Where Do You Buy Menstrual Cups
For this guide, we talked to Dr. Jen Gunter, an OB-GYN; Jackie Bolen, who runs a menstrual cup review site (and earns affiliate commission as part of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program); and 15 people who use menstrual cups. We also watched a whole lot of YouTube reviews of the cups we tested, and read through a stack of scientific papers on how people use cups, how cups compare with tampons, how they can be cleaned properly in all kinds of settings, and more.
where do you buy menstrual cups
If you are a person who gets a period, you can probably use a menstrual cup. Unlike products that absorb your flow, a menstrual cup is something you insert into your vagina to hold all the blood, and empty it a few times a day. Like most things that are period-related, what you choose to use comes down to your own personal comfort. Die-hard cup lovers appreciate the eco-friendly and wallet-friendly aspects of the cup. But cups do come with a learning curve, and not everybody wants to go through all that.
An additional advantage of the menstrual cup over pads and tampons is that you need to carry only one with you, not a handful. This makes cups popular among backpackers and other travelers who worry about carrying too much weight. Plus, menstrual cups can hold up to an ounce of fluid at a time, which means they can handle far more than even the heaviest-duty tampons.
Then I tried a DIY masturbator that involved either one bag of water, or several bags of water tied together. This did simulate the stretchiness of the vagina pretty well, but the water moved around enough inside the bags that I could never actually get the cups in and out without incident. Several times my homemade vagina exploded water all over my kitchen.
This is all to say that the vagina is an incredible thing that is very hard to replicate. I used a little bit of water-based lubricant to get the cups in and out of the travel-size-container vaginas, and once they were inserted put a bit of colored water into each cup to see how easy it was to remove them without a spill.
This test confirmed that cups we had trouble folding in the earlier test (like the FemmyCycle and the Intimina collapsible) were indeed hard to insert and remove in this test. Some of the cups have a smoother silicone than others, and we found that the cups with the very plasticky silicone, like the Luna and Yuuki cups, required more lube going in and out of the tube. I spilled the most trying to remove the Luna cup, as it would catch on the silicone and I had to yank a bit more to get it out.
As with a menstrual cup, inserting, positioning, and removing a menstrual disc involves a learning curve. Discs require you to insert your fingers much farther up your vaginal canal than cups do. If you have a low cervix, menstrual discs are probably not the right option for you, as they do require a certain amount of space to fit comfortably. In fact, for most people, we recommend a menstrual cup over a disc.
If you do think you want to try a menstrual disc, we recommend starting with trying a disposable one like the Flex disc. If you find that you like it better than a cup, there are several reusable discs to choose from. Of those we've tested so far, we think the Lumma Unique is the best option, particularly for people who like the way a disposable disc fits and feels.
In between cycles: Many people like to sterilize their cup once their cycle is over, with a bit more of a deep clean than they might perform just between wears. You have lots of ways to do this. Many people boil their cups (again, check the info on your cup to see whether it warns against boiling) for about three to five minutes. Others use sterilization tablets like these. Lots of menstrual cup fan sites advise using either hydrogen peroxide or bleach to sterilize the cups, but we would advise against that because both chemicals might eat the silicone that your cup is made of and cause all kinds of problems.
There are tons of ways to fold up a menstrual cup. You can see a video of some of them. We found that the punch-down fold and the 7 fold were the easiest to use; they made the cup the smallest yet still gave us a spot to grip that kept the cup from opening up before we let go.
Yuuki: Yuuki cups are one of the other ones that come with firmness options. You can get the Yuuki Soft or the Yuuki Classic. The Yuuki Classic is on the firmer end of the cups we tested (although not as firm as the MeLuna Sport) so if you feel you need a wider and firmer cup, the Yuuki is a good choice for you.
Mooncup UK (MCUK): This cup is very similar to the cup known as the Moon Cup. The lip on the two cups is almost identical, but the Moon Cup has a rounder and fuller shape, whereas the MCUK is narrower and more tapered, like the MeLuna. The MCUK is made of a pearlized material similar to the MeLuna, and the Moon Cup is translucent. Overall, the MCUK is more soft and pliable than the MeLuna, which we liked for its firmness sweet spot: soft enough to be comfortable and to pop open once inside, but firm enough to prevent leaking. If you need a softer cup, the MCUK may be a good option.
