RUBYCUP Period Cup User manual

Congratulations! You’ve entered the world
of sustainable menstruation. We’re happy to
have you onboard.
Your new Ruby Cup is a healthy and
sustainable menstrual product. If you treat it
well, it can last you 10 years. With your new
Ruby Cup, you’re not only helping the planet,
you’re also helping people without access to
safe period products get their hands on this
life-changing product.
Ruby Cup is a premium-quality menstrual
health product made of medical-grade
silicone that is convenient and reusable. It
will last up to 10 years with proper care. The
Ruby Cup comes in two dierent sizes and
the size is chosen based on the position
of the cervix and the heaviness of the
menstrual ow. The concept is simple: The
Ruby Cup doesn’t absorb menstrual uid
like menstrual pads or tampons. Instead, it
collects the blood during your period. Once
full, you simply remove the cup, empty and
rinse it, and put it back in.
HOW IT WORKS
The Ruby Cup sits in the vagina just below
the cervix where it collects menstrual
uids (blood and cellular debris) during
menstruation. It is made of soft silicone and
must be folded in order to insert it. Once
inserted, the cup unfolds and creates a
seal with the walls of your vagina in order
to prevent leaking of the menstrual uids.
The cup must be fully inside the vagina
with the stem close to the vaginal opening.
The cup can be used for collecting uids
for 4-8 hours, depending on the amount
of menstrual ow. Once the cup is full, or
a maximum of 8 hours have passed, the
cup must be removed, emptied, rinsed with
water, and re-inserted.
The cup must be cleaned by boiling before
rst use, between the user’s periods, and if it
has been exposed to unhygienic surfaces.
BEFORE FIRST TIME USE
• Your Ruby Cup is not supplied in a sterile
condition so you must boil your cup for
2-3 minutes before you use it for the rst
time.
• Boil at boiling point of 100aC / 212aF
• Use a saucepan, pot or Ruby Clean.
• Make sure the Ruby Cup is completely
immersed in water while it boils and that it
does not touch the bottom of the pot.
• Wash your hands prior to use of the Ruby
Cup.
STARTING OUT
It takes some people a couple of periods
before they get used to the Ruby Cup, so
be patient with yourself. A learning curve is
completely normal and we’re positive that
you’ll quickly come to love how easy and
comfortable it is.
INSERTION
1. Always wash your hands thoroughly with
soap and water before handling your cup.
2. Before inserting, you have to fold the cup.
There are 3 folding methods you can try.
Allow yourself some trial and error with each
method to nd the one that works best for
you.
Welcome
to the Ruby
community!
C-fold
Punchdown fold
7 fold
• C fold: : Squeeze the walls of the cup
together and fold into a c-shape.
• Punchdown fold: Pinch down one wall of
the cup into its base so the cup forms a
triangle shape.
• 7 fold: Squeeze the walls of the cup
together and fold one top corner so the
cup forms a 7 shape.
3. Now you have folded your cup, nd a
preferred position to insert your cup. Try
squatting, standing with one leg up or sitting.
• Gently push the Ruby Cup into your
vagina with the rim rst. Insert it in a
horizontal, rather than a vertical, direction
in line with your vaginal passage. You can
use your other hand to separate your
outer labia if that is helpful.
• Push the cup inside until the body of the
cup is all the way inside your vagina.
• Once inside, the cup will unfold to create
a suction that keeps it well positioned and
prevents leaks. You may sense it popping
open.
• You can test that the cup is fully opened
and has created a suction by trying to pull
or wiggle the stem very carefully. It should
not move more than a few millimeters. If
you feel resistance when carefully pulling
it, it means that the suction is created.
• You can also run a nger along the base
of the cup (not the stem). If you feel
that the walls are still collapsed inside,
rotate the cup at the base of the cup to
reposition it to pop open.
• You can also run your nger along the rim
to check for creases. Wiggle the stem to
remove any creases as these will cause
leaks.
4. Position
Rim
Stem
Air holes
Walls
Base
Body of
the Cup

• Your Ruby Cup should sit lower than a
tampon.
