Menstrual Cups: One Size Does Not Fit All

I have mad love for my cup (hello freedom!), so when I had the opportunity to try a cup from Lunette I was excited.  I love my cup for the convenience, comfort and health benefits, but women come in all different shapes and sizes so not every cup will work for every woman and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to try other types so that I can speak about them from experience. (Special thanks to Lunette!)

My experience with the Lunette Menstrual Cup reaffirmed for me that not every cup works for every body. This is a bummer because, “What if I buy a cup that doesn’t work for my body?” – that would be seriously unfortunate, but it also means that if you tried a cup that didn’t work for you, there is still hope because there is likely a cup that will.  Check out the video below for a quick size/shape comparison using the Lunette Menstrual Cup in model 1 and model 2.

As you saw in the video, I found that while the larger cup didn’t work perfectly for me, the smaller size did.  In other cups, the larger cup has worked for me, so it just goes to show that the size and shape of the cup make the difference for your body.  I think it’s wise to use the manufacturer’s guidelines, but also to use the knowledge you have of your body and shape.

The Lunette Cup fit well and was very comfortable in both sizes, however I find that I always end up cutting the stems from my cups.  If you have found that this annoyance keeps you from loving your cup – chop that baby off!  I don’t use the antenna to remove the cup anyhow, so for me, it’s just a convenience to have it removed and you may find that the same is true for you.

If the idea of a cup is new to you, I suggest checking out my guide (linked below) and my other posts on reusable menstrual products for more information.

Want to check out other cups? Check out my menstrual cup comparison chart (with visual comparison tool!)



a Rafflecopter giveaway

144 Responses

    1. I have personally saved a small fortune on menstrual cups and I would never ever go back to any other product. Hygeinic and easy to use, I recommend them to all my friends.

  2. Thank you so much for this! I just bought a size 2 Lunette Cup last weekend and I have been questioning if I should have gotten the smaller size. I will definitely be exchanging it now!
    I felt like a hypocrite cloth diapering my son and still using disposable feminine products. After the birth of my second son, I used mama cloth. Being a swimmer, I prefer tampons to pads, so I assume I would prefer a cup to pads.

    1. Everyone’s different inside, just because she needs the smaller size doesn’t mean you do… sorry for being tmi but it depends on how far in your cervix sits. It’s the coin-sized flesh bump at the far end of your canal, where the blood comes out from. The main advantage of the large size is the higher capacity and extra length, the main advantage of the small size is the softness. So take a moment to assess what you need.

    2. You should really try the size 2 out first. It all depends on your own body. I originally tried the size 1 since I’ve never given birth, but found that it leaks more than the size 2. Because the size 2 is a firmer material, it also pops out easier when you insert it and, for me, stays in place better. Every body is different and what works for one woman doesn’t necessarily work for another. I personally leave the stem on because it’s easier for me to remove.

  4. I love the fact that I won’t have to use tampons or pads anymore. Ive really turned Eco friendly in the past year plus its a money saver.

  7. I have tried the Instead Cup which is a disposable cup option. I like it well enough but have wanted to try a reusable cup for a while now.

    1. There is a form at the bottom of the post, if you’re not on a computer you may not be able to see it. If you can’t get to the form, let me know and I’ll help get you entered.

  9. I hate having to deal with tampons, and make sure I have a backup, and this just strikes me so much easier and better, thanks for the giveaway

  10. I’m interested in the cup because I’m trying to be “greener” and would love to not use disposable feminine hygiene products anymore.

  11. ever since i’ve started to cd my son, i’ve been becoming more interested in mama products.

  12. I want to see if it will lighten my flow and I love the idea of it being more comfortable and not so dry. If this worked those are just two benefits as I see it.

    1. I HATE the dry feeling, it really bothers me! With the cup I am using now, I do not get that.

  13. Haha. The raflecopter popped up right after I posted the comment.
    Thanks so much for the opportunitie!

  14. i am on day 2 of trying my diva cup and i love it! i have been wanting to try the lunette cup for awhile as well.

