{"id":31486,"date":"2024-01-19T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-19T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=31486"},"modified":"2023-12-28T18:15:56","modified_gmt":"2023-12-28T18:15:56","slug":"can-you-sleep-with-a-menstrual-cup-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/can-you-sleep-with-a-menstrual-cup-in\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Sleep With a Menstrual Cup In?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Menstrual cups are becoming an increasingly popular method for managing periods<\/a>, with many raving that they offer higher comfort, less leakage, and better all-around comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what about at night? If you\u2019re currently using (or considering using) a cup, then you may be wondering: Can you sleep with a menstrual cup?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short answer to that question is yes. Let\u2019s take a look at everything you need to know about sleeping with a menstrual cup\u2014including how to do it safely and comfortably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you sleep with a menstrual cup in? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, it\u2019s safe to sleep with a menstrual cup\u2014and, in some cases, preferable to other methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can\u2014and, depending on your flow, should\u2014sleep with a menstrual cup in,\u201d says\u00a0Ila Dayananda<\/a>, MD, board-certified ob-gyn and chief medical officer of\u00a0Oula\u00a0Health<\/a>. \u201cAs long as the menstrual cup is empty, clean, and inserted properly, sleeping with one can be much more effective than a tampon or pad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why? \u201cBecause of the amount [the menstrual cup] can hold and the length of time it can stay inserted,\u201d says Dayananda.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cYou can\u2014and, depending on your flow, should\u2014sleep with a menstrual cup in. As long as the menstrual cup is empty, clean, and inserted properly, sleeping with one can be much more effective than a tampon or pad.\u201d<\/p>\nIla Dayananda, MD, board-certified ob-gyn and chief medical officer of\u00a0Oula\u00a0Health<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the size of the cup, they generally can hold anywhere from 20 (on the small side) to 35 ml (for larger cups) of fluid.\u00a0By comparison<\/a>, super absorbency tampons generally hold between 9 and 12 ml\u2014while overnight pads absorb about 10 to 15 ml of fluid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to holding more fluid, menstrual cups can also be left in for significantly longer than tampons; while\u00a0tampons need to be changed every four to eight hours<\/a>, menstrual cups can be left in anywhere between eight and 12 hours, depending on flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Menstrual cup concerns during sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Menstrual cups are ideal for sleeping\u2014but that doesn\u2019t mean people don\u2019t have concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, some people worry that a menstrual cup can get \u201clost\u201d in their body while they sleep. But that\u2019s just not possible as the cervix prevents the menstrual cup from leaving the vaginal canal. There\u2019s no way for the cup to enter the uterus while you\u2019re asleep (or at any time, for that matter).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another common concern is leakage. But, when inserted correctly, menstrual cups create a seal, preventing fluid from leaking out\u2014often significantly better than tampons, which don\u2019t create the same kind of seal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hygiene is also a concern for some. But as long as you\u2019re regularly washing your menstrual cup (and your hands), this is a hygienic option for dealing with periods overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bottom line? \u201cMenstrual cups take some practice getting used to, but with cleanliness and correct insertion, these causes for concern should be relatively eliminated,\u201d says Dayananda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for sleeping comfortably with a menstrual cup <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So again, can you sleep with your menstrual cup? Yes. But there are definitely strategies you can use to make sleeping with a menstrual cup more effective (and comfortable!), including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find the right cup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Menstrual cups aren\u2019t uniformly made; there are a variety of cups\u2014and sizes\u2014to choose from. If you want to find the cup that\u2019s going to be best for you<\/em>? \u201cTry different brands to see what works best for your body and comfort level,\u201d says Dayananda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you insert a menstrual cup, you shouldn\u2019t feel any discomfort; if you do, then it\u2019s either inserted correctly or is the wrong shape or size. Additionally, you want to choose a cup that can accommodate your flow\u2014particularly if you plan to use it overnight for eight or more hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep experimenting with different menstrual cups until you find one with the right size, shape, and capacity for your <\/em>body, flow, and needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empty the cup right before bed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re going to wear a menstrual cup overnight, then chances are, it\u2019s going to need to hold a significant amount of fluid\u2014which is why you\u2019re going to want to start with an empty cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right before you go to bed, empty and clean your menstrual cup. That way, your cup will have its maximum fluid capacity\u2014which should hold you over until your alarm goes off in the AM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use backup protection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Menstrual cups are less likely to leak than other methods. But that doesn\u2019t mean overnight leakage is impossible\u2014and that\u2019s especially true if you\u2019re new to menstrual cups and still getting used to how to insert them correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, there\u2019s an easy way to deal with any potential leakage\u2014and that\u2019s using backup protection. Adding another layer of protection, like a pad or period underwear, will catch any leaks\u2014and ensure your sheets stay clean. (And if they don\u2019t? Not to worry; there are ways to get blood out of sheets<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQs <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is it safe to sleep with a menstrual cup? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes\u2014sleeping with a menstrual cup is both safe and effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do menstrual cups leak at night? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When inserted correctly, menstrual cups generally don\u2019t leak. But they\u2019re also not foolproof\u2014so if you\u2019re concerned about leakage, then consider combining your cup with a backup method of protection, like period underwear or a pad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens if you leave a menstrual cup in for 15 hours?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGenerally speaking, it’s not recommended to leave a menstrual cup in for longer than 12 hours at maximum,\u201d says Dayananda. Leaving the cup in longer than that can lead to odors, staining of the cup, or overflow issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certain health conditions<\/em>\u2014like endometriosis<\/em>\u2014can cause irregular menstrual cycles and difficulty sleeping. Here’s <\/em>how to sleep better with endometriosis<\/a><\/em>. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Menstrual cups are becoming an increasingly popular method for managing periods, with many raving that they offer higher comfort, less leakage, and better all-around comfort. But what about at night? If you\u2019re currently using (or considering using) a cup, then you may be wondering: Can you sleep with a menstrual cup? The short answer to that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":144,"featured_media":31487,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[389,390],"tags":[],"coauthors":[484],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-31486","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sleep-health","category-sleep-tips"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/144"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31486"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31486\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31491,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31486\/revisions\/31491"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31486"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=31486"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=31486"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=31486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}