Questions And Answers

NEWS:  I now sell menstrual cups at my new store:

I’m sure you have DOZES of questions racing about in your mind, as to what a menstrual cup is all about. Weather or not it is safe. How exactly it is used, and much, much more! So to satisfy that curiosity, I have made this section in my blog for all your questions, and hopefully, I have managed to get most of them in here. If not, feel free to ask me in a private message, or in the comment space below.

Q— How is a menstrual cup inserted or removed?
A— Please see my demonstration video:

Q– If menstrual cups are so wonderful, how come I haven’t heard of them, or seen them on TV?
A— They may be wonderful, but because of their long-lasting nature, they (for obvious reasons) do not pull in as many repeat sales as a disposable product company… So most cup manufacturers stick to just the internet, their websites, and word-of-mouth for sales. Furthermore, menstrual cups cannot be made in large masses, in factories. Most cups have to be made in a sterile, sometimes surgery-quality rooms. So they have to be specially ordered. The companies are also fighting a VERY tough battle– introducing something new and different, to a world full of women who have only known disposable products for nearly 100 years. When a woman purchases a cup, it will last for years and years. They cost around $35 (sometimes as little as $15, if you find a good discount website). But because the cup lasts so long, there will not be a repeat purchase for quite some time. For these reasons, we don’t see much of them, outside of health food stores, or the internet. But still, they are wonderful products!

Q–It looks big! Does it hurt going in or out?
A— If you do it correctly and carefully, it shouldn’t. Virgins may have some discomfort at first, but that goes away. Your vagina can expand to fit the male anatomy or a baby’s head, and the cup is smaller than both of those things. When you put it in, you can wet it with water or water-based vaginal lube, to ease the insertion. When you pull it out, you squeeze the bottom to break the seal, then gently ease it out of your body, keeping it in an upright position as it comes out.

Q— Can it be used as a method of birth control, or STD protection?
A— No it cannot.

Q— Can I have sexual intercourse while wearing the cup?
A–No, not with the traditional, reusable cups. These cups are worn low in the vagina, and will get in the way.   However, there is one brand of cup called “Instead” that does allow you to have “clean sex” while you use it, and it has a different design— its more like a diaphragm, with a firm but flexible ring at the top. But none of the other cups can be worn during sex.

Q–Does it leak?
A— Not if you insert it properly, and empty it before it gets too full. After you insert the cup, you need to twist and pull down slightly to make sure it pops open and forms a good seal. It takes some practice, but once you get the hang of it, you shouldn’t see any leaks. You can also wear a cloth panty liner the first few times you try it, just in case you are not yet confident.

Q–Can you feel the cup while you wear it?
A— Most women cannot feel it if its inserted correctly, especially if they trim the stem away (but only trim as much as is necessary). Others are slightly aware that the cup is there, the same way they are aware that a tampon is in. But the cup is soft and as long as you have a good size  for your needs, and its inserted correctly, it should not hurt.

Q— Can you get TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) from the cup?
A— Menstrual cups have not been associated with TSS.

Q–How long does a cup last?
A–It depends on the company.  Some companies suggest up to 10 years with proper use and care, and others suggest 1 year as a precaution, due to the nature of the product.  And of course the “Instead” brand is disposable.  Please refer to the company website of the brand you are considering for more information of product lifespan.

Q— Do I need to remove the cup when I urinate/pee or have a bowel movement?
A— No, the hole you urinate/pee from (the urethra) and the vagina are not the same hole. So the cup will not get in the way, or fall out.

Q— How do I empty and clean my cup in a public restroom?
A— Remove and empty it the same way you would at home, but bring some bottled water and/or a wet paper towel in the stall with you for rinsing/cleaning.  Then reinsert it. You can give the cup a good wash after you get home.

Q— I can’t wear tampons, because they don’t stay in me. Will I have the same problem with the cup?
A— You will need to try the cup and see how it works for you. Everyone is different. But some companies will let you return the cup and get a refund, if it does not work out for you. And the returned cups are destroyed. If you are uncertain, be sure to buy direct from he company and ask the company about refund policies before you purchase. But most women who master the cup NEVER go back to disposable products again.

Q–Can I use the cup to collect other types of body liquid?
A— Menstrual cups have been approved for the collection of menstrual fluid only, as directed, and are not recommend for any other use, or collecting any other fluids.

Q— I am allergic / sensitive to latex. Can I still use the cup?
A— Yes, most cups are made of either medical grade silicone, or TPE (the same material used to make catheters in hospitals). The only cup that is made latex is the Keeper. And even their company does have a silicone version as well (the Keeper Moon Cup).

Q–Do I need to sterilize my cup?
A— It is recommended, at least once a month. You should of course wash the cup daily with mild, perfume-free or genital- safe soap (a feminine wash, or cup manufacturer wash works best), and hot water.  You can rinse first with cold water just to get the blood off and prevent stains, then wash with hot water and soap.  Try to do so each time you empty it.   Sterilize as recommended by the manufacturer of your cup (see my pages on “Cleaning And Care”).  Do not use unaproved soaps or sanitizing liquids or products, as the residue they leave behind can either damage the silicone (on a microscopic level, making it vulnerable to bacteria growth), or kill the good bacteria that naturally grows in the vagina which protects you from infection.

Q— I live in a culture where boiling a menstrual cup in the kitchen is not allowed. What should I do?
A— A cup really should always be  cleaned in the recommended way.  If you cannot boil your cup, you can check the company’s website for tips on other methods of cleaning and sterilizing.  All companies have different recommendations for this, so be sure to follow their guidelines, as they know best what is safe for the material of their product.

Q–How often do I have to empty the cup?
A— It depends on your flow– all women are different. If you have an average to heavy flow, the cup should sit well for 3 – 10 hours, depending on how heavy it is. Some women with a very light flow (or on a light day) can go as long as 12 hours.  Never go longer than 10-12 hours without emptying and washing your cup.

Q— Where should I store my cup, when I’m not using it?
A— After you have cleaned your cup, store it in the cloth pouch it comes in.  If you don’t have one, simply store it in a clean cloth sack, which provides air flow.  DO NOT store the cup in a plastic container or plastic zip bag, as this can cause mold.

Q–What is Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)? Do menstrual cups cause it?
A— Menstrual cups have not been associated with TSS.  TSS is a sickness caused by the bacteria that can grow inside absorbent materials, like tampons. It is dangerous, and can be deadly! If you are currently using tampons, you need to be aware of the symptoms of TSS which are: Severe flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches and pains, stomach cramps, a headache, or a sore throat. Sudden fever over 39°C (102°F). Vomiting and diarrhea. Signs of shock, including low blood pressure and rapid heartbeat, often with light-headedness, fainting, nausea, vomiting, or restlessness and confusion. A rash that looks like a sunburn. The rash can be over several areas of your body or just in specific places such as the armpits or the groin. Pain at the site of an infection (if a wound or injury to the skin is involved). Redness in the nasal passages and inside the mouth.  If you think you may have TSS, please see a doctor, right away.   If you have ever had TSS before, speak to your doctor before using any internal products.

Q— If I order a cup, will it come in a discreet package?
A— Most companies understand the sensitive nature of a cup and try very hard to keep the packaging discreet. Although if you order a cup from outside your country, it will need to pass through security / customs, and words such as “sanitary product” may be stamped on by the postal service. But nobody will be able to “see” what it is.

Q— Can I use a menstrual cup if I have and IUD”
A— Some brands recommend it, and some brands do not.  It is best to read the F.A.Q. section on the manufacturer’s website of the brand you are interested in, to find out.

Q— How do I know the cup is in the right position, and has popped open?
A— Never insert straight up. The vagina tilts back toward the rectum, or tail bone. So angle that way. You can check to see if it is popped open by giving it a full rotating twist, and tracing a finger around the outside, to see if it feels round. Rotating should be easy, if its open. Some people cannot rotate it, and that’s ok.  If it has not popped open yet, use a finger to press the side of the cup in a bit and let some air in.

Q— What cup sizes are available, and which one should I choose?
A— Most companies have 2 sizes: One for women aged 25-30 and up (age depends on the company) or who have given birth vaginally– and women under 25-30 who have never given birth (again, age depends on the company). But there are also a few companies with additional sizes (Naturcup, Meluna).

Q— Can the cup be used along with contraceptives?
A— You really should remove the cup before having sex– unless you are using the “Instead” brand. But with some products like Nuvaring, the pill, the patch, or an IUD– they will not harm your cup. It is usually not recommended to use things like contraceptive gel or foam though (such as Conceptrol) with the cup, because not much is known about the effects of those chemicals on the silicone.

Q— I am pregnant, but sometimes, I still spot. Can I use the cup for times like this?
A— You should not use the cup while you are pregnant. The vaginal canal should always be kept clear during this time, even in early stages, for safety reasons.  Also because your ph levels are extremely sensitive due to the chemical changes in your body during this time.  Women are very prone to vaginal infections during pregnancy because of this, even if they are not doing anything differently.  So wearing something inside the vagina is not best at this time.

Q— Is there a money-back guarantee? Can I return or exchange my cup?
A— Many manufacturers will refund your money upon return of the item (used cups are destroyed) if you are not happy with the cup, or allow you to exchange your cup for a different size. However, you may lose this benefit if you do not order directly from the company’s website (for example, if you purchased from eBay, or a private distributor).  Please check the companies policies before purchasing.  Private distributors generally are under contract to not accept returns or exchanges (and therefore do not grant refunds).

Q— What happens to cups that are returned?
A— They are destroyed.

Q— Can I wash the cloth pouch that the cup comes with?
A— Yes. The cotton-based pouches can be washed in the machine or by hand. But some other materials such as satin, may need to be only hand-washed.

Q–At work, I can’t wash with perfume-free soap. What should I do?
A— If you are often away from home, you can just rinse very well with plain water.  Or you might want to keep a small bottle of water and a bottle of perfume-free soap or feminine wash in your purse. You can also simply wet a paper towel before you go in the stall, and use that to wipe the cup clean.  Then give it a proper wash after you get home.

