Using a menstrual cup or disc in a public bathroom is usually easier than it sounds. If there isn't a sink inside the cubicle, a small bottle of clean water is often all you need. If you can't rinse your product, follow its instructions for temporary cleaning and give it its usual thorough clean when you next have suitable facilities.
And if your cup or disc isn't full and you're comfortably within its recommended wear time, you may not need to empty it at all.
Quick tips for using a cup or disc in a public bathroom
- Wash your hands before handling your cup or disc.
- Carry a small bottle of clean water if you want to rinse it inside the cubicle.
- If you can't rinse it, use only a temporary cleaning method suitable for your particular product.
- Never rinse a cup or disc with water from the toilet bowl.
- Take your time during removal so you don't drop it.
- Clean it as usual when you next have access to suitable facilities.
- Carry a backup period product if you'll be away from home for a while.
Do you actually need to empty your cup or disc?
Not necessarily. If your cup or disc still has enough capacity and you're within the wear time recommended by the manufacturer, there is no need to empty it simply because you've stopped at a public bathroom.
If it's getting full, you're approaching its recommended wear time or it feels uncomfortable, that's a different story. Empty it rather than trying to stretch things out until you get home.
You can usually urinate while wearing a cup or disc. A bowel movement can occasionally shift an internal period product lower, so if something feels different afterwards, check that it is still sitting comfortably in position.
How to empty a cup or disc in a public bathroom
The easiest routine is surprisingly simple:
- Clean your hands. Wash with soap and water before going into the cubicle. If that isn't available and your hands aren't visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 60% alcohol is an alternative. Let your hands dry completely before touching your cup or disc.
- Remove your cup or disc carefully. Take your time and keep a secure grip, especially if you're removing it over the toilet. If it slips, check our guide on what to do if your cup or disc falls in the toilet.
- Empty the contents into the toilet.
- Rinse with clean water if you have it. A small bottle of drinking water or squeeze bottle works well inside the cubicle.
- Reinsert the product. Follow your usual insertion method and check that it feels comfortable.
- Wash your hands afterwards.
Tip: Putting a few squares of toilet paper on the surface of the toilet water before you empty your cup or disc can help reduce splashback.
If you're using a menstrual cup
Release the cup's seal before removing it rather than pulling firmly on the stem. Pinch the base or use the removal method recommended for your particular cup, then guide it down slowly.
If you have an IUD, take extra care during removal and avoid catching or pulling on the IUD strings. Read our guide to using menstrual cups and discs with an IUD for more information.
If you're using a menstrual disc
Discs sit higher than cups and the removal method depends on the design. You may hook a finger under the rim or use a notch, loop or removal tab. Follow the instructions for your particular disc rather than assuming every disc comes out the same way.
If you're still learning, our guide to using a menstrual disc explains insertion, positioning and removal in more detail.
What if there is no water in the cubicle?
This is where a small bottle of clean water earns its place in your bag. You can rinse your cup or disc over the toilet without needing to take it out to a shared sink.
If you don't have water with you, check the cleaning instructions for your product. Some manufacturers allow a cup or disc to be temporarily wiped with clean toilet paper or a suitable product-specific wipe before reinsertion. If you use toilet paper, check that no fibres are left behind.
Once you have access to suitable running water, wash the product according to its usual care instructions.
Never use water from the toilet bowl to rinse an internal period product.
Can you rinse your cup or disc in a public bathroom sink?
Yes. There is nothing inherently wrong with rinsing a reusable menstrual product under clean running water at a public sink if you're comfortable doing so.
Wash your hands first, avoid placing the cup or disc directly on the sink or bench and wash your hands again afterwards.
If the thought of carrying your cup across a busy bathroom doesn't appeal to you, that's completely understandable. A bottle of clean water lets you do the same job inside the cubicle.
What should you carry for a day out?
You don't need a huge period-care kit. A few small things can make life much easier:
- a small bottle of clean water
- tissues or toilet paper
- a product-specific cleaning wipe, if your cup or disc manufacturer recommends one
- hand sanitiser
- a backup period product
A small zippered pouch keeps everything together without taking up much room.
If you're travelling, hiking, camping or spending a long day away from home, it can also help to think ahead about where you'll be able to empty and clean your product. Our guide to travelling with reusable period care products covers those situations in more detail.
A few things to avoid
Don't use random wipes
Hand wipes, surface wipes and fragranced intimate wipes are not necessarily suitable for menstrual cups or discs. They may contain ingredients that leave residue or irritate sensitive tissue. Use a wipe only if it is suitable for your particular product.
Don't rush removal
A busy public bathroom can make you feel as though you need to hurry, but you don't. Taking another minute to get a secure grip is much easier than dealing with a cup or disc that has landed somewhere you really didn't want it to.
Don't rinse with toilet water
Even if the water in the bowl looks clean, it isn't an appropriate water source for rinsing a product that will be reinserted into the vagina.
What if you drop your cup or disc in the toilet?
If your cup or disc lands in the toilet or on the bathroom floor, don't give it a quick rinse and put it straight back in.
Use your backup product and clean or sanitise the reusable product according to its manufacturer's instructions before using it again. Different products have different care recommendations, so this is one situation where it is worth following the instructions for the specific cup or disc you own.
There's no prize for making period care unnecessarily difficult. If you can't clean the product properly where you are, put it away and deal with it later.
Make public bathroom changes easier with practice
If you're new to cups or discs, removing one in a public bathroom can feel much more daunting than it does after you've done it a few times.
Practising at home helps you work out how far you need to reach, how to keep a good grip and which removal technique feels easiest for you.
You can also practise before your period so you're learning the movements without needing to manage menstrual flow at the same time. Read our guide to doing a dry run with a menstrual cup or disc if you'd like to try it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reinsert my menstrual cup without rinsing it?
It depends on the instructions for your particular cup. Some manufacturers allow a cup to be temporarily wiped clean if rinsing isn't possible, while others give different care advice. If you do use a temporary method, remove any visible residue or tissue fibres before reinsertion and wash the cup normally when suitable facilities are available.
Can I wash my menstrual cup in a public bathroom sink?
Yes. If clean running water is available and you're comfortable using the shared sink, you can rinse or wash your cup according to its instructions. Wash your hands first and avoid placing the cup directly on the sink, bench or other shared surfaces.
Can I wipe my cup or disc with toilet paper?
Some manufacturers allow this as a temporary option when clean water isn't available. Use clean toilet paper, check that no fibres remain on the product and give it its normal wash when you next have suitable facilities. If your manufacturer's instructions say otherwise, follow those instead.
What should I do if I drop my cup or disc on the bathroom floor?
Don't reinsert it after a quick rinse. Put it away, use a backup period product and clean or sanitise it according to the manufacturer's instructions before using it again.
The bottom line
Using a menstrual cup or disc in a public bathroom mostly comes down to having a plan. Clean your hands, remove the product carefully, empty it into the toilet and rinse it with clean water if you can.
If there isn't a private sink, a small bottle of water can make the whole process much easier. If rinsing isn't possible, use only a temporary cleaning method that is appropriate for your product and give it a proper clean later.
Once you've done it a couple of times, it tends to feel far less complicated than you imagined.