Menstrual Cup: Should You Make the Switch?

Ditch the disposable tampons and pads! A menstrual cup is cheaper, safer, and more comfortable. Learn why, plus get step-by-step directions on how to use.

What is a menstrual cup? Curious about the benefits of using a cup? We've got you covere! Learn how to use a cup, why to use a cup, and how to choose the best cup for you.

So you’ve cleaned up your household and beauty supplies, and now you want more natural period care, too. Enter the menstrual cup, the hottest new rage among menstruating ladies. Don’t be intimidated! While there is a learning curve with menstrual cups, it’s worth the effort.

What is a Menstrual Cup?

A menstrual cup is a feminine hygiene product made of flexible latex or silicone designed to collect your menstrual blood.

This is in stark contrast to tampons and pads, which are designed to absorb your blood flow. Like pads, menstrual cups are available in both disposable and reusable options, although most of them are reusable.

History of the Menstrual Cup

Before there were tampons and pads, there were… papyrus pieces? That’s right, in Ancient Egypt, women used tampons fashioned out of softened papyrus. Some women used pads made from wool, animal skin, or leaves/grass. This tradition continued until the late 1800s when women started using solely pieces of cotton cloth pinned to a belt. As you can imagine, all those layers of cloth and belts and pins could get quite uncomfortable.

In the 1930s, Leona Chalmers created a patent for a reusable menstrual cup, and posted the designs in her book  The Intimate Side of a Woman’s Life. Chalmers promised that her new latex rubber menstrual cup would not contribute to “uncomfortableness or consciousness of its presence.” A welcome alternative to layers upon layers of cloth and belts! 

So why has it taken the menstrual cup so long to go mainstream? This article provides a fascinating look at the history of feminine care products, but the long and short of it is that there’s traditionally been a stigma against the natural process of menstruation. And this stigma has really slowed advances in feminine care. When the menstrual cup was invented, it was so novel—such a departure from other available options—that it wasn’t fully appreciated for years.

Why Use a Menstrual Cup?

The earliest women who adopted the menstrual cup did so because it freed them from wearing bulky layers and belts under their clothes. But, as it turns out, that’s just the beginning of the benefits.

1. Menstrual cups are more efficient

Menstrual cups can hold more fluid than tampons and pads, which helps to avoid embarrassing leaks.

  • On average, a regular tampon can hold 5 ml of fluid
  • Menstrual cups can hold around 30 ml (one full ounce), depending on the brand and size

For instance, according to the product literature, size 1 and size 2 of the Diva cup, the large Lena cup, and the large Eva cup all  hold 30 ml. Even the smaller cups, hold more fluid than one tampon! The small Fleur cup and the small Eva cup both hold 25 ml each.

2. Menstrual cups are more convenient

Menstrual cups don’t need to be emptied frequently. According to the product literature of each brand of cup, it is safe to wear a cup for up to 12 hours. Tampons, on the other hand, must be changed every four hours, while pads should be changed every time you use the restroom, or about every four hours.

3. Menstrual cups are more affordable

Menstrual cups are cheaper than tampons and pads in the long run. We’ll dive into the math later!

4. Menstrual cups are more comfortable

Menstrual cups are designed to be more comfortable than a tampon. A cup encircles your cervix, without actually pressing on it. A tampon, on the other hand, presses right against your cervix, which can be uncomfortable if your cervix is already irritable during your period. If you are sensitive to cotton, this can make it even more irritating!

Anecdotally, women also say using a cup decreases cramps, and theres some evidence to back this up. According to a survey-based study, using a cup may reduce menstrual cramps by 36 percent! Menstrual cups also prevent tampon-induced vaginal dryness (source).

5. Menstrual cups have less odor

That same survey-based study found that women reported almost no odor when using a menstrual cup, especially when compared to a pad. As a result, it’s not too surprising that this leads to increased self-esteem during your period.

6. Menstrual cups are safer and more hygienic

Have you ever read the little paper that comes in the tampon box? Toxic shock syndrome, a rare, but serious infection caused by wearing a tampon for longer than the recommended amount of time, occurs when Staphylococcus aureus bacteria growth spreads to the bloodstream. (source) Menstrual cups have been touted as much more hygienic and safer than tampons for this reason.