  15. I have another cup that I use right now but I always have problems with leaking and it idn’t always comfortable. I have always wondered if it is not the correct size for me, despite the manufacturer recommendations. But I am interested in trying another brand, and the Lunette would be a good one to try.

  17. I am most interested in trying this cup because of my previous experience with another cup. I was very happy with my Diva Cup pre-pregnancy but I had no luck with it or the post-pregnancy version of it after my son was born. I think this looks like it might be a better fit for me so I am excited about the possibility of being able to use a cup again!

  19. I would love to try this since I can’t wear tampons and I need an alternative product for when I work out!

  20. I accidentally purchased the wrong size in a different brand, so I ended up with the smaller. I was upset because I couldn’t return it and I figured I had to have the larger size for it to work. This gives me hope. Maybe I will give the smaller cup a try after all. 🙂 But if my cup doesn’t work I know it is because I should have gotten the bigger size anyhow. Thanks for sharing this!

    On another note: The submissions for following on pinterest are not working. 🙁 Please get this fixed.

  21. Ever since I saw that picture of the moldy tampon, I’ve been thinking of using a cup instead. Hopefully I’ll get that chance to try one for free!

  22. I too have become more enlightened about mama products after diving into the cloth diaper arena

  26. I already use cloth pads exclusively (and love them!!) but am very interested in trying a cup.

  28. I really want to try a cup, simply because I hate disposables. They are so uncomfortable they leak, and most of all bunch up a lot. I was intrigued by the cup and I love the fact it doesn’t dry you out, and that its reusable.

  30. I want to try these, but can’t afford them right now. Since i had a baby and cloth diaper him, i started to reassess how i dealt with my period and everything wasteful in my life.

  31. I’d like to win a Lunette because it looks like a good cup for everyone, providing you choose the right size. being already a cup sonvert, I would gift it to my best friend so her periods will be easier to manage too ! I think everyone should try one, but be careful to get one that fits your insides !

  32. I have been curious about these for a while. I would definitely try it if I won one, but not so sure about buying one yet.

  33. I would love to try one of these because I’m tired of tampons and I’ve always hated pads!!

  34. I’m interested in green ideas, in my health and for the future of the planet.

  37. I’ve been curious for a few months. I’ve used mama cloth for months and loved it. I love less trash and feeling less ashamed of my body.

  39. I do not like to use pads, but I would love to not use tampons either! I want to try one of these, but havent tried yet! Thanks for the giveaway!

  40. WOULD LOVE LOVE LOVE to try this! I use lunapads, but would love a tampon alternative too!

  43. I’d LOVE to try a cup. I’m trying to remove all the chemicals and non re-usable/recyclable products from our home and I’d like to get away from disposable pads and tampons. I’ve been looking into getting a cup, but I don’t have the money to waste on one that doesn’t work. Winning would give me a chance to try one without being out any money! Thanks for the giveaway!

  44. I have been complaining for years about throwing money away by buying tampons and I really want to try a cup, but I am afraid to spend money on a cup and then the size isn’t right or it just doesn’t work for me.

  46. I used the large Diva Cup for a year before I got my Lunette. The Diva always leaked for me on my heavy days. When I switched to the Lunette all the leaking stopped. I did have to chop off the stem and file it down so it was comfortable. So now my Lunette just looks like a cup with no stem at all. I use my Lunette every month and my cloth pads also. My Diva Cup just sits in the drawer and I never use it anymore. I found that with the Diva Cup being softer silicone the air holes started ripping after a year and I don’t think my Lunette will be doing the same. Overall I love the Lunette way more than I liked my Diva Cup!

  47. I have wanted to try a lunette for a long time (I use a yuuki right now) and I also have a friend i may want to give it to since she’s been on the fence with cups for a year or so.

