So you’re considering a menstrual cup? I’m so excited for you! I can honestly say it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made. Even though I’m a firm believer in their awesomeness, and I talk about then an embarrassingly high number of times in normal conversation, a lot of women I know are still hesitant to give them a try.

An hey, I totally get the hesitation! Read on to see my experience trying a new product while traveling in a different country. If THAT didn’t permanently turn me off from trying I am confident literally anyone can find an option that works for them.

First, let’s talk about traditional period supplies and habits. Most ladies I know use tampons, and in one period you may use 5-6 a day, 20 over the course of a cycle. Plus pantiliners and pads. If it ain’t broke then why fix it?

First off, let’s just talk about tampons and why you can break up with them this year;

• Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS); the risk is low, but still there.
• Risk of bacterial infections if not used correctly
• Vaginal dryness
• Can’t wear one for more than 8 hours (ew and who would?!)
• Potential for leaking
• Can you wear them swimming? I know I can’t!
• Harmful for the environment
• Cost and availability

Some of these might not apply to you, or even worry you, but here’s why I was considering it: I want a more sustainable lifestyle, and to me that meant giving tampons alternatives a real go.

I did my research and decided that I was going to purchase a couple of options and give them a try. If none of them did it for me, I’d take a break and try again with other options. 

Here were my top concerns for evaluating each candidate:

• Is it a reliable alternative to tampons? 
• It can’t be messy (lots of women hung up on this one)
• Can I wear for a whole day?
• How do I know it’s placed correctly? and how do I get it out?
• Is it comfortable?
• Can I exercise while using it?
• Can I reuse it and is it sustainable?
• Is it travel-size and discrete?

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THE VERDICT

You’re in for a fun story, so grab a glass of wine and tuck in for some laughs, tears, and I promise a very positive light at the end of this very bumpy tunnel. 

The Diva Cup – $40

The Diva Cup is probably the most well known menstrual cup on the market. It comes in three sizes and is supposed to be simple to use.

Product specs;

• 100% medical grade flexible silicone
• Can be reused
• Small and comes with a pouch for storage
• You can wear it for a whole day
• Reviews say it’s comfortable and easy to use

I’m going to come right out and say the Diva Cup is not for me. First off, it’s pricey – $40 is a lot for something that I’m not sure I’m going to like.

To start, placement is something you have to practice. I get that. If you’re young or haven’t used tampons, I think this part could be a bit rough. After it’s properly placed, you’re supposed to be able to pinch the end and rotate to get a seal. I’m not trying to be gross or graphic here, but how someone could get their fingers in there to pinch and rotate this thing is beyond me! As a result, it wasn’t leak-proof for me. Not. At. All.

However what ultimately made me put it away was the removal – I COULD NOT get it out. Like…full panic mode, ready to call an ambulance. It was terrifying. I stood, sat, Googled the crap out of it, and cried.

Eventually I did get it out, but I was ready to toss it out the window!

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Softdisk Menstrual Disc – $13 (for a pack of 8 disks)

The Softdisk (and really any brand of menstrual disk) concept is a disk that sits “inside the vaginal fornix, covering the cervix, and preventing menstrual fluid from entering the vaginal canal.” That means it sits at a different place than cups (a cup is in the vaginal canal, a disk is a bit further up at the cervix).

Here’s a graphic from the company FLEX (who also sell disks) that shows what the placement looks like:

I was most excited to try this one because the cup was such a disaster. It isn’t reusable, but it’s supposed to be an easy alternative to a cup.

Product specs;

• Made from a medical grade flexible polymer
• Not reusable (you throw them out after every use)
• The packages are very small and discrete
• You can have sex when wearing it…allegedly 
• Supposed to be very easy to insert and remove
• Reviews say it’s comfortable and easy to use

The first mistake I made was that I test drove it at the end of my cycle. This gave me a false sense of confidence that I was a master from the start – it was easy to position, easy to remove, and not messy.

My next cycle was set to come when we were on a 2-week vacation to Scotland and Ireland where we’d be doing a lot of traveling and hiking. My cycle started as we arrived on the Aran Islands. We were staying in a coed hostel (God help me), with plans to rent bikes and explore the island.

Since we’re all girls here, I’m going to tell you the horror show got REAL at this point and the tiny bathroom became a full-on murder scene. I hope to God they never brought a blue light in there because there was blood on the toilet, the floor, the wall, the sink…probably the ceiling.

The next day it happened again. To the best of my knowledge it was placed correctly, and I experienced leakage less than 2 hours after placement.

Because reliability was non-negotiable, these were a no-go.

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FLEX Cup – $33

If you want to try a disk AND cup, FLEX sells the FLEX discovery kit that has both for $40.

In my research I observed most cups look exactly the same. I picked FLEX because it looked different. Instead of the ribbed pull tab, this cup has a loop that pulls the cup down and out. I liked this design because it made me less anxious to use!

Product specs;

• Smooth medical grade silicone 
• Release Ring
• Reusable – can be worn up to 12 hours
• Comes in 2 sizes
• Reviewers say it’s easy to use, mess-free, and comfortable
• Affordable

I’ll be honest, at first I was not in the mood to try another cup. But, I was determined to find a sustainable alternative so I gave it a shot.

My search ended here. The FLEX cup is my buddy, it’s my new best friend, and it has my back during a crappy time of the month!

For reference, I use the slim fit size. I’m 30, and I’ve never had kids and this fit is perfect for me. It was easy to place, and the BEST part is the pull tab. I cannot tell you how much of a game-changer this is. It is literally impossible to get it stuck!

After one cycle of practicing (see image for how to pinch the cup below), I can say I’m a pro, and even on heavy days it doesn’t leak. For the first time in my life I can sleep an entire night without having to get up. I’m a runner and have not once experienced a leak from any workout. Because the FLEX cup removal happens with the pull tab, it’s also WAY less of a mess than the others I tried.

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Summary

If you’re a beginner and you’re anxious about giving a cup a shot, I wholeheartedly recommend the FLEX cup. But do your own analysis! Try a couple of products and see what works for you. Oh, and to help you get started, I created a list of 7 tips for becoming a pro at using a menstrual cup – read below!

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7 tips for becoming a pro at using a menstrual cup (or disk):

• I CANNOT SAY THIS ENOUGH: it’s going to take practice. You may have to practice through 1-3 cycles. Don’t be discouraged, just be patient!

• A good “seal” with a cup is ESSENTIAL. Once a cup is inserted it usually pops open, but it’s not quite sealed yet. I run my finger around the wall of the cup to make sure it’s not puckering in. If it is, I push on the side to smooth it out. It just takes a little practice!

• Be prepared to get more intimate with yourself. I don’t mean in a sexual way (get your head out of the clouds), I mean that you’ll have to get used to getting your hands all in your business. It’s not gross, honestly I feel like I know more about myself than I ever have!

• For first time users, plan around a time when you can practice. Don’t be like me and make a vacation the time to try something new. It takes practice and the added pressure of hoping it’s working isn’t something you need.

• Placement of the cup is KEY. The first time I tried, I placed it too high and experienced leakage. From using tampons my whole life, I thought I had to place it high, when really it sits much lower.

• Use a pantiliner when starting out. I did this at first just so I wasn’t worrying about it and it was helpful.

• When you first start, practice while sitting on the floor. After you master that and feel comfortable THEN try standing or another method that works for you.

Good luck! I have every confidence in you that you’ll find a solution that works for you and you’ll be as happy as I am with the results!