Think You Can’t Use a Menstrual Cup? Think Again

I received the Lunette cup earlier this year for free to review. I purchased the other cups myself. I was not asked to write, nor was I compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. Fair warning that if you don’t want to know about the state of my cervix or hear about vaginas & menstruation, it is in your best interest to click away now. Earlier this year, I published my size 2 Lunette Cup review. Unfortunately, it was just a smidgen too long for me, and I’ve been on the hunt for the right cup for me.

Quick note since my update has been missed: At the time I purchased my cup & began work on this post, there was only a mini MeLuna. There were no “shorty” cups and I was unable to find a USA website. While completing the writing of this post, I found the USA website and the “shorty” cups. I found no explanation, nor any mention of them on the EU website, so assumed these were for the U.S. market. I created the charts comparing the sizes of what I purchased and the new “shorty” cups. After finalizing this post I received an email from MeLuna stating that the shorty was replacing the mini & added an update below. This update seems to be missed as evidenced by MeLuna’s comment correcting my “error.” Yes, I’m feeling a little crabby about that since I’m not interested deleting the post that I’ve worked on for months because the product has been changed. Particularly since someone might find the comparison of the mini and shorty helpful if they’ve used or shopped for one in the past. So please note: The MeLuna mini is no longer being made. These cups have been replaced by the shorty. (On a not completely unrelated side note, I’m pretty sure I have PMS based on how annoyed I am by this. Checking my chart…and yep.)

If you don’t have short vagina problems, you will know that a menstrual cup is meant to sit low in the vagina, not up high near the cervix. You can trim as much of the stem as needed to make you comfortable but still able to reach it. If you have a low cervix, you may just hope to be able to get the whole cup inside! To fill you in on the full “TMI,” I’ve always had a rather low cervix, and I also have a retroverted uterus. During my second child’s birth, I also acquired a mild bladder prolapse (cystocele.) As a result, even trimming the stem completely off the Lunette left it a bit too long to be comfortable for me.

After many years of trying to conceive (TTC), followed by charting to avoid pregnancy, I’m quite familiar with my body. If you’re not aware (hopefully you all are) having a “short vagina” is just my little joke and a low cervix doesn’t mean you can’t engage in sex with an average size man. In fact a woman’s body is pretty incredible and the vagina expands during intercourse/arousal. In addition, cervical position can vary greatly based on the point in your cycle. Retroverted (tipped) uteruses result in a varied cervical position, and based on experience, the specific position isn’t necessarily the same throughout life. I’ve found my cervical position changes based on my hormonal levels, whether I am newly postpartum, breastfeeding, or if my fertility is returning, in addition to the normal changes throughout my cycle. As my estrogen levels have returned to normal as my son gets older & nurses less, my cyctocele is less noticeable and my cervix is a smidge higher on average. I was able to make the Lunette size 2 work my most recent cycle, but it wasn’t as comfortable as the others I’ve found. If you’re searching for a shorter cup, hopefully this will help you!

Many of the most popular brands have just 2 sizes, and generally your age and birth status determine which you need. Older women and/or those who have given birth, don’t have super-strong vaginal muscles to hold the cup in place. Therefore the cups typically have a wider rim, longer length, and are sometimes slightly firmer than their young woman/no-birth counterparts. This can be a problem for women like me, who need that wider/firmer cup but also need a shorter length.

Here I’ve pictured the Lunette size 2 (left) the MeLuna mini Medium (purple) and the Moon Cup UK Size A (right.) There is a Moon Cup in the U.S. therefore the U.K. version is referred to as Moon Cup UK or MCUK here in the U.S. Don’t confuse the two – they are totally different brands.

MCUK size B is only for women under 30 who haven’t given birth vaginally. Otherwise, you are a size A. The A has almost exactly the same size rim as the Lunette, but the cup itself is narrower, and I find it more comfortable. It is barely shorter than the Lunette, but that smidgen does make a difference for me. The stem is hollow, which seemed a bit unsanitary, but since I trimmed it off completely I didn’t worry much.

MeLuna is another European company (cups are made in & ship from Germany) and they have a mind boggling array of cup choices. In addition to their classic silicone cup, you can choose a sport version, which is 25% firmer. The company says this is a good choice for very active women whose pelvic muscles are in great condition. The soft version is softer & gentler than the classic, but might be a bit more difficult to get it to pop open.

Cups are available with a trimmable stem, a ring, a ball, or no “handle” at all. The small-XL sizes vary from 38-47 mm rim width and 45-56 mm cup length (excluding the stem.) I purchased their mini version in a size medium, which has a 45 mm rim and 45 mm length. This mini option is what makes them really stand out to me. The rim width is approximately the same size as the large (which is 44 mm), but is the same length as the small. According to their website, “The MINI M is mostly used by middle-aged women who have had vaginal births and whose body is somewhat corpulent.” Sooo, I’m old, fat and have had several children’s noggins in my “cup holder.” Ha. They’re also available in lots of pretty colors. I wanted the cyan/ring but since it only came in soft, I settled for the purple/ball. The short cone shape pops open easily and seals well.

The mini small is a mere 40 mm by 40 mm and would be perfect for a petite teen finding most small cups to be too long. These short versions of course hold less, so if you also have a very heavy cycle, you may need to change it more often. MeLuna recommends that you empty your cup every 8-12 hours, and I found that I was able to empty/clean mine in the morning, before bed, and once in the afternoon without any leaks, even on the first day of my cycle.

I loved that with the MeLuna, it was small enough for me to place it a bit lower. It’s quite short so if you place it too high, you may need to reach for it, even with a shorter vagina. With the Lunette and MCUK, in my attempts to make it high enough, I occasionally ended up with the rim beside my cervix instead of below it. Even so, the MCUK worked quite well for me and I’ll continue to use it along with the MeLuna.

The MeLuna cost me $25.78 at the time (19.41 Euro) and the MCUK was $30.

The MeLuna USA site has classic cups in clear available now & shipping from the USA for $24.95 (plus postage), and will be getting both the sport version, and a “shorty” similar to the mini in S, M, L & XL. The “shorty” cups will have exactly the same diameters as the S, M, L & XL cups, but with a shorter length. It seems that the large shorty would be most comparable to the mini medium I purchased. They have a menstrual cup size calculator on their site to help you choose the correct size which says M or L for me. Based on my experience with the mini M, if I were purchasing from the USA site I’d go for the large shorty. Update: After writing this post, I received an email from MeLuna that the shorty cups are in fact replacing the mini.

If you’ve had a hard time finding just the right cup size, want something other than the usual stem, prefer a softer or firmer cup, or if like me, you have 99 problems and a short vagina is one, I highly recommend looking into MeLuna. Whether you buy from their European site or the US site, you’re sure to find the perfect cup.

Do you have a low cervix? Have you found a cup that works for you? Have you tried MeLuna? Which one?

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