Menstrual cups · 6 min read
The right menstrual cup for heavy bleeding
Are you one of those people who need to change their tampon or pad after only a short time during their period? That is exhausting – especially when you cannot simply lie on the sofa at home in comfy clothes. And if you use disposable period products, it gets quite expensive too, not to mention all the waste it creates. A menstrual cup can therefore be a huge relief when you have a heavy flow – and not only because it holds more liquid. It is also reusable, and for maaany years at that. That saves money and waste. Here we tell you which menstrual cup is suitable for heavy bleeding and what else matters.
Do I have a heavy period?
How heavy a period is varies from person to person. Heavy periods are common among young people who menstruate and those approaching the menopause. The reason for this is hormonal factors.
A period is considered heavy when more than 80 millilitres of blood are lost during a cycle. By comparison: a period of normal heaviness involves around 60 millilitres.
If you use tampons or pads, you often have no idea how much blood you actually lose, since everything is absorbed. How often you need to change your hygiene products is usually the only clue.
Benefits of a menstrual cup for heavy bleeding
With a menstrual cup, you always have a clear picture of your blood loss. Since the blood is collected in the cup, you can estimate – and in theory even measure – how much blood you lose far more accurately.
Any deviations or changes in colour are also much easier to spot. You can find out more about the benefits of a menstrual cup in our guide “5 benefits of the menstrual cup”.
Cycle irregularities
Your cycle changes over the course of your life. On average, a person menstruates 500 times in their lifetime. Cycle irregularities can happen from time to time and are not an immediate cause for concern. However, if your period remains heavier than usual over several cycles, you should get checked by a doctor to rule out cysts, endometriosis, inflammation, blood clotting disorders or conditions affecting the heart, kidneys, liver or thyroid.
What does the heaviness of your period tell you?
This misconception is apparently more widespread than we would have thought, as we receive this exact question more and more often. But the heaviness of your period is not an indicator of your fertility or your ability to become pregnant. As long as you ovulate regularly, how heavy your monthly bleed is remains secondary.
If your period is heavier because of cysts, endometriosis or similar, that in itself can be a reason why it is harder for you to become pregnant. It is best to seek advice from a doctor about this.
Which cup for a heavy flow?
Which menstrual cup for heavy bleeding?
Put simply: the bigger the cup, the more liquid it can hold and the less often you need to empty it. So does that mean you should simply pick the biggest menstrual cup for heavy bleeding? It is not quite that simple.
The right cup size is crucial for proper fit, comfort and leak protection. What matters is not only how heavy your period is, but also the height of your cervix and the strength of your pelvic floor muscles. If your cervix sits rather low, a cup that is too big would be painful.
Liquid capacity compared: tampon, pad, menstrual cup, period underwear
| Hygiene product | Liquid capacity |
|---|---|
| Tampon | 6 – 15 ml |
| Pad | 5 – 10 ml |
| Menstrual cup | 21 – 33 ml |
| Period underwear | 25 ml |
Tip:
For extra security on heavy days, you can wear period pants in addition to your period cup. That is practically the ultimate in security during your heavy period.
Where is my cervix?
Just as every person is different, the position of the cervix differs from one menstruating person to the next. What is more, it shifts during your period – sometimes it sits higher, sometimes lower.
If you choose a cup that is too small, it can slip out of place. Then things may leak, and you will also find it harder to remove the cup. A cup that is too big, on the other hand, presses against your cervix, which is uncomfortable and quite often painful.
Different menstrual cup sizes
The best way to find out where your cervix sits is to feel for it yourself – importantly, you need to do this during your period … because that is exactly the time that counts:
- Sit on a comfortable chair or the toilet and tilt your pelvis slightly forward.
- Insert your index or middle finger into your vagina until you can feel your cervix.
- With your other hand, mark the vaginal opening on the inserted finger.
- Then measure the length from the vaginal opening to your fingertip.
And precisely because everyone's cervix sits differently, we offer our menstrual cups in three different sizes and lengths:
S: 58 mm long, 21 ml capacity
M: 62 mm long, 26 ml capacity
L: 67 mm long, 33 ml capacity
How strong are my pelvic floor muscles?
Here you can trust your gut feeling – most people instinctively know whether their pelvic floor is on the stronger or weaker side. Common signs of a rather weaker pelvic floor are losing a few drops when you cough, sneeze or run, for example. If you have given birth vaginally, the tissue is also weaker due to the stretching. A strong pelvic floor is typically found in those who are well trained in the lower body, for example through strength training, Pilates and the like.
The right firmness for a weak/normal/strong pelvic floor
For those with weaker but also normal pelvic floor muscles, we recommend our softer cup, the SELENACARE Premium. And by the way: with a menstrual cup, you automatically train your pelvic floor. That is why many gynaecologists recommend the cup after postnatal recovery from a vaginal birth.
If you have a firm pelvic floor, you can certainly use the SELENACARE Premium cup too. But if leaks keep happening, your strong pelvic floor muscles are probably squeezing the cup too tightly, which means you need a firmer cup. In that case, our SELENACARE Active menstrual cup is exactly the right one for you.
If you are now wondering whether the firmer cup is less comfortable, we can reassure you. If you have chosen the right cup size, you will not feel the cup at all once inserted.
Customer feedback
Less waste during your period
By now, everyone knows that increasing environmental pollution is a very serious problem. Reducing waste matters greatly to us, which is why developing reusable products for periods and bladder weakness is a matter close to our hearts.