SckoonCup: This model has one of the most pronounced bell shapes of all the cups we tested, with significant flaring at the base. When I inserted the cup into the fake vaginas, I immediately saw that most of the pressure from the cup would be concentrated on that flared ring, which might be uncomfortable for some folks. The thick ring makes the cup really easy to open up, though.
Available brands of reusable cups include the Keeper Cup, Moon Cup, Lunette Menstrual Cup, DivaCup, Lena Cup, and Lily Cup. There are also a few disposable menstrual cups on the market, such as the Instead Softcup.
Menstrual cups are more cost-effective than tampons and pads. You can pay, on average, $20 to $40 for a cup and not have to purchase another one for at least six months. Tampons and pads can cost an average of $50 to $150 a year, depending on how long and heavy your period is and how often you have your period.
Your cervix height is probably one of the most important factors you should consider when choosing a menstrual cup. Check your cervix near or during your period, where it will be the lowest in the body.
If you have a higher cervix, a longer cup is more suitable for you. If you use a short menstrual cup, it can ride up during the course of the day, and you may find it difficult to remove since it is deeper in your vaginal canal. The Lily Cup is one of the longer cups available, and is great if you have a high cervix!
If you have a lower cervix, a shorter cup is great for you! If you use a cup that's too long, the base of the cup may stick out of your vagina, which is really uncomfortable. Some of our shorter cups include the Lunette, Saalt and LENA cup. (Do note that the larger sizes will be slightly longer than the smaller sizes.)
If you're currently using disposables, how often do you have to change your pad or tampon? Usually, tampon boxes have an absorbency rating with an estimate of different sizes' capacities. You can compare the capacity of the usual tampons you use, with the capacity of the menstrual cup. For example, if you use one super tampon with 12ml capacity for 3 hours, you can use a menstrual cup with 25ml capacity for an estimated 6 hours!
There are lots of knock-off brands of menstrual cups on Amazon and other sites. We don't recommend going on Amazon to buy menstrual cups unless you know which brands are legitimate. Knock-off cups made of inferior materials also tend to break apart after a few months. Menstrual cups are considered medical devices since they are inserted into your body, and we're sure you don't want to insert some dubious materials into your vagina!
Furthermore, knock-off cups usually impinge on other companies' patents, using their designs without making any changes. We feel that it's not fair to the companies that use safe silicone and have gone through FDA regulations.
We hope this guide helps you to choose the right menstrual cup! Often, there is some trial and error involved. However, we definitely hope you can get your Goldilocks cup (one that's just right) on your first try! :)
Menstrual cups have become a popular alternative to tampons and pads. Some are long-lasting and reusable, while others are disposable. But should you make the switch just because everyone seems to be doing so right now?
Like with anything new a menstrual cup can take time to get get used to. We believe our cup is a better alternative to traditional disposable menstruation products. Protect the planet and have total control over your periods. So whether your a old freind of Lunette or someone who has just discovered us, we our here to help. You can check out our cups or use our size guide help below.
Lunette Cup is the most convenient, ecological and economical way to live with periods. So, while there's a learning curve when trying something new, we're here to walk you through to menstrual cup bliss. Ask us any period cup questions you may have. Seriously, any.
Menstrual cups have actually been around since the 1930s, but America was slow to catch on. The first menstrual cup for U.S. use was manufactured in 1987. Since then, there have been several others produced, manufactured from different substances ranging from rubber to silicone.
Pads are rectangles of absorbent material that attach to the inside of a girl's underwear and catch menstrual blood. They're sometimes also called sanitary pads or sanitary napkins. Some pads have extra material on the sides. These "wings" fold over the edges of your underwear to help hold the pad in place and prevent leaking.
Like a tampon, a menstrual cup is inserted into the vagina. Instead of absorbing blood, the cup catches it before it flows out of the vagina. Menstrual cups are made of flexible materials, like rubber or silicone.
Choosing a type of period protection is up to you. Some girls like tampons because they're easy to store in a purse or pocket. Tampons and cups are also helpful for girls who do sports like swimming, since you can't wear a pad in the water. 041b061a72