How to Choose: Lily Cup or Lily Cup Compact
Two cups – one choice. Lily Cup and Lily Cup Compact are so similar, yet so different. Both menstrual cups are made of the smoothest silicone, are super comfortable and make having your period a (relative) breeze. Whichever cup you go for, you will be choosing period protection that lasts for up to 8 hours, minimizes waste, is chemical-free and very comfortable. Cups are unique, like bodies, so it’s worth taking a bit of time to find the perfect cup for you – even if you feel a little like Goldilocks. Here are the key facts & figures you need to pick your perfect Lily Cup.
First things first – cervix height
If you’re going to put something in your vagina – you’re going to want it to fit. This means that the most important thing to consider when selecting your cup is your cervix height (i.e. the length of your vagina). All you have to do is insert a clean finger into your vagina and feel for a particularly firm bit of flesh (it feels a bit like the tip of your nose).
Cervix height is different for everyone, and changes throughout your cycle (seriously!), so we recommend checking during and even throughout menstruation to make sure you know the lowest point it reaches. Get a detailed explanation of measuring cervix height here.
I have a lower cervix…
For women with a lower cervix, we generally recommend using the Lily Cup Compact. This cup is much shorter in length than the Lily Cup, and should sit comfortably below the cervix. That said, some women with lower cervixes find that a longer cup like the classic Lily Cup is a better fit, or they just trim the stem of their cup so it fits better.
The slanted rim of the Lily Cup can also work perfectly with a lower cervix – just make sure the lower side is facing your cervix. It all depends on your body, but you definitely should be sure that your vaginal canal is long enough before you buy your cup.
I have a higher cervix…
If you have a higher cervix then you generally have a little more leeway in choosing your cup. Some women find that they prefer a longer cup like the Lily Cup, which has the dual benefit of both a higher capacity and a longer stem. Longer cups also usually sit closer to the vaginal entrance, making them a little bit easier to remove. You can of course use the Compact if you prefer – it just depends on your body and your preferences. With the Compact you’ll just have to engage your pelvic floor muscles a bit more to remove the cup.
Go with the flow
Whether you find yourself going through a super plus tampon in a couple of hours, or you only need a pad to get you through your heaviest day – flow is another important part of choosing your menstrual cup. The good thing about menstrual cups is that they are reusable, so if your cup does fill up after a while, all you have to do is empty it out and reinsert for hours more period protection. Cups also don’t dry you out like tampons, so no matter how your flow varies throughout your cycle, your cup will never irritate you.
Lily Cup – light to very heavy flow
The Lily Cup is one of the higher capacity cups out there, so it’s great for everything from light to very heavy flow. Size A (light pink) holds 28 ml and size B (dark pink) holds 32 ml. It’s a great option for women who have heavy periods or experience clotting during menstruation.
Lily Cup Compact – light to medium flow
Lily Cup Compact is a more petite cup, so it is generally recommended for women with lighter flows. Size A (light pink) holds 18 ml and size B (dark pink) holds 23 ml – which is still a higher capacity than a tampon! If you have a heavy flow, you can still use the Compact, but you’ll probably just have to empty it a little more often.
Bonus round!
Although the most important factors in choosing your Lily Cup are definitely your cervix height, followed by your flow, there are few *extra special* bonus features that might sway you if you’re still sitting on the fence…
Lily Cup Compact
Lily Cup Compact completely revolutionized period protection – as the world’s first collapsible menstrual cup. It folds flat into its own compact case, perfect for keeping in your bag or pocket in case of emergencies. No other cup is quite this handy (or this cute).
Lily Cup
Lily Cup Classic features a unique no-spill rim, which means none of the balancing act removals that you might experience with other menstrual cups. Lily Cup’s rim is also slanted and designed to perfectly complement the shape of your body. Swoon!
The Big Decision!
So now you know the facts, you can weigh each factor and decide which cup is best for you – a Lily Cup or a Lily Cup Compact. Remember that having one cup doesn’t rule you out from owning another, some people even choose to switch up their cups depending on their period.