Q— I’m having trouble removing the cup. What should I do?
A— Most women will not have major problems with removal. But if you do, this is normally because the seal has not been broken. First try relaxing as much as possible. If that doesn‘t help, try squatting (which makes the vaginal canal shorter) or bearing down like you are having a bowel movement, to bring the cup closer to your reach. You can also try a longer brand (the DivaCup is the longest).  Different cups work differently, but it will always take a little practice to get in and out.

Q— I have long nails. Can I still use a cup?
A— You can, but you may need to be more careful than other women, during insertion and removal. The material is thick enough to where your nails will not damage it, but long nails may hurt the delicate skin in that area, if special care is not taken.

Q— I come from a very poor family/region. We cannot afford multiple cups for multiple women. Can we share our cup, if it is properly sterilized between uses?
A— Surprisingly, this is something that many women attempt in less wealthy areas of the world. But the companies do not recommend this. Especially if you cannot properly sterilize the cup. Even with sterilization, it is still not a good idea. Especially if the other woman could have a medical condition that you both are not not aware of.

Q— What if there is no clean, potable water available to clean my cup with?
A— You can clean it as you would in a public restroom, just wipe it out with toilet paper, and wait until you are home to give it a proper wash.  Also, a person will eventually have to get drinking water from somewhere. The water you would drink, is the water you should clean your cup with.  If you are a Lunette or Ladycup customer, those companies (and most of their distributors) also sell disinfecting wipes specially for used on silicone cups that will be worn int he vagina.  Other types of wipes may not be best, as they could contain things that are not meant to be inside the body.

Q— Can women with both heavy AND light periods use a cup?
A— Yes! Although women with heavier periods may need to empty the cup more often, or choose a larger cup.

Q— Can I take a bath or a shower with the cup in?
A— Yes you can.

Q— Can I use the cup if I have Endometriosis?
A— Many women do, but if you have a medical condition of any kind, you should always check with your doctor before trying new products.

Q— What about being in different positions, like in Yoga, or going on a roller coaster?
A— To prevent leaks, it is recommended that you empty your cup just before doing any such activities. When you are upside-down, the old blood will touch the skin above the opening of the cup. But traces of the same deposits touch your skin inside all day, as menstrual blood is fairly thick.

Q— I’m going through menopause, and my cycles are very unpredictable. Can I still use a cup?
A— Absolutely! You may even find that it makes the uncertainty more bearable.  The versatility and comfort of the cup may come as a blessing during this time!

Q— How does the cup stay in place?
A— The cup is held firmly in place by the muscular walls and closed-end of the vagina. It also stays in via a light suction that is formed up inside.

Q— Can I practice putting my cup in and taking it out, before my period starts?
A— Yes, absolutely! In fact, you are encouraged to do so! It’s a great idea to have the techniques mastered before your cycle starts. And it is perfectly safe.  You can even wear it ahead of time, while you are expecting your period.

Q— I need to use a lubricant to make inserting a cup easier. Which kind should I use?
A— Any water-based, glycerin-free vaginal lube is ok to use with the menstrual cup, and the bottle should tell you this information. Never use oil-based lubes, as oil is not very bio-compatable with the sensitive tissue environment of the vagina. Simply smear some lube around the outside of the vagina (applying it to the cup can make it slippery), and insertion will be much more comfortable. Lastly, the reason you should avoid glycerin in lubes, is because this is a sugar and may upset your vaginal ph levels, causing infection.

Q— I just had a baby. Can I use a menstrual cup for the postpartum blood?
A— You should not use a cup for postpartum bleeding. Please wait until your doctor tells you it is ok to use internal vaginal products.

Q— Will it spill or make a mess when I remove it?
A— Your first couple of tries may be less than perfect, but with practice, most women are able to get it in and out, with no more mess that a tampon would cause.  Or none at all!

Q— I have a tilted uterus. Can I still use a cup?
A— Most people can. You may need to find the angle that works best for you, however.  Also, please consult with your doctor before trying a cup.

Q— Can a virgin use the cup?
A— It depends on your personal or religious beliefs. A cup can alter your hymen. So if you (or your family and culture) believe it is important to have an intact hymen until you get married, then you should wait until you are no longer a virgin, before using the cup. Otherwise, it is perfectly fine.

Q–What size cup should I use?
A–Each menstrual cup manufacturer has two sizes to choose from (some have more). In general, they all separate women who are 30 and above and/or have given birth vaginally— from women who are under 30 and have never given birth vaginally. The size you choose will depend what category you fit into. And again, a couple of brands even have a different size for virginal teenagers.

Q–Can the cup get stuck or lost inside me?
A— No, not as long as you properly release the seal before pulling down. The cup is flexible. So as long as you squeeze the cup slightly to break the seal, or tilt it from left to right, your natural moisture will allow you to remove it. And it cannot get lost inside you, because it is trapped by the walls and the closed end of your vagina. You are sort of like a pocket up inside, there is nowhere for a cup, or anything else to go. If you have a long vagina, and you’re having difficulty reaching the cup, simply push down with your muscles, like you are having a bowel movement. This can shorten the vagina temporarily.

Q— Can it be used for both light and heavy flows?
A— Most of them, yes. But some brands will make an extra small size for virgins, or women with a light flow. So be sure to do a little research, and select a good size and brand for your needs. It can even be worn just before your period starts, to make sure you don’t get caught without protection.

Q–Will the cup hurt when I am removing it?
A–Not if you break the seal properly. Again, a virgin may have some discomfort the first few times, but it will lessen with practice. Squeeze the cup gently, to let some air in and break the seal. Inserting a finger alongside the cup also helps this process.  Sometimes there are certain vaginal conditions (such as vaginismus) that can cause pain with any kind of insertion, even small objects.  There are other conditions that can cause this too.  If you suspect that you may have such a condition, please see your doctor for a proper diagnosis.  Never self-diagnose.

Q–Can I wear the cup to bed, or while I swim and play sports?
A–Yes you can. But if you are having a very heavy flow day, you might want to set an alarm in the middle of the night, to empty it at least once.


  1. Bea said,


    First I would like to thank you for all the info you provided. I gotta tell you, there are answers to questions that I never thought about it.
    But my main question is, in your opinion and personal experience, which cup works best for you? I know every ones body is different, and different cups will work better than others for each individual, but which do you use?
    Thanks once again 🙂

    Bea Stockler

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      To tell you the truth, I use a few, depending on what day of my cycle it is. On a heavy day, I will use either my small Miacup or my Divacup ( would use my small lunette, because I LOVE it, but I don’t want to stain it, I need it for pictures and videos :). On a light day, I use a small meluna with a ball stem, because the ball stem is esier to grab and its really small so its super comfy.

      But if I were only allowed to use ONE, and I coudl afford to get another one that I didnt’ care about staining, I would probably use small Lunette or small Lunette Selene. They are the same, just the color is different. It has good capacity, but its not really big.

  2. JaneFantasy said,

    🙂 Hi! Thank you so much for all the information you have on the Cups. I found you through Menstrual_Cups Community on LiveJournal, and can’t stop watching your videos on the cups! They seem fasinating to me, for some odd reason. I am hoping to get one soon. But I am having a bit of trouble with finding one, can I ask you for your personal opinion? I am a 17 year old virgin, I have NO HYMEN, because it broke while trying to insert a tampon. I have PCOS, so I do tend to bleed a little heavier, but I do have my light days. And recently, I started to stop bleeding for a couple of hours, and then start back up. I have a high Cervix…I think ( I can fit my whole index finger inside and feel my cervix, but I was in a squating position when I did it, so I’m guessing that when I stand, it will be even farther up?) I don’t really want to start out with a big cup, because I am scared of the suction (People have told me that they can slide up, but you can get them out, but I’m still scared, because of having a bad rep. with tampons) I don’t want it to be to hard, to where I hurt myself trying to get it out (I know the first couple of times, I will have trouble getting used to it.) But I don’t want it to where it won’t “pop” open. I have tight muscles, so I’m not really worried about leakage…Do you have any suggestions?


    Brooke aka JaneFantasy

    P.S. You can find me on the menstrual_cup livejournal with the username “Jane Fantasy” and also, so sorry that this was long, I just really like how you know this information, and I really would like your help with finding one for me 🙂
    (I live in the USA also)

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Hi Jane, watching all the boards and hearing testemonies for the past year, I’ve noticed that younger women (especially virgins) with a medium-to-heavy flow have a common challenge– finding a cup that holds a lot, but isn’t too big.

      I find they usually prefer either the small Yuuki, or the small Lunette. Its because while they are close to the same size as a small ladycup, they are easier to remove because of their grip rings, and hold much more liquid. So I would say go for one of those two (small yuuki, small lunette). Hope that helps.


      • JaneFantasy said,

        Thanks hun! I’ll look into both of them. =)

      • JaneFantasy said,

        I actually have one last question, the Yuuki cup looks wider then the DivaCup, one lady said that her cervix sometimes sits in the cup, I am really nervous about anything touching my cervix, because when I was checking to see where my cervix set, I rubbed my hand along it, and got really lightheaded, and sick to my stomach. One lady told me what I had experienced, but I forgot lol. It’s happened before, and I’m just kinda freaked out about anything touching my cervix, lol. I am afraid that if it was caught or sometime, it would tear my cervix O_O’ cause it just seems like its a squished ball, that moves around inside you lol. But do you really think that it touching your cervix, will do you any harm?

  3. Julie Siddoway said,

    Hi, I just had my second baby and when I tried my size 1 Diva Cup after a few weeks it actually turned so that the stem was poking me in the side of my vagina rather than pointing down. Is there one cup that is a better (maybe larger size) than others so that it will stay in the correct position?