  48. DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE IF YOUR FIRST CUP DOES NOT WORK!!!
    There is a decent chance that the first cup may NOT be your perfect one/Goldilocks cup. BUT you MUST take what you learn from your first cup to decide what you do not like about it to determine what you want in your 2nd cup. I have 5 of them and love different things about them. It just so happens my small Lunette is my favorite 🙂 I am attaching an amazing forum of people who would love to help you on your cup journey. They helped me anyway!
    http://menstrual-cups.livejournal.com/

  49. ALSO if you buy a cup that does not work for you believe or not some will buy them 2nd hand. Since silicone does not hold onto bacteria usually just a few boilings or soaks in alcohol and such sanitize it. Look on the above link and it links you to the site for selling menstrual cups. At least you’d recoup some of your money!

  51. I think I’m most interested in trying a cup for the environmental benefits. The money savings will be nice, too!

  52. I would love not to have to keep buying pads and tampons that are just not comfortable.

  53. I would love to win a Lunette so I could give it to my friend, Misty, who’s been wanting to try reusable menstrual products for a while. I already have one and only need one.

  54. Great review!! yes when it comes to cups, size does matter 🙂
    It’s a bit of a try and error, you can experience leak usually if the cup is too small for or if it’s too soft for you. It has a lot to do with the tonicity of your pelvic floor but also just your body shape. Some will prefer a cup with a hoop skirt rim while some will like a smooth soft rim. You can get lucky and get the right cup on the first buy but even if you have to buy a few cups to get the right one, it still will be a lot cheaper than disposables. You can check out my website for more info about menstrual cups.
    ps: I also sell the Lunette for 28€.

  56. I really would like to try something more natural. I can’t stand the idea of all the chemicals in my body.

  57. What interests me the most? The fact that it’s a green way to live. I can save money and produce less waste and quite possibly get rid of these horrible feelings I have (down there) when using pads or tampons. I REALLY want to try one, so I need to win!!! lol

  58. I’d love to not have to use tampons. I hate spending the money and this just seems safer and better for my body!

  59. I would love to try something other than tampons. I’ve never used any cup because I don’t know what kind would be best for me, but I am interested in them.

  60. The Instead cup did not work at all for me. Was disappointed because I wanted to see whether I even like the whole cup thng before investing in a reusable one. My cervix is very low, and I could feel the hard rim of Instead pressing on it. It also wanted to try to pop out of me. I wonder whether this means that Diva and Lunette and other cups are out of the question, too. Or maybe they are a different enough shap and texture that it’s worth a shot?

      1. Awesome! Thanks! I’ve been thinking for a while that lunette size 1 might be what I want to try. Hard to work up the nerve to shell out 40 bcks for something I’m not sure will fit! I’ve had two kids, but since my cervix is so low, I don’t know if I want to chance a larger cup. Thanks for your responses. I’m slowly getting more courage to take the plunge! 😉

      2. Hey, I did some checking around online….watched several comparison videos and read a lot of blogs and forums. I found out I can get a small and large fleurcup for less than a lunette. I’m still really interested in lunette, but think I’ll order the set from Fleur as a starting point. maybe I’ll get a better idea of what works for me, with the two sizes. They are supposed to be really soft and also come in colors. Have you tried one? It looks like it might be a good one for someone with a low cervix, in the US. mooncup uk and meluna might also be good for somebody like me, but I’m not sure how I can obtain them for a reasonable amount, since I don’t think they are shipped to the US, normally.

  61. I didn’t know this was an option until after I started cloth diapering my daughter and found information out about it from cloth diapering sites. I love first that it is a much safer alternative and also that it is more environmentally friendly. Thank you for your openness about these products otherwise I may not have ever known they existed and were an option!

  62. i heard great things about menstrual cups and im ready to give it a try and would love to win it

  63. I’ve tried the Lunette size 2 and I think I need the 1. Like you said, hopefully there’s a cup out there that will work for me?

  64. I think this would be a wonderful alternative to the tampons & pads on the market. We have 3 children, & I’ve suffered from vulvodynia since our 1st was born. I’d like to try this, since pads & tampons increase my pain. This seems much more natural.

