First of all, when I get a new cup, I'm so enthusiastic about trying it, that I immediately want to try it out, even if at that moment I'm not having my period. But, of course!, that's not all there's to it : ) The second, and more important!, reason is that I also love to do a dry-run (and then blog about how it felt) because of security reasons. Huh? Security reasons? :p Yes, security reasons : )
Now, what are those?
Well, I'm never exactly sure when my period will start, but when I know I will not be at home, have a toilet in reach or, when I expect to have a very busy day, I like to feel protected. I do not want to have to worry about whether my period has started or not, or when it has started if I will be especially heavy and leak through my precaution pad in no-time, and running to the loo constantly to check.
When I'm wearing a cup when I know my period is about to start, I can forget about all these things and can focus on the more important ones. I know that if my period starts, my cup can take it and can also handle a heavy flow. With my cup I'm carefree!
But, therefore you do not need to do a dry-run?
It may sound unnecessary, but if you think about it, there's some logic to it.
If you wear a cup only on your period, you will only know whether you can wear it on your period. Whether it is comfortable to wear pre-period that you then have no clue of.
I've had it happen to me that a cup sits great when I have my period, but then, when I wanted to wear it just in case, I could not get it in properly as my cervix sat too low. I was short on time and got stressed because what if my other cup did the same and I'd be late. Or, what if I'd put a cup in just in case and it 'd feel really awful because I was not yet having my period and I would not be able to change it for another as I would not be home and as a result feel uncomfortable during a whole long day ( I have to travel/commute to go to uni each day and make long hours there too, can be away from home around twelvish hours at times)? That just is not an option, so I started dry-running my cups. Ever since, I know which cup is ideal for which moment and that's just a great feeling. I can completely forget about it and do whatever I want without pain or hassle. I love it!
I can highly recommend dry-running your own cup(s) in advance of your period, because it will make you feel secure that it will be comfortable while wearing it as a just-in-case when your period is about to start and you will be unable to change to another. You will feel secure and comfortable throughout the day instead of worrying. You can focus on life instead of stress! :D
Have a happy period!
Love,
L.