- Take the Shewee out of its carry case and connect both pieces together TIP Preparation is key, make sure you have toilet paper close at hand and a bottle of water to rinse your Shewee out with
- Undo/pull down front of pants, push underwear to one side and place Shewee gently against your body TIP put a little more pressure on the part closest to your bum to ensure a good seal and no leakage
- Aim Shewee downward, away from feet, onto the ground or into a toilet or container
- Relax and go! LOL If outdoors I try and write my name with the stream
- When finished, pull the funnel forwards to wipe and catch any drips, then quickly give yourself a wipe with toilet paper.
- Run some water through the Shewee and give it a gentle shake
- Replace reusable Shewee into re-sealable bag or the carry case.
MORE TIPS FOR USE
- Don’t push the Shewee too tightly against the whole body. The pointy end should be touching the body toward your bum and the front rounded end should be held a few millimetres away from the body- There are tissues in the Shesfreetobe toolkit for any extra wiping or to dry your hands and we recommend adding hand sanitiser to the pack
- Remember gravity – the outlet pipe must be lower than the pointy end!
Flexi-funnel
The flexi funnel works much the same way as the shewee, it is flexible, can be re-usable and is reasonably durable. It can be folded into smaller pockets easier, ensure the seal is good (TIP Push the tips of your index and middle finger on the part closest to your bum to prevent leakage) and remember gravity! It is great for use if there are shared facilities. Rinse with a water bottle after use and wash with warm soapy water and air dry frequently.
Menstrual Cups
We provide two sizes of menstrual cups, guidance suggests that the large cup is best used for women who have given birth and the smaller one is for women who haven't. I have given birth and can use both so it is about what feels comfortable. The best thing about menstrual cups is they have a bigger volume so can last longer that traditional forms of management and they are not single use so are an environmentally friendly solution. You can pair these with period underwear or a pad as a two-barrier system.
Before & after use: Sterilise cup by placing it in boiling water for 5 mins and wash it in warm, soapy water
To Use:
- To put the cup in, wash hands and find a comfortable position for insertion TIP Leg up and relax works for us
- C fold (middle) / pinch (right) the cup (see image below)
- Slide the cup up into your vagina
- Gently pull the cup a few mm, sometimes you feel it pop into place TIP To check the seal you can slide your finger around cup to check seal or rotate the cup.
- To take the cup out, ideally sit down on the toilet or at least find a comfortable position TIP Usually you can 'feel' when the cup is full if you get that feeling of flow past and below the cup
- Pull gently on the base of the cup (not the protruding stem) until the cup comes out
- Empty the cup and rinse it with a water bottle or flowing water TIP If you have no flowing water you can wipe it out with toilet paper
- Wash/clean hands TIP non allergenic baby wipes for hands are an option
There are a number of menstrual cups on the market, there are softer and more firm ones and individuals should experiment to find what works for them.
If you have had TSS (Toxic shock syndrome) in the past, a menstrual cup may not be the best form of management for you.