I am often asked about using menstrual cups with heavy periods. Being able to trust your period protection is so important and I completely get it. So, can you use a menstrual cup with a heavy flow? The short answer is yes, but it may not be quite as simple as grabbing any random cup if you hope to maximize wear time and minimize leaks.
Know Your Flow
Though many who are cup-curious feel they have a heavy period most say they soon learned they don’t bleed as much as their tampons or pads may have implied. Part of this is because of the way that tampons and pads soak up blood (think spilled milk). The average menstrual fluid released each cycle is only around 30-60 ml (or 2-4 tablespoons) — shocking, we know. Keep in mind that this is an average and by no means a rule. There are those who bleed much less and much, much more.
Heavy menstrual bleeding can impact your quality of life in a way that most can never fully understand, myself included. In order to do this justice, we decided to go head-to-head… or vag-to-vag… with our heavy bleeding pal, Jen, and find out how much menstrual blood we really lose.
We each used a menstrual cup to measure our flow for one full cycle. Both I and Kim came in around 18 ml (a bit more than a tablespoon) while Jen poured out 225 ml (or nearly a cup). That’s 4-8x the “average” amount of blood loss!
It’s hard to imagine keeping up with day-to-day activities with such a heavy menstrual flow — and it was. That is until Jen finally found her perfect period care combination to make her periods livable. We’ve also teamed up with the maker of the best menstrual cup for Jen (spoiler: Super Jennie is her favorite) and period underwear brand EvaWear to make this video possible.
Using Menstrual Cups With Heavy Periods
As you may have seen, Jen made the switch from a Diva Cup (30 ml capacity) and cloth pads to the high capacity cup from Super Jennie (41 ml capacity) after taking our menstrual cup quiz. She also uses period underwear for added protection and comfortable, worry-free backup.
If you experience heavy periods I suggest looking at our Menstrual Cup Comparison Chart to find cups with the highest capacity. Even though the Super Jennie is what Jen uses, it may not be the right cup for you. There are cups with higher capacities, different shapes, firmness, size, and other features that may provide you with a better fit and comfort.
We understand it can be extremely difficult to manage periods of this magnitude but if anything is capable of aiding it — it’s a menstrual cup! Most cups hold at least 25 ml (which is still a lot more than a super tampon) but there are many cups on the market now that hold 40+ and even some as high as 50 ml.
Jen has finally reached the cherished status of #periodnirvana That’s when you forget you’re on your period thanks to a cup!
Will A Menstrual Cup Work For Clots?
Clots are essentially bits of the lining of the uterus and blood that come out as a normal part of your period. They may look sort of like a blog of jelly-like material and vary in size. Menstrual cups can catch clots and continue to work as intended. That said, if you notice that you are overflowing a high capacity cup in a short period of time or notice clots that are very large or unusual for you, please check in with your doctor. Menorrhagia (abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding) can have other health impacts, so it’s important to communicate what you’re experiencing with a healthcare provider that you trust to listen to you.
What About Using Menstrual Discs With Heavy Periods?
Reusable menstrual discs weren’t really a thing when this was made (way back in 2017), so the absence of them in the video is an honest byproduct, I swear! But the answer is that, yes, discs are a great option, too! Some people find that they work very well for a low cervix (smaller discs) but also for a high cervix (larger discs — which will also have a higher capacity.) Insertion of a disc is a little bit different than a cup since they sit in the vagina little bit differently, but overall they function similarly.
Two of my favorites are the discs from Cora and Saalt. They are a great size for most people, but you can always take The Disc Quiz to see what works best for your needs, and also compare all of the options on our Menstrual Disc Comparison Chart.
Last But Not Least
I’d like to thank Super Jennie and EvaWear for helping us make this video possible. When we decided to make a video about heavy periods it only made sense to partner with Super Jennie. We even filmed the video before they signed on to sponsor so all brand mentions are 100% organic. We didn’t know they have a sister brand that makes affordable period underwear so check those out of you need something for back up or just want to wear them in anticipation of your period!
62 Responses
I’ve had heavy periods for a few years. 244 ml on one day alone. 430 ml over a whole period. I own Super Jennie L&S, a Luv Ur Body L, and a Merula L. I use all of them based on how heavily I’m bleeding, and where I’m at in my cycle. I love the comfort of the Merula, and its ladder stem, but I got it for its massive (on paper) capacity, and unfortunately on heavy days it’s not my best option. I actually think the lack of airholes contributes to the major failures I experience using it. I think if it had airholes, I’d have a small leak alerting me to the need to change it. But instead, when it gets full (and it gets very full), it just gushes. Also, I hate the lack of measurement lines on it.
The Super Jennies are comfortable. The small works great on low flow days. The large is comfortable. The LUB is the most effective one for me on heavy days. The grips on the outside really help hold it in place when it’s a high flow day, and the Jennie can be pretty slippery. However, their company (LUB) is miserable to communicate with. The rudest customer experience I ever in my life experienced.
