Thread the ribbon from either from the front or back, you cannot go wrong. Loop it through the base of the Coralcone back & forth through the three ribbon holes and tug in gently so it’s securely in place. Due to vigorous exercise if it does loosen up just gently tug it securely back on the Coralcone in between ‘change outs’. [see video]
Just use the Coralcone mini or midi on it’s own. No scissors, no cutting necessary!
Experiment with or without the ribbon - whatever you find most comfortable. Be patient, you’ll find out over a cycle or two.
Attach our ribbon, you’ll want that exra length for removal. It will flow, flex and move with your body.
< how to measure your cervix >Nope, you’re not going to wake up to carnage in your sheets. No, your cup is not going to be gobbled up by your kegel-strong pelvic floor and disappear into the depths of your vagina. And yes, you can get the forker out without ending up with a bloody mess on your hands and splatter spots on your espadrilles. Don’t worry. We got you.
Sterilise your Coralcone - boil in water for 5 minutes (use a whisk to keep it off the base of the pan), or soak in sterilising solution (follow the manufacturer’s instructions). Make sure you sterilise both the cup and the silicone ribbon - you can separate them if you want to ensure a thorough clean! [see video]
TIP: If you have a high cervix you may want to attach the silicone ribbon to your Coralcone to aid the exit strategy (if ya know what we mean)... Instructions on how to measure your cervix is on our blog.
If you ARE attaching it - please make sure the ribbon is correctly threaded through the base of the cup, especially if you removed it for sterilising. Pull it all the way through so it stays on securely. [see video]
Wash your hands - thoroughly with mild, unscented soap and water.
Then, get comfortable! Sitting, squatting, standing, whatever’s going to give you the best access up in thurr! In the shower is our favourite - you can use the water as a natural lubricant. [see video]
While there are a number of ways you can fold your cup, we recommend using the ‘punch down’ fold. [see video]
Hold the fold in place with one hand. Spout first, insert the Coralcone into the vagina pointing towards the small of your back. Try different standing, hovering, squatting positions (the same as you would for a tampon). [see video]
Once the Coralcone is inserted into your vagina and your forefinger and thumb have gone as far as they can go whilst still holding the cup (about halfway down the Coralcone body), squeeze the base of the Coralcone (particularly against the fold you created) so it POPS open and pushes all the air out of it.
You will learn to recognise when it has popped fully open because of a familiar popping sound and sensation. To make sure that the Coralcone has fully opened you may run a finger around the rim or try swivelling it back n forth a little to force the silicone open.
Then, when you are ready, contract your pelvic muscles into a tight Kegel squeeze. Mid squeezing push the Coralcone with the tips or tip of your finger up the vagina to fit under your cervix. The aim is to get the opening of the cervix to release all menstrual fluid directly into the Coralcone. Therefore the Coralcone can sit below the cervix without contact or it can be so close the cervix itself dips within the inside of the Coralcone.
Every individual is different. Either way you will know how far you need to push it up, depending on if you have a high or low hanging cervix and which position your cervix sits.
Once in position give it a gentle tug so you know that the rim has formed a suction and it won’t be moving around anywhere. If you have the ribbon attached make sure it is not hanging in a way that will irritate you. If needed, fold it back around the side of the cup so it is conveniently tucked away. [see video]
Once you stand up again it you should not be able to feel it and there definitely shouldn’t be any pain.
Wash & dry your hands thoroughly and get comfortable. While in a forward leaning sit, stand or squat, push down with your pelvic floor muscles and reach for the many ridges at the base of the Coralcone. [see video]
If you can only reach the ribbon – you can pull on it gently until you work your fingers up to the cup itself.
Remember DO NOT pull on the ribbon too hard – it’s not designed to stretch too far, but more of a location device.
Once you have a good hold of the Coralcone – pinch the sides in slightly so it releases the seal. Alternatively, insert a finger alongside the cup and push the rim in slightly. The more air released into the vagina, the easier it will be to remove and ease it out.
Gently pull it downward. When the base is almost out, tilt it slightly sideways to slide half the rim out, then tilt it the other way to remove it completely. The specially designed rim will help to stop any spill, but try to keep it as upright as possible.
Empty the contents into the toilet, rinse with clean water and reinsert.
TIP: Empty your cup 2 or 3 times a day, depending on the heaviness of flow. It’s safe to leave it in for up to 12 hours. When you remove it, you’ll see how full it is - if it’s very full you may need to empty it more frequently.
