HealthReproductive Health

Ready to ditch pads and tampons for good? Here’s how to choose the best menstrual cup for you

Find out how to choose the best menstrual cup for you based on your needs—and *exactly* how to use it.

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Photo: Stocksy/Thais Ramos Varela
Published Aug 9, 2018

Written by 

Katie Morton

Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission

Given all the buzz surrounding menstrual cups—wellness faves like Lee Tilghman (AKA Lee From America) and Lauren Singer swear by them—you might be surprised to hear that the doohickies are not a new invention. The first usable commercial cup was patented in 1937 by American actress Leona Chalmers (*the more you know*). Today, after several decades and many adjustments made to the original model, there are nearly as many varieties of menstrual cups to choose from as there are tampons and feminine pads.

So, what exactly is a menstrual cup? At it’s most basic, it’s a vessel that’s designed to be inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual fluid, in lieu of a pad, tampon, or period-proof workout shorts (yep, that’s a thing). Cups are typically bell shaped, stemmed for easy removal, and made from medical-grade silicone or rubber.

Now that we’ve got that covered, we can move on to the million-dollar question: How do you use one?

Keep reading to see if a menstrual cup may be right for you—and how to choose the best one for your needs.

The pros

The surge in popularity of menstrual cups is largely attributed to its eco-friendliness and cost effectiveness. One cup can be reused for up to five years or longer—so while the initial cost of the cup may be higher than a box of pads or tampons (but at $15-$40 per cup we’re not talking by much), making the switch will save you a pretty penny in the long run.

Plus: In addition to the decreased waste avoided by not regularly disposing of tampons or pads themselves, the fact that it’s reusable means you don’t have to throw away handfuls of wrappers and applicators each month.

The cons

Real talk: There is a learning curve associated with using menstrual cups. Some users may have difficulty inserting the cup, particularly younger girls or women who have never had intercourse. Women with IUDs should consult with their OB/GYN or primary care physician, as the cup could potentially catch the string of the IUD, potentially dislodging it.

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Menstrual cups also present a potential for mess when emptying the cup. (If you’re a cup skeptic, this is likely why.) It’s recommended that you empty the cup while hovering over the toilet and ideally at home, so that you have easy access to a sink for washing your hands and rinsing the cup.

Recent studies have shown that menstrual cups allow more air to enter the vagina compared to tampons. Increased airflow creates a more favorable environment for bacteria to grow, which may increase the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) (a potentially fatal bacterial illness associated with tampon use). That said, TSS is rare (about 1 in 100,000 people annually) and as with tampon use, you can reduce your risk by washing your hands before inserting the cup and be sure to empty the cup at least every eight hours.

How to use a menstrual cup

Okay, let’s get down to it.

  1. 1.
    Fold or pinch the cup vertically to reduce its width, allowing for easier insertion into the vagina.
  2. 2.
    Once inserted, the cup will unfold and should create a seal against the vaginal walls. The cup shouldn’t leak or cause discomfort. If either of these occur, adjust the cup by twisting it or flexing the vaginal muscles. When properly inserted, you should barely feel the cup if you even notice it at all.
  3. 3.
    Depending on your flow, remove the cup after four to eight hours of use by pinching the base of the cup and pulling. Don’t pull it out by the stem because that could create additional suction, making it more difficult to remove.
  4. 4.
    Empty the cup into the toilet, rinse it out, and reinsert. If you can’t easily get to a sink to rinse the cup (like in many public restrooms), you can wipe it out with clean tissue or a wet wipe, and then rinse the cup when you are next able to. You can also consider carrying a water bottle with you to rinse the cup in these situations.
  5. 5.
    At the end of your menstrual cycle, wash the cup with a mild soap and sterilize it in boiling water for a few minutes before storing.

If you feel you’ve inserted the cup properly but leakage continues to occur, you should consider emptying the cup more frequently or purchasing a larger sized cup.

How to choose the best menstrual cup for you

Most brands sell cups in small and large sizes. The small size is typically recommended for women under the age of 30 who have not given birth vaginally, for light flows, and/or first-time cup users. Larger sizes are intended for women more than 30 years of age, who have given birth vaginally, or have a heavy flow. (Side note: Is it possible to hear the words “heavy flow” without having Mean Girls flashbacks?)

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Because not all vaginas and not all menstrual cups are made the same, you may have to do some Goldilocks-style trial and error before you find the right menstrual cup. And don’t be discouraged if your first choice isn’t a perfect fit; it’s hard to purchase “the one” on the first try.

To help narrow down the field, we’ve scoured numerous articles and user reviews to find the four most popular cups on the market.