So, the reason I bothered to write is this: I’ve been eyeing the capacity of the Ziggy disk. Because of its unusual shape, and how it sits inside, I’ve been contemplating trying one with the Merula. Like: first insert the Ziggy cup, and then the Merula underneath it. I really want to try this due to my overwhelming situation. I can’t think of any safety reason not to try it — as long as I’m cleaning them often enough. Just another $40… and I don’t know if it’s a tenable idea.
Did you try this? I have not tried Ziggy, but have considered discs for their supposed capacity. Nixit seems to get better reviews overall, FWIW. I tried a box of disposable Flex discs and they were pretty useless for catching blood, sadly, but I think it depends on individual anatomy cuz others rave about discs. It would not stay in place long for me.
The only issue I can foresee is the Merula suctioning to the Ziggy and not being able to capture anything that gets outside the disc, but that’s purely a guess. I have the Merula XL and it’s a real vacuum. Thanks for all the details in your comment and good luck!
I am currently trying the disposable discs with a very heavy flow as well and was thinking I might use the nixit and pair it with a sea sponge tampon. I just spend so much on disposable products. I go through a super plus in an hour and this goes on for several days. I just bought the nixit so we will see. I’m already having to empty the disposable discs I bought every hour. I just wonder if pairing it with a sea sponge will be safe/effective
Try Merula XL! I love it so much. I feel invincible with that and a pair of period undies. I was soaking an ultra tampon in 45 mins- 2 hrs throughout minecascwell before and I dont have to empty for hourssssss!
I also have a very heavy period and purchased the Merula XL after overflowing my Moon Cup multiple times. Liked the idea of Merula XL as it has a huge capacity and no air holes which for me get clogged and mess up suction even when the cup isn’t full. I’m just now using it for the first time and honestly I’m really bummed bc I think its too big and is giving me insane cramps as a result, even though I’m not currently losing much blood at. Anyone know of any large cup alternatives that don’t have air holes? I took the quiz, stared at the chart for hours, ended up ordering this and am now at a loss.
Can someone tell me what size cup would be sufficient for me? I have very heavy periods (changing ultra tampon every 45 minutes and use pad as backup) due to uterine fibroid. A lot of blood clots which just soak the tampon in a short amount of time.
Sometimes I wear two Ultras so I don’t have an accident at work and can extend the time between changes. Has anyone else experienced this and what size cup do you use?
I have the exact same issue. I have PCOS and issues with lots of clots due to fibroids. I would have to change an ultra tampon every half hour for days. I finally found that cups were a thing and thought they would help. I have tried five different ones so far. The Saalt regular works very well for me. I only have to change it every 2-4 hours and since clots are heavy, they sink to the bottom of the cup so you’re only leaking blood should you overflow (I think we both know that cold dread when you know a clot is leaking past a tampon). I just recently got the Venus in large and we’ll see how that does, too. I would advise against the Lily or Merula cups. I tried both and since they don’t have airholes, I feel that they don’t seal well and leaks are disastrous due to the clots just slipping on by.
I want to know if anyone else has experienced what I have as a heavy bleeder with a menstrual cup. I’ve tried cups 2 different times, one was the diva cup and then another a few years earlier but I can’t remember the brand. First off I did have a hard time getting it to seal, I always thought that I had but it tended to leak about the same as a tampon eventually would. But reading other’s responses, maybe that’s what happens when the cup fills up? Then, I guess I REALLY got it to seal, because it would fill up so quickly that it would create an incredible amount of painful pressure inside my vagina. I really want to like cups, but I’m not really willing to go through that a bunch of times to see if I can get them to work for me. Has anyone else experienced this?
I’m so happy I stumbled upon your website. Very refreshing and informative. I have to ask I have very heavy flow for 2 days during my long period and am unable to just run off to the restroom regularly. For that reason I got the Large Tulip cup with the valve stem. It’s been great because I can empty it on the fly while still holding a lot. Is there a reason this cup or others like it have not been reviewed? Thank you again!
I am going to try the super Jennie. I have had the issue of having it go too high up at night and leaking on even low flow days. I have to wear a pad at all times and wondering what I am doing wrong. I’ve been using the diva cup 2 but I find it more uncomfortable than the 1. I also have day 2 to 4 as unmanageable heavy flows. I hate going to work or anywhere else on those days. I can fill the regular cup in less than an hour on my heavy days and that’s distressing when I’m at work or out somewhere so I have to wear a heavy flow pad. I had hoped the cup would be the answer for me and I could swim, sleep and work out with it. I have 8 to 10 day periods 2x a month. I’ve had to get accustomed to it. I bled longer than average after having both children and never stopped a period while breastfeeding.
OH, how I can relate! I first tried a cup three cycles ago (Lena, size Large). There was a lot of trial and error in that cycle, and I ended up pretty darn sore before my cycle was over. I bleed about a cup and a half of blood during my cycle (measured the past three months using the cups), so I was dumping the cup every hour , sometimes less on my two heaviest days. Then i found this website and decided to try the Super Jennie. I used it all of my last cycle and I think Ive found my forever cup. It holds a bit more than my Lena (not by a lot mind you), but the thing i love the most is how soft it is. It doesnt cause me the pain and soreness that the Lena cup did. Its a little trickier to open sometimes, because of the softness, but Id rather take a few seconds more to pop it open than deal with being sore, for sure! I am due to start my period again today. Ive had the Super Jennie in since last night, and I can’t even tell its there. I feel literally NOTHING.
