Recently, many women have chosen menstrual cups over pads and tampons for period care as they’re usually reusable and more eco-friendly. They are designed to be inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual blood during a period.
However, you might wonder if lying down to sleep with a menstrual cup can cause the blood to flow back into the body. I’ve been answering this question on forums lately, so I thought I’d write about it here, too.
From personal experience and guiding many women through their menstrual cup journey, the fear of waking up to a mess looms large. But I’m here to share some reassuring insights.
Can you sleep with a menstrual cup?
Yup! You can sleep with a menstrual cup. Many women who use menstrual cups find them convenient for overnight use, including myself.
As part of my research, I contacted Dianna of Saalt Disc, and she reaffirmed that menstrual cups can be worn up to 12 hours at a time, which includes sleeping hours.
It is very clear that this extended wear time is longer than what is recommended for tampons and can provide a worry-free, leak-proof night when you insert them correctly.
It’s worth re-emphasizing that you wear them correctly to minimize the risk of shifting or leaking as you move in your sleep. Be sure always to check the position of your cervix and adjust the cup if needed.
Does Blood Flow Back From Menstrual Cup While Sleeping?
Don’t worry; it doesn’t work that way. The blood won’t go back into the uterus even when you’re moving around in bed. “It is designed to collect blood,” said Dianna (of Saalt Disc).
Once the blood leaves your uterus, it isn’t going back. It’ll stay in the cup until you empty it. Just sometimes, your period flow might seem to reduce while you’re sleeping mainly because you are lying down.
Gravity’s effect on the flow is less in this position, so a lil bit of blood might accumulate in the vagina. When you stand up in the morning, you might notice a sudden flow, which is just the collected blood moving out.
Naturally, regardless of the tossing and turning you make in bed, the cup should keep the blood contained so it shouldn’t escape and cause leaks. If you find that it leaked, then below are a handful of reasons why that happened.
What factors affect leakage while sleeping?
When using a menstrual cup while sleeping, here are some factors that might cause leakage:
Cup size and fit
Just like how shoes need to fit your feet just right, a menstrual disc needs to fit your body just right, too. If the cup is too big, it might not fit snugly, and then it can’t catch all the blood.
Too small means it might not hold enough. And then it can overflow if you have a heavy flow. It’s like when a cup of water fills up to the top—it can spill over!
Cup Position
It certainly won’t catch all your flow if you don’t put it in the right place. Kind of like when a rain bucket is set up away from where the water is pouring off the roof.
It needs to be under the “waterfall”! For menstrual cups, this means it should be right under your cervix, which is where the menstrual flow comes out.
Once the blood is in, the cup should pop open and feel comfortable. If it doesn’t and instead feels squished, then there is a high chance it won’t work like it should, and that could make it leak.
Sleeping position
You can easily control your movements while you’re awake. But when sleeping, you might roll around, curl up, or stretch out uncontrollably. Your sleeping position can impact how the cup sits inside you. If you are mostly lying on your stomach or turning a lot, it might tilt and cause leakage.
Heavy flows
During those heavy-flow nights, your menstrual cup can get filled up quicker than during the light-flow days. If your cup gets too full, there’s a chance it might overflow. When you’re lying down, this can happen easier because your body and the cup are in a different position than when you’re standing up.
Seal formation
When you insert a menstrual cup, it should “pop” open inside you. This pop is very important because it means the cup created a seal against the walls of the vee-vee. This seal keeps the blood from escalating, much like a tight lid prevents water from spilling out of a bottle.
If the cup doesn’t open properly or if something prevents a tight seal (like if it’s not the right size or not placed correctly), air can get inside and break this seal, leading to potential leaks.
Duration
When you’re awake, you usually feel like it’s time to empty the cup, or you might have set times during the day when you know to check it. While asleep, you can’t monitor the cup. And you’re not emptying it for quite a long time, either, eventually causing it to fill up and leak out.
Wear and tear of the cup.
Menstrual discs are made to be durable and can be used for several years, but they don’t last forever. After lots of uses, a menstrual cup might start to show signs of wear and tear.
This could be little tears or stretches in the silicone or rubber that is used to make the cup. It might also become softer and not hold its shape as well, or it could get discolored. These changes can affect how well they work.
In the event that a cup has a small tear, it might not be able to seal tight against the vaginal walls any longer. And if it’s not holding its shape, it might not open up entirely inside you like it should. Both of these issues can lead to leaks, which could be noticed more at night while sleeping.
Tips to prevent backflow while sleeping
These tips are to ensure you’re comfortable and leak-free with your menstrual cup while you sleep.
- Choose the right size: Make sure your menstrual disc fits well. There are different sizes for different needs, including your flow level, If you’ve had a child and your age. A good fits get rid of most issues.
- Check the seal: After inserting your menstrual cup, gently tug it to make sure it’s sealed well. Once you have it sealed well, it shouldn’t move that easily, it should be literally stuck, which would, in turn, prevent leakages.
- Empty before bed: Try to make it a habit to empty and rinse your cup right before you go to sleep. This gives you a fresh start and shrinks the chances of it getting full overnight.
- Position matters: When you insert it, aim it back towards your tailbone, not straight up. This aligns your body’s natural shape and helps the cup to collect blood effectively, reducing the chances of any backflow.
- Consider a higher-capacity cup: Look for ones with a high capacity if your flow is usually heavy. This allows you more time between empties, even while you’re sleeping.
- Regular Checks: Over time, inspect your cup for any signs of wear or damage like small tears or changes in texture. Wear and tear can affect the seal and the cup’s effectiveness.
With these tips, you can minimize concerns about leaks or backflow and have a good night’s rest!
FAQS – Does Blood Flow Back From Menstrual Cup While Sleeping?
Chances are it might not be sealed properly against your vaginal walls. Make sure it’s fully open and has formed a gentle suction. Sometimes, if it’s not positioned right, or if you have a stronger pelvic floor that squishes the cup a bit, that can cause leaks too. Double-checking the position and ensuring it pops open fully can help.
Yes, it is healthy. These cups are planned to be worn for long hours, which includes overnight use. Just be sure to empty and rinse it before bed. Again when you wake up, redo that to avoid any issues and to keep things clean and comfortable.
Your period flow might seem to reduce while you’re sleeping mainly because you’re lying down. Gravity’s effect on the flow is less in this position, so it accumulates in the vagina. When you stand up in the morning, you might notice a sudden flow, which is just the collected blood moving out.
When you’re sleeping, your menstrual disc stays in place collecting blood. Your body position might change the angle of how the cup sits, but if inserted correctly, it shouldn’t cause any problems like leaks. Your muscles relax during sleep, including your pelvic muscles, but this doesn’t affect the cup’s efficiency. It continues to work just fine, ensuring a leak-free night.
Does Blood Flow Back From Menstrual Cup While Sleeping? ~ Wrap
There is no need to worry about the backflow of blood into your body while sleeping with a menstrual cup on. These cups are planned to securely collect and hold blood until you’re ready to empty them, regardless of how you sleep.
As long as the cup is properly inserted and sealed, it will effectively collect blood without any backward flow or leakage. By choosing the right size and checking the seal, you can enjoy a comfortable, worry-free night—even during your period.