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Diva is the longest brand, but not the widest. Some of the widest are Mpower, Large Fleurcup, large ladycup, large Lunette, etc. It could be the length of the Diva bothering you, many women who are shorter inside find that the Diva sticks out a bit. Does this happen with you? Pretty much every brand is shorter than Diva, if that’s the case.

  4. Alice said,

    I’ve just started my period, and am intrested in a cup. One part of this article says “It will alter your hymen.” What does that mean? My culture and religion are fine with that, but I’d like to know what my hymen is before I start messing with it.

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Many people think the hymen is up inside a girl’s vagina, but that is not true. Your hymen (some people jokingly call it your “cherry”) is kind of like a thin piece of skin that covers the outer opening of the vagina. Not all virgins have a hymen, some are born without one, and others broke it while stretching, dancing, falling down hard, sports, horse back riding, masturbation, etc. because it is very easily torn). For some girls it hurts to tear it. For others, it doesn’t.

      If you have a hymen, it will tear or break the first time you have sex, or sometimes use a tampon, or even any of the other above-mentioned activities. Sometimes it will bleed a little bit when torn, but sometimes not. It would be hard to tell, if you were on your period when it tore.

      Many cultures/religions define a virgin as a girl who still has her hymen. But some define it as a person who has never had penis-in-vagina sex (which is what I personally believe). Many cultures demand that a girl’s hymen stay perfectly intact until the day of her wedding, and that the husband must show a blood-stained sheet to the family the night after her wedding as proof of her virginity (unfortunatly, these are usually people who do not realize how easily a hymen is torn by regular activities, or that some women never had one…).

      Some hymens cover the vagina’s hole completely with no holes at all (that one is called the “parousintroitus” hymen), and are torn naturally when a girl’s first period blood breaks through. Some hymens have natural holes in them, and there are many different shapes. It really depends what kind you have, weather or not you can get anything inside the vagina (like a finger, or a tampon) without tearing it at least a little bit. Here are some medical drawings of the different kinds of hymens: there are other kinds of hymens as well, I believe there are 6 in total.

      You can take a small mirror and do some self examining to determine if you have one. For other pictures and examples, you can do a google search (click on “images” at the top of the google home page, so you will only get picture results) and type the word “hymen”. There may even be some real medical examples available. Hope that helps. 🙂

  5. Alice said,

    Thanks, that really helps.

  6. Alice said,

    Oh, and if you can insert something like a finger or a tampon, does that mean your hymen is broken/you wern’t born with one?

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Not always… If you have the type of hymen where the thin piece of skin goes in a ring/circle around the edges of the vaginal opening, you may still be able to get a finger or a small tampon in there. Sometimes you just can’t know until the first time you attempt sex, or self exploration with something equal in size to a penis. If it just seems like there is just no way it will go in easily, then you may have some of your hymen still. But having one really isn’t a big deal, unless your culture demands it. Most men really can’t even tell weather or not they’ve broken a girl’s hymen, so obviously there’s not a whole lot of difference in feel for the man between a virgin, and a non-virgin. Unless he’s had many partners and considers himself an expert on the difference, lol.

  7. Katie said,

    Hi there!

    I have loved learning about Menstrual Cups tonight. I think I’m interested in trying one out, but I have 2 questions:

    1. I generally “feel” a tampon inside me, and it’s not a good feeling. I usually switch to just pads because of the discomfort. Will I still feel that with a cup?

    2. Is there a lot of mess? For your fingers during application? For your clothes while you are cleaning your cup, before reinsertion? Overnight excess? Sorry about all these questions.

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Its ok, lots of people have those questions. The reason most women feel tampons, is because they are so dry and rigid. They stel your vaginal moisture. In fact, many women say they have terrible vaginal dryness after switching to tampons, even when they are not on their period! But cups do not interfere with your moisture levels. They let your body do what comes natural. I’ve heard many women report that “tampons hurt me, but cups didn’t”. Of course, a virgin may have some discomfort at first, but that goes away with use. Also, someone with a low cervix may feel the bottom of the cup, but trimming the stem, or chosing a shorter brand works well for that. Also, you have to keep your flow level in mind. If you have a very heavy flow, don’t get a really tiny cup.

      Mess? The first time you use it, you may be a bit clumbsy. But I can honestly say, during my first week, I mastered it enough to insert and remove with no more mess on my hands than I would get with a tampon. Sometimes you might get a thin “string” of fluid on the rim of the cup, but you just keep toilet paper in your hand, and press it over the top of the cup. Problem solved. Or you could simply dump the cup out completely before you bring it up, but then you won’t be able to see how full it is (and of course, many people are curious to see what ends up in the cup, lol). After looking at it to check flow levels, most women just dump it right in the toilet, no contact with clothes at all. Or if they are at home, they dump it (and wash it) in the sink. But really, if you don’t hold it right over your clothes the whole time, there is very little chance of a mess on your clothes. Like just move it over to the side rather than in front of you, or something. No biggie. 🙂 Overnight’s not a problem, unless you have a VERY heavy flow. In which case you should get a bigger cup, or set an alarm the empty it in the middle of the night. I woudl suggest for your first/heaviest night, wear a pad for backup, just until you know weather or not your flow will behave the whole night through.

      Hope that helps.

  8. Sharon said,


    I just wanted to say thank you for all the information about the different cups It has been very helpful. I bought the mooncup (UK) and Diva cup, this is my second month and I am still having trouble with leakage. I know I have a tilted uterus but as i see in a question above it should not be a problem. I really want to master this because I still have to use a pad to stop the leakage. I use the C method to insert . Is there any cup which has a wider rim.


    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Ilted uterus (and/or tilted cervix) a lot of the time can be helped by different angles of the cup. Some women have good luck placing their cup purposely at a slant to one side or the other…

      Flared rims do help a lot of people with leakage. Brands that have them are Meluna, Mooncup UK, Keeper and Keeper moon Cup, Femmecup, Fleurcup. meluna’s rims are thethickest I think (at least their medium) but in order to do well with that one, your flow can’t be too heavy… Sometimes just a stiffer material helps (like mpower, Fleurcup, Large Lunette).

      To figure out if something more flared or stiffer might help– does one of your cups leak more than the other? Diva or MCUK? Can’t remember if you commented abotut it before or not, I will need to check, but what sizes do you have? Could the size be the issue?

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    you article really help me, thanks

  11. dj said,

    Rather late in “period life” (40’s) I decided to try a menstrual cup again. Attempts to use a Keeper several years ago failed … probably due to the cup being too large for me. (No children, no pregnancies) I tried for a few months with the large size Diva cup. Everything about it was uncomfortable, though without so much unpleasantness, I never would have found so much helpful information in the LJ community, Melissa’s videos, and this blog. Thank you!!! My last period I used a small Lunette cup and many of my problems with the other cups were solved.

    What I haven’t been able to resolve is cup related bladder/urethra discomfort. I can get the cup in and out, have figured how to make it open and how to break the suction on removal, etc. I’ve given up on trying to “spin” the cup … can’t make that happen, and at this point it seems to be an unnecessary irritation to delicate tissue. My muscles “down there” are in good tone. Any thoughts on getting the cup “in a better location” so it isn’t triggering an “it feels like I need to pee” feeling?

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      There are many things that can cause that feeling. The two biggest things are placement angle, and cup brand. You can fool around with slightly different angles during insertion. But if that doesn’t help… Some brands put less pressure on the bladder than others. Really soft brands, such as Ladycup, Miacup, Shecup, etc., many women report less (or no) lbadder pressure.


  12. Julie said,

    Hi Melissa,
    I’ve been reading through many different blogs on menstrual cups. I am going to study abroad in Italy next year and was wondering if you know where some of these cups can be bought locally over seas. I found a page once with lists of which cup could be bought in what country and in what local stores of drug stores. Could you help me out? I know some of these cups aren’t even available to post to the US so I was hoping to find a few in my travels through Europe. Thanks for the help, and fantastic page!

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      I don’t know of any cups in Italy, unless drugstores carry them. The few Italian women I have spoken to swear they cannot find them in Italian stores.

      But actually, most of them can be purchased online from — The lady who runs that site is Teresa, the business is based in the UK. You can ask her if she will ship to Italy, and I know she ships to the USA, as I have ordered from her.

      I believe the only cups that cannot be shipped to the USA right now are: Fleurcup from France, and the UK’s Mooncup (but USA / the Keeper company has a version of Moon Cup too). Not sure about Mpower at the moment.

      But all the others (Divacup, Lunette, Keeper, Keeper Mooncup, Yuuki, Ladycup, Meluna, Shecup, Instead, Femmecup, Miacup) can all be shipped to the USA. Or actually purchased in stores here, in the case of Divacup, Keeper/Keeper Moon Cup and Instead. Shecup can be purchased on eBay. All the others, either at Femininewear, or their original websites. hope that helps 🙂

  13. Rachel said,

    I just purchased the small Keeper Moon Cup and received it in the mail today. I was looking for as small and soft a brand as I could find, but went ahead and ordered a US brand so I could have it faster. I have not had a problem with insertion, but when I remove the cup, I it is quite uncomfortable as it hits my pubic bone when I pull it out–it feels like I have to pull it against the opening of my vagina until it “pops” out. Do you have any suggestions for removal that might help? Or, do you have a suggestion for a different brand that may be more comfortable? I am 26, no births, and am rather small with a light flow, so a small size would be fine. Thank you!

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      If you pinch the base and rock it from side to side, and then ease out one edge of the rim (from the side, rather than in front, as the front is extremely sensitive due to the urethra), it tends to be more comfortable.

      If you still fancy another brand, you can try some that have more subtle rims and may therefore be more comfortable to romove. Like small Ladycup, Lunette, or Yuuki. 🙂

  14. liz said,

    I’ve one more question, I guess its a dumb question , but I wonder………does it make you ‘looser’ down there, using a cup?

    I don’t want that to happen lol……..thanks 🙂 Love this blog!

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      That’s actually a good question, and one that plenty of people wonder about.

