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For people with periods, the monthly ritual of realizing you may or may not have enough tampons to get through your cycle is a familiar one. There’s nothing worse than opening up your medicine cabinet on day one of your period and realizing you’ve got one or two tampons to your name. (Who needs to worry about an errand run on top of cramps? Not you.) It’s in these moments where you just might start considering reusable period products like the menstrual cup, and we’re here to tell you to go for it.
A recent darling in the world of convenient period products, menstrual cups are a great one to have in your arsenal. For one thing, they’re sustainable (letting you ditch the plastic, the trash, and the packaging of your tampons and pads) and cost effective (crunch the numbers — you buy one cup vs several boxes of tampons each year). They are also comfortable, help reduce period stigma (get used to handling the menses, it’s okay!) and allow you the freedom of doing things you love without stress (swimming, sex, check!).
If you’re googling “menstrual cups” and are overwhelmed with all the options, shapes, sizes and branding, don’t sweat it. We’ve rounded up a few of the best menstrual cups and discs that will have you bidding farewell to your tampons (at least some of the time) and converting. You have so many options but these cups will never runneth over.
A version of this story was published June 2020.
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Nixit
Nixit’s menstrual cup comes in a cute, user-friendly circular shape that offers 12 hours of protection (that’s four of your super tampons without the discomfort!) and it can be reused again and again. You can also grab Nixit’s menstrual cup cleanser for a vulva-approved cleaning option.
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Rhythm Classic Menstrual Cup
Rhythm’s Classic Menstrual Cup is designed for comfort and easy use. It’s made with super-soft material and comes with a leak-prevention rim and a pull-tab for removal, while offering 12 hours of protection.
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Saalt Soft Cup
A soft menstrual cup is designed for women who experience bladder sensitivity, cramping, and who haven’t had good luck with firmer cups, the Saalt Soft Cup is also friendly for folks with endometriosis, who need an extra comfy cup for long or extra painful periods.
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Cora Easy-Does-It Cup
If you’re new to the world of menstrual cups, the Cora Easy-Does-It Cup is a good choice. It’s beginner-approved thanks to its easy-to-grab finger indents and textured base, and you can wear it for up to 12 hours at a time with no leaks.
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Viv For Your V Menstrual Cup
If you’re worried about the removal part of using a menstrual cup (which is fair!), try Viv For Your V’s cup. It features a ring tab that’s easy to grab and pull out when you’re ready, and the cup can hold up to three tampon or pad’s worth of liquid.
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Flex Menstrual Disc
Not quite as green as its more reusable sisters (though we’re big fans of their super soft, comfortable menstrual cup too), the flex disc is a longwear disposable made from vegan, medical-grade, and body-safe materials (but without rubber latex, BPA or pthalates). They last long enough to reduce 60 percent of the waste from other disposables, though — so still an earth-friendly choice!
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Lunette Cup
The Lunette cup is a reusable, vegan cup that can be worn for 12 hours and is made of medical grade sillicone.
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Intimina Ziggy Cup
A bit different from the other cups on this list, Ziggy Cup‘s flat-fit design can’t be felt at all from inside (for maximum comfort) and promises mess-free period sex.
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DivaCup
An early favorite in the menstrual cup world, DivaCup was synonymous with “menstrual cup” for a good while. This particular model is recommended for women over the age of 30 who have a heavy flow, so you’ll know you are covered.
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Pixie Cup
With models you can order depending on the size your body needs (high cervix, if you’ve given birth, if its for a new menstruator), the Pixie Cup is out to serve all kinds of bodies. It also has an extra long stem for easy removal.
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Lena Cup
Designed specifically for women who experience vaginal and cervical pain, the Lena Cup is another soft and super easy to insert/remove model for people new to the menstrual cup game.
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