How to Buy a Menstrual Cup

Last Updated: March 13, 2023 References Approved

A menstrual cup is a silicone, TPE, or latex cup that collects menstrual fluid instead of absorbing it like a tampon. There are many different brands, so there are several factors to consider before purchasing a cup.

Steps

1
Get informed and learn a little bit about cups. If you are brought up in a society where cups are not widely available, they may seem strange to you. However cups are healthier, more economical, and more convenient than conventional menstrual products. See How to Decide About Using a Menstrual Cup for more information about cups.
2
Measure your cervix to determine the length of cup you should buy. Your cervix is the part of your vagina where your menstrual fluid leaves. It's important to measure how far up your cervix is in your vagina before you buy a cup, because some cups are longer and some are shorter, so they work worse or better with people who have lower or higher cervixes. If you have a low cervix you will want a shorter, stouter cup so that it does not ride down or poke out of you while you're wearing it. So before deciding which cup to buy, find out how high or low your cervix is using the following process.
- Wait until you are on your period, because your cervix will be in different positions at different times of your monthly cycle. Also, you may want to measure on a couple of different days of your period, because it may not be exactly the same each day.
- Gently and slowly insert a clean finger back, not up, into your vagina, past your pelvic bone, some muscles, and a kind of 'empty' space. Lubricant may be helpful to use for this part.
- Wander around to find the bit that feels a bit like the tip of a nose. Your cervix is a round nub, with an indentation in the middle.
- Note how far your finger went before touching your cervix, and measure your finger with a ruler to find out how many centimeters or millimeters back this was. If it's so far back you can't find it at all, just estimate a bit longer than your finger.
- Now what to do with this information! Some brands make cups as small as 4 centimeter (1.6 in) long or as large as almost 6 centimeter (2.4 in) long. Your cup will sit below your cervix when in use. If it is low, you will probably find a shorter cup such as Ladycup, Lunette, Fleurcup, or Yuuki more comfortable. If your flow is light, the MeLuna is also a good option -- however, if your flow is heavy and you want to use this brand, you may need to choose one of their larger sizes. If you have a low cervix, the cup without the stem should not be too much longer than the distance from your cervix to your vaginal opening (but you have a bit of slack there, because your cervix can be partially in the cup). If it is high, a longer cup such as Divacup, Naturcup, or Shecup would be better so that it will be easy to reach when you want to remove it, but in this case you can comfortably use most cup lengths.
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3
Take into consideration how heavy your flow is and cup capacity. Some cups only hold about 11 milliliters (0.4 fl oz) and others up to 29mL. Observe on a general day of your period how many tampons you use and how often you change them. Then, using the tampon capacities listed below, calculate your flow volume for twelve hours. This would be the target capacity you want in your cup. In general it's best to overestimate than underestimate so you are not changing your cup too often. Pads have capacities ranging from about 100–500 milliliters (3–20 fl oz), but the pad would be fully saturated and leaking by this point. If you use pads, there is not a precise way to calculate the capacity you need, so just consider a light flow capacity cup (10-16ml), medium (17-22ml), or large (23-29ml). Tampon capacities:
- Light/Regular: 6-9ml
- Super: 9-12ml
- Super plus: 12-15ml
- Ultra: 15-18ml
4
Take aesthetics into account. Cups come different colors. They have frosted or slick finishes, grips rings or no grip rings. Stems can be hollow, flat, or cylindrical; some even have grip rings or ball stems instead. All of these things depend on the brand, and this is another characteristic to consider when purchasing your cup.
5
Decide on the brand of menstrual cup you would like to buy. Once you have figured out the length and capacity you would like to have in your cup, check the size charts below. Cups are not one size fits all, because although you maybe able to make any cup work, a little premeditation as discussed above before buying will ensure your cup is comfortable and has the correct capacity for you.
6
Purchase your cup online or in a store. Most menstrual cups can be purchased over the Internet and delivered to your home address. Also, check the store locator on the brand's website to see if the brand is sold near you. (Look for a cup manufactured near or in your country.) For example in the USA, Lunette, DivaCup, and Keeper brand cups are sold in stores. In the UK mainly Femmecups, DivaCups, and UK Mooncups are available. South America has InCiclo and Maggacup; Africa has Luvur Body, MPower, Ruby Cup, Lunette, and Mooncup UK; Australia has JuJu, Lunette, and DivaCup. See the list of "Major Brands" below. You can also check the World Wide Menstrual Cup Shop Map to see if there is a store near you that sells cup.

Major Brands

Below are basic descriptions and pictures of all the cup brands. Click on the brand's name to visit the company's website. Images are not scaled to real life sizes, and, unless stated otherwise, cups are made of medical grade silicone. Measurements are in millimeters (WxL) and stem length must be added for total length. Capacities are the functional capacity of the cup to the holes.