  65. Pingback: Cloth Diaper Giveaway Roundup for 4/27/12 (Giveaways Ending 4/27-5/32)

  66. I have a size two and it works for me but is a little large for me. I’d LOVE to try a size 1!

  68. I think it would be a great replacement for tampons!! I love how eco friendly it is too!!

  69. I’m really interested in eco-friendly products and I firmly believe that cups bring around a better self-image than disposable menstrual products.

  71. I like that it is going to save me money, that it lasts longer than tampons and pads, and that there is hardly any risk for TSS. I am really looking forward to trying a menstrual cup.

  72. I’d like to try it because it seems like a safe and economical alternative to tampons.
    bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com

  73. I’ve tried a Diva Cup but it’s insanely uncomfortable-like my uterus feels like it’s falling out. I would love to try the Lunette because it’s smaller so hopefully it will be more comfortable.

  74. I’m most interested in trying a cup to help cut down on waste. It’s why I cloth diaper and thought it’d only be the right thing to do for myself to use a reusable product too.

  75. I’ve never tried a menstrual cup, but I like being able to go up to 12 hours before emptying it instead of the 8 hours with a tampon.

  76. I cloth diaper my baby and realized I should be doing something equally eco friendly myself. Thanks for doing such a great give away!

  77. I am awaiting some mama cloth that I ordered from Etsy- since I use mostly pads now. But, in the summer with swimming and trips to the beach I want an eco friendly alternative to tampons. I’ve researched a ton of these cups and lunette has, in my opinion, the best design. Unfortunatly, I barely had enough to cover the cloth and so I don’t have any wiggle room in our budget for a cup… so here’s me crossing my fingers to win one. Thanks for this great giveaway!!

  78. I’d like to try it for financial savings and because it is greener and healthier for us women.

  79. I am cutting every corner that I can to save our family money. I am interested in the cup as a way to save, but I also want something comfortable. Tampons and pads are uncomfortable or irritating to me. I’d rather use something ‘greener’ like mama cloth or a cup.

  81. I’ve tried Meluna and Fleurcup. Meluna keeps leaking and Fleurcup is almost there, what makes me believe that Lunette will do the trick, finally.

  84. I didn’t even know that these existed until about a month ago when I read about it on a blog I follow. I would love to try it out to see if it’s something that works for me. It would be great to have when I go on medical missions and the bathroom conditions aren’t that sanitary.

  85. I’d like to get rid of the box of “plugs” underneath my sink…as well as the expense!

  86. Pingback: Cloth Diaper Giveaway Roundup for 5/4/12 (Giveaways Ending in May)

  89. I’m interested in not having to run to the restroom every hour or so to make sure I haven’t had an “accident.”

  90. Ever since seeing that pic of the moldy tampon, I’ve been looking for a more green approach to my time of the month.

  91. I would love to try a cup for several reasons (same reasons we cloth diaper) no chemicals, less trash & saves money!

  92. I am so excited to try out this product, I would love to have a chance to see if it works well for me like it seems to be doing for everyone else I read about. It is so nice to be able to help with the environment in as many ways as possible, and nice to save a little money as well 🙂

  93. Pingback: Cloth Diaper Giveaway Roundup for 5/11/12 (Giveaways Ending in May)

  94. Im really curious to try a cup, just don’t know which to choose! I love the idea of it being reusable. I became grossed out when I saw the particles a tampon releases in a cup of water (saw it on youtube) but I just hate the feeling of disposable pads. I just ordered some minty panty liners, those must be yummy!

