How to correctly trim the stem of your period cup!
Lucy MeacherGiving your period cup a go for the first time (that's great!) and finding that the stem is sticking out, poking into you, or causing discomfort? (Not so great). For some, the stem will sit inside the vaginal canal, but for others, the stem sticks out of the vaginal canal. Our bodies are anatomically unique, which makes us all different. So there's no right or wrong for all, you just need to find what is comfortable, and what works for you! If you think you need to trim the stem of your cup, that's completely okay, and a lot of people do it!
First thing's first: What is the stem for?
It's a common misconception for people to think that the stem is there for you to pull your cup out when removing. Please do not tug on the stem to remove your cup, as this is likely to cause you high levels of discomfort and pain. Instead, simply use your stem to locate your cup, and pinch the base of your cup to break the seal before slowly and gently pulling your cup out before emptying.
But before you go anywhere near trimming your stem, double check that any discomfort isn't being caused by incorrect insertion or the wrong-shaped cup. For beginners, we'd recommend trying The Green One, which has a simple bell shape, and is nice and soft. Getting to know your period cup takes some time, so be patient with it and allow yourself to get used to it! Click here for information on how to correctly insert your cup, and click here to take our Cup Quiz to see which one might be for you! If you know you have correctly inserted your cup and still finding that it doesn't feel quite right, you might decide to trim the stem, which is totally fine!
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to trim your stem:
- Make sure to wash your hands, and remove your cup as normal. Give it a quick clean and rinse
- Find some clean scissors
- Carefully snip the bottom of the stem to your desired length, starting with small increments and gradually increasing as needed
- You might find that you want to smooth down any parts you have cut if there are any jagged edges that could cause irritation. You can use a clean nail file to do this
- Once you've cut the stem to your desired length, sanitise your cup to minimise any risk of bacterial contamination!
- Re-insert your cup, and you can be more confident and comfortable using a period cup on your period! Repeat step 3 if necessary and you find that you need to trim the stem even more, just ensure you keep it as clean and sterilised as possible to minimise risks of infection!
Some key watch-outs!
If you're a seasoned cup pro, you might decide to remove the whole stem and smooth the edges down for added comfort which is completely fine, just note that it could be a little trickier to locate your cup when you want to remove, so keep this in mind. Just ensure that you do not cut any part of the cup itself, otherwise you might find yourself with a hole that leaks!
Another important thing to note is to start small: make sure to trim small portions of the stem at a time to find the optimal length for you. It’s important to get it right, and remember that you can always trim more off, but you can’t add length back!
Finally, Eleria cups are designed to suit the needs of different cup users, whether you have a high cervix, low cervix, heavy flow, or light flow! You can trim the stem to make your cup more comfortable, but consider also trying another shape or size that might work well for you. Why not take our Cup Quiz?