How to choose a menstrual cup that actually works

Quick answer

For first-timers, we recommend the Hello Cup in size Medium. Softer than the market leaders, made in New Zealand, and it has the lowest learning curve we have measured across a test group of nine.

The three things that decide fit

1. Size — S for teens or people who have not given birth vaginally, M for most adults, L for after childbirth or heavier flow.
2. Softness — TPE (Hello Cup) is softer than medical silicone (DivaCup, Saalt). Softer = easier to insert, may open more slowly.
3. Stem length — trim as needed. A cup that sits too low is a comfort problem; a cup that sits too high is a removal problem.

What a cup replaces

A single cup lasts 5–10 years and replaces every tampon or pad you would have used in that window. That is thousands of items diverted from landfill, most of them containing plastic.

Learning curve — be patient

Cycle 1: expect one difficult insertion. Cycle 2: it clicks. From cycle 3, most users say they will never go back. If you have not adapted by cycle 3, resize.