  95. I am really tired of having to buy girlie products every month. And now the more I read, the more I see how much these things are littering our earth. I know they are eventually biodegradable but the thought of landfills …… eeewww

  97. Would love to try a menstrual cup, but have always been afraid. I have been using re-usable feminine products for years and would never go back

  99. Hi, I’ve had my lunette cup for 3 cycles now. I had a big fright the first time I wore it overnight, because it went in so far that I couldn’t reach the tab. But I found some hints on the website, and cruching in the shower and pressing it out with my pelvic muscles helped. I an wearing an IUD, and I was concerned about the vaccum of the cup pulling it out, but there seems to be no problem with that. My only issue is that it sometimes leaks. And it seems like I’m doing something wrong, because sometimes it doesn’t leak at all. So, I found this hint to turn it round and round until it opens up properly and then pull it in with my pelvic muscles, but even that doesn’t always work??? Do I need to dry the cup first when I’ve washed it to put it in? Any ideas???

    1. I find that inserting it wet is a help. If you feel like it’s in properly it could possibly be that you need a different cup for a better fit. If you’d like to try a different cup, you might try the Diva Cup, I like the material (a bit softer) and fit.

      Regarding your IUD, I would be sure to pinch the cup to release any suction before removing it, just to be sure not to tug on the string.

  100. I have been curious about this. I’ve only tried the Softcups, which leaked (and are wasteful). How do I enter the giveaway? Is it still going?

    1. Unfortunately the giveaway is over for this cup but I definitely recommend trying a silicone cup. I have used Softcups before and I think health-wise they are a great product, but they function (and fit) very differently than silicone “bell” style cups. I swear by them!

  101. Been using my cup for a couple of years, usually pretty good but definitely still a struggle with heavy bleeding, and I have not been successful at night.

  102. I have a friend who raves about menstrual cups, but never really got interested in the idea myself. However your video and review piqued my interest. I may invest in one and give it a try, even if I don’t find it super comfy…it’ll probably give me a good idea of the process and if I’m comfortable with it. 🙂 Thanks!

  103. Pingback: Menstrual Cups and Mama Cloth – It’s Life Changing! | Diapershops Blog

  104. This was very informative. I have been wanting to purchase one but I wasn’t sure if the sizing chart was accurate. Thank you so much for this!

  105. Thanks for the video! I recently bought a cup and I’m having trouble with the feel of the antenna, I considered trimming it but was uncertain. Now having seen this I’m going to give it a try.

  106. After many months of research and contemplation, I finally ordered a DivaCup. I decided to start with the DivaCup because it seems to be the most popular, at least the most readily available and if it’s too big or too firm or has a little trouble unfolding and therefore, leaking more, like I’ve heard some people say, I want to try to the Lunette and if I like it but am still unsure about the cup itself, I’ll try the Mooncup, overall it’s quite a lot of money for trial and error but at the end of the day it will save hundreds and eventually thousands… the biggest concern I have is that they say “if you have trouble reaching the rim to remove it, bear down like you’re making a bowel movement and that will push it forward enough for you to reach” …well what if I actually have a bowel movement, will that push the cup out of place and cause leaking? will I have to keep reaching up there to adjust it? will that get messy and/or gross? growing up with pads, this seems like a bit more work and I don’t know if I’ll get fed up or if I just have to get past the first couple cycles and it’ll be like second nature… any tips or suggestions on how to get through the transition? Thanks!

    1. The great thing is that a cup, once you know how to use it, is no work at all. I honestly lose track of my cycles routinely because using a cup makes it such a breeze. As for ‘bearing down’ – In my experience, if the cup moves down I simply press my finger on the bottom of the cup and do a kegel. That gets it all back into place – no fuss, no mess. I remove the stem from my cup, so that makes pushing it up a bit easier, but it can be done with a stem on as well.

  107. Entering to win one of these. I am 48 years old and have always been wet down there and I’ve read that this cup can help keep my panties dry. I have never used one before for my periods either so I am very curious and anxious to try one.

  108. I asked my mom to get me one. I was one my period when I asked her, so I actually almost started crying when she said no. Then she decided to give me three weeks to think about it and she might get me one. Yay! I’ve been using tampons for 1 1/2 years anyways so I’m not that picky about putting something inside of me, as long as I need it. I’m twelve though.