I love your article. Thank you! If we can all try and stay away from the word “normal” when discussing our bodies, and in particular our vaginas ( as there is already soooo much shame) I think we’d be doing ourselves a huge favor. There is just no such thing as a “normal” amount of blood discharged in a period. I have an incredibly heavy period and I went till 29 thinking I was some sort of freak. It took an inclusive and informed gyno (this year) to tell me that my “freak of a period” (21- day cycle, 7 day period, lots of pain and over a cup of blood discharged) is so much more common than I thought.
Your lucky… My Gyno said it is impossible for me to bleed like I say I do and not be anemic. I can have in a Jumbo tampon and a pad and after an hour feel a warm flood of blood suddenly flood everything and my cloths. A 15ml diva cup will be full every hour for the first 2 days. The gyno said it is impossible I am incorrect. It started immediately after my tubal 5 years ago.
Honestly– I think the doctors; at least in America, with their virtually inept education and knowledge of women’s bodies–have been feeding us (as well as believing it themselves) a bunch of pure BS when it comes to periods and everything they entail; especially the “amount” that is considered “textbook normal”.
They have grossly underestimated those volumes of blood loss. Ive bled more than that in each damn day my entire freaky, possessed by the devil period my entire life and their numbers are bogus. Now; perhaps there is no normal, and we are all sooooo vastly different that we shouldn’t be concerned by all of these things but let me also say…
None of this shit is normal. Having heavy periods by any definition, cramping to the point of excruciating, cysts, fibroid, endometriosis, PCOS, skipping periods, infertility, having two periods a month, then hot flashes and perimenopause symptoms and alllll of the “NORMAL” that American women in particular are well versed on and conditioned to accept–isnt normal at all. I now know this after spending the past 3 yrs working at a company that is 99% staffed with people from other countries; or first/second generation Americans. Imagine my shock when talking to several of the women here about “girl stuff” and me mentioning my lifetime battle with endometriosis and female organs that wreak havoc on my life all month long, all the time–and they looked at me like I had three heads. These are well educated , well traveled women. None of them are familiar with any of the afflictions I mentioned above.
Its all the shit in our environment. The processed foods, the chemicals in everything–literally. The preservatives, the pesticides they spray on crops of produce, the hormones in chickens and cows and pigs to make them bigger to feed more ppl thus generating a bigger profit, the big pharma not wanting anyone to find or release information so that they can profit off of treating vs curing or prevention..and this ignorant and disgusting idea that women’s bodies nor our quality of life isn’t any real concern so long as our fertility isn’t threatened.
Research isn’t funded for figuring out why these problems exist(other than environmental variables) and what we can do about it , so drs aren’t educated and numbers and information is falsified to undermine what women go through. And now, let’s deal with it and not even concern ourselves with our very abnormal symptoms because we should just believe that there is no normal and everything is normal. And its all perpetuated by generations of men who love to encourage the false narrative that “women are just being dramatic so it gives them license to act extra bitchy and make excuses; its just a few drops of blood every month”..
I totally support your comment btw; because I do get where you’re coming from with the removing normal. Just piggy backing off of it–im far too freaked out by menstrual cups to try one and instead of this forum helping me come around to the idea–and its been very enlightening–but all this new info has got me even more freaked out. Hell; as it stands, putting in and taking out a damn nuvaring had me all kinds of struggling lol…a silicone shot glass …even the smallest ones, seem like a big hell no for me. And my flow is like a scene from the Shining. For days. Although I do like the rip chord feature; something the nuvaring really needed. So thats a plus.
THANK YOU for this! I found the Super Jennie thanks to your site and it has changed my life! I’ll be forever grateful.
Linda, I too find it amusing and I writhe with jealousy when I hear ladies talk about a heavy period and they have to empty their cups 5 times a day (I’m sure it seems heavy to them) but when you’re (me) emptying your cup every 30 – 60 mins even through the night for 48 hours or more…. that is what I deem a heavy period. I know everyone’s experience is their own… but ladies who are having to do it half a dozen times a day.. please be grateful.. I’d do anything to be in your position! I’m going to give this softer cup a go as I find the firm cup I use increases my period pain so hopefully a softer cup will make it more comfortable. Good luck to all… and to all my fellow HEAVY bleeders hang in there… it’s only a few days a month I hope.
I feel the same way. After my tuballigation many years ago my period has been terribly heavy, to the point where I prefer not to leave the house..painful too.
About 2 months ago I tried the soft cup (3month disposable), it worked very well for the first month, the second month, it leaked within 2 hrs..I then purchased the ELLECUP, i dont like it at all, i think its me, it leaks within 2 hrs and I find it so difficult to insert and removing – removing is awful – I must be doing something wrong, its like a “suction” and I feel like I am being attacked by this cup..is also too hard. I am considering going back to super tampons or the soft cup disposable every month..annoyed as I bought 2 of these ELLECUPS.