MeLuna Classic; $25

Manufactured in Germany and popular throughout Europe, MeLuna comes in a variety of sizes, making it a good brand to explore for first-time cup users. The MeLuna website even offers a size calculator to help you find the right cup.

To buy: MeLuna

The DivaCup; $30

DivaCup has been around for 15 years, making it one of the best-known cups on the market and the first cup many women try. Available in two sizes, DivaCup features extra-grip ridges for easy removal and was the first cup to receive MDSAP (Medical Device Single Audit Program) certification.

To buy: Amazon

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Lena; $40

Lena offers cups in small and large sizes as well a sensitive model, made from a slightly softer silicone that is more ideal for first-time cup users or those with a sensitive anatomy or bladder. If you’re not sure which cup size to buy, Lena also sells a two-pack containing a small and large cup that can be alternated based on your flow.

To buy: Amazon

Blossom; $14 and up

Blossom cups are one of the most affordable cups on the market and have a money-back guarantee, making it a good introductory cup. Reviewers also rave about the softness of the Blossom cup.

To buy: Amazon

Finding the right fit

If you’re a fan of tampons, then the internal solution of a menstrual cup might be a good fit for you. The biggest takeaway is this: if you want to save money and find a more environmentally-friendly solution for your periods, then try the menstrual cup—and then try it again—because experimentation is the name of the game. Don’t necessarily expect to get it right on your first try, and don’t give up if all doesn’t go as planned from the beginning. You’ll be a menstrual cup pro before you know it.

Need more intel? An expert gives a detailed (no such thing as TMI here, folks!) explanation of how to use one. And thanks to this new product, period sexy just got a lot less messy. 

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HealthReproductive Health

This 1 Type of Pregnancy Is Super Rare, but Entirely Possible

A OB/GYN explains superfetation—or getting "double pregnant."

pregnant person with long brown hair in a black tank top and pants and flowy tan overshirt looking at their baby clothes and awaiting birth, to show concept of superfetation pregnancy
Photo: Stocksy/Artem Podrez
Updated Feb 6, 2025

Written by 

Jaime Osnato

Leave it to medical dramas to highlight some of the rarest health conditions out there (Grey's Anatomy or ER, anyone?). While some of the issues these shows highlight seem far-fetched, many are based in reality, as in, healthcare experts have seen cases of it before. One such condition? Getting pregnant while you're already pregnant. It's a phenomenon called superfetation1, and while extremely rare—a 2008 study recorded only 10 cases worldwide2—it is totally real.

Experts in This Article

Allison K. Rodgers

board-certified OB/GYN, reproductive endocrinologist, and director of education at the Fertility Centers of Illinois.

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Curious as to how this happens? Read on to learn how double pregnancies occur and how to potentially prevent them.

Why superfetation pregnancy happens

Before we get into how superfetation happens, let's cover some of the basics of conception. First, an egg gets released from an ovary (female reproductive organ) during ovulation—a few days during the menstrual cycle when you're most fertile. Then, if you have unprotected sex (i.e., without a condom or birth control method) with a partner with a penis, their sperm can fertilize your dropped egg, and voilá—conception occurs. The combined sperm and egg will form an embryo, which implants into the lining of the uterus and grows into a fetus.

With superfetation, this entire process happens twice, meaning the second embryo joins the first one in the uterus.

For most people, ovulation stops while pregnant, meaning the uterus won't allow another embryo to implant when there's already one in there, says Allison K. Rodgers, MD, a board-certified OB/GYN, reproductive endocrinologist, and director of education at the Fertility Centers of Illinois. In fact, the hormonal changes your body goes through during pregnancy almost ensures this scenario doesn't happen. These changes including the following:

When superfetation occurs, a new pregnancy circumvents these natural safeguards. But medical experts are still not exactly sure why or how this ends up happening.

How common is it to get pregnant while pregnant?

“It is exceedingly rare,” Dr. Rodgers says. Only about 10 or so cases of superfetation have ever been recorded in humans, though it is more common in other species like rodents and other small mammals.

“Some even question if it is a real phenomenon in humans,” Dr. Rodgers says. A more likely scenario is that superfetation gets confused with another reproductive issue. For example, if you’re pregnant with twins and one is developing slower, it might seem like the second implanted later, she says. But in reality, they both implanted at the same time—one’s just growing at a different pace.

At the end of the day, you have “less than one in 100 million” chance of experiencing superfetation, Dr. Rodgers says. Put simply, your odds are practically zero. (But it's still fascinating to learn about!)