CupLee

Russian brand; only available locally at present
Cylindrical, hollow stem with grip rings that extend to cup base
Transparent finish and shiny texture
Available in green, blue, pink, yellow, and clear colors
Four suction release holes below rim
Includes satiny pouch and wooden case
Sizing:
- Small (not currently available): 44x53mm, 17mm stem, 25-30ml capacity
- Large: 40x47mm, 21mm stem, 20-25ml capacity

DivaCup

Canadian Brand; available in US, Canada, and many European countries
Measuring lines in ounces and milliliters; brand name inside
Grip rings and hollow, cylindrical stem
Four suction holes, placed up near the rim
Translucent, frosty appearance
Sizing:
- Model 1: 43x57mm, 10mm stem, and 20-23ml capacity; recommended for women under thirty who have never given birth.
- Model 2: 46x57mm and 10mm stem, and 26-27ml capacity; recommended for women over thirty and/or women who have given birth vaginally or through cesarean section.

Femmecup

UK Brand
Clear finish and squishy silicone
4 slanted suction release holes under lower rim
Firm rim and squishier base
Spiraling grip ring on base and stem
Solid, cylindrical stem
Measuring lines inside the cup at 5 and 10ml
No writing on inside rim

Only one standard size; 45x50mm, 25mm stem, and 15ml capacity^{[1]
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Fleurcup

French Brand
Four slanted suction release holes; placed up near the rim; two on each side
Almost opaque finish and "peach skin" texture
Grip rings on stem, which is flat instead of round.
Softer than some other brands; often recommended for first-time users.
Available in clear, red, pink, violet, green, grey, orange, blue, and black
Sizing:
- Small: 41x47mm, 23mm stem, and 15ml capacity; recommended for younger women or those with a light flow.
- Large: 46x52mm, 18mm stem, and 29ml capacity; recommended for women who have given birth or for those with a heavy flow.^{[2]
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JuJu Cup

Australian Brand
Clear, shiny silicone cup
Green, purple, and black satin finish pouches
Four suction release holes, slanted second rim
Easily cleanable logo on cup's inside
Pyramidal shaped stem and butterfly shaped base grips
Sizing:
- Model 1: 40x46mm, 20ml capacity
- Model 2: 46x50mm, 30ml capacity^{[3]
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Instead Softcup

A disposable cup; positioned differently than the other reusable cups mentioned
Available at most drugstores
Composed of a plastic sac and heat-sensitive ring
Recommended for use during sexual intercourse
See Use a Softdisc (Instead Softcup) for more information

Iriscup

Spanish Brand; only available in Spain
Available in clear or pink
Hollow, cylindrical stem with grip rings
Slanted suction release holes at alternating heights
Sizing:
- S: 40x45mm, 20mm stem, and 15ml capacity; recommended for women under 25 who may have given birth by cesarean section.
- L: 45x50mm, 15mm stem, and 20ml capacity; recommended for women over 25 and/or women that have given birth vaginally.

Keeper & US Moon Cup

US brand
The Keeper is opaque and composed of natural gum rubber (aka latex). The Moon Cup, which is the same size, is composed of translucent silicone.
Hollow, cylindrical stem
Smooth finish, no grip rings
Double spill proof rings on the inside
Six suction release holes under the second rim^{[4]
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Sizing:
- Style A: 44x54mm, 25mm stem, and 15ml capacity; recommended for women who have given birth vaginally (After).
- Style B: 41x54mm, 25mm stem, and 10ml capacity; recommended for women who have not given birth vaginally or have given birth through cesarean section (Before); slightly firmer and smaller.

LadyCup & Color Cups

Czech Brand
Clear glossy finish and very smooth texture
6 slanted suction release holes at alternating heights
Bumps along base for gripping; hollow, cylindrical stem
The clear cup is referred to as a LadyCup, while the other colored cups are referred to as LilacCup, PinkCup, BlueCup, OrangeCup, GreenCup, and YellowCup. There is also the limited edition LOTOS Cup in a pink/orange color.
Sizing:
- Small: 40x46mm, 19mm stem, and 11ml capacity; recommended for women under 25 who have not given birth.
- Large: 46x53mm, 13mm stem, and 20ml capacity; recommended for women over 25 and/or women that have given birth.

Lunette

Finnish Brand
Four suction holes, placed up near the rim
Grip rings on base and flat, tab-shaped stem
Brand name on outside of cup
Translucent finish; available in clear (Lunette), blue (Lunette Selene), light green (Lunette Diana), purple (Lunette Cynthia), coral red (Lunette Áine), and yellow (Lunette Lucia).
Sizing:
- Model 1: 41x47mm, 25mm stem, and 20ml capacity; recommended for women with a light to moderate flow, virgins, or younger women; made of a softer silicone.
- Model 2: 46x52mm, 20mm stem, and 25ml capacity; recommended for women with a normal to heavy flow; made of a stiffer silicone.^{[5]
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MeLuna