      Don’t worry about getting “loose”, that won’t happen. The vagina is a very flexible and strong muscle, and kind of like a rubber band. It can do some pretty amazing things– it can stretch out to the size of a baby’s head, and then shrink back down again to a size that is still enjoyable for sexual activity. Some women even use the same size cup before and after child birth! And even some girls who are sexually active, if they go 6 months without sex, they go through what is called “second virginity”, in which they shrink back almost to a virgin size, and the next time they have sex hurts kind of like being a virgin again, lol. In fact, just a few days after sexual activity, you shrink quite a bit.

      A cup is smaller than the “male anatomy” (or any similar personal items), so certainly it cannot make you “loose”, if all the above things don’t.

      Hope that eases your mind 🙂

  15. Milcah said,

    Your site really helped after I got my Diva cup…though what helped me has disappeared! Your handmade drawings of the cervix and how it may move throughout your period and how a menstrual cup seats itself. Here is where the page used to be:

    Any way you can post it again? I frequently direct ladies who are having trouble with leaks to check it out.

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Unfortunalty I did have to remove it, because I am now a Lunette distributer (selling Lunette products at ). Advice about both the cervix and cramps are legally considerd “medical advice” and by contract, distributers are not allowed to offer medical advice. I was pretty upset about it, but I really wanted to be a bigger part in the menstrual cup movement– as a distributer, I have more access to information pamphlets, media regarding cups, and cups themselves. With permission and help from the company, I could use my information websites and my love for cups to possibly give public talks, bring cup samples, and help move menstrual cups into a more mainstream position. 🙂

      I basically wanted to become part of a very strong team that was actively bringing menstrual cups into people’s lives. I did have to make some sacrifices in order to do so though… 😦 But to me, it will be worth it in the end, when menstrual cups are just as socially known and accepted as tampons.

  16. wiccanhot said,

    I normally use pads but I received a free sample of and Instead. What would happen if I put the instead in and then forgot and went back to using pads the rest of the week?

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      If you let it in the entire time, it would probably overflow and eventually leak. But not changing it for days on end is probably not a good idea. Even int he case of pads, if you wore the same one for days, you coudl get an infection.

  17. natalia said,

    Dear Melissa,

    I was so happy after I first heard about cups (such a great alternative for tampons) that immediately bought lunette small size and small meluna. I have a light flow and strong muscles, so I thought this will be enough. Now I am on my 3rd period, and still both of the cups do leak – I’ve read many topics on proper insertion etc, but now it became also harder to have it open, once inside. Rotating does not help at all, the walls of the cup stay pressed together. The meluna is stiffer, but this does not work either. I also tried to let some air inside, this is somehow not possible… (?) Sometimes my cup starts to leak immediately, sometimes after a few hours. Are there any tips which could help? I really don’t want to go back to tampons or pads…

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      If it leaks immediately, then its most likely position, the seal, cup size, or possibly anatomy. Sometimes inserting the cup with the folded crease facing downward or to the side can help it open better. Many people find that getting it to fully pop open creates a much better seal. Its ok if you cannot rotate it, many women can’t, but they still use a cup successfully. Even if a person has strong muscles, still sometimes a cup can be too soft or too small. Its not relfection on “tightness” of course, sometimes it is just the shape of a person’s insides. There may be unique curves, tilts, etc. These can cause spaces where leaks can get out. If new folding methods, or slightly changing your insertion anlgles does not help, then it may very well be a size issue. But if you decide to try a larger cup, you don’t have to lose money. There are women in the LiveJounral forum who will buy “gently used” cups at half price, etc. This could help finance a larger size. Always make sure the cervix is pointing toward the inside of the cup, and is not outside the rim.

      Also, the Lunette website has lots of tips that I may have forgotten to mention:

      Hope some fo this helps,


      • natalia said,

        Thank you!

  18. Kate said,

    Hello Melissa,
    I just found about menstrual cups and I’m thinking about switching to them in the near future. I’m only 14, but I try to be as conscious of my body and sexuality as possible. I’ve learned many useful things from your site and provided links – thanks! I would like to ask about one thing. Here you write, that to sterylize the cup it should be boiled for 20 minutes. In one of your other posts, I read that it should be boiled for 5 minutes. So, which one is right? And if I would clean the cup with cotton pad and rubbing alcohol, should I try to look for pads that aren’t bleached with chlorine (does it have to be written by producent on every package or are the ones bleached and unbleached next to each other on the shelf, without anything to distinguish them?) or it doesn’t make any difference? Also, which cryteria should I think most about when choosing the cup? I’m a virgin teen and I haven’t been using tampons. My flow is very heavy, especially on the first 2-3 days of period (even though I’m using ,,ultra” pads, sometimes they leak after 3hrs 😦 it’s quite a problem at school…). I’m afraid that if I choose ,,teen” size it will leak very fast.
    Thank you very much for your answer,

    P.S. I’m sorry for my terrible grammar and vocabulary, but I live in Poland, so English is not my native language :/

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Hi Kate,

      Don’t worry, your English is very good. As for how long the cup should be boiled, it depends on the brand, really. I’m thinking of going through all my posts and adding a note about that. SheCup says 20 minutes, but some other companies say 3 to 5 minutes. I think it depends on the exact material they use, since they all differ slightly. Its best to check the instructions that come with the cup you buy, to see what the company recommends.

      I don’t think it will make a difference if the cotton for the rubbing alcohol is bleached or not, since you won’t be wearing the cotton inside you, and it will only touch the cup for a few seconds. Regular should be fine.

      If you have a heavy flow, you should stick with brands that offer good capacity, even in their small size. Such as DivaCup, Miacup, SheCup. If you have a low cervix though, a cup may sit a bit lower naturally. In that case, Divacup may be too long. But if your cervix is not very low (meaning if its hard to reach, or you cannot reach it at all) then it should not be a problem.

      When you first use your cup, if you are unsure about it, you can simply test your cup by only using it in the evening, when you are at home, and wearing a pad for security, just in case. This way, you can get to know how long it takes you to fill it up and weather or not you like using one.

      Hope this helps,


  19. Lilly said,

    When you talk about which cup would be good for the individual person, you mention that cervix postition is important, you know weather it’s high or low. I’ve tried to check, but I can’t feel anything exsept a small patch that feels, well the only word I can think of is wrinkly. I don’t think that’s it, since it’s really far down. Does that mean my cerfix is too far for me to reach, or that it’s the wrinkly thing? What does a cervix feel like? It’d be a lot easier to find something if I know what I’m looking for :).
    P.S. Sorry for the TMI.

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      If you can’t reach it, then its probably just really high. Many people say it feels like the (sorry) “head of a small penis”, or like the tip of your nose. But its kind of firm, round and has a small hole in the center. If you cannot find it, a doctor can tell you where it is for sure. Here is a photo of one. Seeing it kind of helps you imagine what you would be feeling for:


  20. Carli said,

    Hi Melissa! I have a question (& sort of a dilemma regarding sex & cups)–its a little off the subject of cups–I hope you don’t mind. I am a new cup user & so far things are going great! Since you are kind of an ‘expert’ when it comes to alternative menstrual products I thought maybe you could give your opinion on a product that I recently came upon. They are called “soft tampons” (yes I said it–the T word lol) . They are tiny & sponge-like & can be worn during sexual intercourse (which you can’t do w/ cups, except for the insteads). The Instead cups kinda scare me, which is how I came across these things. My body can’t handle the synthetic hormones of regular Birth Control methods….so I’m desperate for something natural that will work for intercourse during menstruation. Any thoughts on these things?? Do you think they are safe? Apparently they are free of chemicals etc. Here are the links & Sorry that was long! Thanks for your help! 🙂

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      I haven’t heard of these yet, but they sound interesting. If they have been medically approved for this use, then they should be as good as regular tampons.

      The only advice I can give though, is that even though soft tampons are chemical free, they still may caryr the risk of TSS (toxic shock syndrome). TSS is caused by things that “absorb”.

      If you try them, let me know how it goes 🙂

  21. Carli said,

    Thanks for your thoughts, I will let you know how it goes if I do try them–I’m not so keen on the risk of TSS (my mom almost died from it, which is why I’m so grateful I found cups!) so we will see! Another quick question–I’m a new Lunette user & am wondering how to go about cutting the stem. How do you know where you should cut it? And is there a way to make it smooth again or will it be pokey (for loss of a better word) ?

  22. Bali said,

    I am 14 yr. old n virgin. I want to keep my hymen intact because of socio-cultural region. Pl. explain me proper way of instertion without breaking my hymen. and thanks a lot for giving wonderful advice. You inspired me.

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Unfortunately, there really is no way to insert a menstrual cup without breaking your hymen. Even small tampons can tear or break it. Many virgins do use cups, but normally they live in a culture where the hymen really does not matter.

      Actually, if its very important for you to keep your hymen until your wedding night, then its probably best not to use any kind of internal menstrual products. In this situation, pads are actually better. Of course, you can use cloth pads, so that you won’t have to keep buying more and more supplies. They are very easy to care for, you simply wash them like a load of underwear, and they are all clean and ready for your next period. They are also more comfortable, and more absorbent that disposables.

      But I do think its wonderful that you are open-minded enough to consider menstrual cups 🙂 You certainly will be able to use them after you are married, and I know that is a long way off, but until then, you can ask any questions you like.


  23. Bali.Nagpur said,

    you have mentioned “A cup can alter your hymen” Does it Break it or it remain intact? Will it bleed the first time for a virgin? I want to keep an intact hymen until I get married,
    I am virgin n 15 yr. old . Is there any foolproof way to use the cup or proper way of insertion, without breaking hymen? The SheCup is available in india. or Shall I go for some other brands, which doesn’t break my hymen.

    How do we know when its time to remove n empty it. Do we need to use Pads for additional protection during school? and thanks a lot for giving wonderful advice.

