How long can you wear a menstrual cup or disc for?

One of the benefits many menstrual cup and disc  users enjoy is being able to go longer between changes than if using pads or tampons (because menstrual cups can hold the equivalent of two or more super tampons!) So, how long can you safely wear a menstrual cup for?

The answer to this is a little confusing. Some manufacturers recommend removing, emptying and cleaning your cup every 8 hours, while others recommend every 12 hours. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia used to recommend a maximum wear time of 8 hours however, this was updated from 8 hours to 12 hours on 6 September 2023, through the Therapeutic Goods (Standard for Tampons and Menstrual Cups) Order 2023 (TGO 99 amendment). This amendment aligned Australia with international practice (such as FDA guidance).

Another consideration when it comes to wear time is how heavy your flow is. If you have a light to moderate flow, you should be able to go the full 12 hours of wear time out of your cup. If your flow is heavy, you might need to change more often. Or alternatively, we recommend choosing one of these higher capacity menstrual cups for a heavy flow so you can go longer between having to empty, clean and reinsert.

Why shouldn’t I wear my menstrual cup for longer?

It sure is tempting to leave your cup in for longer than the recommended wear time, especially if you have a light flow. However, it’s best to always stick to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Wearing your menstrual cup for too long can increase your risk of infections like Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), a potentially deadly condition. It can also cause your cup to become stained or cause it to develop a lingering odour.

What if I forget to remove my menstrual cup?

Yep, it happens - because it’s so easy to forget you’re even on your period while wearing a period cup! If this happens to you, remove your cup as soon as you remember and be sure to seek medical assistance immediately if you have experienced any TSS symptoms or signs of other infection. To avoid this situation, you may wish to set an alarm on your phone or watch to remind you to remove your cup.