A menstrual cup is form of reusable menstrual protection.  It is inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual fluids.  Once in place it forms a seal, preventing blood flowing out of the vagina by collecting it in its "cup" shaped reservoir.   Unlike a tampon which absorbs the blood along with the vagina's natural secretions, a menstrual cup simply holds the fluids until you remove it - so they do not dry out the vagina and do not hold the TSS risk that tampons do

They hold around 20-30ml, which is for most women will cope with a full day without emptying.  A menstrual cup will last (with proper care) for around 10 years, perhaps longer, so while the initial outlay is high, it pays for itself with savings pretty quick.  You might think these are a modern invention... not so. The concept was patented as early as  1902!  (See my page on the history of menstrual cups for more on this) There were several versions produced from the 1930s onward, but it wasn't until the Keeper came out in 1987 that menstrual cups started getting more popular.   So cups have been around for a LONG time, even if most women have never heard of them.

• Info on all cups - Lists all the Reusable Menstrual cups and the Insteads Disposable cups.  Giving details on them such as places to buy, capacity, composition, sizes etc.  as well as side by side photos, sizing information and other comparisons and information.

• My Comparisons of all the cups I've tried - I've personally tried all brands of cup and reported on them... giving them a rating.

• FAQ - As it suggests, some commonly asked questions about the cups.

• Folding - Information, including links to photos, of ways to fold the cups

• Tips and Help - Some collected tips and things to help new users

• Links - Links to other webpages about cups, and also user groups.

• My First Go With a Cup - My experience with a cup for the first time, with pictures of what a filled cup looks like.

• Toxic Shock Syndrome - Some information on TSS and Menstrual Cups & Tampons

• History of Menstrual Cups - Some interesting background info on early cups.

• Menstrual Cups in Australia - Explaining why you can't buy all the cups in Aus.

• Advocacy Flyer - Downloadable, printable pamphlets/brochures to hand out

• Menstrual Cup Icons - Pictures to use as Avatars/Icons for things like Live journal.

Keeper Inc. Blacklisting
Why have I listed 2 cups with the same name? and why is the Keeper "blacklisted"?

In 2006, The Keeper Inc. brought out a silicone cup called "Moon Cup" or "Mooncup" (depending on which website you look at) which is the same name as an existing silicone cup "Mooncup", made in the UK since 2000.

I personally consider the use of a name that was already in use by another silicone cup manufacturer to be unethical business practice and therefore The Keeper Inc. has been blacklisted by this website/me.  Which means that while information on the products from that company will continue to be given here, it is certainly not a product that is endorsed by me.

I stress that this blacklisting is a personal opinion and stance taken on this website... and has nothing to do with their products at all - it is because of their decision to name their Silicone cup "Moon Cup" that I have problems with.

Why have I done that?  (read more details on why here).... I feel it is important for consumers to know that I personally do not endorse any company that is willing to confuse customers by knowingly bringing out a product with the same name as another already on the market.  I don't consider it to be an ethical way to do business, and  I know that it has caused some customers to unknowingly purchase the Keeper's version when they believed they were buying the UK Mooncup.  However, as this is an information site, and I have nothing against their actual products, I have still kept all information listed, and will continue to do so, as it is afterall, as I said, an information site and I am not trying to prevent anyone purchasing a Keeper or Keeper's "Moon Cup" should they wish to. (Again, I have nothing against the company or products other than this naming issue).  By marking them as blacklisted I am stating my personal opinion on the matter, and making it clear that this website does not endorse them as a company, but still providing visitors to this site all the information that I have on the product,as it is their right to choose.

I support the idea that should the Keeper's Moon Cup, in an act of good will, be renamed into something else, then everyone would be happy and less confused.  If that was to happen, they would be un-blacklisted from this site, and applauded for their willingness to do the "right" thing.  However given that they have done nothing as of yet, I assume they will be remaining blacklisted here forver.