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Hello dear, I also posted this answer on the other page under your comment:

      “Alter” means that it may only tear your hymen a little bit, or it may tear it completely. But unfortunately, there really is no way to insert a menstrual cup without breaking your hymen in some way. Even small tampons can tear or break it. Many virgins do use cups, but normally they live in a culture where the hymen really does not matter.


      But I do think its wonderful that you are open-minded enough to consider menstrual cups 🙂 You certainly will be able to use them after you are married, and I know that is a long way off, but until then, you can ask any questions you like. And I hope after your wedding you will give them a try, because they are great!


  24. Rachel K said,

    I would like to try a menstrual cup, and your site has been very informative and helpful to me! I’m trying to figure out which one is right for me, and I have a couple questions I hope you can help me with.

    I felt for around for my cervix to determine if I have a short vagina, and I was able to reach it with my middle finger, so my vagina is about 65 mm long. It’s the day before my period starts, so I will double check that it doesn’t get shorter on my period, but since I can touch it, that means I need a shorter length cup right?

    Is there a rule of thumb for how long the cup can be based on how long the vagina is? Since mine is 65mm, what would the longest cup be that I could wear comfortably? My period is pretty normal but on heavier days, I would want one that wouldn’t overfill while I’m sleeping. But I still want a shorter one so it’s not uncomfortable!

    Also, how do I decide what width would be right for me? I’m 24 years old, sexually active, but no babies. And how can I tell if I should get a firmer or softer one?!

    Do you have any recomendations for the right cup for me?

    Thank you!!

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Hi Rachel,

      Those are all really good questions, sounds like you have thought this through a lot.

      If you can touch your cervix, then its definitely not high. At your length, it sounds about “average”. But as you said, definitely check it during your cycle, because it may move down more. Some people it will, some it won’t. When I’m not on my period, I can reach my cervix with the middle finger if I lay down and REALLY reach. But on the heaviest day of my cycle… Its RIGHT inside, I mean like half a finger’s length. Big difference. My cervix usually sits inside a cup.

      If you decide you want to play it safe with your flow, and try a large– I’ll say that most sexually active women are ok with a large. I can use a large, even though I’ve never had kids. But I’m 29 and married, so being sexually active makes a difference.

      The only rule of thumb I know of is if your cervix is really high (out of reach), then you should probably try DivaCup, Large Naturcup, or Large Yuuki, if it will fit width wise. Its easier to reach.

      If its average or low, most of the other cups will be fine, because it will be easier to reach. But it just depends on flow. Like for example, if your flow is really light, then you can go for small Ladycup, small or medium Meluna, etc. If its “average”, you can try DivaCup (if the cervix doesn’t move down extremely low), keeper/Keeper moon cup, Mooncup UK (if you’re outside the USA), femmecup, SheCup, small fleurcup or lunette, small miacup, etc. If its heavy, you can try any of the larges. Or Miacup, its got great capacity, large or small.

      Firm or soft? mmmm….. That’s usually a preference one develops after having used at least one cup. The firmness of everyone’s insides differs greatly. But if you would prefer to play it safe, then I would say for your first cup, don’t go to either extreme just yet… Try a cup that’s “somewhere in the middle” in stiffness. Maybe something like DivaCup (again, if the cervix doesn’t come down really low), small Lunette, Keeper Moon Cup, or Miacup. Chances are pretty good that 50/50 stiffness will be fine. But if you end up wanting more or less, you won’t be on a very uncomfortable end of the spectrum.

      Hope this helps,


  25. silverblackbird said,

    Hi Melissa,
    Firstly your site is incredible, it should be advertised everywhere! Ok, my story 🙂 I came across the idea of cups a couple of years back (the Mooncup UK is advertised on the back of toilet doors across the country!) but found the whole idea a bit ‘eurgh’…like most people I suspect!

    Since then I’ve come back to the idea a few times but it’s only now that I’m convinced enough to actually buy one! I think my ideas about my body have changed (grown up a bit perhaps ) and I’m not happy with either the cost or wastefulness of towels and tampons. I’ve also had problems with thrush a couple of times and just hate the feel of tampons – and the idea of what they’re doing in there! I have this idea that soaking everything up like that doesn’t feel ‘right’ – plus I often get a strange ‘heavy’ feeling with tampons.

    So – I think, after much consideration, that I’m going to go with a Meluna ring style – I think I’d be able to get the best grip and not have the stem to bother with (I hate the feel of a tampon string). The price (on helps too! The only thing I’m struggling with now is whether to go for the soft or original? It seems natural to go for the softest option considering where it’s going but does that compromise how ‘secure’ it is or how easy it is to use? I’m 23, married but no kids, medium to heavy flow, so assuming I’ll be going for the medium size whatever. I just need to know – soft or normal?

    Sorry for the essay and thanks for your help in advance 🙂

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Hmmm… More than being a security issue (because both models seal fine for me), I think its more an issue of trading extra comfort for extra fuss. Best thing I can do is toss out some pros and cons, that might make it easier to decide.

      Soft– A softer cup might be (slightly) more comfortable, but it also takes more effort to pop open. So if its more important for you to have less fuss, and you want to be able to just pop a cup in and go…

      Firmer– An extra sensitive person might be slightly more aware of it, but it does pop open more easily. The reason some people still take the softer one, is maybe because they are extremely sensitive, and they are willing to make the trade.

      In either case, with a medium to heavy flow, you might want the large… I suppose you could get a medium if it doesn’t bother you to empty it a little more frequently, it just depends on your schedule.

      Hope that helps,


      • silverblackbird said,

        Thanks for that. I think maybe I should go for the firmer one then, I’m not sure the extra fiddling around would help me get used to it as a first-time user. If that goes well I can always try the softer one in the future! I can’t believe I’m so excited about this 🙂

        Thanks again x

  26. Lynn said,

    I used the Keeper years ago and was disappointed when I began experiencing vaginal yeast infections monthly from using it despite taking scrupulous care to clean it well. I was very disappointed, too, with the non-existence of the Keeper’s customer service. I never received any responses to phone calls or emails when I began having this problem. I ended up not using it anymore and was sorry to have to stop because I loved the convenience. I hated the infections more, however.

    I’ve heard of other people having problems with customer service with the Keeper, too.

    but primarily, I would like to know what the likelihood is of having recurrent infections with other brands made from different material. i would like to try a cup again if I could be reasonably certain that my problems were with the Keeper alone.

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Since the Keeper is made of latex, I would say check with your doctor to see if you have latex sensitivities. If so, try a cup that’s made of silicome or TPE instead. If not, check to see if you have extra sensitive ph levels. Some people are just extremely prone to yeast infections.

      Diet change (eliminate mushrooms, cheese, white starches and sugars) and take garlic/alicin suppliments along with eating sugar-free yogurt, also taking some candida balance suppliments– can really help. Along with whatever your doctor suggests. 🙂

  27. Georgia said,

    Hi! I love this informative site!
    A few years ago, before baby no.3 I used a Mooncup UK large (size A, I think). It was OK for the first couple of months and then it just didn’t work out any more. It seemed too long even without the stem and I had a real issue with not being able to pee. So, I gave up!
    Undeterred, I did loads of research and decided on a medium MeLuna SOFT with ball. Medium, because it was short, and soft becasue I thought it wouldn’t press on my bladder tube! Although I love it, it does leak in the first couple of days when my period is really heavy. The cup isn’t any where near full but there must be an issue with the seal. I figure that I need to buy an additional cup for those first days but don’t want to get a longer one because I know it will irritate the hell out of me! Any ideas about others I should try? Is the diameter perhaps too small? even though it is OK on other days? Should I go wider at the top? If so I have looked at the comparison chart and thought the Large Fleur Cup might be the best one to go for.
    Best wishes

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Large Fleurcup is pretty good. It is firmer though, so you might feel it if you are really sensitive. Large Ladycup is short in the body for a large, but its really soft, so it needs extra coaxing to pop open. It tends to have good suction though. Also, I would like you to have a look at my comparison photos, so you can see them all up close, like the length and width, etc.:

      If Meluna soft leaks, it could possibly be that a firmer cup would be better. Classic Meluna? Some people will leak with only soft cups, or only firm cups. If mooncup UK didn’t leak (sounds like you had the older model, which was firmer in the rim) then maybe that helped?

      Then you can also try different ways of inserting. Sometimes that can help leaking issues. Try keeping one of the suction release holes inside the fold crease when you fold it. That will keep it exposed to air longer during opening, and let it open better. Then try inserting with the folded crease facing down. That tends to pop open better too for some reason. The better it pops open, the better the seal. Especially with softer cups.


  28. Susan said,

    I just bought a diva cup and used it for the first time, and I’m very pleased with it so far. The first night I had no leaks, yesterday I had some leaks but wore a pad for back-up, last night no leaks again and I finally was able to rotate it as instructed (had been trying to rotate using the stem; had to grab the cup itself), so I did the same thing this morning and I think I may be leak free.

    I also removed and reinserted it in the bathroom at work; no problem!

    I’m grateful for your blog, it helped me take the plunge! So far I’m very happy. It is easier to insert than I expected, and easy enough to get out if I grab the cup versus the stem. I also found helpful the diva instructions which said not to push it too far in, to just get the stem inside. I ignored that the first time and had a bit more trouble taking it out.

    Thanks again!

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Glad you are having a good experience! 🙂 Another thing you can try is keep one of the tiny suction release holes inside the fold crease when you fold it. That will keep it exposed to air longer, so it opens better. Then try inserting with the fold crease facing down. That also helps it open better. The better it opens, the better it seals.

