What do I do if I Only Have Access to a Public Toilet?

A menstrual cup holds more than a tampon and should keep you dry for a longer amount of time. Depending on your flow, you may even be able to use your menstrual cup for the full 12 hours, or the brand’s suggested length of time, before needing to remove and rinse it.  For some, this means emptying their cup only twice a day: when they start their day and again before going to bed.

It’s possible to find a cup with a higher capacity that will allow you more time if needed. However, if you do find the need to empty your cup while you’re out, here are a few things you should know:

• 

  Empty your menstrual cup before you leave for the day. This way, you have a fresh cup with full capacity to start.

• If possible, find a family restroom. These are usually much larger and only consists of one toilet and a sink. This gives you some space and privacy to spread out if you need to, and easy access to a sink if needed. However, if these private restrooms are not available, a public stall in a shared restroom can still be used.
• Some people find it perfectly fine to remove, empty, and re-insert their cup while out, and giving it a good wash later at a more convenient time. Others may use some toilet paper to clean off any excess blood that they can before re-inserting their cup.
• You can take a water bottle or small pocket-sized spritz bottle with you to rinse the cup.
• Carry some baby wipes or wet wipes in a pocket or bag to wipe the cup and your hands before leaving the stall.
• If your school or workplace provides paper towels, you can wet a couple of pieces before entering a stall and use them to clean off.
• If it’s feasible, you may also carry a spare cup and wet bag (a bag that stores wet items without leaking) to store the soiled cup while you replace it with a clean one.
• And one more tip while you’re out and about: before you sit down on the toilet, lay a couple of squares of toilet paper on the water. When you empty your cup, your blood will be enveloped in the squares and won’t stick to the bottom of the bowl!

Anakalia aka Red Herring got an early start in the medical field at 15 years old when she was hired by Kapiolani Hospital (Hawaii) to public speak about teen sex and the hardship of teen pregnancy & parenting.Testing out of high school early, she then went on to be valedictorian in college (medical studies).During and after college, she worked for the very OB-GYN who delivered her first child.In 1996, while searching for another product, Red Herring came across a menstrual disc.While she didn’t use them consistently, it opened her eyes to alternative menstrual products for the future.

Red Herring has been sharing her experience and knowledge of menstrual cups on YouTube since 2015. She has worked on or with several menstrual cup companies but chooses not to be credited.

“I want to help people find the right menstrualcup for their situation.Not pressure them to buy a menstrual cup [that I might have helped with] for the sake of sales.”

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