Menstrual cups are an environmentally friendly alternative to tampons and sanitary pads, but they come in different sizes, so before you buy, you need to figure out the best size for your anatomy. Read on for a guide to choosing a menstrual cup that suits a high or low cervix.
Why Size Matters
Like a tampon, a menstrual cup is designed to be used inside the body. It sits in the vaginal canal where it collects menstrual blood. Since different brands of menstrual cups are slightly different sizes, it can be difficult to know what brand of cup to buy. What it all comes down to is how high or low your cervix is.
If you buy a menstrual cup that’s too long, it could protrude and cause uncomfortable chafing. Too short and it will be hard to remove. Many women use a trial and error process when buying a menstrual cup. They pick one they like the look of and test it. If it is comfortable, job done, but if not, then it’s time to buy a new one. However, this is an expensive way of going about things when all you need to do is work out how high or low your cervix is and use this to select the right menstrual cup.
The Anatomy of a Cervix
The cervix is the neck of the uterus. During childbirth, the cervix opens so the baby can pass through, but the rest of the time, it stays closed, apart from a very small opening to let sperm in. Some women have a low cervix. This often becomes evident when they have sex, as the man’s penis will bump against the cervix, which can be rather painful! A high cervix is less problematic, but the difficulty in both cases is that a women’s cervix changes position according to where she is in her menstrual cycle.
Before using a menstrual cup, it’s a good idea to check the approximate position of your cervix. This is best done just before your period is due. In addition, check again at the end of your period. There may not be any difference in the position, but in some women, the cervix moves a lot. If this happens to you, you may need more than one size of menstrual cup to accommodate your moving cervix.
Measure Your Cervix
Here’s where you need to get intimately acquainted with your vagina and cervix.
Just before your period is due, or on the first day, wash your hands and find a comfortable position. In the shower is fine, or perhaps lying on your bed. Gently insert a finger inside your vagina. It feels like a rubbery set of lips or a hard nose tip. If you can feel it before your finger is halfway in, your cervix is low, but if you have to stretch up or you can’t feel it at all, your cervix is high. Somewhere in the middle means your cervix is average height.
Do this check again at the end of your period to see if the measurement changes.
Choosing a Menstrual Cup
There are several brands of menstrual cup for low and high cervix. Before you buy, check each one to see if it is likely to be a good fit for your anatomy.
- The Lily cup “One” is only 47mm long, so it’s ideal if your cervix is very low. Other good options include the MeLuna Shorty and the JuJu cup.
- For a high cervix, check out the Venus Cup Large or Mermaid Cup.
- If you’re “average”, look for a menstrual cup that’s not too long or too short.
Other Factors
Unfortunately, the height of your cervix is not the only factor at play. Women who have had children and/or are older may need a larger cup, as their pelvic floor is likely to be weaker. In addition, your flow rate matters too.
Whilst cervix height is very important from a comfort perspective, don’t let this be the only thing you consider when choosing a menstrual cup. Take a menstrual cup quiz to see which brand is recommended for you. And if you are unsure, buy two – one long and one short. This increases the odds that at least one of them will be a comfortable fit for your body.