Menstrual cups · 10 min read
Which menstrual cup should I buy? What to look out for [checklist]
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Menstrual cup, period cup, moon cup, cup … – there are as many brands and variants out there as there are names for this clever little collection vessel.
That is why newcomers to sustainable period products in particular find it hard to keep track. And clearly you are facing the very question “Which menstrual cup should I buy?” right now. So let us shed some light on the matter and tell you what to look out for when buying one.
Which menstrual cup do I need?
During your period, a menstrual cup safely collects the blood. As with tampons or pads, how heavy your period is determines which cup is the right one for you.
With a menstrual cup, however, a few more factors come into play. In short, to determine the right cup size, answer the following questions:
- How heavy is your period?
- How high is your cervix?
- How strong are your pelvic floor muscles?
1. How heavy your period is
Admittedly, question 1 will be the easiest for you to answer. If you have been using tampons or pads so far, you already know this classification and probably have a feel for it. In general, you lose around 60–80 ml of blood during your period, most of it in the first two days. Tampons absorb between 5 and 21 ml. By comparison, our menstrual cups can hold considerably more fluid:
- Size S 21 ml
- Size M 26 ml
- Size L 33 ml
2. Cervix height
When asked how high their cervix sits, most people who menstruate do not have an immediate answer. Just like period flow, the height varies from person to person.
What is more, the position of your uterus varies before and during your period. To find out how high or low your cervix sits during your period, there is a simple way to feel for it yourself.
Sit on a comfortable chair and tilt your pelvis slightly forwards. Then insert your index or middle finger into your vagina until you reach your cervix. Once there, use your other hand to mark the vaginal opening on the inserted finger. Now measure the length from the vaginal opening to the cervix on the finger that was inside.
3. Pelvic floor muscles
Pelvic floor muscles are as individual as each person. In some people who menstruate they are stronger, in others weaker. You can actively strengthen your pelvic floor muscles with specific exercises — and a menstrual cup helps you do this too.
After a vaginal birth, the pelvic floor muscles are usually weaker due to the stretching.
If you have strong pelvic floor muscles, you need a firmer cup. With softer cups, leaks could otherwise occur because the cup does not fully unfold and is under constant pressure from the sides. Our Active menstrual cup is ideal here.
For everyone else, we can recommend our Premium menstrual cup. It is softer than the Active cup and is therefore experienced as comfortable by most people who menstruate.
Tip:
Using a menstrual cup also trains your pelvic floor muscles at the same time. That is why it is recommended after postnatal recovery from a vaginal birth to strengthen the pelvic floor again.
Which material is best for menstrual cups?
Most period cups are made of silicone, plastic or TPE (thermoplastic elastomers). All of these materials are soft and flexible, which is why they can be used for many years.
Look for medical-grade silicone
You should find the exact material the cup is made of on its packaging. We always recommend using a menstrual cup made of medical-grade silicone. Medical-grade silicone is of particularly high quality and is also used, for example, for prostheses and implants, so compatibility with mucous membranes is assured.
All our menstrual cups are made of 100% medical-grade silicone. You can find more information in our guide article “Menstrual cups made of medical-grade silicone: these are the benefits”.
Which menstrual cup should I buy?
You do not have to buy a menstrual cup on the off chance. We have created a checklist especially to help you find the right size and firmness in no time. Simply answer the questions about how heavy your period is, the state of your pelvic floor muscles and the height of your cervix. Then check the table to see which combination of letters applies to you. The result will tell you which menstrual cup is the right one for you.
Here is our checklist
1. How heavy is your period?
- light (a) – (1–2 tampons/pads per day)
- medium (b) – (2–3 tampons/pads per day)
- heavy (c) – (more than 3 tampons/pads per day)
2. How strong are your pelvic floor muscles?
- weak (a) – light bladder weakness
- normal (a) – no bladder weakness
- strong (d) – well trained
3. How high is your cervix?
- approx. 58 mm (a)
- approx. 62 mm (b)
- approx. 67 mm (c)
Results
| Result | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| a-a-a / b-a-a / c-a-a | SELENACARE Premium / Basic | Size S |
| a-a-b / b-a-a | SELENACARE Premium / Basic | Size S or M |
| a-a-c / b-d-b / c-d-b | SELENACARE Active / Premium | Size M |
| b-a-b / c-a-b | SELENACARE Premium / Basic | Size M or L |
| c-d-b | SELENACARE Active / Premium | Size M |
| c-a-c | SELENACARE Premium / Basic | Size L |
| c-d-c | SELENACARE Active / Premium | Size L |
If you are torn between two sizes, we recommend starting with the smaller one first.
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Personal menstrual cup consultation: we are happy to advise you!
Where can I buy a menstrual cup?
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