Silicone or latex, bell or V, size S or M, hard or soft? We figure out how to choose the right menstrual cup, compare popular brands. Find out what affects the height of the cervix and the condition of the muscles of the pelvic floor.
90% of women who have used a menstrual cup at least once prefer this hygiene item to all others. It is valued for its economy, environmental friendliness and convenience. It will last for many years, its environmental footprint is minimal compared to pads and tampons. It is convenient to play sports with it, and you can change it once every 10-12 hours.
In order to be comfortable with a menstrual cup, it is important to find “your own”, one that will ideally suit you in terms of volume and length, hardness / softness, material and other parameters. Find out how to choose the right menstrual cup from our review.
Choosing a material
Most modern bowls are made from medical grade silicone. It is completely biocompatible, which means it is hypoallergenic and safe material.
Some mouthguards are made of latex, such as the American Keeper. This is the material of the first menstrual cups, which today is the choice of those consumers who appreciate everything natural and organic, because latex is the processed sap of the rubber tree. However, it is not suitable for women with rubber allergies.
Popular manufacturer Meluna makes bowls in thermoplastic elastomer or TPE, a blend of polymers. The material has a special softness and velvety, pleasant to the touch. It is also used for the production of children's goods, which means that the highest safety requirements are imposed on it.
Thus, if you are not allergic to latex, bowls made of any material are suitable for you. If you are prone to various allergic reactions, including to pollen or food, opt for a mouth guard made of TPE or silicone.
Hard or soft
Bowls can have varying degrees of softness. The harder the material, the easier the mouthguard opens when inside. Usually, manufacturers designate such a bowl with the Sport mark, and this is no coincidence. Since it is hard menstrual cups that are recommended for those who play sports. After all, the risk of leakage with them is minimal. Among these are MeLuna Sport, Yuuki Classic, Keeper.
Women with high tissue sensitivity may experience discomfort while wearing a hard cup, including a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder or frequent urge to urinate. In this case, it is better to choose soft options, such as Meluna Soft or Viva Cup, which are completely not felt inside. However, you will have to spend some time to learn how to enter them correctly, since they open worse than hard ones.
There are also medium-sized cups that fit most: Lunette, DivaCup, LadyCup, Meluna Classic.
Optimal shape
There are 2 types of bowls: V-shaped and bell-shaped. The first is longer and has a pointed base that can protrude from the vaginal opening. Thanks to this, it is easy to extract, including for women with a medium and high cervix.
The bell-shaped cup has an expanding rim, due to which it can be located higher in the vaginal fornix than V-cups. This is an additional guarantee that the bowl does not accidentally fall out. Therefore, they are recommended for women with weak pelvic floor muscles.
The German brand Fun Cup produces unique anatomically shaped bowls - in the form of an elliptical cone with a curved tip. The manufacturer claims that the mouthguard adapts to the shape of the body, the risk of leakage and accidental loss is practically absent. It is easy to insert and remove and is very comfortable to wear.
Finding out which form is right for you is often only possible through trial and error. However, we can definitely advise that women with a high cervix are better off choosing V-shaped models, since they are longer.
S, M or L: how to choose the size
Menstrual cups of all manufacturers are usually presented in 2 sizes: S or L, A or B, 1 or 2. Some brands include additional sizes in the line: for a low or high cervix, teenage, shortened.
Usually S-ka is recommended for women under 25-30 years old with no experience of natural delivery, L - for those who are older and / or have gone through a vaginal birth. When choosing a size, it is worth considering factors such as:
- Body type. Petite women choose smaller sizes, tall and large - vice versa.
- The level of physical fitness. Regular exercise also strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, which allows you to choose a smaller mouth guard.
- Sexual experience. For virgins, size S is optimal.
- Operations of intimate plastics. After them, a woman is likely to fit a smaller diameter of the bowl.
However, these are only approximate recommendations. When choosing a size, you should focus on indicators such as length, diameter and volume indicated by the manufacturer on the package.
Length is one of the most important parameters
If the bowl is too short, you may have difficulty removing it. If too long, there will be discomfort when wearing and leakage. Therefore, the length of the bowl should correspond to the length of the vagina, that is, the distance to the cervix. You can measure it yourself, preferably during your period, since this value can change during the cycle. Or contact a gynecologist with this question and get a completely accurate result.
There are 3 types of menstrual cups depending on the length of the product:
What diameter is right for me
A wide cap can cause discomfort, and a narrow one can poorly attach to the walls of the vagina and provoke leakage. Therefore, when choosing, consider the width of the bowl:
Decide on the volume of the bowl
Be sure to pay attention to the capacity of the cup in milliliters, focusing on the abundance of your menstruation. The volume determines how often you need to remove and rinse the tray. On average, a pad with 3 drops per pack absorbs 15 ml. The capacity of the bowls ranges from 15 to 35 ml:
Large-capacity bowls are long and wide, so they are not suitable for everyone. It is optimal to choose an average value: it will not need to be washed frequently and it will not cause discomfort.
Universal advice
When in doubt, choose a pack with two sizes of mouthguards. Many manufacturers offer such a solution: Fun Factory, Meluna, DivaCup. It's cheaper than buying two bowls separately. And if wearing both seems comfortable to you, then the larger one can be used on days with more abundant discharge.
Rating of popular menstrual cup brands
We have compared famous brands and selected the best ones for you.
Exclusive Innovation
Many manufacturers are developing devices that are unlike any other, offering customers additional benefits when using a hygiene product. So, the Spanish brand Enna, the British Amycup and the American Keela produce cups with an applicator that facilitates insertion. It will be possible to correctly install such a cap on the first try.
A feature of the Chinese brands AneerCare and Viola is a convenient valve that allows you to quickly empty the cup without removing it from the vagina. This is convenient if there are no suitable conditions or access to water nearby.
We cannot fail to mention the smart LoonCup cup, which will help you monitor your menstruation: the mobile application analyzes the nature of the discharge, reminds you that it is time to rinse the mouth guard, and notifies you about the beginning of the cycle.
Do you have any questions?
If you are in doubt which menstrual cup is better, check out our material with answers to 16 important questions or consult a gynecologist at the Taganka Medical Women's Center or. The specialist will help you determine the size, shape and degree of rigidity of the cup, assessing the location of the cervix and the level of training of the muscles of the pelvic floor.
A contraindication to the use of a menstrual cup is inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system or recent surgical interventions. Discuss with the gynecologist of the center whether it is possible to use it in your case. Sign up for a consultation today!
Comments
Post a Comment