A period cup (or menstrual cup) is a flexible cup, typically made from medical grade silicone or TPE. The cup is folded and inserted into the vagina where it sits and collects the blood over a period of time, normally up to 12 hours. You can rinse and reuse most period cups over and over for many years before they need replacing, making them a sustainable and cost-effective period product option.

There are lots of reasons why we'd opt for period cups over tampons, heres some of our top reasons:

They will save you money: its a one off purchase for a long time! One cup can last up to 5 years. No more buying single use products every month.

You don't have to change it as often: a cup can be left in for up to 12 hours, including overnight.

No more painfully removing dry tampons: cups collect fluid, not absorb it like tampons. Meaning you can put one in before your period starts, or when you're not quite sure if its finished.

They're good for the planet: as they are reusable and last a long time, they mean you will contribute a lot less waste to landfill.  

Regardless of this, its important that you do whats best for you personally. Cups might not be for everyone but are always worth a try!

There are lots of different cups out there with very minor differences, most cups will work for most people, you might just get on better with some than others. Cups can vary based on softness, shape, size, volume of liquid they can hold, and stem style.

Sometimes it's trial and error, but you might get it right first time or it may take a few cycles to adjust to using the cup if you’re new to it completely.

Take our period cup quiz to find out which one of our Eleria cups is the best one for you!

A menstrual cup can be worn for up to 12 hours. We recommend starting with 6 hours, if your cup isn’t full, you can leave it a bit longer the next time until you find out what’s right for your flow.

If you are using your period cup correctly it should not leak. If you are finding you are experiencing leaks, it may mean that the cup is not inserted correctly and has not formed a seal properly or is not positioned below your cervix. Feel with your fingers to ensure the cup is fully open, and positioned comfortably in your vagina. It should sit lower down than a tampon. Because your vagina is at an angle, try inserting the cup horizontally towards your tailbone, rather than upwards.

Get into a comfortable position over the toilet or in the shower, insert your thumb and index finger until you can feel the base of the menstrual cup.

Pinch the base of your cup to release the suction seal and you should be able to easily and painlessly wriggle your cup out.

Remember: period cups stay in place by forming a suction seal on the inner walls of the vagina, and the only way to remove them is to 'break' the seal by allowing air
back in. 

Our period cups are designed to last for up to 10 years. It’s likely your cup will get stained gradually over its lifetime; this is normal. 

If you notice any splits, cracks or deformities on your cup you should replace it immediately.

Insert a clean finger into your vagina until the tip of your finger is touching your cervix. Your cervix is a little bit firmer than
your vaginal walls.

If you can only get one joint of your finger in, you have a very low cervix. Two, you
have an average cervix height. If you can fit your entire finger into your vagina before you touch your cervix, then you have a high cervix

Yes! Period cups are ideal for physical activities such as sport and exercise, including swimming.

It is recommended that you clean your cup every time you remove it before reinserting, and sterilise it at the beginning and/or end of every period cycle.

Check out our period cup cleaning case for a quicker, simpler and more discreet way to do this.

No. When inserted correctly you should not be able to feel the cup. If you can the
cup might not be high enough, the stem should not stick out of your body.

If you’ve inserted it correctly and it does you might need to trim it. This is simple to
do, just remove your cup and using a clean sharp pair of scissors cut the stem down to your desired length. Alternatively, you should opt for a cup with no stem.