  109. I got one of these Lunette menstrual cups yesterday and the cup I tried on this morning and kept it in for 8 hours (taking it out a few times to rinse it) and I am so impressed for this has changed my life and my lifestyle, what a lifesaver… I LOVE IT. My only issue was the suction I made sure the air holes were open and they were but the thing just didn’t want to come out, for me the air holes made no help, but I finally got ahold of it by sliding my pointer finger up and having my thumb at the bottom to take it out without re-introducing suction. This is a life saver, money saver, cute, easy, not a health risk, and the most comfortable thing I’ve ever worn for menustration, EVER. I love it so much 🙂

  110. Wonderful alternative to dirty and wasteful pd products! Can’t wait to try it and feel good about myself:-) thank you!!!

  111. An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a coworker who has been conducting a little
    research on this. And he actually bought me breakfast due to the fact that I discovered it for him…
    lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!

    But yeah, thanks for spending time to talk about this subject here on your
    internet site.

  112. 2 Problems:
    1. I have never used a tampon before, and can’t really reconcile the thought of putting something inside of me, when I have blood and tissue trying to come OUT;It always seemed counter intuitive.

    2. I am over 30, but have never given birth (and never will), but I am very tight. My GYN told me she always has to use the smallest speculum for my exams. So, while I am older, I am still small in circumference. I’m not going to have children, so this won’t change in the future.

    2b. My flow is REALLY heavy, and I have large chunks of uterine lining (sometimes as large as my hand). Is this really recommended for me?

    1. One of the great things about a cup is that it merely catches – it does not absorb. Now that I know more, I find tampons to be a bit crazy as an option. The design is really not intuitive.

      If you have a strong pelvic floor, a smaller cup can certainly be used. The sizing is a guide to help choose the right one, but there is certainly room for variance.

      Heavy flow is not a problem with cups, and some women even report that it helps with them. Normal clotting is not an issue, though I might be concerned about leaking with excessively large clots.

      If you decide to try a cup, I would look for a smaller diameter with larger capacity – perhaps the MCUK or Diva Cup. I hope this helps.

  113. I think I have a fairly low cervix so I’m having trouble getting my menstrual cup to work for me. I think I need to find a chart with measurements of the various menstrual cups!

    1. Mine tends to sit low during part of my cycle. I find that removing the stem helps a lot. Without the stem even the Diva is a good fit for me, and it’s a bit of a longer cup.

  115. i just took the leap and bought myself a lunette cup. it arrive earlier this week but don’t have my period yet! can’t wait to try it out!

  116. Hi! I think this is an amazing alternative although I’m an bit disappointed. I bought Lunette size 2 because my cervix sits really high up and I have a normal flow but I can feel it in there all the time, it presses against my bladder (which is quite annoying) and I am scared of cutting the stem off since it’s difficult to reach to get it out (although it irritates me). I’m wondering whether I should have got a size 1 or whether this is the right brand for me…

    1. I had the same problem. I had a size 2 and was the first time I was trying the cup. After 2 days of using it, it was really uncomfortable and to be honest quite painful when removing. It was messy too. My period is usually heavy on the 1st and 2nd day. I had to remove it every 2-3 hours as it started leaking. Sometimes I can feel the stem sticking out, but mostly it is deep in. I am afraid to cut the stem as I don’t think I can reach in to remove the cup if I do.
      I had just sent an email to check with the seller if I can exchange it for a size 1. Overall quite disappointed with the whole experience but I might try again the next round.

  117. First time trying it and loving it. The only issue I am having is its going up to high in me. I freaked out bc I couldn’t get it out. Any help on if I got wrong size or how to avoid this again?

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  129. Hi there,

    For what I see a lot of people try different cups and then find the right one. But what do you do with the ones that didn’t fit? It seems such a waste of money to throw them away because they’re much more expensive than pads and tampons, and not too environmentally friendly (since that’s one of the things we want to achive), so, what to do with them?

    I’ve been having problems with two brands because they seem to sit fine at the beginning but then they shift to the top and move sideways, so they leak; I thought a bigger cup would help, but didn’t solve the problem, maybe try a smaller one?