It's a rare but stressful situation: you insert your cup, and a few hours later… surprise. It has shifted sideways, or worse, turned completely upside down inside you.
Don't panic. This can happen with any brand (not just Luneale), especially if you have a particular anatomy. Here's why it happens and, most importantly, how to retrieve it without stressing.
Table of contents
1- Why does my cup turn? (The typical profile)
Since 2015, we have investigated the rare reported cases of cup flipping. There is a striking common thread among most of the people affected.
Flipping occurs mainly in people who combine two characteristics:
- A very toned pelvic floor (athletes, horse riders, yogis…).
- A pronounced lumbar curve (lordosis).
If you tick both boxes, your pelvic muscles are strong and the angle of your pelvis is specific — which can create a leverage effect on the cup.
2- The mechanics of the flip
Everything happens at the moment of insertion and when you return to your normal posture.
- At insertion: You tilt your pelvis forward to insert the cup. Often, it is not inserted perfectly in line with the vaginal axis, but at a slight angle.
- Returning to normal: When you stand back up, your natural lumbar curve reasserts itself.
- The conflict: The toned pelvic floor "locks" the cup in place, but the change in pelvic angle forces the cup to pivot. With a certain movement, it can end up horizontal — or even flip completely.
Diagram: The impact of lumbar curve on cup positioning.
3- Emergency: How to retrieve a flipped cup
If you're reading this while in this situation: BREATHE. Your cup cannot get lost inside your body (the cervix is closed). It will come out.
It's harder to grip than when upright, but it's doable. Here are 2 tried-and-tested techniques:
| Technique 1: The Deep Squat | Technique 2: The Forward Lean on the Toilet |
|---|---|
| 1. Squat down completely (heels on the floor if possible). 2. Lean your torso forward. 3. Push gently with your muscles (as if having a bowel movement). 4. The cup will move down and you can grab the rim or the body. |
1. Sit on the toilet with your legs wide apart. 2. Lean forward and rest your forearms on your thighs. 3. Round your back as much as possible. 4. Push: this position shortens the vaginal canal and makes it easier to grip. |
4- Prevention: 3 steps to stop it happening again
Do you have the "athletic, curved-back" profile? No need to give up on the cup. Just adjust your technique:
- Step 1: Not too high! Don't push the cup all the way in. Place the base of the cup no more than one knuckle from the entrance. It will find its position on its own — just avoid lodging it too deep from the start.
- Step 2: Find the angle. Your vaginal canal isn't necessarily straight. Explore with one finger to understand its natural inclination and insert the cup following that angle, rather than pushing it straight in.
- Step 3: Slow Motion. After inserting the cup, straighten your back and resume your lumbar curve slowly. Check immediately with a finger that the base of the cup has stayed in alignment. If it has shifted, correct it right away.
Not sure about your anatomy or your cup size? Our customer care team is used to these questions (even the most acrobatic ones!). Get in touch.
