I hear you: Menstrual cups are a little…unconventional, to say the least.
Sure, they make much less waste and you can wear them for longer than you can a tampon; but uh, they also require you to get a little friendlier with your vagina than you do with a tampon or pad.
It’s also okay to admit you’re a little clueless about them—at least when compared to your other period supplies. If you’re interested in giving a menstrual cup a try, it can be tough to know where to start—but knowing more about menstrual cups in general is clearly a good start.
First up, let’s cover some menstrual cup basics.
Basically, a menstrual cup is a flexible cup-shaped device that you wear inside your vagina while you’re on your period. It collects your period blood, and you dump it out every eight to 12 hours, according to Planned Parenthood—less than how often you’d change a tampon or pad.
They’re typically made of silicone or rubber, and they come in reusable and disposable options (just make sure to wash out reusable ones in the sink before you pop them back in).
But, to address the elephant in the room: Menstrual cups do look kind of big. Keep in mind, however, they come in different sizes and once it’s in correctly, you shouldn’t be able to feel it.
So yeah, they sound super convenient, but menstrual cups are still a very personal decision. “What’s most important is that you’re able to get it in, it stays in comfortably, and you can get it out,” says Lauren Streicher, M.D., an associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
You may also need to experiment a bit before you find a menstrual cup that’s right for you. “What is a good fit for one person may not be for you,” says Streicher. “We’re all [different] shapes and sizes.”
Other things to consider: It’s important to check in with your doctor if you’re planning to use a menstrual cup and you have an IUD or have a history of toxic shock syndrome, per the Mayo Clinic.
But, with all of that in mind, here are the top-rated menstrual cups on Amazon to at least give you a good starting place. Try one of these if you’re ready to ditch your tampons and pads for good.
1. The Diva Cup
The Diva Cup comes in two versions: Model 1 and Model 2. Model 1 is recommended for women under the age of 30 who have never given birth, while Model 2 is recommended for women over 30 or who have given birth.
They’re made of silicone, and can apparently protect you for up to 12 hours. And, for the record, women seem to love it. “Even on heavier days, I’ve never had the cup overfill in 12 hours,” one reviewer wrote.
2. Lunette
Like The Diva Cup, Lunette has two models: Model 1 is for women with a light to moderate flow, or who are younger, or haven’t had sex yet; Model 2 is for everyone else.
Lunette is made of medical-grade silicone and is safe to wear for up to 12 hours. “This is the best internal protection I’ve ever tried and I’m never going to use anything else,” one person wrote on Amazon.
Worth pointing out: A few reviewers had trouble getting it out. “Come time to take it out, I couldn’t feel it because my vagina basically ate it,” one reviewer wrote. “An hour later of tugging and pulling and yanking, I managed to get it out and I will definitely never be putting it back in.”
3. Lena
Lena gives you two cups in one package—one is a small size, and the other is a large size. According to LenaCup.com, you use the small cup for normal or light flow days and the large cup for heavier days.
Lena’s reviews are pretty good too: “It doesn’t leak when inserted properly and you can’t feel it at all,” one person wrote. “It takes some trial and error getting it right, but once you get it right, you’ll never want to go back to tampons!”
4. Blossom Cup
Blossom is a lot cheaper than other menstrual cup options, and people rave about how soft it is. Also worth pointing out: It has a money-back guarantee, so if you don’t like it, you can return it (they’ll throw it away, obvi).
Reviewers pointed out that it takes a few tries to get this thing down but many say it’s worth it. “Yes this cup works, yes it is a life-changing event for some women, and yes it can be gross at first,” one woman wrote. “Once you learn how to actually get the hang of using the cup, I guarantee you that it is so much better than using pads.”
5. Softcup
If washing out your cup after you use it is just too gross for you, it might be worth looking into Softcup. These little “menstrual discs” can allegedly hold five tampons’ worth of fluid, and you toss ’em when you’re done.
Reviewers also point out that you can comfortably wear these during sex, if having some blood in the mix isn’t your thing. Just note this, per one reviewer: “You must be comfortable in your own skin,” she wrote. “You will have to stick your fingers inside yourself to place this behind your pubic bone and you’ll have to reach a finger in to pull it out. When it comes out, it can be messy.” Otherwise, people seem to love it.
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