• It’s ok for the stem to be all the way inside
the vagina as well but it should be close to
the vaginal opening.
• If the stem is too long, sticks out from the
vaginal opening, and feels uncomfortable
when the cup has been inserted, you can
shorten it with a pair of scissors. We do
not recommend shortening the stem on
your rst try.
• Do not shorten the stem when the Ruby
Cup is inside the vagina.
• Give yourself some time to make sure that
shortening the stem is the right choice for
you.
REMOVAL
1. Always wash your hands thoroughly with
soap and water before handling your cup.
2. We recommend sitting when removing the
cup as it works best when the muscles are
relaxed but you can also squat or stand with
one leg raised.
• Locate the stem but don’t pull it. You can
use the stem as a guide to locate the base
of the cup.
• If you cannot reach the base of the cup,
you can gently use the stem to wiggle the
cup downwards in the vagina until you can
reach the base of the cup but do not pull.
You can also use your pelvic oor muscles
to help push the cup downwards as you
wiggle the stem.
• Once you have a grip on the base of the
cup, press the walls of the cup inwards to
release the suction.
• Then gently pull the cup out with a rm
grip and empty it.
• If you’re having trouble removing the
cup or you can’t reach it, take a moment
to relax and try again. Remember the
learning curve is completely normal.
WHEN TO EMPTY AND REINSERT
1. Depending on your menstrual ow, you
should empty your Ruby Cup every 4 to a
maximum of 8 hours.
2. After emptying your Ruby Cup, rinse
it thoroughly in clean water before you
reinsert it. If you can’t access any water,
you can wipe the cup with some tissue or
re-insert it directly, but rinse it as soon as
you get a chance. Repeat the rinsing process
throughout your period and boil your cup
when your period is over.
CLEANING IN BETWEEN PERIODS
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap
and water.
• To clean your Ruby Cup, rinse it
thoroughly in clean water.
• Make sure the air holes and the tip of the
stem are clear from particles and debris to
allow water to pass through. You can use a
pipe cleaner for the stem and a toothpick
to clear the air holes.
• After rinsing, boil the cup for 2-3 minutes
at boiling point of 100aC / 212aF
• Make sure the Ruby Cup is completely
immersed in water while the water boils
and that the cup does not touch the
bottom of the pot.
STORAGE
• Keep your Ruby Cup in the cotton bag
that came with it between periods. Air
moves freely through it, so your Ruby Cup
will stay fresh and dry.
• Never store your Ruby Cup in an airtight
container.
• You can wash the cotton bag in your
machine’s delicate cycle or by hand, when
needed.
CARING FOR YOUR BODY AND YOUR
HEALTH
Healthy Use
• Do not use your Ruby Cup for more than 8
hours without removing and rinsing it.
• Always keep your Ruby Cup fully
immersed in water while boiling it.
• Always boil your Ruby Cup for 2-3 minutes
before using it the rst time as it is not a
sterile product.
• Always rinse thoroughly after each period
and boil for 2-3 minutes.
• If you have long ngernails, make sure to
clean them thoroughly before insertion
and removal and be careful to not pinch
or scratch yourself.
• Ruby Cup is not recommended to manage
post-natal bleeding.
• You can use your Ruby Cup while wearing
an IUD but consult your doctor rst.
Cup Care
• Discoloration or fading of the cup’s color
is normal and can happen over time
depending on the composition of your
menstrual ow, which is dierent for
each person. Don’t worry, discoloration
or fading won’t aect the safety or
eectiveness of your cup.
• Trimming the stem: Be sure to not cut the
stem too close to the base of the cup as
you risk making a hole in the bottom. If
you decide to trim the stem, start with just
cutting o a small section as there is no
going back if you cut it too short.
• Never try to cut the stem while wearing
your cup.
• Do not put your cup in the dishwasher
as this will increase wear and tear in
the long term use and could aect the
eectiveness of the cup.
• Do not use harsh cleaners or perfumed
soaps for cleaning and rinsing your cup
such as bleach or vinegar. These types
of materials are harsh on the silicone
material and can cause irritation to the
vaginal area.
