How to Choose the Best Menstrual Cup for You: A Guide

Choosing the best menstrual cup for you can be difficult if you don't know what to look for. Read on and learn how to choose here.

Many people who experience periods can have problems with tampons such as yeast and fungal infections as well as toxic shock syndrome.

If you dislike tampons, you may be wondering what other options you have to handle your period. More and more people are turning their attention towards menstrual cups that work just as well as tampons (if not better) and don't come with so many downsides.

However, you may be wondering how you can choose the best menstrual cup for you. Fortunately, this guide will teach you everything you need to know. One of the first things you need to consider is something you may have never thought about before: the height of your cervix.

Checking the Height of Your Cervix

There is a very particular way to measure your cervix's height. Because of this, you can't measure it at any time of the month. Instead, you will need to wait until the days before your period when your cervix's height is at its lowest. 

Knowing the height of your cervix is very important when you choose a menstrual cup. This is because if you choose the wrong cup for your cervix's height, the cup will most likely feel uncomfortable and it will not fit properly. The result is that your menstrual cup would not work as well as it's supposed to. 

To measure your cervix's height, stand up and prop one leg up on something. Insert two fingers into your vagina until you make contact with the cervix. The cervix will be firmer than the surrounding tissue and is in the shape of a small donut. 

If you are able to insert your fingers completely before reaching your cervix, that means your cervix height is high. If you are only able to insert your first knuckle before you find your cervix, your cervix's height is low. The higher your cervix is, the longer the menstrual cup you will need. 

If you choose a short cup for a high cervix or a long cup for a short cervix, you will be very uncomfortable if you try to wear the cup throughout the day. Taking out and cleaning the menstrual cup may also be more difficult. After you find your cervix's height, you will then need to factor in the heaviness of your periods.

Checking How Heavy Your Periods Are

You have most likely used disposable period products before using a menstrual cup. A good way to determine the heaviness of your flow is by observing how many disposable products you use every time you have your period. If you have never used a menstrual cup before, it is important to know that the capacity for most of these cups somewhat correlates to the capacity for disposable products such as tampons. 

For example, tampons can range from small and light to large and bulky. If you find that you always need ultra-sized tampons whenever you have your period, you can assume that you have a very heavy period. On the other hand, if you can get away with using smaller and lighter tampons, you can assume that your period is light. 

If you don't use tampons, you can determine your flow with period pads as well. The heavier pads you need, the heavier your period likely is. You should also consider how many times you need to change your disposable period products throughout the day. 

If you need to change them several times every day while on your period, you'll need a heavy-duty menstrual cup. However, the guidelines for choosing menstrual cups don't stop there. There is still another important factor to consider: the firmness of the menstrual cup itself.

Choosing the Right Firmness for Your Cup

In the time you spend considering menstrual cups, you no doubt have asked yourself, "Are menstrual cups safe compared to tampons?"

You should know that menstrual cups are no more dangerous than tampons and can actually be a lot safer as long as you know how to choose the right cup for you. The firmness of the cup is very important since the wrong firmness can interfere with your life, depending on what kind of lifestyle you lead. 

For example, many people have sensitive bladders and may need to use the restroom quite often. If you get a cup that is too firm, it might increase your need to go to the bathroom due to how the cup will press on your bladder. For the same reason, you should avoid cups with rims that are too pronounced. 

For those with sensitive bladders, a softer and more flexible cup will be ideal. The softer the cup, the less you will feel it and the less it will press on your bladder. On the other hand, if you are very active and muscular, you will want to avoid soft cups. 

This is because the strength of your pelvic floor muscles might cause a soft cup to fold in on itself, reducing its capacity and ability. Instead, you will want to opt for a firmer cup. Since your pelvic floor muscles are already strong, a firm cup shouldn't make you feel like you need to pee all the time unlike those with weaker pelvic floor muscles. 

Finally, keep in mind that you should always buy menstrual cups from high-quality brands. There's nothing more frustrating than dealing with a low-quality menstrual cup. 

Finding the Best Menstrual Cup for You

Before reading this article, you might have been wondering, "What is a menstrual cup and how can I find the best menstrual cup for me?" Now, you should know the answers to these questions and you should have no trouble finding the perfect menstrual cup for your body. 

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