A quick note: A recent study from France did find that menstrual cups could carry the same risk for infection. So what’s the deal? Are cups safer or not? It is important to note that the one TSS case from menstrual cups came from wearing the cup for seven straight days.

Bottom line: You must practice good hygiene, whether you use a cup or a tampon. (source)

Also, if you use conventional tampons or pads, you are exposing your lady parts to pesticides. In fact, cotton is one of the “dirtiest” crops out there.(Source) So, if you do chose to use cotton menstrual products, always get organic ones. 

7. Menstrual cups are better for the environment

If one woman uses around 20 tampons or pads per menstrual cycle, that’s 240 tampons or pads per year, per woman. Of course, you need something to use during your period, but the menstrual cup definitely helps cut down on landfill waste! (BTW, washable pads like the Mama Cloth are also a nice option that reduces waste.)

Is it Safe to Use a Menstrual Cup?

Yes, menstrual cups are totally safe when used properly. In fact, they can be safer than tampons.

That said, there are some disadvantages to menstrual cups, including:

  1. The mess factor: Cleaning the cup can be messy, particularly if you are not home when you need to clean it. For this reason, using a cup does involve a few more steps than just swapping out pads.
  2. Inserting and removal: Especially when compared to pads, there is a slight learning curve with inserting and removing cups. It is important to get the insertion right to avoid leaks.
  3. Getting the right fit: There are many brands and sizes. Women find that certain brands/sizes fit their own body better, but it is a trial and error to find the right one for you. (See below for some tips!)
  4. Allergies: Like most things, there is a potential risk of allergic reaction (i.e. latex allergy). Luckily, menstrual cups come in a few different materials. (See below for more!)
  5. Unique anatomy challenges: Women with a tilted uterus, a prolapse, or pelvic floor issues may have difficulty getting their cup to fit and feel right. For instance, you might be prone to leaks if you have a tilted uterus.
  6. Cleaning maintenance: Menstrual cups aren’t maintenance free. You’ll want to boil in hot water each month after use and do quarterly deeper cleans for utmost safety.

How to Use a Menstrual Cup

Like tampons, menstrual cups are inserted into the vagina. Most brands offer two sizes of cups: one cup for women who have not had a vaginal birth and one for women who have had a vaginal birth.

Here are the basics of inserting your cup:

  1. Wash: Always wash your cup before using it. (More on this below!)
  2. Fold the cup: One of the most popular ways to fold your cup is in half, length-wise. This makes your cup look like a “U”-shape if you were to look at it from the top.
  3. Insert: Insert the cup into your vagina, like a tampon. Gently separate your labia and slowly insert the folded cup. (You may find it easier to squat or to stand with one foot up on the edge of the tub.)
  4. Create the seal: Once your cup is in, you still have to create the seal. Remember, you folded it to insert it. Now it’s time to unfold it and create the seal. Grab the bottom of the cup with your thumb and pointer. Spin the cup one full rotation (360-degrees). It should open, and it should spin easily. Push the cup up as much as you can.
  5. Wear: Feel free to swim in the cup, use the restroom while wearing the cup, or exercise while wearing the cup.
  6. Bonus Tip: Until you get the hang of it, consider wearing a menstrual pad, or better yet, a pair of absorbent “period” underwear like this, as a backup to catch any leaks.

[Mama_scroll_to_heading] How to Remove a Menstrual Cup[/mama_scroll_to_heading]

One of the best things about menstrual cups is how long you can wear a cup safely without needing to change it. This makes menstrual cups ideal for long day trips or hikes! Most brands suggest changing your cup every six to 12 hours, with a minimum of two changes per day. Ideally, you can change your cup in the morning before work and then not think about it again until the evening.

