A step by step guide
The first time is always the hardest. Same as the case with the Liana period cup especially if you haven’t tried it before. The cup insertion and removal is a skill that will come with time and practice. Please be patient as it may take a few cycles to master it but we assure you once you get the hang of it, you are never going back.
Preparation before use
- Fill a pot with the water and insert the Liana cup in it.
- Sterilize the Liana cup in the boiling water for 5 minutes.
- Once done let it cool down.
We recommend that you use a separate pot that is not in your regular use. Please make sure the Liana cup is immersed in the water and does not touch the bottom of the pot. Otherwise, the cup will melt and won’t be good to use. You can use tongs or wishk for this purpose.
How to insert Liana cup?
1- Wash
Do wash your hands with warm water and mild soap before handling the Liana cup. Because there are certain types of germs and bacterias on our hands so it’s important that you wash them thoroughly to disinfect them.
2- Fold
There are so many folding methods that you can explore from here. You can experiment and explore which one suits you best. There are two most common methods used for folding, the C fold, and the Punch-down fold. While insertion, you need to keep the Liana cup unfolded until it’s inside your vagina.
3- Relax
Finding a comfortable position. You can insert the cup either standing, sitting, squatting, or simply standing with one leg raised. You will find the position that works best for you over the period of time. It’s very important that you stay relaxed while inserting the cup. You can apply water to make the insertion easy.
4- Insert
With one hand gently open the labia (lips) and with the other hand insert the cup slowly into your vagina. Once the cup is inside, remove the fingers and let the cup open. If the cup has been inserted correctly, you might hear a “pop” or a suction sound which means that the cup has unfolded and created the necessary suction seal.
If you feel the cup is not opened properly, insert a finger inside and reach the base of the cup. It should feel round or oval and there shouldn’t be any fold.
5- Rotate
Double-check to make sure the cup has opened by running a finger around the body of the cup. If you feel any folds, rotate the cup again until it opens completely, creating a seal. If there is no fold it means you have successfully inserted your cup! You can check the seal by pulling down lightly on the stem. If you feel resistance as you softly pull down, you have a good seal. Now there won’t be any leak.
Please don’t worry as you only need to repeat this process a few times, once you have enough experience, you’d know immediately if the cup is inserted correctly or if the seal is created. The stem should be completely inside of you. However, if the stem makes you uncomfortable or annoys you, you can trim it anytime.
Wait for up to 12 hours
Now enjoy up to 12 hours of worry-free period. Emptying a cup depends upon your flow. If your flow is normal you can wear the cup for 12 hours. You may have to empty the cup twice a day if you have a heavy flow. That’s why we recommend you empty your cup more often at the beginning to get to know your flow and the cup.
Liana cup collects 4 times more blood than a normal disposable pad. You might be surprised to know how little you actually bleed. According to Healthline, an average woman loses 3 to 4 teaspoons of blood during each cycle.
How to remove Liana cup?
1- Wash
Again, disinfect your hands by washing with warm water and mild soap.
2- Relax
Finding a comfortable position that simply works for you either standing, sitting, squatting, or simply standing with one leg raised. It is very important you stay calm and relaxed to make the removal process easy. If you are tensed up or worried it would make the removal process difficult. We suggest that you take a break and try after some time.
3- Remove
Empty, wash and re-insert
Clean and store
Tips for first time users
1- Read instructions
It is very important you read the instructions completely before using the cup. A precise instructional manual comes with the order. For detailed instructions follow the steps by step guide as explained above.
2- Use backup at the start
We recommend that at the start you should use Liana Reusable Pad or Liana Period Underwear as a backup so you don’t have to worry about leaking. Once you are fully confident using the cup alone, you can stop using the backup.
3- Practice before period starts
We totally understand that you are not going to be a pro using the cup for the first time. Definitely, this will take some time and few cycles to master the skill. You need to remain patient at the start but we assure you that the wait totally worth it. That is why we recommend that you practice the process before you have your periods so you feel more confident while using the cup during your periods. In the end, it is all about practice, the more practice you have the more pleasant experience you’d get.
4- Trim the stem of the cup
The stem of the cup is used to locate the cup while removal. If you feel the stem or find it uncomfortable, you can trim it down as per need. Never trim the stem while the cup is inserted. Make sure you know the desired length before trimming. Take care not to cut or scratch any part of the cup when trimming to avoid unwanted tearing of the cup.
5- Use lubrication
While inserting the cup if you feel dry, use water as a lubricant. Apply the water outside the cup to make the insertion easier. Do not use normal lubricants as they cause irritation and other skin problems. It is very important that you only use water or water-based lubricant for this purpose.
6- Use mild soap to wash the cup
Use boiling water to sterilize your cup as described thoroughly in the instructions. Just in case you don’t have the boiling water available at the moment, alternatively, you can use mild soap to wash the cup or your gentle areas.
Normally, your skin has a pH level of 4 to 5. Traditional soap has a pH level of 9 to 10 that imbalance your skin’s pH level and creates itchiness, irritation, acne, dryness, and other skin problems. On the other hand, mild soap is fragrance-free, oil-free, colorless, and skin-friendly soap that doesn’t affect your skin pH level.
7- Store in a cool and dry place
Never store the cup in a plastic or airtight container. Always store your cup in the pouch given with the order or other breathable container. Before you store ensure that the cup is completely dry because any moisture present in the cup may attract bacteria.
8- Choose the right size
To avoid any leak or discomfort always choose the right size and the cup type before purchasing the cup. Read more details on the size guide here.