Moon cups, period catchers, sanitary cups— a menstrual cup goes by many different names but these small, discreet and cost-effective reusable products make for a super sustainable solution to period care.
It’s no secret that single-use menstrual products, like tampons and sanitary towels, contribute to landfill waste. In fact, one study found that these products generate around 28,114 tonnes of waste per year. And research published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology tells us that items like sanitary pads can take around 500 to 800 years to break down. What’s worse, if your pad or tampon contains plastic, it will never truly biodegrade.
But that’s where reusable solutions - like menstrual cups - step up to the plate. The soft, flexible period catchers are worn just like a tampon, inside your vagina. But instead of absorbing blood (and other bodily fluids), menstrual cups catch it instead. Finding the best menstrual cup will differ from person to person. But the top-rated options are made of medical-grade silicone and are BPA and latex-free and may last for up to 10 years.
How do you clean it?
As is the case with any reusable period product, hygiene is of utmost importance. Which is why, it’s important to carefully sterilise your cup by dropping it into boiling water before and after using it for 2-3 minutes. Some brands have pH-friendly soap which you can wash your period product with too.
How do you insert it?
Most brands have their own instructions on the packaging or step-by-step videos on how to insert your menstrual cup. But generally speaking, most bell-shaped menstrual cups are inserted by:
- Folding the cup in half with the rim facing up.
- Inserting the menstrual cup into your vagina, like you would a tampon.
- Once it’s in, you should rotate it to help secure it in place and create a light vacuum.
How often should you wear one?
Each brand has different recommendations on how long you should wear your menstrual cup. Some can remain in place for up to 8 hours, while others can for 12. How long each lasts will depend on the capacity of the cup and how heavy your flow is. It is possible to wear your menstrual cup overnight, although if you’re new to the world of these reusable period solutions and still getting used to securing your cup, some brands suggest wearing reusable pads or period knickers to ensure you’re fully protected.
Best menstrual cups at a glance:
- Best for easy removal: Asan Menstrual Cup - £24.95, Asan
- Best for heavy flows: Saalt Menstrual Cup - £27.61, Amazon
- Best for sensitive skin: Secret Whispers Cup IT - £29.99, Amazon
- Best for fans of pink: VUSH Let’s Flow Menstrual Cup - £18, lookfantastic
- Best for fuss-free periods: Pimento Reusable Silicone Menstrual Cup - £14.95, The Natural Love Company
- Best for budget: Satisfyer Feel Secure - £10.95, Satisfyer
- Best for those confused about sizing: Bettercup - £23, Better Company
- Best for unconventional design: Nixit Menstrual Cup - £49, Nixit
- Best for eco-friendly warriors: AllMatters Menstrual Cup - £15.99, Amazon
- Best for teens: TOTM Menstrual Cup - £12, Sephora
Asan Menstrual Cup
Best for: An easy removal
- Size: 2 sizes
- Wear: Up to 12 hours
The menstrual cup from Asan, which in Urdu, Hindi and Persian means ‘easy’ or ‘worry-free’, certainly lives up to its name. The red product differs from other cups in this guide because it comes with a round removal ring, instead of a small stem of silicone. This makes taking the reusable cup in and out trouble-free. It also means you can empty your flow into the toilet without worrying about dropping it down the loo.
Another brilliant design point is its red colouring - you don’t have to worry about staining. Available in two different sizes depending on whether you have a light/medium flow or heavy flow, it’s also 100 per cent medical-grade silicone. For every menstrual cup you purchase, Asan donates one free to someone who can’t afford period products.
Buy now £24.95, Asan
Saalt Menstrual Cup
Best for: Heavy flows
- Size: 2 sizes
- Wear: Up to 12 hours
Say goodbye to spillages, leaks and last-minute panics that you haven’t got enough tampons or sanitary towels. According to the brand, the Saalt Menstrual Cup is able to hold up to three tampons worth of blood, while its regular-sized cup can hold four.
Available in two different sizes, the brand recommends using the small version if you have a light/normal flow or you’re a first-time user and/or you haven’t given birth. If you have a normal/heavy flow or high cervix, the brand suggests using the Regular size.
The B-corp business’ cup lasts up to 10 years, is super soft and flexible (in fact you might even forget it’s in) and contains no BPA or latex. Plus, when you invest in one, a person in need receives one too. It’s a win-win.
Buy now £27.61, Amazon
Secret Whispers Cup IT
Best for: Sensitive skin
- Size: 2 sizes
- Wear: Up to 12 hours
Suffer from allergies? The Secret Whispers Cup IT is 100 per cent hypoallergenic - meaning it’s unlikely to cause an allergic reaction to those wearing the period product. So if you have sensitive skin, this menstrual cup is best suited to you.
Plus, if you’re struggling to decipher what size menstrual cup you’ll need, this kit comes with a small and regular size. It also contains two organic cotton drawstring bags to put each of your cups back into to keep them safe when they’re not in use. And, the award-winning company has designed the menstrual cup so you can wear it for up to 12 hours - and last up to 10 years.
Buy now £29.99, Secret Whispers
VUSH Let's Flow Menstrual Cup
Best for: Fans of pink
- Size: 2 sizes
- Wear: Up to 8 hours
VUSH is a sexual wellness brand that is transforming the conversation around pleasure, well-being and self-love. Unsure how to insert your VUSH Let’s Flow Menstrual Cup? Thankfully, the cup comes with all the instructions on the box, taking you through the process in an easy-to-follow manner and after a few practices, it will become like second nature.
