If you’re looking for a way to save money on tampons, a menstrual cup is your best bet. In this post, I’ll discuss the best menstrual cup I’ve found and tips for using it.
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Sometimes I feel like I’m literally throwing money away. With tampons, I literally am (after I bleed all over them of course).
I’ve tried the cheap cardboard tampons to save money and I quickly discovered how much those suck! The plastic applicators are just so much easier and more comfortable. But then I feel guilty using and disposing of so much extra plastic every month, not to mention the extra cost.
So, even though I didn’t like the idea of sticking my fingers up inside of myself while I’m on my period, I challenged myself to try out a menstrual cup. After some trial and error, I am now a converted woman!
Menstrual Cup Basics
Menstrual cups work like a tampon, they’re just a little bigger. Before you buy one, I would suggest watching YouTube videos to see how they’re inserted. If you’ve had a baby, you’ll definitely need the larger one. I had the smaller one before I had a baby, and it leaked. It’s possible it was because I was inserting it wrong, but I may have also had the wrong size. I’ve seen some websites suggest the larger size for women over 30.
Picking the Best Menstrual Cup for You
Once you’ve decided you’re willing to give a menstrual cup a try, you’ve got to pick the best menstrual cup for you, and then order it. Below is a list of the various types of menstrual cups and some information to know about each of them:
DivaCup: this is probably the most well-known brand, personally didn’t work well for me. I found the cup part too long and the stem part too small.
Lunette Menstrual Cup: this cup has a long stem and it has ridges to make grabbing it, and pulling it out easier. This is the one I have and I love it. I haven’t tried the ones below because this one worked well for me.
Lena Menstrual Cup: I haven’t tried this one but my observation is that it’s similar to the Lunette Cup. It looks like it has a long stem with ridges as well and it has great reviews. The one thing I don’t love is that it’s more expensive than the Lunette Menstrual Cup.
Duchess Cup: I haven’t tried this one but my observation is that it’s very similar to the DivaCup with a short stem and not much to grab onto. I don’t think I would like this one.
Pixie Cup: I haven’t tried this one but my observation is that it’s more similar to the DivaCup. That being said, it has great reviews and is said to have the “best” stem for removal… If you have tried it please let me know.
Blossom Menstrual Cup: I haven’t tried this one but my observation is that it’s very similar to the DivaCup with a short stem and not much to grab onto. I don’t think I would like this one.
FLEX Menstrual Cup: I haven’t tried this one but my observation is that it looks cool and I like that it’s black! The stem looks intriguing because you can probably really grab on to that sucker. The one drawback is that’s it’s on the more expensive side. If you’ve tried it out please let me know how it is.
Saalt Menstrual Cup: I haven’t tried this one but my observation is that it’s similar to the Lunette Cup with a slightly shorter stem (which may be preferred for some people if the stem is sticking out for them).
Using a Menstrual Cup
The easiest way to understand how to use a menstrual cup is to get a visual. I found this video and this video on YouTube really helpful for the basics. Once you get an idea of what it will look like, take a look at the tips and tricks below. I didn’t find these suggestions below but they were the only way I was able to get the menstrual cup to open up and work for me.
Tips and Tricks for Using Menstrual Cups
Honestly, it took some trial and error to figure out how to get it in and out. I called my sister and girlfriends who use them a lot that week. However, after some great advice and practice, I got the hang of putting it in without it leaking and now I’ll never go back! Here are some of the tips and tricks I suggest:
1. I get off the toilet and squat down on the bathroom floor so I can really spread open when I insert it.
2. I use the C-fold (see a list of different folds here), and I put it in about half-way and then pull it back out slowly until it opens up fully (but before it comes out completely).
3. Once it’s open inside of me fully, but before I push it into place, I spin it completely by pinching the base that’s outside of me (while the rest is slightly inside). This helps to ensure it’s fully open.
4. Next, I put my fingers at the top of the stem (the base of the cup) and I push it up until it’s in the right place.
5. In the beginning, if you need help getting it out, you can bear down.
Have you tried any of the menstrual cups that I haven’t? Do you have any tips or tricks to add? Please leave your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
