hello@athenacup.com Instructions
How To Use the Athena Cup
The Athena Cup works by collecting the menstrual fluid instead of absorbing it like a tampon.
Learning how to insert and remove your cup effortlessly will take some practice and time.
Remember to relax! It is important to relax your pelvic muscle for both successful insertion and removal.
How To Insert the Athena Cup
1. Boil your cup before the first usage. You can clean with any low pH soap. We make Athena Wash which is a natural cleaner that does not leave residue and prolongs the life of your cup but any gentle wash will do the trick! Also, make sure that your hands are clean before the insertion of the cup.
2. Fold the cup using the C-Fold or Punch-down Fold and hold tightly between your thumb and index & ring finger (attempt whatever works best for you). Hold the fold tightly with one side with the stem pointing towards your palm.
3. Relaxing and getting comfortable is very essential. If you have to take profound slow breaths. Choose an insertion position that works best for you: sitting on the toilet, in a squat position, or standing on a support with one leg raised and supported.
4. Insert the cup by spreading your labia apart first with your free side and holding the cup against your vaginal opening. Slowly press in at an angle to your pubic bone until the stem is completely inside your vagina. This angle is often more parallel to the ground, NOT straight up into the body. Do not panic if you encounter any discomfort or difficulty during insertion. Instead, gently change the angle of insertion until you get the most comfortable position.
5. To adjust the placement of your cup once inside, use your index finger to gently nudge the sides of the rim higher into your vagina. Push the cup further inside until the whole cup, including the stem, is fully settled inside.
6. Because of variations in anatomies, you may have a low cervix, causing sections of your cup's stem to protrude from the vaginal opening, even if your cup has reached the maximum depth. Using clean scissors, you can thoroughly take out the cup and cut the stem. Cut the excess length according to your needs, but make sure you don't cut too much off so you can still achieve it for removal. Also, make sure the cup is not punctured. Use the prior measures to reinsert.
7. Once in the right place, the cup should pop open as you release your grip. You can use a finger to feel around to check if it has fully opened. If it doesn't, attempt gripping the cup's stem or base and rotating it a complete turn. Or click around your vagina walls to open the cup room. Feel along the circumference of the rim or as far as you can reach to ensure proper sealing with your vaginal walls. Give a light tug to the stem or base of the cup to verify if a suction has been effectively produced. The cup should remain in position, showing a good placement.
2. Get back into place (squatting, sitting, or standing). Bear down on the cup with your pelvic muscles (similar to a bowel movement) to assist the cup to move outwards. Break the top vacuum seal by using your index finger to push one side of the cup away from the vaginal wall until the cup loosens grip and moves more readily.
3. Reach for the stem and softly wiggle the cup outwards until you get a foundation grip. Pinch the foundation to make sure the seal is released and pull the cup gently the remainder of the manner out. Be sure to keep the cup upright when removing it to prevent spillage.
5. Dump the contents into the toilet or into the sewer. Rinse the cup with clean water, making sure the suction holes are evident as well. Use mild oil-free soap for cleaning. If you do not have access to water when removing the cup, before reinserting, you can wash it with clean toilet paper or wipes for feminine care. Wash it as quickly as possible with soap and water. Wash the external genitalia after reinsertion or scrub it carefully with tissue to remove remaining fluids..
Cleaning and Storing
Boil it before use at the beginning of your cycle for 5-10 minutes to clean your cup. Make sure there's enough water in the pot. Let it dry air-dry or pat it dry with smooth tissue paper to dry the cup. Store your cup in the Athena Cup bag when it's dried. Wash the bag at least once every three months. If subjected to soaps with oil components, we suggest replacing the cup every 2 years or annually.
