking the right size and perfect fit.
The important thing to remember when it comes to picking the right size? Flow volume doesn’t equal cup size. Many of us have been brought up to believe that a bigger size is always right for a heavier flow, but your ideal cup size is actually based mostly on your personal anatomy!
That means if the cup is too big in diameter, it can be uncomfortable or not unfold entirely, ultimately leading to leakage. Or if the cup is too small, it could leak or not stay in place.
Want some help deciding on what June Cup size might be right for you? Check out our Cup Quiz right here for a little extra insight and advice on picking the right fit for your menstrual cup.
Firmness of Your Cup
If youIf you have a hard time getting your cup to fully open which leads to leaks, the firmness could be the main culprit. https://thejunecup.com/products/the-june-cup-firm
Firmer silicone
Positioning Problems
You might not have 99 problems—but if your menstrual cup is leaking, then positioning might be one. Remember how we mentioned that using a menstrual cup isn’t necessarily hard, but it does take a little practice? This is especially relevant when it comes to how you position your cup.
If you notice leaking and you’ve ruled out size, folds, or overflow as the cause, you might want to check and make sure that your cup is positioned properly.
Every body is different, which means how you insert your cup is unique to you—the angles you choose will be the determining factors for creating that leak-free seal we love about menstrual cups.
Ideally, you want your cup to sit directly under the cervix so it can easily seal and collect menstrual blood without any leaks. Everyone’s cervix position is different—some will be pretty straightforward and others might be tilted. Either way, a cup can still work for you.
Our best advice to remedy this potential leak issue is to identify where your cervix is so you can have a better idea of where you need to direct your menstrual cup. If you have a lower cervix (like we mentioned in the sizing section), you’ll want to be sure it’s dipping into the cup during the insertion process.
Double-check the seal, make sure your fit is comfy, and re-visit every few hours to make sure you’re leak-free.
Picking the Perfect-For-You Cup: We Can Help!
At the end of the day, our mission to help you find the menstrual cup that’s comfortable, safe, and is ultimately better for your body and the planet. That’s why we offer our cups at cost for just $6. Have questions about our June Cups? No problem—we’ve got you covered.
Check out our FAQ page to get a little more insight into the June Cup and how it works—you can also take our cup quiz to figure out which menstrual cup is right for you. If you’ve still got questions, reach out to the team at hello@thejunecup.com—we’re here to answer your questions and help you pick a sustainable, safe cup that’s right for you.