  1. Removal: To remove your cup, locate the stem of the cup. Pull the stem until you can grip the bottom of the cup. To break the seal, pinch the cup and (carefully) lower it straight down without tilting it. (Do this over the toilet to avoid any messes, especially as you get the hang of it.)
  2. Empty and reinsert: Empty the cup into the toilet and clean. If you are not home, you can empty your cup in the toilet and wipe it clean with toilet paper before re-inserting. (Or, you could have a clean, spare menstrual cup in your purse.) Be sure to wash it as soon as you return home though. Use the wash specified by your cup’s brand or use an oil-free, unscented soap wash.
  3. Store: At the end of your period, wash and store in a breathable cloth bag.

How to Clean a Menstrual Cup

It is extremely important to clean your cup well to prevent any bacteria from building up.

Clean your cup each time you empty it, before storing it, and before using it on the first day of your cycle.

So how do you clean your cup? Start by using the right cleaner. According to Diva Cup, you can use the Diva Wash or any mild, oil-free cleaner like this one.

During your cycle:

  • Use warm/hot water
  • Wash the inside of the cup, the exterior, and the stem
  • Rinse well
  • Use a Q-tip to clean the little holes in the cup (these holes are there to help create the right suction)
  • Dry

At the end of your cycle:

  • Boil your cup on the stovetop in purified water for 20 minutes
  • Remove from water using clean kitchen tongs
  • Dry and store in breathable cloth bag

Every season:

Some women like to do a deeper clean with rubbing alcohol every 3 months. This remove any film or build-up and neutralizes any smells. (source)

  • Soak in rubbing alcohol for 1 hour
  • Rinse, let air dry and store for future use

Replace your cup if it shows signs of wear, is discolored, or has been used for more than 12 months.


Tip: Avoid vinegar, Castile soap (and other oil-based soaps), essential oils, and baby wipe—these materials can cause the cup to develop a sticky residue.

Can You Sleep in a Menstrual Cup?

Yes! No more getting up in the middle of the night to change your tampon, and no more waking up to a saturated pad. Menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours, which means you can get your beauty sleep without worrying about your pad leaking.

Tip: Consider wearing a menstrual pad, or better yet, a pair of absorbent “period” underwear like this, as a backup the first time you sleep in your cup to make sure you know how to make a good seal.

How Much Do Menstrual Cups Cost?

How much does your period cost each year?

  • Cup: The average cost of a menstrual cup is $30, but they range from $20-$40. Since cups need to be replaced yearly, consider this your annual cost.
  • Tampons: If a woman uses 1 tampon every 4 hours, a woman might use four tampons each day. That means she’d need 20 tampons for a 5-day long period. At $0.22 per tampon (assuming a box of 36 costs $8), that’s $4.40 per period, or $52.80 per year. That isn’t even counting the menstrual pads she’ll need to wear while sleeping!

Here are Some of the Most Popular Menstrual Cups

The Best Menstrual Cups

Just like pads and tampons, there are plenty of options when it comes to purchasing. What works for your sister or friend may not work for you, and that’s okay! We all have different bodies; you have to find what works for you and your body.

To pick the right cup, consider:

  1. Size: Most brands differentiate size by whether or not you have had a vaginal birth.
  2. Capacity: If you have a heavy flow, you may want to compare the various capacities of the cups.
  3. Material: Do you have allergies? If so, choose carefully. Menstrual cups are usually made with either latex, natural gum rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, and silicone. Although most are made of medical-grade silicone, double-check the materials before purchasing.
  4. Stem vs no stem for ease of inserting: Some women find the stem annoying, while other women cannot feel it at all. If it bothers you, you can use a brand with a shorter stem, or trim the stem yourself.
  5. Firmness: This is a personal preference. Some women say a firmer cup creates a tighter seal; others say firmness causes discomfort.
  6. Color: Again, this is personal preference, but it can be nice to see something happy-colored when it’s your time of the month.
  7. Measuring lines: Interested in how much fluid you’re collecting? Some cups have measuring lines.
  8. Suction holes/ribs: The suction holes play an important part in creating the just-right suction.

Alternatives to Menstrual Cup

Maybe you aren’t ready commit to menstrual cups yet. Or maybe you just had a baby and can’t insert anything into your vagina yet. For eco-friendly options, try washable organic pads. You can use a wet bag and a set up a system that’s similar to your cloth diaper set-up.

