Let’s talk periods. A once taboo topic is finding its voice through online journalists, bloggers and influencers. So we decided to throw our hat in the ring and talk about the aspect of menstruation that is often overlooked: the waste that common feminine products produce. Over the past two years, a new less wasteful and much cheaper device has caught the wave of rising popularity- the menstrual cup. In this article, we are going to review the best menstrual cups on the market, give you resources on how to choose the best menstrual cup for you, and compare environmental benefits of them compared to tampons and pads.
One of the frustrating things for women, is that while the tampon and pad sections in stores seem to get larger, menstrual cups can still be hard to find. Shopping online for the best menstrual cup is the way to go. You’ll find the most variety of options, and be able to read details about each one to help you determine if its right for your lifestyle. We’ve made shopping simplified for you and put the best options all in one place.
Best Menstrual Cup Reviews
So what is the best menstrual cup? In our review section we’re going to take a look at some of the best menstrual cups on the market. While they may seem similar, size and shape may vary so we’ve featured some specific types to help you determine which one is best for you.
Our reviews are all based on consumer ratings and feedback, but if we missed one that you’ve heard great things about let us know!
1. Dutchess Menstrual Cup
Dutchess is a great option for both women who have not had babies, and for those who are post-childbirth (vaginal). Their menstrual cups come in two packs, so that you can keep one at home and one in your purse for on the go. The silicone used is 100% body safe, waterproof, and free of latex.
2. LENA Menstrual Cup
Best Menstrual Cup for Beginners
This great alternative to tampon and pads comes in two sizes, small and large. LENA’s design is actually patented, and they have mastered the leak proof design, that will also be odor free. The overall consumer feedback is that even first time users feel comfortable with the LENA, even when being active. It’s ease of use and comfort level help to make it the best menstrual cup for beginners.
3. The Diva Cup Model 1
The Diva Cup is probably the most well known name in menstrual cups. They are also frequently available in retail stores such as Target. Their Model 1 design is for women who haven’t had children via vaginal birth. It’s available in a 1 or 2 pack, as well as in a combo with their Diva Wash– made to help clean the cup between uses.
4. Lunette Menstrual Cup
Best Menstrual Cup for Heavy Flow
The Lunette is a great natural alternative, and as they put it- your vagina’s new best friend. It is by far the best menstrual cup for heavy flow, as it holds 2 times more than a super plus sized tampon. The Lunette also has great reviews for being higher quality silicone than others- meaning it’s going to last a lot longer. We also love Lunette’s menstrual cup cleanser, that will help you to stay clean and fresh all throughout your period.
5. Intimina by Lelo Lily Cup One
Best Menstrual Cup for Teens
The Intimina Lily Cup One is the perfect starter cup for teens who are beginners at the whole period thing. It’s size and is designed to be easy to use. Even though it is a smaller size, it’s still able to hold a medium capacity for those without low flows. The best time to start with a silicone menstrual cup is from the get go!
6. FemmyCycle Menstrual Cup Low Cervix Size
Best Menstrual Cup for Low Cervix
You can tell just from the picture that it’s designed differently- which is for a great reason! FemmyCycle has created the only and best menstrual cup for low cervix women. Their cup is the only one that is designed for a lower than average cervix. It was designed by a physician to create maximum comfort for the women who use it.
What is a Menstrual Cup?
While that recently, the menstrual cup has become popular, it’s not at all a new invention. They’ve been around since the early 1930’s, but for some reason have taken a lot of time to catch on. Part of this is because the companies that make them aren’t spending a lot of money on advertising, and now thanks to the publicity that they’ve been receiving, they practically don’t need to.
If you want to learn more about how to use a menstrual cup, there are a lot of great resources just a Google search away. Here are some of our preferred resources:
- http://rubycup.com/how-to-use-a-menstrual-cup/
- http://divacup.com/how-it-works/how-it-works/
- https://store.lunette.com/pages/how-to-use
Benefits of Menstrual Cups
Briefly, we are going to go over all of the menstrual cup benefits with an emphasis on the environmental benefits of them.
Environmental Benefits of Menstrual Cups
Surprisingly, in the attack against overuse of plastic in our daily lives, has not pointed out one of the main culprits. Tampons and disposable pads use a lot of packaging, primarily plastic. And even though some of the paper tampon inserters are thinner- they should never be flushed down the toilet. So most of this is ending up in the trash and landfills. And if it is being flushed, it’s contaminating our water systems.
Another factor to consider are the chemicals, or carcinogens, that are used to manufacture tampons and pads. Anything you put in your vagina is going to be absorbed by the body. So even if you can’t see these carcinogens, your body is still soaking them all in. Don’t even get us started on scented products!
Overall, the truth is in the numbers. The number of tampons per lifespan of a woman can be between 5000-14000. That’s a lot of wrappers and a lot of money. In comparison the average menstrual cup can last up to 10 years.
Reducing waste is what we are all about, so they idea of eliminating the majority of the waste that is caused by feminine hygiene products is one that we can get behind. We think this combined with all of the other benefits will definitely make you into a menstrual cup believer.
Financial Benefits
Ladies, we’ve all been there. Rolling our eyes at the cost of tampons in the feminine hygiene aisle and feeling slightly exploited by the flowery packaging. It’s also not a rare thing that the more effective they are, the higher the cost. But the cost of tampons and pads is far more than just an inconvenience. Finding affordable supplies for periods, such as tampons and pads, is a struggle for women all over the world on a regular basis.
As a “one time” purchase, the menstrual cup looks to save women a lot of money. It’s also solved problems for women’s charities that focus on the distribution of feminine hygiene products to women in need, homeless shelters, and more. The average woman can spend upwards of $100 a year on tampons and pads a year in the US. While the upfront cost of a menstrual cup is a lot more than a box of tampons, it will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Comfort
The best menstrual cups out there are going to be extremely comfortable for those using them, especially if you take the time, do your research, and know how to choose the best menstrual cup for you. They are different, both in size and shape.
Taking a menstrual cup quiz is a good way to help determine the size and type of menstrual cup that is best for you. Here are some of the best menstrual cup quiz options out there.
- https://putacupinit.com/quiz/
- https://reusablemenstrualcup.com/buy-a-menstrual-cup/menstrual-cup-quiz/
Once you take one of these quizzes, come back here for our brand suggestions that will best fit your needs!
Meet Your Author
Ray B. has been writing about sustainability and lifestyle professionally since 2014. She is the owner of EcoKarma, and is still actively involved in new content creation for the site.
Her desire to live a sustainably has increased since becoming a homeowner and mom. Gardening, cloth diapering, and reusable products are some of her newest areas of expertise!