Like many of the other products in this line-up, the menstrual cup is made out of medical-grade silicone, is latex and is BPA-free. But just remember, this product can be used for up to 8 hours before you’ll need to empty it. Coming in a pretty-in-pink packaging and colourway, you can pick up this product in two different sizes, for light/medium and heavy flows.
Buy now £18.00, lookfantastic
Pimento Reusable Silicone Menstrual Cup
Best for: Fuss-free periods
- Size: 2 sizes
Easy and fuss-free, the Pimento Reusable Silicone Menstrual Cup is made from medical-grade silicone. This makes it durable, as well as resistant to bacteria buildup, so it’s a tip-top solution to zero-waste period products. No matter whether you have a heavy flow, light or somewhere in the middle, the Pimento is stocked in two sizes.
According to the brand, if you’re under 30, and/or have not given birth vaginally then Pimento A is likely to be the best match. While if you’re over the age of 30 and/or have given birth vaginally at any age then Pimento B is likely more suitable for you. If you’re unsure, you could always purchase the Pimento Duo Set which includes one of each size so you can test out both and see which feels best for you.
Buy now £14.95, The Natural Love Company
Satisfyer Feel Secure
Best for: Budget
- Size: 2 sizes
- Wear: Up to 12 hours
Available in seven different colours and costing just over £10, the affordable silicone Satisfyer Feel Secure Menstrual Cup is worth its weight in gold. Satisfyer has a collection of different menstrual cups to choose from, but this Feel Secure range is ideal for beginners and connoisseurs. It has a quirky (and practical) handle for easy removal and like many of the other cups in this line-up, it’s made from super hygienic medical silicone.
The cups are available in a practical set of two, which have a 15ml and 20ml capacity, so they’re a match for light and heavy days, and you can enjoy up to 12 hours of protection, leak-free. With a 15-year guarantee, what more could you want from your menstrual cup?
Buy now £10.95, Satisfyer
Bettercup
Best for: Those confused about sizing
- Size: 2 sizes
- Wear: Up to 12 hours
Living up to its tagline ‘better for you, better for the planet and better for those in need’, the Bettercup really is a menstrual product that’s an all-round win. Crafted entirely from medical grade silicone and containing no dyes, BPA, latex, bleach or plastic, the reusable menstrual product is easy to fit and easy to remove once you need to change it.
Plus, for every Bettercup sold, the brand gives one to a person in need, which is pretty special. It comes in a pretty blush colour or clear hue and you can buy a multipack too which is ideal for those confused about what size they’ll need. For £20, we think it’s a price worth paying.
Buy now £23.00, Better Company
Nixit Menstrual Cup
Best for: An unconventional design
- Size: One size fits all
- Wear: Up to 12 hours
Cute, colourful and there to catch your flow, the Nixit Menstrual Cup is changing up the menstrual product offering thanks to its disc-style design. If you’ve tried a traditional bell-shaped menstrual cup before and not got on with them, the Nixit could be the solution you’ve been looking for.
Due to the disc-style design, you’ll have no special folds to manage or light suction to deal with which might make the cup easier to remove for some. Unlike most other menstrual cup styles, which sit in your vagina, the Nixit Menstrual Cup sits in your vaginal fornix (which is higher up) so it can take a bit of practice to get the fit perfect.
Available in yellow, purple or teal, it’s made from ultra-soft silicone (so once you’ve nailed the insertion process, you won’t even know it’s there) and it comes with a ‘one-size-fits-all’ motto, so there’s zero confusion over sizing.
Buy now £49.00, Nixit
AllMatters Menstrual Cup
Best for: Eco-friendly warriors
- Size: 3 sizes
- Wear: Up to 12 hours
The AllMatters Menstrual Cup is a period care product with a conscience. Previously called the OrganiCup, B Corp brand AllMatters has donated 60,000 cups (and counting) worldwide to help those in need. Shipped to you in plastic-free packaging, the soft and comfortable bell-shaped cup is crafted from all soft medical-grade silicone and is BPA and latex-free.
All you’ve got to do is practice folding and inserting this cup and then let it work its magic for up to 12 hours. Then, once you’ve emptied your cup and cleaned it, you can pop it back into its organic cotton bag for safekeeping until your next period. Plus, for those looking for another solution to period care, be sure to check out the brand’s soft and oh-so-comfy reusable period underwear. They’re a game changer.
Buy now £15.99, Amazon
TOTM Menstrual Cup
Best for: Teens
- Size: 3 sizes
- Wear: Up to 12 hours
In three different sizes, TOTM’s prettily packaged cups are BPA-free, latex-free, hypoallergenic and designed to last up to 10 years. Meaning this super soft and reusable menstrual cup is suitable for sensitive skin and is made to last (and last).
But one of the best things about this product is the fact it’s available in three different sizes. The Cup Size 1 is for anyone under 18 and who doesn’t have sex regularly, Cup Size 2 is for those under 30 and who have not given birth vaginally, while the Cup Size 3 is for those who are 30 and over and/or those who have given birth vaginally. So there really is something for everyone.
Oh and did we also mention that TOTM is a B Corp company? This planet-friendly period care business and its menstrual cups get a thumbs up from us.
Buy now £12.00, TOTM
Verdict
Periods don’t have to be hard and the Asan Menstrual Cup makes the process as easy as can be. Easy to insert and even easier to remove (when needed), the menstrual cup tops our guide of best buys.
It wins bonus points for its round removal ring which gives you a better grip on the cup and enables you to hold onto it easily as you empty it down the toilet. The fact Asan donates one menstrual cup for free to someone who can’t afford period products when you add one to your collection is the icing on top of the cake.
Shop more eco-conscious period products here - from period pants to reusable sanitary towels.