Here’s what other mamas say about menstrual cups:

We polled the moms in our community about menstrual cups and here are a handful of responses:

  • Menstrual cups are the BEST!! I’m so glad they are becoming more mainstream!!! – Alice D.
  • I SWEAR by menstrual cups and have gotten so many friends and family using them! It’s life-changing!!! – Leah E.
  • Have had one for years and do love it. Safe for swimming & everything. -Judy A.
  • I have been using a menstrual cup for 4 years. I’m 45 now and wish I would have known about this amazing little cup decades earlier! It’s truly a life-changing thing, so much better for the environment, and I love that I can just forget about it and deal with it in the morning and the evening. – Janina M.
  • I do use a menstrual cup and I love it! Been using it for 4 years now – Farhaanah M.
  • I’ve been using menstrual cups for years now. Love it! I pair them with cloth pads on my heavy days or when I know I can’t change out my cup. – Melissa C.
  • I used a diva cup for years and it changed so much for me. Recently I discovered the Nixit cup which is actually more like a disc. Really it looks like a diaphragm. I love it even more! -Lauren R.
  • I love them! I’ve been using them for about 4 years now. JUNE company was having them for $6! -Sara Y.
  • I tried them out before having my son and either had some user malfunctions with inserting, or major issues with removal, because it was messy. I ended up with stained underwear and switched back to pads after my body decided tampons were no longer an option either. – Elisha N.
  • I have tried, but unfortunately I have endometriosis and my cycles are just too painful and heavy. I was really excited about this product, it just didn’t work out 🙁 – Alexia Y.
  • I tried one once but it is very messy procedure.. great at home provided your toilet is next to a washbasin but awkward out using public toilets as I found myself with bloodied hands trying to get out of the cubicle and to the wash basins….. luckily the toilet block was empty. It would’ve looked like a murder scene to anyone coming in! – Sue S.
  • I don’t like them – Montimarie H.

How About You?

Do you use menstrual cups? What is your favorite brand?

 

Genevieve Howland

About the Author

Genevieve Howland is a childbirth educator and breastfeeding advocate. She is the bestselling author of The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth and creator of the Mama Natural Birth Course. A mother of three, graduate of the University of Colorado, and YouTuber with over 130,000,000 views, she helps mothers and moms-to-be lead healthier and more natural lives.

17 Comments

  1. This is my second cycle using the lumma disc. I really like it!! Lumma sometimes has a buy one get one sale so you can order 2 sizes. (They offer 3 sizes) It is messier than my diva cup to remove but it is much easier to insert and I don’t experience leaks like I did with the diva cup.

    Thanks for the article!!

  2. I have been using the cup for 7 years. I have most my office converted too. It took some trials and errors until I found my fit but I’m set now. I tried the DIVA cup and found it too hard and uncomfortable. The Super Jennie cup is my favorite for comfort and is my go to. However June Cup is selling theirs for $6 currently to help folks during COVID and it’s pretty great. I get a few leaks with it, but my coworker uses it and says it’s her best one yet. So everyone is different. Thank you for these posts. They are why I got interested in the first place!!

  3. I’ve used a cup for about 3 years and it has been a total game changer. I was diagnosed with endometriosis and seriously, my cramps are 100x better. I actually switched to the lumma disc about 6 months ago and it has totally changed my life. Much more comfortable for me. I have a low cervix. Bonus: you can wear it during sex. Will never go back.

  4. I’ve used a Mooncup for years. Had to up-size after giving birth and with heavier periods, I do have to change it every couple of hours and do get some leakage so need to wear a panty liner too. I recently found out I have a uterus that tilts backwards so was interested to read that this might make it more difficult to use a cup.
    I have recently had a coil fitted and my gynecologist said not to use a cup any more due to the risk of displacing or removing the coil with the suction of the cup. She didn’t tell me this until after she had fitted the coil, which was annoying! I have since done some research and it looks like advice is mixed… I’m still unsure of what to do for the best with the cup and the coil as well as I’ve been bleeding almost constantly since having it and don’t really want to be on hormonal birth control. However, my desire to avoid another pregnancy is greater at the moment so I’ll give it a few months to see if it settles down!