• If you wish to use a soap to rinse your cup,
always choose a mild unscented soap.
Troubleshooting
Removal tips:
• Allow yourself time and patience the rst
time you try removal.
• Try sitting on the toilet seat as this position
relaxes your muscles or try squatting in
the shower.
• Use the stem to gently wiggle the cup
downwards until you can reach and pinch
the base of your cup. Do not pull hard on
the stem.
• If you can’t reach the stem or the base
of the cup, don’t worry! The cup cannot
get lost inside you as the cervix functions
as a barrier. Give yourself a break and
try again. You can use your pelvic oor
muscles to support pushing the cup
downwards in the vagina until you can
reach the stem.

Leaking tips:
Many new users experience some leaking
during their rst few cycles of wearing a cup.
If you experience leaking during use, follow
these instructions.
• Incorrect seal – Your cup can leak if it has
not opened up properly inside the vagina
and created a suction. Try to push the wall
of the cup inwards with one nger to feel if
it pops back out. If it doesn’t, try to rotate
the cup, move it slightly from left to right
and pull gently downwards. Feel again
with one nger to see if it has opened up.
• Incorrect positioning – Your cup can
leak if it is not positioned right under the
cervix to collect the uids. It is possible for
your cervix to move position and swell a
bit during menstruation. If you push the
cup up too high you can risk pushing the
cup to the side of the cervix. Try placing
it low in the vagina. You can also run a
nger around the rim of the cup to feel if
the cervix is inside or just above the cup
opening.
• Overows – When you start out, you can
remove your cup more often until you get
to know your ow and how many hours
you can wear the cup before it’s full. If
you have a Ruby Cup size small, consider
whether you need to try a Ruby Cup
medium that has more capacity.
• Spotting or fake leaks – After emptying
and inserting your cup, there can be
leftover drops of water that mixes with
blood sitting on the vaginal walls. Make
sure you dab yourself dry properly after
reinserting a newly emptied Ruby Cup.
Discoloring:
• Discoloration of the cup’s color into a
brownish or yellowish color is normal and
can happen over time depending on the
composition of your menstrual ow.
• Discoloration does not aect the cup’s
function. If you wish to remove it for
aesthetic reasons, you can rub or soak the
cup in lemon juice, put it in a container and
leave in the sun for several hours. Ensure
you rinse your cup thoroughly and boil it
before use.
Precautions:
• The Ruby Cup is not a contraceptive
and does not protect against sexually
transmitted diseases. It should always be
removed before intercourse.
• If you experience any kind of discomfort,
pain or infection in the genital area, do not
use the Ruby Cup and contact your doctor
for guidance.
• If you are unable to remove the Ruby Cup,
refer to the removal instructions above or
contact your doctor for guidance.
• Menstrual cups have been associated with
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). Read the
information below carefully:
TSS is a serious and potentially fatal
illness caused by toxin-producing strains
of staphylococcus aureus bacterium.
Symptoms can include: High fever,
diarrhea, vomiting, fainting or rash
during your period or shortly after. If you
experience any of the above symptoms,
contact your doctor immediately.
TSS has been linked to the high
absorbency and prolonged use of
tampons but it can aect both people who
menstruate and people who don’t. Using a
menstrual cup does not exclude you from
the risk of TSS. Although it’s rare, you must
remain cautious. Never wear your cup for
longer than 8 hours and strictly follow the
instructions concerning boiling, cleaning
and storage.
• Your Ruby Cup is yours alone. Never share
it.
• Keep the cup away from children and
pets.
If you have any other questions, please visit
our website: rubycup.com or email:
[email protected]
With Ruby Cup, you’re now helping improve
people’s menstrual health and period
experiences worldwide.
Ruby Life ltd.,
Academy House, 403 London Road,
Camberley, GU15 3HL, Surrey, UK.
Reg no. 09123562.
Ruby Life ltd Sucursal en España,
Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes 672,
08010 Barcelona, Spain.
Reg. no/NIF W6060833H.
Revision A, August 2020
rubycup.com