No, I haven’t lost my mind—you really are reading a review of menstrual cups. At first glance, this might not seem to have anything to do with sex toys (or even at second glance), but since even giants like FUN FACTORY have started making them, this review definitely deserves a spot here.
Menstrual cups have been experiencing a boom lately. It seems like every other friend of mine uses them and actually raves about them. I wanted to get one myself, and when I heard all the positive feedback, I wanted one even more. But which one?
Cups are typically manufactured in two sizes – larger for women who have given birth or are over thirty and smaller for everyone else. A seemingly simple distinction, but we wouldn’t be us women if we didn’t complicate even this. A story from real life—not mine;) I’m not thirty yet (and won’t be for a few more years), I haven’t given birth, but I’m planning to get pregnant soon. Does it make sense to buy the smaller one if I’ll need the larger one after giving birth? On the other hand, who knows how long it will take before I get pregnant….I really couldn’t offer any advice on this.
And now, slowly but surely, to the promised review of menstrual cups
It’s clear that Fun Factory knows us women quite well. You can see that in their toys, but also in their cups. They’ve created 3 sets of cups:
- Fun Factory Fun Cup menstrual cup size A (the package contains 2 smaller cups)
- Fun Factory Fun Cup menstrual cup size B (the package contains 2 larger cups)
- Fun Factory Fun Cup Explore Kit menstrual cup A+B
I tested the Explore Kit, so I had one smaller (20 ml) and one larger cup (30 ml). I was thrilled at first glance because FINALLY someone realized that we can be clueless when choosing—after all, the wrong size can cause quite a mess:D
After opening the gold box…
I was greeted by a pink—smaller—and a dark blue—larger—cup, a pouch (I’ll get to that later), an information leaflet, and a user manual, which contains mostly the same information as the leaflet. Unfortunately, neither is available in Czech. You’ll have to brush up on your English/German, or you’ll just be looking at the pictures. On the other hand, those pictures are pretty self-explanatory.
Personally, I had been pretty well informed by my friends, so I knew that the cup can be used during sports without any problems and that you have to replace it after a maximum of 12 hours. However, they didn’t tell me how to roll it up properly so I could insert it comfortably. The leaflet was a big help with that. You’ll find two ways to roll up the cup there. It’s up to you to choose the one that suits you best.
Silicone cups
Fun Factory menstrual cups are made of 100% medical-grade silicone and their shape reminds me of a droplet. Honestly, I have to say that it’s a really well-designed piece. It’s not the classic shape that everyone makes; this one is completely different and pretty.
The cups have a reinforced rim, which isn’t completely straight. This makes the cup easy to insert and ensures it sits better inside the body—because the body isn’t completely straight either;) The tip of the cup is also reinforced for easier handling. There are also small raised bumps on the tip to prevent it from slipping when removing it.
When inserting them, you must first roll them up (the instructions show you how), and once inside, the cup “inflates” back to its original size thanks to 4 small holes. This “inflating” creates a vacuum inside the body, preventing any leakage. That’s why it’s so important to choose the right size!
What else?
Fun Factory had a great idea when they added a travel pouch to the cups. It is waterproof and has a secure closure, so no liquid will leak out. It’s perfect not only for travel but also for everyday use. For example, when you don’t have a chance to rinse your cup so you can use it again, you simply take out a second clean cup and put the used one in the pouch. Then, at home, you wash and sanitize both. 🙂
Me and my cups
I have to admit honestly that the first day I used the cup was a little uncomfortable. Not that it actually bothered me—I had more of a mental issue with it: I was afraid I’d inserted it wrong, I was afraid I might be bleeding too much and the cup’s capacity wouldn’t be enough. So that first day, I just sat at home and ran to the bathroom every half hour to check on it.
The next day it was a little better—the fear of inserting it incorrectly had disappeared:) But I still preferred to go to the bathroom every hour.
The third day was completely fine. I wasn’t afraid of anything anymore. I knew the cup fit well and wouldn’t overflow if I didn’t empty it every 2 hours.
By the fourth day, I wasn’t thinking about it at all. I didn’t feel it, and I often forgot I even had it. I even took it to a workout stress test – and it held up just fine, even when I was hanging upside down on the pole (since I do pole dancing). Just a little tip (though I think it’s completely unnecessary for most of you): it’s a good idea to change the cup right before you start exercising; that way, you’ll get rid of the fear of leakage and enjoy your workout more 🙂
By the fifth day, I didn’t need the cup anymore 😀 So I washed it with lukewarm water, then disinfected it with boiling water, and put it away. In my opinion, boiling water is the best way to disinfect, so I highly recommend it. Otherwise, you can also use the disinfectant you use on silicone toys. Just make sure the product you use on the cup doesn’t react with the silicone.
When I needed the cup again the following month, that initial nervousness and anxiety came back. Luckily, it only lasted one day, and the rest of the time I was fine again.
By the third month, everything was completely problem-free and stress-free. It felt natural, as if I’d never used anything other than cups in my life 🙂
What about the price?
When you calculate how much money you spend on hygiene products over your lifetime, the price of the cup is negligible. It’s true that the ones from Fun Factory are a bit more expensive. On the other hand, you can buy two cups to alternate between, or you can team up with a friend and split the cost.
In any case, I would keep both cups and the pouch—it ensures comfort, which is priceless.
I’ve gone through three cycles now, and I can say with a clear conscience that I don’t want to use anything else. I even regret a little that I didn’t switch to them a long time ago. They’re really great, and I recommend them to almost everyone I meet 😀
Your opinions 2 opinions
Ráda bych se zeptala. Momentálně řéším nový kalíšek, už 6 let jeden používám a přišel čas na výměnu. Zajímalo by mě jestli vám nevadí ten kapičkový tvar? Nebo spíš ta délka kalíšku. Svému kalíšku jsem musela ustřihnout tu šťopičku ( je hloupě vymyšlená, dráždivá). A ještě asi u tohoto tvaru bude zapotřebí přesné polohování kalíšku, což u pravidelného (klasického) tvaru kalíšku odpadá. Má zkušenost s tímto výrobkem někdo, kdo před tím používal klasický kalíšek? Děkuji
Hezký hen,
kapičkový tvar mi na kalíšku nevadí – spíš naopak. Krásně pasuje do ženského těla. Nemusela jsem nic stříhat ani řešit, že něco dráždí, protože je to nedomyšlené.
Je pravda, že tento kalíšek musíte správně napolohovat, ale jedná se jenom o malé pootočení, které vám zebere jenom pár vteřin. Navíc to polohování budete řešit jenom při prvních použitích, pak už si ho budete intuitivně zavádět tak, aby seděl.
Bohužel nikoho zatím neznám, kdo by měl zkušenost s klasickými i Fun Factory kalíšky.
Kdyz jsem si kalisek pozirovala prve FF je jeste nevyrabela. Diky za tuto recenzi! 🙂
Nemáte zač 🙂 ano je to novinka, kterou představili koncem roku 2017.