Once you think that you’ve got this decision down, make sure you choose the right size of your chosen cup. Generally speaking, size A is better suited for those who haven’t given birth/have stronger pelvic floor muscles and size B is better for anyone who has given birth or has a weaker pelvic floor.
Find out more about which cup and size is right for you on our menstrual cup quiz. So now that you’re armed with all the facts and figures, the only question left is – which cup will you go for first?
A collective group of “lady experts” at Intimina who love sharing our personal experiences, even when they are a little too personal. We believe it’s time to start breaking down the taboos around menstruation, motherhood, and menopause, and start owning our female health.
I’ve haD 3 c sections. I have no pelvic floor weakness and have extremely heavy flow. Should I get the A or the B cup?
Hi JK,
thank you for your question, our customer care will know the best. If you ever again need an answer about cups, please write to them via e-mail. They will lead you through the process. step by step.
Best regards,
Hi there! I’ve been using the lily cup one for about a year now. For the most part, I’ve had zero problems with it, but every so often I struggle to get a seal on it because my cervix is tilted. Which would you recommend for that?
Hello!
It’s important to try out all the different folds and insertion methods to see which one works best for you.
We recommend using the “half –v” fold (aka the punch-down fold), it makes the cup smaller and more rigid, and the pointed tip makes it easier to insert. When inserting the cup you can also sit or stand in different positions to help you. What works well for many women is to sit on the toilet with their knees quite far apart (this opens the vagina up a bit more). Or you can try inserting it in the shower while standing up or with one leg on the edge of the tub – the water can also make help the cup slide into place easier.
We also recommend inserting the cup a bit higher than it needs to be at first. You can use your finger on the rim of the cup to push it further into your vagina. Then squeeze or press the body of the cup a few times (as high on the body as you can reach) to try and get the rim to pop open and form a seal. If the cup still doesn’t open you can slide your finger up to the rim of the cup and press inwards. Then you can use the base of the cup to pull it down – which can help more stubborn folds to open fully and form a seal.
If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out to our Customer Care!
Best regards,
what size is good for an average cervix?
Hi Phoebe,
every body is different, so there is no average cervix. Please contact Intimina customer care, they will lead you through the process.
This may help as well: https://www.intimina.com/blog/check-cervix-height-menstrual-cup/
Best regards,
Best regards,
Hello
I’ve been using lily cup one for a year now and been educating myself about cups ever since i’ve heard about them. As it was my first one I had to get used to it to actually notice if it’s the right one for me and the more I’ve used it, the more i was thinking that I picked the wrong one.
The cup was great there was no leak, except maybe on a 1st or 2nd day of period, but the problem often was taking it out, as I could hardly reach the cup. I even try inserting the cup lower, but it would eventualy climb up so taking it out would be a bit painful because of the suction.
I’ve then realised that I actually have high cervix cca 7-8cm, since that is the lenght of my finger and i barely felt it. I was thinking of buying lily cup A since it’s longer and there probably will be no leak, but I’m afraid it would be too big. I don’t want to buy the wrong cup that wouldn’t fit me so would you reccomend?
Hello,
thank you for reaching out to us! We’re sorry to hear your Lily Cup One was not the ideal fit. If the issue was a high cervix, then the Lily Cup Classic A may be a good option. The Lily Cup Classic is 78mm long (while the Lily Cup One is only 47mm long). Though size B is noticeably wider, size A has a diameter of 40mm (the Lily Cup One has a diameter of 39mm). You could also benefit from taking a look at the Ziggy Cup 2, as this cup is designed differently and can be used with any cervix height. If you have more questions about this or anything else, don’t hesitate to contact us again.
Have a great day!
Mine is high and it likes to held things like cups/ tampons hostage. My flow is heavy with blood clots for the first few days. Which cup do you recommend
Hello! If you have a heavy flow and a high cervix, our classic Lily Cup should do the trick for you! If you had vaginal birth before, we would generally recommend size B, but if you haven’t, size A would be more suitable. For any more information or recommendations, feel free to contact customercare@intimina.com!