Tru Cup Founder's Expert Tips On Buying Your First Menstrual Cup

So you have made the decision to ‘cup-vert’—congratulations! As you set off on the path to a more comfortable and sustainable period, here are some of my suggestions to go about choosing a menstrual cup that will last you for 8-10 years. Choose wisely - selecting your first menstrual cup might seem like an ordeal, but there are some basic thumb rules to make that final decision. 

Make sure your cup is made of medical grade silicone. Currently there are a lot of cheaper cups available in the market made of lower grade silicone. It is important to pick a cup specifically made of medical grade silicone, and check for certifications around this. It is one of the safest materials available for inserting in the body. Some cups are made of natural rubber too, though not many such brands are available in India.  

Check the firmness — if you have a very active lifestyle, hard or medium firmness is the way to go. Your pelvic muscles would be stronger and hence a softer cup can potentially cause leakages. Otherwise, if you are a teenager, or not fully comfortable with insertion, have a weak bladder, or more of a sedentary lifestyle, a softer cup is advisable. 

The size of the menstrual would be determined more by what is the best vaginal fitment, rather than the flow of blood. There are small, medium, large cups available and the main difference is in length of the cup.

If you have a low cervix, a small cup is recommended. If you have a high cervix, large is recommended. To measure your cervix, you would have to assume your index finger as your scale. Ensure that your finger is clean. Gently insert your finger in your vagina and feel the vaginal walls and after some time you will feel a firm area/nub. 

When you feel the cervix or a blockage less than your second phalanx of your index finger.it means you have a low cervix or a small vaginal canal.

If you feel the cervix up to your second phalanx that means yo have a medium cervix. And if your finger is inserted completely, or you are unable to locate your cervix then you have a high cervix or a long vaginal canal.  

If you are a teenager and under the age 30, a small cup is recommended. If you're over 30,  a medium or large is recommended. This is because as you grow older, the pelvic muscle strength reduces. If you feel you have a strong pelvic floor with a light flow and low cervix, you can try the small cup too, even if you are above 30.

If you have never given birth, a small cup is recommended. If you have given birth vaginally, a medium or large cup is recommended. This is again related to your pelvic floor strength as mentioned above. 

Check the holding capacity of the cup, 15-20 ml capacity is suitable for a regular-medium flow, however, you will need a bigger cup for heavier flow. Large doesn’t mean a big cup, it would indicate towards the length of the cup, which is generally determined by the cervix height.

Some cups come with or without a stem—I would recommend a cup with a stem for a beginner as it's easier to remove the cup, however if you have a low cervix, go for one without. You can also trim the stem based on your preference! While a stem shouldn’t dictate if a cup is going to work for you or not, there are certain stem features that may interest you more than others. Remember, you’re only using the stem to wiggle the cup down until you can reach the base of the cup. It is highly advised to not use the stem to remove the cup completely from your body. A stem is not designed to, and will not support the weight of the cup, especially if it contains fluid in it. Different stems have different features (ball, flat stem, ring etc). I personally use a flat stem as the grip created is much stronger. 

Menstrual cups come in every color of the rainbow — the color doesn’t change how a menstrual cup works or performs. Color are mostly a choice based on what we like even though some folks are concerned about staining on lighter cups. Even on a coloured cup, stains might show over time, however that can be tackled by always boiling the cup between period cycles or by cleaning it thoroughly with a mild soap or an intimate wash. However, make sure that the dyes/pigments used in the cup are certified for safe to use!

Check out these Menstrual Cup brands you can shop from.