  5. I’ve been using menstrual cups on and off for 10+ years. I started out with a Diva cup but insertion and removal was always painful and the stem left me a bit raw/sore. And I always had leak issues. Couldn’t figure out how other women could rave about menstrual cups so. Fast forward to a year ago when I needed a new cup after having my first child. I had tried the bigger sized diva cup but still had pain and leak issues. Then I stumbled across this website and quiz, bought the cup they recommended for me personally (the saalt sensitive) and I’ve been in love ever since. Minimal discomfort and no leaks! 😀 Point being that everyone’s body is unique and if one menstrual cup just isn’t cutting it for you, another brand may be all you need!

  6. Been using these for 2 years now. These are so much better than tampons, never going back to those.

  7. I’d used menstrual cups for a few years before switching to flex cups! IMO, an even better solution! They also offer menstrual cups, but a slightly different design than your typical menstrual cup.

  8. I am almost 60 and past the need for a cup anymore, but I just wanted to tell my experience with The Keeper, the original menstrual cup. I started using one at age 32, after the birth of my first child (I have 4). I finally ended my periods at age 52, so that’s 20 years of using The Keeper at a total cost of $80! I replaced it once because they came out with a new silicon one that was a little softer and more flexible. I did use mini pads when I was leaving the house in case I couldn’t find a clean bathroom, but I generally planned ahead and knew how long I could go without emptying the cup. With tampons, they soaked up natural vaginal moisture which made it quite painful at times when changing the tampon. The Keeper was sooo easy to use, just fold it up and it slid right into place after I got the hang of it. I charted because I also had ovarian cysts and excessive bleeding, so I knew when my period was coming and just kept it in the cloth bag in my purse in case I needed it while out. On the first 3 days of heavy bleeding, I just emptied it more frequently. Something else to add, is that I also used a cervical cap for birth control. It is similar in size and great for those times of the month when you know you’re fertile (if you know about the mucous method), but want to have fun anyway. 🙂

  9. I actually ordered two menstrual cups and a pair of period undies a few days ago, and they’re on their way in the post! It’s something I have been wanting to do and would have tried sooner but I fell pregnant at the time and only now have started menstruating again (daughter will be 2 on Friday). I’m really looking forward to using them though, and am also keen to try a menstrual disc once I get the hang of the cup. Does anyone have any advice on using a menstrual disc…?

  10. I tried one, but it didn’t work for me. I have a heavy flow, so was changing it every few hours (even though it was the larger size) because it overflowed. It left everything feeling painful and delicate. Cloth pads only for this girl. The good thing about it was that it gave me a better measure of just how much I was losing each month. It’s hard to tell from just looking at a pad.

  11. I have tried two different brands and have not found the right one for me yet. I have a prolapse and still trying to find the right fit.

    • Try a company callEd Flex
      They are awesome! I hope they can help you find a solution. Their product has helped me so much.

    • Check out “put a cup in it”! They have a size guide and tons of helpful info and reviews.

  12. Thank you so much for spreading the word Genevieve! I love the menstrual cup! I am so glad I found out about it.

  13. I’ve been using cloth pads for a few years but also wanted to try a cup, especially since I’m a huge overnight leaker. I did some research into various cups but decided to buy a Diva Cup because I saw it in the store around the time I was expecting my period. I love using the cup but eventually when I have to replace it, I might try a smaller one or a stemless one. Also, I use cloth pads along with the cup during the heavy days as a protective measure but usually I don’t need it.

    • Hey girl! If the stem is uncomfortable on your current one, simply trim it. It’s super easy to do! I’ve had to do that for both of the cups I own. It’s helped so much in the area of comfort! 🙂

  14. I’ve used the diva cup for 6 years and have never looked back. So much easier and more comfortable. there is a learning curve to inserting, removing and cleaning and it is slightly inconveniant in public restrooms but you adjust and get used to it and then it’s amazing! Never used tampons since and only a tiny amount of light panty liners for extra security on heavy flow days. Highly recommend for all ladies!!


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