Are certain people more likely to experience it?

Because only a handful of superfetation has been documented, “it’s hard to determine” whether there’s a pattern of risk factors, Dr. Rodgers says. That said, many instances of superfetation have involved some form of assistive reproductive technology (ART), such as intrauterine insemination5 (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). In other words, people receiving fertility treatments may be unaware that they are already pregnant, resulting in two (or multiple) embryos at once.

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That said, medical researchers cannot completely confirm the link between superfetation and fertility treatments. Even with ART, your chances of superfetation are extremely low, per Dr. Rodgers. You'll just want to make sure you're checking in with your fertility specialist regularly and taking pregnancy tests to ensure you're not already pregnant before treatments.

Another (unconfirmed) theory suggests that an ectopic pregnancy—when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube—could slightly raise the risk of superfetation. However, more medical research is needed to confirm this connection. Dr. Rodgers does point to one case study6 of superfetation which reported an ectopic pregnancy at 10 weeks and a "normal" pregnancy at 5 weeks. But again, this is extremely rare and the exact biological processes behind it are largely unknown.

If you're concerned about your risk of superfetation or pregnancy complications with ART, let your healthcare provider know. They can help offer guidance and support.

Does it mean you’re having twins?

Technically, no, superfetation does not mean you're having twins. Even though both embryos grow together in the same uterus and will probably be born at the same time, they weren’t conceived in the same menstrual cycle (if they had been, that's a phenomenon called superfecundation). Since each fetus was conceived during separate menstrual cycles, they are at different stages of pregnancy, with one being a few weeks older than the other.

Are there any potential risks or complications?

According to Dr. Rodgers, there are a few potential complications and risks with superfetation. For one, "when the uterus is in labor," both fetuses would be delivered. But the problem is, if one fetus develops faster than the other, the younger one might be born prematurely, Dr Rodgers says.

When an infant is born early—before week 37 of pregnancy—it doesn't have enough time to fully develop certain organs (like the heart and lungs, for example), which can cause serious health problems and developmental delays. If this is the case, the premature infant would need special care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the hospital.

In the cases of superfetation, a healthcare provider may recommend a planned Cesarean section (C-section) birth, rather than vaginal birth, to increase the chances of a smooth delivery for both infants.

How to prevent pregnancy while pregnant

It's not likely that you'll have to worry about superfetation when you're expecting. “This is not a typical thing,” Dr. Rodgers says. “It’s not in books, and we don’t learn about it in medical school,” she adds. In other words, superfetation is so rare that, while interesting to learn about, it won't likely happen to you. (You already have enough going on when you're expecting and prepping to be a new parent!)

That said, if you're feeling uneasy about having sex while pregnant, or are worried about other potential pregnancy complications, reach out to your healthcare provider for advice and support. They can help come up with ways to have more comfortable, and safe, sex while pregnant—such as abstaining from penetration or wearing condoms. Providers can also run tests to ensure you're receiving proper care for any pregnancy side effects you may have.

  1. Tarín, Juan J et al. “Unpredicted ovulations and conceptions during early pregnancy: an explanatory mechanism of human superfetation.” Reproduction, fertility, and development vol. 25,7 (2013): 1012-9. doi:10.1071/RD12238 ↩︎
  2. Pape, O., et al. “Superfœtation : à propos d’un cas et revue de la Littérature.” Journal de Gynécologie Obstétrique et Biologie de La Reproduction, vol. 37, no. 8, Dec. 2008, pp. 791–795, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgyn.2008.06.004.  ↩︎
  3.  Claudia Main, Xinyue Chen, Min Zhao, Lawrence W Chamley, Qi Chen, Understanding How Pregnancy Protects Against Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer Development: Fetal Antigens May Be Involved, Endocrinology, Volume 163, Issue 11, November 2022, bqac141, ↩︎
  4. Roellig, Kathleen et al. “Superconception in mammalian pregnancy can be detected and increases reproductive output per breeding season.” Nature communications vol. 1,6 78. 21 Sep. 2010, doi:10.1038/ncomms1079 ↩︎
  5. Lantieri, Teresa, et al. “Superfetation after ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination performed during an unknown ectopic pregnancy.” Reproductive BioMedicine Online, vol. 20, no. 5, May 2010, pp. 664–666, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2010.01.017.  ↩︎
  6. Hassani, Karim Ibn Majdoub et al. “Heterotopic pregnancy: A diagnosis we should suspect more often.” Journal of emergencies, trauma, and shock vol. 3,3 (2010): 304. doi:10.4103/0974-2700.66563 ↩︎

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