Which menstrual cup size is right for me?

May 15, 2023

Menstrual cups are gaining a lot of popularity as a sustainable alternative to pads and tampons.

Switching to a menstrual cup for the first time comes with a learning curve, much like trying anything new. And the first step is about understanding how to know which size menstrual cup to buy.

With so many menstrual cup options in the market and each with their own sizing guides, the different sizes of menstrual cups can be a bit confusing at first.

So in this blog, we’ll help you understand how to figure out the right menstrual cup size for you.

what are the standard sizing guides for menstrual cups?

Have you wondered about how to measure size for menstrual cups? Well, most menstrual cup brands have designed their sizing based on 3 factors - cervix height, age, and whether or not you’ve given vaginal birth.

There are a few issues with these measurement tools however:

Measuring based on cervix height can be inaccurate as our cervix height changes throughout our menstrual cycle, and especially during periods.
Measuring based on age assumes certain lifestyle factors such as whether a person is sexually active or not, whether a woman may have given birth or not etc.
Measuring based on whether you’ve given vaginal birth assumes that our vaginal canal is wider, and so requires a large size menstrual cup. However research shows that our vagina goes back to its original size and shape a few months after we’ve given birth.

So what we can see here is that many menstrual cup sizing guide factors are not always an accurate representation of what menstrual cup size you will need, as everyone’s body is unique.

what should i look for when choosing a menstrual cup?

Before we get into how to choose your menstrual cup sizing, let’s talk about a few design factors you should consider to understand which menstrual cup is good for you.

1. Material: the material used to make the menstrual cup is very important as it not only determines the safety of the product but also how functional it will be.

The Asan cup is made with Class VI medical grade silicone, which is the highest quality silicone that can be used to make a menstrual cup. This material is also used in heart stents and breast implants, so it’s biocompatible with our bodies and super safe to use. Class VI silicone is very durable so it ensures that the Asan cup will last you 10 years.

2. Shape: the menstrual cup should be designed in a shape that is easy to insert, remove and compatible with our vaginal canal.

The Asan cup is designed in a unique bell-shape so that it can sit perfectly inside our vaginal canal. The thickened rim ensures that it will create a seal inside our vagina and prevent leaks.

3. Removal design: the menstrual cup should be designed with an efficient removal tool to make sure it’s easy to locate and remove your cup when using it.

After learning about removal issues that users around the world faced due to not being able to grab onto a stem or small knob of the menstrual cup, Asan came up with a unique removal ring design to address this problem.

Asan’s removal ring is a game-changer, as it makes locating and removing your menstrual cup super easy.

Now that you know what to look for in a menstrual cup's material and design, let's move onto sizing.

how to decide which size to choose?

The best menstrual cup size guide is one that is simple, easily measurable and doesn’t confuse you.

So at Asan, we’ve figured out a super easy hack to decide the right size menstrual cup for you. When it comes to deciding which menstrual cup to go for, the first thing you need to understand is your period flow.

Period flow is different for each person and can vary from month to month due to so many factors - change in diet or weather, hormonal contraceptives, or health issues to name a few.

Some people tend to have heavy flow while others have lighter to moderate flow.

So with that in mind, Asan has designed our menstrual cup sizing simply based on your period flow.

how exactly do we find if we have light or heavy period flow?

The quickest and easiest way to understand your period flow is by measuring how many pads and tampons you would change during your period.

If you can keep a regular sanitary pad on or tampon in for 6 or more hours on your heaviest flow day without experiencing leaks, then that means you have light to moderate period flow.

If you usually have to change your pad or tampon every 2 to 6 hours on your heaviest flow day due to leaks and find yourself using maxi-size pads or bigger tampons, then you experience heavy flow periods.

which menstrual cup size should i use?

Based on this rule, there are two Asan menstrual cup sizes: Light/medium flow and Heavy flow. See this size chart for Asan menstrual cups to see the differences:

The difference in these cups is not so much the size (with only 5mm difference in size of menstrual cup diameter), but rather the firmness.

The Asan Heavy flow cup is slightly firmer than the Light/Medium flow cup to ensure that the seal with your vaginal canal remains in place as the cup experiences pressure from heavy period flow. So it is designed to be the perfect menstrual cup for heavy flow.

Both the cups are designed to ensure that you won't experience any leaks during your period - so you can comfortably go about your day without worrying about changing your period product.