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
Zero Waste period
By now, everyone knows that increasing environmental pollution is a very serious problem. Sustainability matters greatly to us, which is why developing sustainable 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 sustainable hygiene products in our guide “Saving money with sustainable 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.
Empfohlene Produkte
¡Nuestra última innovación es una verdadera revolución en el segmento de la ropa interior menstrual! ¡Nuestro nuevo tejido autoadhesivo permite la combinación de la ropa interior menstrual con compresas intercambiables - ¡una verdadera innovación y evolución para el sector de la higiene menstrual sostenible! Un tejido revolucionario En estrecha colaboración con nuestros diseñadores y expertos textiles, SELENACARE ha desarrollado una nueva tecnología que redefine la flexibilidad durante la menstruación - ¡un tejido autoadhesivo! Este tejido se cose en la entrepierna de la Braga Básica SELENACARE Easy Comfort, así como en las compresas absorbentes, facilitando el intercambio y evitando el desplazamiento de las mismas. De esta manera las compresas se pueden intercambiar fácilmente sin tener que quitarse la braga. El tejido autoadhesivo permite que las compresas se cambien fácilmente en la braga básica SELENACARE Easy Comfort, tal como se hace con las compresas desechables tradicionales. ¡Pero las Compresas Easy Comfort se pueden reutilizar ya que son lavables! ¡Dile "Adiós" a los momentos incómodos de cambio y "Hola" a una sensación de flexibilidad absoluta durante tu menstruación! El Set SELENACARE Easy Comfort El Set SELENACARE Easy Comfort se compone de dos partes. La Braga Básica SELENACARE Easy Comfort que está equipada con el tejido autoadhesivo en la entrepierna - una base genial para las Compresas SELENACARE Easy Comfort, que componen la segunda parte del set menstrual. Compresas Easy Comfort con bolsa impermeable Las compresas Easy Comfort están equipadas con un tejido autoadhesivo en la parte inferior y encajan perfectamente en la braga básica, insertándose en el área de la entrepierna. Gracias a la propiedad autoadhesiva, la compresa permanece firme en su lugar y no se desplaza. Con diferentes niveles de absorción, son perfectas para acompañarte en cada etapa de tu menstruación - desde el flujo ligero al abundante ¡te sentirás siempre segura! Una vez que la Compresa Easy Comfort llega a su capacidad máxima de absorción, se puede extraer fácilmente de la braga básica y reemplazarse por una nueva. No es necesario quitarse la braga para cambiar la compresa, Simplemente sustitúyela, guarda la compresa usada en la bolsa impermeable, lávala y reutilízala.
Siéntete completamente protegida y libre con la ropa interior menstrual SELENACARE Free-Cut. Invisible bajo la ropa, te ofrece comodidad, discreción y máxima absorbencia durante la menstruación. Esta braguita en tallas XS-M, así como L-XXL, se ha desarrollado especialmente para días medios y satisface las más altas exigencias. Perfección invisible para ti Gracias al innovador diseño Free-Cut y al fino material, la ropa interior menstrual SELENACARE Free-Cut no deja marcas antiestéticas bajo las prendas ajustadas. Puedes moverte libremente y sentirte completamente cómoda sin preocuparte por las marcas visibles. Con esta ropa interior, te sentirás confiada y segura en cualquier situación. Máxima comodidad y flexibilidad para ti La ropa interior menstrual Free-Cut de SELENACARE no solo te ofrece protección, sino también una comodidad excepcional. El material de microfibra superelástica se adapta perfectamente a tu cuerpo y ofrece la máxima flexibilidad. Tanto si trabajas como si haces ejercicio o sencillamente descansas, esta ropa interior te garantiza un ajuste óptimo y libertad de movimientos. Protección fiable para días medios La ropa interior menstrual ha sido especialmente diseñada para días de flujo medio, para ofrecerte un alto nivel de protección. Las capas absorbentes del interior de la ropa interior retienen el líquido de forma segura y evitan fugas no deseadas. Puedes confiar en su fiabilidad todos los días de la menstruación. Es tu compañera perfecta durante el periodo. Experimenta la comodidad, discreción y protección que te mereces. Ten confianza y disfruta de tu libertad sea cual sea el día.
Las braguitas menstruales Hipster convencen por su corte moderno y su ajuste supercómodo. Como en todos nuestros modelos, la superficie de absorción integrada está incorporada de forma discreta e invisible en la braguita menstrual. Las bragas menstruales absorben hasta 25 ml de líquido. Gracias a la pernera baja y a la cintura media, se adaptan perfectamente al cuerpo y dan sensación de seguridad. Días de flujo ligero, medio o abundante La intensidad de la menstruación puede variar a lo largo del ciclo. La ropa interior menstrual Hipster es ideal para los días de flujo ligero y medio del periodo. Proporciona una sensación de sequedad y no permite la salida de líquidos. En los días de flujo más abundante, recomendamos utilizar la ropa interior en combinación con una copa menstrual o un tampón. Si tienes la regla o manchas, puedes utilizar una compresa higiénica o una compresa lavable, dependiendo de la intensidad del flujo. Sin restricciones, siempre bien protegida Realmente no hay ningún límite en el uso de la ropa interior menstrual. Puedes utilizarla en tu tiempo libre, en el trabajo o cuando estés de vacaciones. Además de la sangre, también absorbe el sudor y otros fluidos y los sella de forma fiable. Como el material es absorbente, también proporciona una sensación muy segura durante la práctica deportiva. Después de usarlas, puedes lavar las braguitas con agua fría, secarlas al aire y reutilizarlas. Esto las convierte en una alternativa cómoda, sostenible y respetuosa con el medio ambiente en comparación con los tampones y las compresas desechables. No solo se reducen los residuos, sino que también se ahorra dinero gracias a su larga vida útil. Higiene y frescor a base de cloruro de plata (principio activo biocida según la lista del artículo 95): Las capas absorbentes de los productos SELENACARE están equipadas con el acabado protector antimicrobiano y biocida SILVERPLUS® del GRUPO RUDOLF. Impide la proliferación de las bacterias causantes del mal olor. SILVERPLUS® es la tecnología líder de iones de plata y está certificada según la norma OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. OEKO-TEX garantiza que todos los componentes se han sometido a pruebas para detectar sustancias nocivas y que el producto es inocuo para la salud.
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