500 periods in a lifetime mean roughly 10,000 – 17,000 disposable items such as pads or tampons per person! This is particularly problematic because most conventional hygiene products contain plastic, which takes around 500 years to decompose. That is not only a vast amount of waste but also of costs that can genuinely be avoided. We are well aware that a menstrual cup is not biodegradable either, but at least it prevents a far greater amount of waste from ever being created.
By the way, you can read how much waste and money you can save by using reusable hygiene products in our guide “Saving money with reusable hygiene products”.
Available online and in stores
We are proud that our products already make more than 600,000 customers so happy. At dm, we have long been among the best-selling menstrual cup brands. But you can also find our cups, cloth pads and period underwear at Müller, Budni, BIPA, denn’s Biomarkt, Globus, Kaufland, coop and Migros.
And of course, you can conveniently order our entire range online. So what are you waiting for? Try a menstrual cup – we are sure you will feel comfortable.
Recommended products
Our latest innovation is a true game-changer in period underwear! Our brand-new, self-adhesive material allows for the combination of period panties with interchangeable inserts – a real change in the world of reusable period care has come! A revolutionary material In close collaboration with our product designers and textile experts, SELENACARE has developed a new technology that redefines flexibility during menstruation – a self-adhesive material! This material is sewn into the crotch of the SELENACARE Easy Comfort Basic Panties, as well as onto the accompanying absorbent inserts. This material makes changing the inserts easier and without slipping! So, the inserts can be changed easily without having to undress. The self-adhesive material allows the inserts to be inserted into the matching SELENACARE Easy Comfort Basic Panties and can be easily replaced when needed, like traditional pads. Unlike traditional pads, our inserts can be reused as they are washable! Say "Goodbye" to the uncomfortable moments of changing and "Hello" to a feeling of absolute flexibility during your period! The SELENACARE Easy Comfort Period Set The SELENACARE Easy Comfort Period Set consists of two parts. The SELENACARE Easy Comfort Basic Panties are the core of our system and are equipped with the self-adhesive material in the crotch – a brilliant base for the SELENACARE Easy Comfort Inserts, the second part of the period set. Absorbent Easy Comfort Inserts with Wetbag The Easy Comfort Inserts are equipped with the specially developed self-adhesive material on one side and are ideally matched to the Basic Panties. This makes inserting them into the crotch area of the panties incredibly easy. Thanks to this self-adhesive property, the insert stays securely in place and does not slip, without relying on uncomfortable or annoying attachment methods. With various levels of absorbency, they are ready to accompany you in every phase of your period – from light to heavy, we've got you covered. Once the Easy Comfort Inserts are fully saturated, they can be easily removed from the Basic Panties and replaced with a new insert. No need to take off the panties, as with traditional period underwear. Simply transport them in the Wetbag, wash, and reuse.
Feel completely protected and free with SELENACARE Free-Cut period underwear. Invisible under your clothes, it offers you comfort, discretion and maximum absorbency during your period. This underwear in sizes XS-M as well as L-XXL was specially developed for medium days and meets the highest demands. Invisible perfection for you Thanks to the innovative Free-Cut design and the thin material, SELENACARE Free-Cut period underwear does not leave any unsightly marks under tight-fitting garments. You can move freely and feel completely comfortable without worrying about visible marks. With this underwear you stay confident and secure in any situation. Maximum comfort and flexibility for you SELENACARE's Free-Cut period underwear offers you not only protection but also exceptional comfort. The super-stretch microfibre material fits your body perfectly and offers maximum flexibility. Whether you're working, exercising or just relaxing, this underwear ensures an optimal fit and freedom of movement for you. Reliable protection for medium days The period underwear has been specially designed for medium days to provide you with a high level of protection. The absorbent layers inside the underwear safely retain fluid and prevent unwanted leakage. You can trust its reliability every day of your period. It's your perfect companion during menstruation. Experience the comfort, discretion and protection you deserve. Be confident and enjoy your freedom no matter what the day brings.
The Period Panty Hipster convinces with its modern cut and super-comfortable fit. As with all our models, the integrated suction surface is discreetly and invisibly incorporated into the period panty. The menstrual underwear absorbs up to 25 ml of fluid. With its low-slung leg and medium waist, it hugs your body perfectly and gives a feeling of security. Light, medium or heavy days The strength of your period can vary throughout your cycle. The Hipster period underwear is ideal for the light and medium days of your period. It provides a dry feeling and does not allow fluid to leak out. On your heavier days, we recommend using the underwear in combination with a menstrual cup or tampon. If you have periods or spotting, you can use either a period slip or a washable pad, depending on the intensity of the bleeding. No restrictions, always well protected There are really no limits to the use of period underwear. You can use them in your free time, at work or on holiday. In addition to period blood, it also absorbs sweat and other fluids and reliably seals them in. Because the material is absorbent, it also gives you a very safe feeling during sports. After use, you can wash the panties out with cold water, air dry them and reuse them. This makes them a convenient, reusable alternative to tampons and disposable pads. Not only do you reduce waste, but you also save money because of their long life. Hygiene and freshness based on silver chloride (biocide active ingredient according to article 95 list) The absorbent layers of the SELENACARE products are equipped with the antimicrobial, biocidal protective finish SILVERPLUS® from RUDOLF GROUP. It prevents the proliferation of odour-causing bacteria. SILVERPLUS® is the leading silver ion technology and is certified according to the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. OEKO-TEX guarantees that all components have been tested for harmful substances and that the product is harmless to health.
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