The 6 Very Best Menstrual Cups

For the many women who prefer menstrual cups to tampons and pads, the payoff is undeniable. Reusable menstrual cups are less wasteful, they don’t have to be changed as often, and they save a lot of money over time.

“Menstrual cups are very durable and can last for months, if not years, if you take care of them properly,” says Dr. Lucky Sekhon, a reproductive endocrinologist and board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who also tells us they’re great for women who want to have sex during their period. You’ve probably heard of the DivaCup — the one so popular women use its name as a catchall, much like Kleenex for tissues — but there are tons of brands these days putting out highly specific period cups in different shapes and sizes in an effort to comfortably fit each of the millions of different vaginas and periods in the world.

If you’ve never used a menstrual cup before or have questions about where to start, Jennifer Conti, M.D., a clinical assistant professor at Stanford’s department of obstetrics and gynecology, recommends consulting the site Put a Cup in It, which offers a quiz asking nine questions about factors like age, whether you’ve had a baby, your activity level, and cervix to determine which menstrual cup to use. Nicole Bullock, D.O., an OB/GYN based in Abilene, Texas, is even more relaxed: “The vagina’s pretty elastic and forgiving. It just has to fit comfortably.” Sekhon agrees, saying, “Don’t settle. If you can feel or detect it, it probably isn’t the right cup for you or it’s not positioned right. Try a few different sizes or brands until you’re satisfied.”

Because I’ve never used a menstrual cup before, to find the best options, I spoke to various professionals, enthusiasts, and gynecological experts about their favorites. (And I chatted with several Strategist team members about the ones they’ve personally vetted.) While I originally found menstrual cups to be intimidating and messy, after hearing all this praise, I think I’m ready to place an order for one myself.

What we’re looking for

Size: The size of the cup is the first and most important metric you should consider before buying. Most cups come in at least two sizes. Generally, if you have a light-to-medium flow, fall into a younger age range, or have yet to give birth, opt for the smaller size. If you have a medium-to-heavy flow, are in the older age ranges, or have given birth, go for the larger.

Firmness: While menstrual cups should be made from medical-grade silicone (the same material used in body-safe sex toys), the firmness of the silicone varies and will affect how the cup feels when worn, as well as how easy it is to insert. In general, firmer silicone cups are easier to insert since they tend to “snap” back open once inside and form a strong seal, while softer silicone cups pop open more slowly and can be more leak-prone compared to firmer cups. However, soft silicone is a better choice for those who are more sensitive, have sensitive bladders, or experience bad menstrual cramps.

Best overall menstrual cup

Diva Cup 1

$33

$40 now 18% off

Three sizes | Medium firmness

The popularity of the DivaCup may have something to do with its availability. Since the company’s beginnings in 2003, it has been one of the only name brands widely available in pharmacies and grocery stores. But it has also built a loyal fan base, which includes Bullock. She says, “It’s the only one I’ve ever worked with, and since I loved it immediately, I never looked to try another one.” Gabrielle Moss, a former Bustle editor and the author of Paperback Crush, is equally satisfied with hers. She says she started using a DivaCup “when you still had to go to a Portlandia-style feminist bookstore to buy one,” adding that she never contemplated trying a different brand because the DivaCup is so reliable. “In my pre-cup life, I was always either dripping blood onto my underpants or pulling out a too-dry tampon,” she explains. “DivaCup introduced me to a life where I don’t have to be uncomfortable or splattering blood everywhere.” Writer Beca Grimm has been using the brand for over a decade. She says, “It’s super-easy to maintain (just boil between periods — ideally at a time when your roommate isn’t home).” And while Grimm notes it takes a little trial and error to master the C-fold insertion tactic, once she did, “it was a piece of cake.” Grimm also loves how much money she saves and how it cuts down on tampon waste. Plus, the DivaCup comes in three sizes, the most out of any on this list.

$33 AT AMAZON $37 AT TARGET

Best less expensive menstrual cup

Blossom Menstrual Cups

$14

Three sizes | Medium firmness

Writer Thahabu Gordon discovered menstrual cups when she was couch surfing between different friends’ places and couldn’t always go to a store for pads and tampons. If you crunch the numbers on a single box of tampons, a menstrual cup typically will pay for itself after only a few months of wear. However, since many menstrual cups can run close to $30, they can feel like a steep upfront investment, especially if you’re not sure you’ll like the fit and feel. The Blossom Cup is the most affordable on this list, clocking in at just $14, which is less than half the price of the Diva Cup above. Gordon describes the Blossom Cup as the perfect balance between hard and soft. “A harder cup could snap open before you’ve inserted it all the way, and a cup that’s too soft may not open at all once inserted,” she says. Gordon has also noticed that her period is shorter, her cramps aren’t as painful since using the cup, and she says she forgets that she’s wearing it “85 percent of the time.”

