Okay! Everything sounds great with the menstrual cup, right? But when it comes to mentioning that the cup comes in different sizes, it can be intimidating to choose the right one. I'll be honest: in some cases, you can choose a cup without all the information I'll provide, and it may still work for you. However, I'm passionate about giving you all the details so that as a new user, you can choose what will definitely (with almost a 90% probability) work for you.
The foundation for having a good experience with the menstrual cup is to choose a suitable shape for us. Menstrual cup brands can even have different shapes. The shape refers to the overall design of the cup.
What should be considered when choosing the ideal mold for us?
Here’s a guide for you.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, PELVIC MUSCLE, AND VAGINAL SENSITIVITY
These factors determine the density of your menstrual cup.
- High density (stiffer cups): Choose this if you do high-impact exercises and/or have a well-trained pelvic floor.
- Low density (softer cups): Choose this if you have vaginal sensitivity or pain during penetration.
- Medium density (neither too soft nor too hard): If you don’t meet the above criteria, you can choose this option.
VAGINAL DEPTH
Determine the height of your mold, which is different from the size (width).
To measure your vaginal depth, with clean hands, insert a finger into the vagina until you feel your cervix. It feels smooth and like a donut. Look for a mold that is neither greater nor less than 1 cm from your depth.
- Low depth: molds less than 4 cm
- Medium depth: molds between 4 to 6 cm
- High depth: molds greater than 6 cm
AGE
Determine your size (along with the number of births), but it’s not the most influential factor.
- Under 18 years: size XS or teen
- Between 20-30 years: sizes S or M
- Over 30 years: size L or XL
Different brands have different width measurements, so you might be S in one brand and M in another.
NUMBER OF BIRTHS (OR PREGNANCIES)
Having a vaginal birth has a significant impact, but pregnancies also affect your pelvic floor, which can be noticeable if comprehensive rehabilitation is not performed.
- If you had a vaginal birth: larger sizes (L or XL)
- C-sections: It depends, considering the previous points. But you might go up a size or not due to pregnancy.
- Without pregnancies (or pregnancies that reached the third trimester): Use your age as a guide.
PHYSICAL BUILD
- If your BMI is below 18, a smaller size may be suggested.
- If your BMI is above 35, it may be suggested to increase a size.
- If not applicable, use age and/or number of births as a guide.
FLOW AMOUNT
Determines the ideal capacity of your mold, but this can be considered optional. The amount of flow will influence how often you need to empty your menstrual cup.
If your flow is heavy and it's not possible for you to remove it every 3-4 hours, look for a mold with greater capacity.
- Light flow: Regular capacity molds. You would empty your cup every 8-12 hours.
- Medium flow: Regular capacity molds. You would empty your cup every 6-8 hours.
- Heavy flow: With a regular mold, you would empty your cup every 3-4 hours. With larger capacity molds, every 6-8 hours.
Do you have all the previous answers?
You can take our quiz at www.copasmenstrualesgt.com/quiz where you'll find out which brands and types of molds fit your needs. You can also take a look at our catalog www.copasmenstrualesgt.com and choose based on your budget, the cup that meets your requirements and is within the price range you're willing to pay.
If you have questions, email us at info@copasmenstrualesgt.com or through WhatsApp. We are here for you.