  29. Julianna said,

    I currently have a small DivaCup. It worked great for the first 2 cycles I was able to use it. Then I got pregnant and lost the pregnancy 5 months in. I had 4 cycles to use it again after losing my son before getting put on meds to temporarily stop my periods. During those cycles, the cup wasn’t as comfortable as I had remembered. Now that I’m off of the meds, and on my 2nd cycle I’m noticing the same discomfort again.
    The length isn’t such a big deal although my cervix is VERY low at the beginning of my cycle. I’ve trimmed the stem and it just barely sits inside me.
    My major issue is the discomfort felt when trying to pee. It feels like the cup is pressing against my urethra and I really have to push hard to get any pee out.
    Can you recommend a cup that may be a bit shorter than the DivaCup small with a softer rim for me?

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Maybe you can try the small Lunette, its very much like Diva, but shorter and a flat stem. That’s what I personally use, because I have a really low cervix, but I liked the grips and texture of Diva.

      Hope that helps,


      • Julianna said,

        Does the small Lunette have a softer rim than the small Diva? I’m thinking I need a bit wider and yet softer rim as I’ve had a baby (although WAY early term) via c-section since I purchased the Diva….
        Does the Lunette push on the bladder/urethera the way the Diva seems to? (that is my biggest problem aside from extremely minor leaking)

        Thank you SO much for this incredible resource! I try to tell as many people as I can about this to open their eyes to a healthier way to manage their monthly friends 🙂

  30. Luana said,

    I’ve just started using a Mooncup, but it’s really uncomfortable. I’m not leaking, so I’m inclined to think it’s open and sealed, but it feels like I have a really huge, really full tampon inside when I walk around. Insertion and removal aren’t painful at all. This is my first cycle using a cup and I understand that there’s a learning curve. Could this just be my body getting used to the cup or maybe I need a shorter cup? both? Do you have any thoughts on this?


    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Sometimes trying different insertion angles can make you feel it less. Or just a cup with a different shape, or a softer middle.

      I do know that the femmecup is very much like a mooncup in shape, and even though the new moonscup is softer than the old model, I think Femmecup may be softer in the middle? So you might be able to try that one, and see if the softness in the center makes a difference.

  31. Luana said,

    After combing the two community forums and consulting your measurement charts (thanks much for those, they’re so helpful!) I decided to get a bunch and just experiment. Lunette was way more comfortable than Mooncup for me, but still uncomfortable. So I’ve ordered a Femmecup, Ladycup and Meluna soft to find the right combination of capacity and softness. Thanks for all your help!

  32. Sarah said,

    I recently got the small Keeper Moon Cup and I’ve been doing practice runs before my period starts. I finally got the hang of inserting it but I am having a really hard time removing it. Everytime I try to pull it out, I get to about halfway and it really starts to hurt because it feels so big and it pokes or pulls at me. Do you have any suggestions for different ways to remove the cup? I really want this to work for me. Thanks!

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Try walking it down, like rocking it from side to side, as you gently guide it down. That seems to help break the suction more gently. As you get closer to taking it out, bring out only one edge of the rim, slowly, don’t try to get the whole rim out all at once. Also, its best to ease out one edge from the side, rather than the front. The front is where the sensitive urethra is, and it can be more uncomfortable from that angle. If its possible, you can even try partially folding the cup a bit as your bring it down, to make it smaller.

      Hope some of this helps. 🙂

  33. Jessica said,

    Hi:) I just finished using the diva cup for my first cycle and I noticed the first time I had sex after that I was a bit sore in my vaginal canal is this normal for the first time using a menstrual cup?

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      If you practiced a lot with the cup, or if you emptied it a lot, you may be more sensitive there. Give yourself a day or so of recovery. Also, try using a water based lube during insertion and such, that tends to prevent soreness.


  34. Leah said,

    Hi Melissa, I have a question about what could be causing some leaking and what I should do about it, or if I should buy another cup, etc. It’s pretty detailed so I’m wondering if I could email you or vice versa. I have looked around your website but I can’t find an email address so would you be able to tell me where to send my situation? Sorry in advance, it’s a little verbose but your website has been so helpful in my cup-choosing process and I would really love your advice. 🙂

  35. Emily said,

    I got the Mooncup UK and love it’s comfortable flexibility and easy-to-clean holes. However, the base protrudes from the vaginal opening and it is extremely easy to remove. It leaks. I push it up farther, so I don’t think my cervix is too low. It just slides back down and sticks part way out as I walk around. I was careful to order the larger size, as I’ve had children. I tore after both births, so I wonder if I would do better with a wider brand. If so, can you recommend one that is wider, but has the same appeal of the Mooncup UK? If you have any other suggestions, I would be pleased to hear them.

    Thank you for this wonderful service.

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Your cervix actually may still be low. Even if you can push the cup up higher, the rim of the cup is just pushing the cervix up a bit. But after a little while, your cervix will naturally creep back down low again. But the cervix being low is the only thing I know of that makes a cup stick out.

      Here is a video I made about it, it really helps to clear things up:

      I don’t really know of anything wider, but there is a possibility that may not be the problem. Your cervix could be peeking out the side. You can try allowing the cup to pop open a bit early, like halfway in, and then coaxing it up. That helps to ensure that your cervix is aiming toward the cups opening. Or try inserting with the folded crease facing down or backward, that seems to create a better seal.

      As for the cup sticking out… If it is a case of a low cervix, a shorter cup might help with the discomfort of that. Something like a medium Meluna (close to the same rim width, but shorter). Or you could even try turning the cup inside-out, that makes it about a half inch shorter. But make sure you would be able to grab it without the grip rings…

      Hope this helps,


      • Emily said,

        Thanks for your suggestions. Turning the cup inside out definitely cut down on the leaking and made it more comfortable, so I guess you’re right about the cervix being low. Being inside out, the Mooncup is pretty difficult to insert and remove, so I’m thinking of getting a different one. Is the Meluna the best cup for a low cervix or are there others I should consider?

  36. Mikki said,

    Okay, so this might be a stupid question, but I resently recieved 3 Meluna cups (I only ordered 2, but they included an extra because it was an off color, so nice of them!), two smalls and a medium. They only included one bag but it’s super long. Is it sanitary to store all three in the bag?

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      I don’t see why not, as long as the cups are all clean before you put them in. But if you every had something like a yeast infection, you may want to separate them, or very thoroughly sterilize them.

  37. Mae said,

    This website is the best! Thank-you for all the information you provide and for taking the time to share it with others.
    I’m relatively new to using menstrual cups. I had used the Instead softcup over 5 years ago without any problems. Since having 2 children now, I recently decided to try using a cup again because I’ve been having difficulties with tampons (I can’t seem to get anything larger in size than a regular inserted anymore).
    I started out with the small and large Lunette cup. My cervix seems quite low now (I couldn’t even find it years ago) and I’m having the same issue with the small Lunette cup as I do with tampons. I haven’t even attempted the large Lunette yet. Even after trimming the entire stem off, I just can’t push it in far enough to be comfortable – the base of the cup sits barely inside or right at the vaginal entrance. I’ve made sure that the cup is around the cervix and push the cup in towards the back and not up. I even tried letting the cup pop open before it’s all the way in to get it in place. I feel a lot of pressure while wearing the cup and experience a lot more cramping than usual. It doesn’t slide out, but it just isn’t comfortable and it just won’t push in past a certain point.
    I did tear with both of my babies, one delivery resulting in a vacuum assist and grade 3 tear. So I’m wondering if there’s enough damage to my pelvic floor that makes inserting anything vaginally very difficult. I suppose it’s possible that I may have pelvic organ prolapse in the early stages, but I’ve read how some women actually use the Instead softcup as a pessary and that other menstrual cups may help support this problem. I’ve been unable to use the Instead softcup, even after repeated attempts – it too will not go in far enough and pops out from behind my pubic bone and starts sliding out as soon as I stand up.
    I’m starting to feel really frustrated because I really don’t like using pads and really, really wanted a menstrual cup to work.
    Any suggestions would be much appreciated. And thank-you again for providing this website and to all those that contribute.

    • Mae said,

      Okay, so there is a learning curve with menstrual cups – now that I’m using one for a second cycle, using it is getting easier and I’m liking the idea more and more. I’m hoping that it gets more comfortable with repeated use.
      I find the large Lunette to be extremely uncomfortable, causing severe cramping until I remove it – I’m guessing it’s not soft enough. The small Lunette is more comfortable for me, but still causes some mild cramping. Does this get better with time?
      I’d like to try some different brands of cups. I’m leaning towards a soft Meluna next because of the variety in stems they carry. But I’m a little worried about greater suction with a softer cup. I did notice between the two sizes of Lunettes, that the small does seem to create a stronger suction than the large, or the large’s suction is easier to break. But after my experience with wearing and removing the large Lunette, I am very hesitant to try another firmer cup and even after having two kids, I think I’m gonna stick to the smaller sized cups for a while. Basically I want the shortest cup possible that still has moderate capacity, which the small Lunette really does fit that bill. The Fleurcup is the other option that I’m considering.
      Thanks again for everybody’s input here – reading other people’s experiences and looking at the comparison charts have really helped me in deciding which cup to try and also in addressing any problems I experience.

  38. abc123 said,


    thank you so much for this website! although my english is not good enough to understand every single word, it helps me a lot and it encouraged me to try menstrual cups.

    I have done some practises with my first cup (meluna). Everything works out quite good, but I have one problem:
    When I want to get it out I do the following: I press the bottom with 2fingers. The seal does not break. What happens is that a bit of the air in the cup goes out of the cup and then the cup sucks again (not properly opened because of the squeezed bottom). What can I do to prevent this?
    I have also tried to take a third finger and push the rim. I can hear that the seal breaks when I do it but I will spill everything because of the squeezed cup.

    I hope you understand what I mean and there are not too many mistakes in my text…

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      You can also try just pinching the bottom, and rocking the cup from side to side as you gently pull down. this helps to break the seal as well. Then just ease out one edge of the rim first (from the side– the front is less comfortable). As you bring it out, slowly ease it into an upright position.

  39. Colleen said,

    Hey Mel, I’m 13 and have a medium Meluna and 2 small Melunas, and whichever I wear to bed, they always leake in the night. This month my period is a lot heavier than it usually is, and when I woke up today nothing was wrong. But when I stood up it was like a water fall, I literally left a puddle on my stairs while making my way to the bathroom. Do I just need bigger cups? Most of the time they aren’t even that full, but that might be because the rest leaked out.

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Bigger cups might work better. But also try emptying right before bed. Some people with heavier flows even set an alarm to empty it in the middle of the night. Also for a better seal, try letting the cup pop open a little early, and inserting with the folded crease facing back or downward

  40. Teresa said,

    I tried the Diva Cup 2 today and I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. First, the stem was too long, so I trimmed in down by half (I may need to trim the rest of it off). But, the cup kept sliding down and leaking like crazy. Am I not positioning it correctly? Or not putting it up high enough? If it helps, I’m 40 and have had two kids. Should I try using it inside out or try another brand?

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      If it feels like the cup is sliding out, then its most likely because you have a low cervix, and your cervix is pushing it out. Even if you push it up higher, your cervix will simply push it back down again. DivaCup is one of the longest in the body, so people with a low cervix usually do have issues with it sticking out. I myself have a low cervix, and this was an issue for me.

      I tried it inside-out, and that helped a lot with the comfort and sticking out. Just make sure you will be able to grip it, as the grip rings won’t be there when its inside-out. But as for the leaking, you can try letting the cup pop open about halfway in, and then coaxing it up the rest of the way ( that helps make sure your cervix is aimed at the opening of the cup and not peeking out the side of the rim). Helps it pop open better too, which creates a better seal. Also you can try inserting with the folded crease facing back or down. The back wall of the vagina offers mroe room for popping open than the front wall, so that’s also helpful for a better seal.

      Hope this helps,


  41. Teresa said,


    Thanks for your helpful reply. I had a very successful day with the Diva cup yesterday. I think that maybe the cup wasn’t popping open; I’m also placing the cup higher than I did on Day #1. I think I was experiencing the learning curve.

    I have found your blog to be most helpful!

    Many thanks for your help,

  42. Klara said,

    Hi Melissa,

    There’s so much info here that it’d take me way too long to read all of it, so I thought I’d just write and ask straight forward.

    I’ll start off with some background stuff.

    I’m 30 and from Peru, where pads are chosen over tampons. Only recently (last couple of years, maybe a little more) can you find tampons over the counter. Before you had to buy from a drugstore and specifically ask for them. I, myself, have only worn a tampon once and not exactly out of curiosity! I had booked a nice massage in a spa when I got my period 😦 There was no way I’d wear a pad and I didn’t want to cancel my appointment. Long story short, I’ve basically worn pads all my life. And I don’t have any kids. I’m pretty sure nobody has heard of menstrual cups around here. In fact, I accidentally came across them while looking up for FUDs (which are also unheard of here).

    So here I am, trying to get well informed before I buy a cup because I’d love to be a proud user given all the benefits – health, environment, economy. But I’m stuck with all the brands, sizes, shapes, stiffness, and so on. I’d write and ask every company if only I knew each would recommend what’s best for me and not its own product. I’m writing out of desperation as I don’t plan to buy all brands (not cost-effective since shipping to Peru is quite expensive). From your experience, how do I select which cup to buy? Surely, there are many posts about this topic, but I honestly would like your opinion because you’ve actually tried lots of brands and sizes. Most posts only mention one brand (2-3 tops) and I’m finding it sooo hard to make up my mind. I’d say I’ve got a medium flow and low cervix. Any knowledgeable suggestion?

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Being 30 with a medium flow and a low cervix, You are probably better off with the large sizes. And the ones with nice capacity.

      However, having a low cervix (I have one too), you should avoid the cups that are longer in the body (DivaCup, large Yuuki).

      For you, its mostly a question of:

      Do you have color preferences?
      What is you price range?
      Do you want a firm cup, or a soft cup?

      The first 2 points are entirely your choice 🙂 But the last point, I can give you the pros and cons:

      Firm cup– Much easier to pop open, but if you are extra sensitive, you might feel it more.

      Soft cup– Better if you are extra sensitive, but takes a little extra work to pop open.

      You can also “split the difference” by getting a cup with medium firmness.

      Its basically a trade of which quality matters most to you. With that in mind, I can suggest some good brands with decent capacity, but are shorter int he body than Diva or Large Yuuki:

      Large Lunette— (firm)
      Large Miacup — (medium firmness)
      SheCup — (Softer, one size only)
      Large Ladycup — (softer)
      Large Fleurcup— (softer)

      Check for most of these, they ship almost anywhere, and its reasonable. Also check the company websites, see if they have lists of your closest distributors/stockists. Check ebay too, they have “buy it now” products, so you don’t have to bid.

      Hope this helps 🙂

      • Klara said,

        Thanks for your reply. I haven´t decided yet. I know I want a flat/solid stem (hollow ones may be more difficult to clean), and preferably only one rim. Firmness is not an issue right now. I mean, I won’t know until I try one.

        The thing that bugs me the most is the return policy of “some” brands. I understand that this is a sanitary product but why can’t all brands offer returns/exchanges/refund given the fact that a certain size/shape cup may not be suitable for every woman? I’ve been doing my homework and contacting some brands and haven’t had much luck. According to their sites, only Keeper Mooncup, MiaCup and Alicia offer returns/exchanges/refund. Alicia even has a 2 year window! If you know of any other brand, please, can you tell me? I just don’t want to end up buying a cup that won’t work out for me and having to get rid of it.

        Just out of curiosity, btw this is a personal question, hope you don’t mind my asking: Now that you turned 30, are you still using small size cups or have you switched to the large size cups?

  43. jejesingh said,

    does the virgin vagina or hymen expand during mensturation?

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      In general, nearly all women’s vaginal muscles soften and relax a bit during menstruation. I don’t know if they hymen does, but in nearly all cases, it does have a small hole, or a few small holes, for menstrual flow to go through. Please see the hymen diagram in the “virgins and cups” section.

  44. Rebecca said,


    Love your site!! It’s been so helpful and informative since I started doing research on menstrual cups. My journey started a few years ago when I saw the Diva Cup at our local organic food store.

    I finally took the plunge last year and bought a small Lunette thinking A) I’m under 30 (I was 28 at the time) and B) had a low cervix. Well, I forgot to take into consideration my 2 days of heavy flow…and let’s face it, I was close enough to 30 to need the large Lunette. So, I purchased and received the large Lunette (in ORANGE!!) and am going through my second cycle with it. I use my small blue Lunette on my light days,and it works great 🙂

    I love using a cup and find that I have a happier vagina after my period but I’m still struggling with leaking and messes every period and I’m at my wits end. My doc has told me my cervix is low..and maybe tilted a little, I’m going to get a more clear answer from her at my annual next month. When the cup is inserted and I can feel that it’s completely open but it’s almost like a small bit of my cervix is poking out the side. If I try to pull the cup down to cover it it just slides right back up to where it wants to be. Hope this makes sense. I learned very quickly that having a full bowel will cause major problems but I also leak even with a little gas. Any suggestions on placement or maybe needing a different cup? Thanks for your help!!


    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      You are most likely right about your cervix. They key is going to be getting your cervix to aim more toward the opening of your cup. I also have a low cervix, and there are a few points / tips I wanted to toss out there:

      1. With a low cervix, clearly when you insert a cup and let it unfold, you can imagine an issue with the unfolding cup probably knocking your cervix around a bit… Even outside the issue of leaking, that is something I really wanted to try and reduce, or avoid. Just for cervical care/health. So I always stop, when my cup is about halfway in, let it unfold, and then coax it up the rest of the way. This way it will be holding the walls open as it goes up, and not really brushing around on my cervix.

      2. There’s another reason to let the cup pop open halfway in… Coaxing it up while its fully open tends to create a better seal. Its also easier to pop it open when its down low. But the other thing is– it can help prevent leaking, because since it holding the vaginal walls open as it goes up, there is much lesser chance of your cervix getting pushed to the side (outside the rim) while the cup is springing open– because you popped it open low. Now as you push it up… You cervix has nowhere to go, but more toward the inside of the cup.

      3. Try inserting with the folded crease facing back. The back wall of the vagina seems to have more room for popping open, and the better a cup pops open, the better your seal.

      See if any of these tips help before considering another cup… But if not, then maybe you could try something softer? Most of the time, a firm cup creates a better seal. But I have met people on occasion, who leak with firms cups… and not soft. Strange, but it happens. maybe because a softer cup just “gives” with their insides better, and can therefore maintain its seal? Just a theory 🙂

      If you are one of the people who needs a softer one, there is always larges of the following “softies”: Meluna soft (or X-large but it might be too long), Si-Bell, Fleurcup. They all have pretty much the same capacity as a large Lunette. 🙂

  45. esther said,

    Hello 🙂

    I had a few questions about these cups. Well, I have never used a tampon before, I’m a virgin, 20 years old, and my cycle is normal to heavy (heavy on the 2nd and 3rd days of my 5 day cycle). I wanted to know what type of cup you would recommend because I want something not to intimidating (if that makes sense haha). I want something soft, not too wide and easy to use because I’ve never put anything up there before and I am kinda scared. I don’t know my measurements and cervix and stuff like that and I don’t really want to check because I think that is kinda gross. Also, I don’t want to check because for religious reasons (I shouldn’t be “checking” up there). This would help me a lot. Thank you so much for what you do on here 🙂

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Left you a reply under the “measurement chart” page 🙂

  46. Kerry said,

    Hi Melissa,

    After being a tampon user all my life with medium flow, I began getting extremely heavy periods after the birth on my third child, when Super tampons were full and slipping out within an hour. I was horrified, but DR assured all was fine down there.

    Being fearful of TSS and wanting to learn more about my body and total bloodloss each month, I stumbled on Mooncup UK. For past 3yrs this has been my savior. If only I had known about this item years ago!