$14 AT AMAZON

Best menstrual cup for beginners

Lena Sensitive Menstrual Cup

$32 now 16% off

$27

Two sizes | Soft

The founders of Put a Cup in It, Kim Rosas and Amanda Hearn, have helped thousands of women find the best menstrual cup for their bodies. Their pick for the best place to start is the Lena Cup. It comes in two sizes, making it great for both teens and adults, and is made from 100 percent medical-grade silicone (meaning most people won’t have allergy concerns). “We feel confident in recommending the Lena Sensitive as a great starter cup that should work well for most people.” The shape of the cup makes it super-easy to insert and remove, and the level of firmness makes it extremely comfortable. Jackie Bolen, author of the The Ultimate Guide to Menstrual Cups, is also a fan of the Lena Cup and specifically recommends the “sensitive” model because it doesn’t give her cramps like some of the stiffer cups — and is a breeze to put in.

$27 AT AMAZON

Best menstrual cup for sensitive users

Yuuki Soft Menstrual Cup

$27

Two sizes | Soft

Strategist newsletter editor Mia Leimkuhler went through a lot of cups before finding the Yuuki. For her, the DivaCup was really easy to use but didn’t have the capacity she was looking for to let her go longer between bathroom visits. The next one she tried was the Super Jennie cup, which she says solved the capacity issue but wasn’t quite the right shape for her body. The Intimina Lily Cup was a better fit, but she found it hard to get an easy grip on it while removing because of the smooth sides. “The Yuuki cup ended up being my Goldilocks cup,” says Leimkuhler, who credits its high capacity, long length, and easy-to-pinch rings at the bottom with making up her mind. She has the “soft” silicone Yuuki in clear and is thinking about getting a second one in the rainbow color. And if you’re worried about leaks, Leimkuhler says that it pops open really easily so she’s never had any issues.

$27 AT YUUKI CUP

Best menstrual cup for heavy flow

Saalt Soft Menstrual Cup

$29

Two sizes | Soft

It’s been over two years since Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst first tried the Saalt menstrual cup she calls “a perfect fit.” When I admitted my menstrual-cup ignorance, Denton-Hurst chatted with me for close to an hour about how much she loves the Saalt cup and made such a compelling case I’m considering buying one of my own. For her, the Saalt has saved her from worrying about bleeding through her clothes while working out or laughing too hard and ending up in a pool of her own blood. Plus, it’s sustainable and saves her money on pads. Denton-Hurst describes her periods as heavy and messy with backbreaking cramps. But, as she writes in her ode, the Saalt cup has made having her period much less of a thing. “I sleep better knowing I won’t ruin my clothes and sheets and can do anything during my period, including wearing white pants on day three.”

$29 AT AMAZON $29 AT ANTHROPOLOGIE

Best disposable menstrual cup

Instead Softcups 12-Hour Feminine Protection

$12 now 17% off

$10 for 14

One size | Soft

Menstrual discs are much more flexible than menstrual cups, and they sit differently inside the body, which is why many women find them more comfortable. And because they don’t have to last a decade, disposable discs like Softdisc don’t need to be made out of such firm materials. Menstrual discs are also more comfortable for couples having period sex because they don’t have a stem like menstrual cups do. Graduate student Ansley Hayes has a DivaCup at home and uses it in addition to Softdisc, pads, and tampons. She says the DivaCup can sometimes put too much pressure on her cervix, however, if it happens to be sitting lower in her body. Whenever that happens, she switches to Softcups, she says.

$10 FOR 14 AT AMAZON $13 FOR 14 AT WALGREENS

Our experts

• Jackie Bolen, author of the The Ultimate Guide to Menstrual Cups

• Nicole Bullock, OB/GYN

• Jennifer Conti, M.D., a clinical assistant professor at Stanford’s department of obstetrics and gynecology

• Tembe Denton-Hurst, Strategist writer

• Beca Grimm, writer

• Thahabu Gordon, writer

• Ansley Hayes, graduate student

• Amanda Hearn, Put a Cup in It co-founder

• Mia Leimkuhler, Strategist newsletter editor

• Gabrielle Moss, a former Bustle editor and the author of Paperback Crush

• Kim Rosas, Put a Cup in It co-founder

• Lucky Sekhon, reproductive endocrinologist and board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist