Menstrual Cup Comparison – Helping you select the right cup!

You will notice that most of the menstrual cups are much the same in design and purpose. Unless you have been recommended a particular brand of menstrual cup by a friend or family member, it can be difficult to determine which menstrual cup you should choose. To help you out, we have put together the following menstrual cup comparison. This menstrual cup comparison will look at the main points of difference between the cups we stock. These include the Diva cup, JuJu cup, Lunette cup, and Keeper cup.

What is it made from?

Menstrual Cups can be made out of a few different materials. These include TPE, latex, non-medical grade silicone, and medical grade silicone. All of the menstrual cups sold through MCA Online are manufactured using only quality medical grade silicone or TPE. The only exception to this is the Keeper Cup. The Keeper is made from Natural gum rubber (latex). For this reason, women who have a latex allergy should avoid the Keeper Cup, but will be fine to use the other brands such as Ruby, Diva, JuJu, or Lunette Cups.

As mentioned above, the Diva, Lunette, and Juju cups are made from medical grade silicone. The Diva and Lunette have a full matte finish, whereas the Juju has a smooth/shiny finish with a matte butterfly grip at the base of the cup. The matte finish can make gripping and removing the cup a little easier. However, with a little practice, removing the Juju should become easy too. Another tip to assist with removing cups with a smooth surface, is to wipe the base of the cup with a little toilet paper first. This will make gripping the base easier.

Where is it made?

For some people, the place of manufacture is very important. Since we are an Australian website, it may be that you want to support Aussie owned and made products. If this is the case the JuJu cup is the only menstrual cup that will fit your criteria.

Registrations

Product accreditation/registration with Government regulatory bodies is a sign that the item you are purchasing as been granted permission to be sold within a certain market. All of the products listed on MCA Online are listed on the ARTG (Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods). It is therefore only these brands that we have included in our menstrual cup comparison. Only four Menstrual Cup companies currently have this registration in Australia, and they include the Diva cup, JuJu cup, Lunette cup, and Keeper cup. Some of these brands also have registration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is a US Government body.

Stem Type and length

Different menstrual cups tend to come with different stem types. These include flat stems, round stems, hollow stems, ring stems, no stems, pointy stems, and, ball stems. The stem type makes little difference to the use of the cup, however, some people may find the flat stem more comfortable. Some people also find hollow stems a little more difficult to clean, however, if correct cleaning procedures are followed, this should be a minor complaint.

The main purpose of the stem is to guide you to the base of the cup, so you can remove it. The length of the stem is not generally too much of an issue. This is because you will most likely choose to trim it to your desired length once you are comfortable removing your menstrual cup without relying on it.

If however, you have a particularly high cervix, you may like to choose a cup with a longer stem. This will aid in removal.

Cup capacity

As a general rule, a woman will usually only lose around 2.5 tablespoons of fluid per cycle (35mls). Over a 3 day cycle this would equate to a maximum of around 10ml per 24hour period. Based on this, you will see that all of the menstrual cups should easily allow for plenty of use before needing to be emptied. However, the above figure is an average. Some women can lose up to 6 tablespoons (80mls) or more of fluid over their cycle, which would equate to around 25mls per 24hours (over a 3 day cycle). While this will still be comfortably held in each of the menstrual cups, if you have a particularly heavy menstrual flow, then you may want to opt for the cup that holds the most amount of fluid. This will help reduce the number of times you may need to empty it.

Cup diameter

Menstrual cups can vary in the diameter size (the opening size). The Diameter of the cup will determine the quality of the seal you get. The wider your vaginal canal, the wider cup you will need.

If you have particularly weak pelvic floor muscles or have had several children, you may wish to consider a cup with a larger diameter. This is because your vaginal muscles will be looser and the canal is therefore wider. To reduce the chance of leaks, a wider cup will provide a better seal around the vaginal wall.

Conversely, if you have particularly tight pelvic floor muscles, or are very young, you may find that a smaller diameter cup will be quite sufficient (even though you could also successfully use a larger cup). A smaller diameter will be easier for a young woman/girl to insert.

Cup length

Depending on the position of your cervix, the length of the cup may be important.

Women who have a very low lying cervix will want to choose the shortest available cup (possibly the Juju model 4), so as to ensure it fits correctly within the vagina, without causing discomfort to the cervix.

Women who have a particularly high cervix, may find a longer cup more useful (Such as the Juju model 3 or the Diva cups), as it will be easier to remove should the cup travel up the vaginal canal towards the cervix.

Women who have an average positioned cervix should be fine with any type of cup.

Colours

There is still some debate regarding the chemical reactions that may take place when colours and dyes are added to silicone. Research is still unclear as to the potential for these colours to leech into the bloodstream and cause issues. For this reason, many cup companies have erred on the side of caution and decided not to add any colours to their cups, meaning a clear colour is your only alternative (Juju Cup and Diva Cup). Other brands have added colours, so as to help hide discolouration, and to make the whole thing seem a little nicer.

How to use this Menstrual Cup Comparison

This comparison page is a guide only. Every woman is different, and unfortunately every brand of cup uses slightly different sizing criteria. However, by following the below steps, you should be able to settle on the best menstrual cup for your needs.

1. Use our general sizing guidelines to work out which size menstrual cup you are likely to need – either Model 1 (the smaller cup), or Model 2 (the larger cup)

2. Use the factors above to compare the different brand menstrual cups in the size you require. For example, if you will need a model 2 cup, only compare the cups in the Model 2 table.

3. Once you have determined which brand you think would be best for you, double check the specific sizing instructions for your chosen brand, just to ensure it will be right for you.

Model 1 (Smaller Cup Sizes) Menstrual Cup Comparison Table

Model 2 (Larger Cup Sizes) Menstrual Cup Comparison Table