    However, the Mooncup (A) was very comfortable for first 3 days of heaviness, but on days when flow became lighter – the cup seemed to slip down making it uncomfortable until I had to push it back in, only for it to shift down again. I had removed stem and still it persisted to rub down low.

    I have since purchased a Lunette (L) which I love better, but experience same results of slippage. It is very frustrating as basic walking becomes an issue. My cervix is naturally low (can feel it with middle finger) but is moves down very low on my menstral days (about 1/2 middle finger).

    Leakage not a problem with L – Lunette, tho Mooncup did leak occasionally. I need to find a cup that dosent slide down and rub (feels like vaginal chaffing when walking).

    My question is: would the S – Lunette work for my light days whilst my cervix is still low? Would its’ diameter be wide enough after 3 children vaginally? I am 40, so therefor do not fit the criteria for this size on their website?

    BTW – I love reading everyone’s experience and your knowledgeable responses regarding the Menstral Cups.

    Your support would be appreciated.

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      A cup should work on a light day the same as a heavy day. But Some people just like a smaller one on a light day. For comfort reasons. I personally feel there is nothing wrong with that, as long as you have the extra money to get a smaller one. But of course, you can get cheaper ones, like Meluna too.

      I’m 30. Never had children. But I have a medium to heavy flow. I use a small Lunette as my regular cup, because my cervix is so low, so basically any cup I use will sit down very low. My first cup was a DivaCup, but it was so long, I always felt it slipping out… I need something short, but that also has decent capacity. And small Lunette does the job for me.

      Theoretically I’m supposed to be using a large because I’m 30…. But I just find the small a better fit, its more comfortable, and softer.

      There are some moms who can use a small. So if you can find a cheap deal, I think its at least worth a try… If it doesn’t work you can sell it in MC_sales, and get at least hold of you money back. Or maybe even FIND a good deal there:

      MC_sales :

  47. anne said,

    Thank you for all the information you posted. After researching your site finally I got a Lunette. I read thru the instructions and it says to wash hands with soap everytime before the cup is touched. Which kind of makes sense because we are kind of dealing with touching the inside of our body. So far only doctors were the only people who touched the inside parts of our body and they maintain a very sterile environment. But we don’t have a sterile environment. Every time we empty the cup, we dump it in the toilet and just wash it with cold water and reinsert it. Once a day we wash it with warm water and sopa and before and after the periods we boil it in hot water. Somehow I don’t have a good feeling about it…. I know you have used it for couple of years now without any issues. But, being a new user I am kind of freaking out because my fingers are touching lot of inside things.

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Firstly, the inside of the vagina is NOT sterile. The vagina is an extremely dirty, naturally bacteria-ridden place! And it is meant to withstand living next door to the rectum, which is the dirtiest thing EVER. Its also meant to withstand things going inside during sexual activity.

      The other thing we need to remember, is that pads and tampons are not sterile either. They are also not REQUIRED to be sterile. They are processed through big, un-sterile machines. Then we put them next to our vagina, or inside it. And we have to touch everything around us when we use those, just as much as when we use a cup.

      So really, I think if you just make “reasonable” efforts, everything is fine. As it HAS been fine for most women for the past 20,000 years, even under far less clean circumstances 🙂

  48. Zoe said,

    Were is the closet store I can by a cup at I live around Flat Tx (boring)

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      You can go to the Divacup website and use their “find a store” feature. Cups are usually sold online, or in some natural health food stores. But only 3 brands are sold in American stores (DivaCup, Keeper/Keeper Moon Cup, Lunette). Where you find one brand, you may find the others.

  49. Mia said,

    I guess I pinched it on the bottim and did pull it out towards the front thinking it would fold itself and get out :S

  50. Bonnie said,

    Love my menstrual cup! Will never go back to disposable products 🙂

  51. Jill said,

    I love your site and how much information is here. I really didn’t know anything about menstrual cups until about a month ago when a British friend mentioned them to me. So, thank you for all your work!

    I am very excited for this and cannot wait to be done with tampons (which have just gotten more and more uncomfortable over the years)!

  52. Signe said,

    Hi Melissa

    First of all: this is a great website – I have learned so much, so thank you!

    I haven’t read all the comments so I don’t know whether you have answered this question before. Hope it’s okay, to get the same questions…

    I am 35 years old and I have given birth twice (only one vaginal birth, though). I have a Diva cup size 2 and a Meluna size L. I have tried them out during 3 or 4 periods now, and I keep having the same problem: the cup slides down after a few minutes. I can almost immediately feel it like it is peeping out so to speak…. (I know it is not as I can feel with my fingers that it is still behind some skin) It obviously gets worse if I lift something heavy or squat down…
    At first I thought my muscles down there were in such a poor condition that they couldn’t hold it it in, but I have no problems with with incontinence, so I don’t think the muscles are as bad as that…
    Then I thought it could be because I didn’t insert it properly, but it goes in as I think it should and I can feel that is has popped open when I runs my finger around it. I especially thought it got easier to insert it after having read here that you have to go backwards rather that upwards, but still – it keeps sliding down.
    I bought the Meluna after having had trouble with the Diva and Meluna Klassik’s firmer material makes it pop open easier, but not stay in place.
    I have thought about whether it could have something to do with size, and maybe I should use a larger one, but after having read some of your advice I am thinking they could be to large? Or could it have to do with my cervix height?

    Hope you can help!

    Best regards and thanks in advance,
    Signe, Denmark.

  53. Signe said,

    Hi Melissa




    Hope you can help!

    Best regards and thanks in advance,
    Signe, Denmark.

    • menstrualcupinfo said,

      Hi Signe,

      Sounds like it is a low cervix. I have the same problem. But its ok, nothing is wrong. You just need a shorter cup. Some people like to turn their cup inside-out to shorten it and make it smoother/more comfortable. But be aware, you will not have the grip rings if you try this. So make sure you would be able to reach it. You can also try buying a shorter cup if you want grips on the outside. But turning it inside-out is cheaper. 🙂

      • Signe said,

        Hi Melissa
        Thanks, for you reply. I tried turning the cup, but it didn’t help enough. I ended up buying a Meluna Mini, and that works very well. On some days I can still feel it, but maybe I will try to turn the mini inside out and see if that takes care of the problem 🙂
        Thanks again,

  54. Kara said,

    I am 41 and have two kids and have a large Divacup. I am on my third period trying to get it to work. I really want to make it work, but I’m having a hard time trying to get it to open all the way. I’ve tried different folds, and when I put it in it always seems one side is flattened. I try to twist (which doesn’t really happen smoothly). The only thing that ‘kinda works is if I bear down really hard and mess with it for 10 minutes. I think I need to get more air in there, but I can’t seem to be able to. Do I need a smaller size? I’m 5’4” and about 125 lbs and fairly petite. My periods are light but seem to take them forever to start with just days of spotting in the beginning. Maybe there’s not enough flow for it to work? Should I try a different cup? Any help would be appreciated. You seem very knowledgeable.

  55. Anna said,

    So a little over a year ago I bought a meluna medium and a meluna small. I’ve been sterilizing them once a month with milton tablets and simply rinsing them with water when I empty them, if I can. If I have to, I’ll just wipe them out with toilet paper before reinserting. I recently ordered DivaWash, so that’ll change soon.
    In addition to that, my medium has a small hole in the inside, towards the middle. It has blood in it that simply doesn’t come out. And, once, I left the medium in the milton solution and forgot about it for a few days. When I took it out it was discolored to a white orange instead of it’s original orange. It was also a little weirdly sticky. But those problems are gone now.

    I haven’t experienced any sterilization problems thus far. I really need my medium and I can’t really afford to buy another one at the moment. As long as I don’t make any mistakes in the future, do you think it’ll be okay, or should I stop using it until I can get another cup?

  56. Valerie said,

    I’m curious about choosing a size for a menstrual cup. Most companies make a distinction between giving birth or not, I’m assuming because of how the internal walls can stretch. But what about fisting? Would this also require the larger size, because it might stretch the walls?

  57. Angela said,

    Melissa, I just bought a large fleurcup. I own the large and small lunette too, so I am a lil experienced with cups. And this always happens : when i spin the cup to get it to open, it hurts. it’s like this sharp pain. I think it’s either the suction hurting my cervix or the rim of the cup hitting my cervix. What should I do? Also, is this hitting or sucking or whatever it is on my cervix harmful? I don’t want to get a like a cervix surgery or something! I can’t get a smaller cup because my flow is quite heavy. I do the seven fold, which i heard is the easiest to pop open. I am a virgin, and inserting and removing still gets me sore.

  58. Sarah said,

    I got a Diva cup a few months ago, but found that I had some rectal pain and some cramping in the pelvic region due to the cup. The pain subsided shortly after removing the cup. I had to stop using it and went back to pads, but I’m trying the cup again this time around. Still, I find that I’m having the same problem. I’ve tried putting it in several different ways, but I have no idea what’s causing the discomfort. Any suggestions?

    • Mel said,

      Ha, I was about to post something somewhat similar….. I have hemorrhoids after having my son, and every time I use my cup they flare up terribly. Honestly, it’s not enough to send me back to using tampons, but it is annoying. Maybe you have some internal hemorrhoids?

      My question, though, was going to be: is it “normal” for cup use to irritate hemorrhoids?

      • menstrualcupinfo said,

        It depends how stiff the cup is. Some people with sensitivities have to stick with the softest cups.

  59. Naomi said,

    I used and loved a Diva Cup before I got pregnant. I had my little boy 6 months ago and I think I have a vaginal prolapse. I just got my period and tried to us the after child birth Diva Cup, but, it won’t stay in….it keeps falling out no matter what I do. I have two questions: first, I have read online that using a Diva Cup could cause a prolapse to get worse. Is that true?
    Second: Do you know of any cup that has worked for people with vaginal prolapses? I heard that maybe the instead would work….but, I live overseas and would like to only buy something that will work.
    Any information you have about that would be GREATLY appreciated!! I miss the freedom of the cup!!

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