German brand
Made of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer); a rubber that is as safe to use as silicone
Suction release holes near the rim
Grip rings at base; foggy, textured finish
Different stem styles:
- Basic: no stem; best for experienced cup users
- Ball: ball-shaped stem
- Traditional: long stem composed of gripping balls
- Ring: a tab-shaped stem
Limited edition glitter cups are available
Available in red, clear, violet, orange, green, blue, and black colors
"Softcups" are also available in cyan and pink. They are made of 25% softer TPE.
"MeLuna Sport" is a slightly stiffer cup made of 50% harder TPE, designed for women with a strong pelvic core. This is an alternative for women who may not be able to get their cup all the way open, or 'squash' their cup due to core strength.
Sizing (stem length varies for all):
- Small: 40x40mm and 10ml capacity
- Medium: 45x45mm and 15ml capacity
- Large: 45x54mm and 24ml capacity
- Extra large: 47x56mm and 30ml capacity

Miacup

South African Brand
Mauve/deep pink color and glossy, opaque finish
2 suction release holes under top rim
Small logo on inside rim of cup (no writing)
Grip rings on base and stem; flat, tab-shaped stem
Sizing:
- Model 1: 43x53mm, 17mm stem, and 21-23ml capacity; recommended for women under 30 who have not given birth vaginally.
- Model 2: 46x53mm, 17mm stem, and 26-27ml capacity; recommended for women over 30 or women who have given birth vaginally.

MissCup

Brazilian brand (ships worldwide)
Long, narrow bodied cup
Slick finish and opaque silicone material
Size B: recommended for women before 30 that haven't had children; 40x56mm, 16mm stem, and 30ml capacity
Size A: recommended for women after 30 that haven't had children; 43x56mm, 16mm stem, and 30ml capacity

Mooncup (UK)

UK brand
Because of a naming dispute with the Keeper company they are now sold in the US under the name MCUK.
The original Mooncup had a distinctive yellow tint, but the latest version has a whiter colour
Grip rings on base and stem (Newer version has grips the full length of the stem); hollow, cylindrical stem
Measuring lines
Six suction release holes under the lower rim
Sizing:
- Size A: 46x50mm, 20mm stem, and 12-13ml capacity; recommended for women who have given birth vaginally or are over 30.
- Size B: 43x50mm, 20mm stem, and 14ml capacity; recommended for women who have given birth by cesarean section or are under 30.^{[6]
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Mpower cup

South African Brand; only available in South Africa because of legal dispute with Lunette company
Nearly clear, soft finish
Flat, tab-shaped stem
Grip rings on base and stem
Two suction release holes under rim
Only one standard size; 47x54mm, 15mm stem, and 27ml capacity

NaturalMamma

Italian brand
White, opaque finish
Cone shaped and soft silicone material
Suction release holes
Grips on base and stem
only one standard size; 44x56mm, 15mm stem, 27ml capacity

Naturcup

Spanish Brand; only available in Spain
Four sizeable suction release holes
Three subtle grip rings on base and ball-shaped stem
Three measuring lines and cup size printed on the inside of cup
Firmer ring and softer base
Sizes:
- Size 0: diameter of 40mm and length of 56mm; recommended for women under 18 who are not sexually active.
- Size I: diameter of 43mm and length of 65mm; for women ages 18 to 30 who have not given birth vaginally.
- Size II: diameter of 47mm and length of 65mm; for women who have given birth vaginally and/or are older than 30.

Shecup

Indian Brand
Light pink
Nub shaped stem
Suction release holes under lower rim
Writing on inside rim of cup and measuring lines
Vertical grip lines at base of cup and one horizontal grip line on base
Only one standard size; 44x54mm, 5.5mm stem, and 16ml capacity

SI-Bell cup

French brand
Translucent, white finish
Bell shape and soft silicone material
Grip rings on stem and ball at base
Four suction release holes under rim
Sizes:
- S (small): 41x47mm, 27mm stem
- L (large): 46x52mm, 22mm stem

Yuuki

Czech Brand
Clear and glossy finish
Grip rings on base and stem; hollow, cylindrical stem
Brand name on inside of cup
Four slanted suction release holes
Measuring lines and spill proof line inside the cup
Sizing:
- Cup 1: smaller; 42x49mm, 20mm stem, and 19ml capacity
- Cup 2: larger; 47x55mm, 20mm stem, and 29ml capacity

Warnings

Some women choose to boycott the Keeper brand because of unethical business ethics. The Keeper Inc. trademarked the Moon Cup name, even though the UK Mooncup used the name originally and used this to bar the UK Mooncup from the American market. The UK Mooncup company did manage to sidestep this by selling their cup under the acronym "MCUK" in the US.

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If you are a virgin with a heavy flow, a large, wide cup can be very uncomfortable to use. Look for a cup with a high capacity, but smaller dimensions.

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If you are allergic to latex, you should not consider using a Keeper, because it is made out of natural gum rubber (latex). Also if you have any allergies (i.e. dust, pollen, foods, etc.), you are more likely to develop a latex allergy from using the Keeper. (This company's Moon Cup (US) is made of silicone and has the same shape.)

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If you wish to avoid plastic products with BPA look for a cup made of silicone. Silicone naturally has no BPA.

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