Reusable menstrual cups and menstrual discs have been around since the 1860s and come in different shapes. But they have become more mainstream in the past decade. The latest menstrual cups and discs are primarily designed to hold menstrual blood and are increasingly becoming more popular because they are eco-friendly and a painless alternative to tampons. They are also known for boosting one’s chances of conception, so you are assured of getting pregnant faster.

Materials and Safety Considerations

Modern menstrual cups are made from medical-grade silicone, known for its biocompatibility, durability, and flexibility. This non-porous material reduces bacterial buildup and maintains a balanced vaginal pH, supporting the natural microbial environment. Some cups use thermoplastic elastomers, offering similar comfort and meeting strict safety standards.

Sterilisation Process for Your Menstrual Cup

• Wash your hands with mild, unscented soap.
• Rinse the cup under cool water to remove debris.
• Fully immerse the cup in a pot of water.
• Bring the water to a gentle boil, ensuring the cup stays submerged.
• Simmer the cup for 5 to 10 minutes without overboiling to protect the material.
• Remove the cup with clean utensils, if needed.
• Let the cup cool on a clean, dry surface before reinserting.

Menstrual Cups and Your Routine

Optimising your menstrual cup routine involves selecting a product that fits your lifestyle and anatomy. A comfortable, secure fit ensures reliable menstrual care during conception planning, reducing stress and discomfort. Although there’s no conclusive evidence that cup size affects conception, choosing a cup that fits your body can improve overall well-being.

When evaluating options, follow manufacturer guidelines, which often consider age, childbirth history, and menstrual flow. For example, those who have had a vaginal delivery may receive different recommendations than first-time users. Try different models within these guidelines and be open to minor adjustments to find a cup that stays secure during daily activities and movement.

Consider how your menstrual cup fits into your routine. If you’re active or need to empty it frequently, prioritise user feedback on ease of removal and cleaning. Comfort during extended wear at work, exercise, or rest is crucial. Local Australian health professionals and trusted user reviews can provide tailored advice.

Remember that a well-fitted menstrual cup supports stress-free menstrual care, an important part of reproductive health. However, it does not replace medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider to ensure your menstrual care strategy aligns with your fertility and well-being plans.

Do menstrual cups help with conception?

But what is the logic behind this recent buzz? When used as a cup to keep the donated sperm or ejaculated sperm closer to the cervix opening, the menstrual cups/discs can, theoretically, increase the probability of conception during your fertile window (a few days before and on the ovulation day ).

Optimal Timing for Cup Insertion Relative to Ovulation

If you’re considering using a menstrual cup to aid conception, timing is crucial. To potentially enhance sperm retention, insert the cup during your fertile window—ideally 24 to 48 hours before ovulation. The fertile window spans the five days leading up to and including ovulation, with peak fertility usually in the two days before the egg is released. Inserting the cup during this period may help keep sperm near the cervix, though current clinical evidence does not definitively show improved conception rates. For personalised advice and to ensure any changes suit your reproductive health, consult a healthcare provider or fertility specialist.

So, does this theory hold when we examine real-world outcomes? It isn’t easy to know this yet. Currently, no clinical data suggests that people who use menstrual cups or discs have a high chance of getting pregnant quickly compared to people who do not use them. But we are hoping to get some statistics on this soon. Before we dive into the origin of the theory and the information we have on the subject, you should know this: Fertility science keeps evolving, but there are significant research gaps even in women’s health. Nonetheless, even if several large-scale random trials haven’t validated something, that does not mean it will not benefit you as an individual. In the end, personal experience can be as valuable as scientific evidence. Some medical advisors claim that both lesbian and heterosexual couples have been using menstrual discs for this purpose for many years. However, no data shows that it is more effective or can cause harm. Particularly for couples who choose to go for sperm donation, utilising a menstrual disc can be more productive than putting sperm in the vagina alone.

Where did this menstrual cup theory originate from?

A lot of factors need to go right for conception to occur. One of the first and most significant steps is getting the sperm to fertilise the egg. To accomplish this, sperm must enter the vagina, past the cervix, and enter the uterus and fallopian tube to meet an egg that has just been released (during each ovulation cycle ).

Fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), bypass the need for sperm to travel through the cervix because fertilisation occurs outside the body.

Manufacturers have not yet provided independent data confirming these products’ advertised effectiveness, and they are not required to meet the clearance standards set by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) .

In IVF and penile-vaginal intercourse, the quantity of sperm reaching the fallopian tubes is directly linked to the sperm deposited near the cervix . Due to this (in theory), anything that can keep sperm there may increase the total number of sperm that get to the egg and boost the probability of fertilisation. The approach is based on the idea that the menstrual discs or cups inserted into the vagina may help in conception.

Cervical Caps & Possible Fertility Booster

The menstrual device theory may have been inspired by the history of the cervical cap , which was initially introduced as a birth control method over 100 years ago. Still, the recent data reveals that they are not particularly good at this. These tiny silicone devices were put right at the cervix before a sexual act to block the sperm from getting into the cervix. At some point (maybe around the 1980s), certain doctors started wondering whether the caps could be used for an opposite purpose. For instance, they wanted to know if they could use them before sex to ensure sperm is kept out, after insemination, or after sex to keep the sperm in and increase the chances of conception. These findings are mixed, but we shall discuss them in the next section. Remember that cervical caps are not being used regularly due to the availability of better forms of contraceptives nowadays. Most OB-GYNs also don’t prescribe them.

Impact of Menstrual Cup Design on Conception

Menstrual cups differ in length, rim shape, and flexibility—features that affect their position in the vaginal canal. A shorter cup may sit lower, possibly reducing its proximity to the cervix during the fertile window. In contrast, a longer cup might be closer to the cervical opening. A well-shaped rim can create a secure seal against the vaginal walls, and increased flexibility allows the cup to fit more comfortably to individual anatomy, potentially helping to keep sperm near the cervix.

However, these benefits are mostly speculative. To date, no strong clinical studies have proven that these design features directly improve conception rates. If you are considering how different menstrual cup designs might affect fertility, it is important to follow evidence-based guidelines and consult healthcare professionals when including these products in your conception plans.

What we know about cervical cups and conception

As mentioned earlier, doctors have considered using cervical cups for conception for about 40 years. Some studies were organised to address this and gave mixed results:

• Some revealed a high pregnancy rate for women who used menstrual cups. A study of individuals undertaking the ICI ( Intracervical insemination ) showed that the pregnancy rate per cycle was 5.9% in cases where menstrual cups weren’t used and 15.2% in cases where the cervical cups were used.
• Others didn’t: One study that involved more than 600 treatment cycles revealed pregnancy rates of 7.8% for each cycle after using a cervical cap and 9.8% when the usual ICI protocols were followed.
• Also, the idea of doing certain things to keep more sperm and increase the probability of conception isn’t consistently supported. For instance, lying down after the IUI procedure to avert sperm backflow will not boost the chances of conception, nor will sex positions that may decrease backflow.

Despite the lack of clear, published evidence to prove that menstrual cups are helpful for women trying to conceive, many companies have produced customised cervical cups to be utilised for conception reasons. It’s crucial to remember that these manufacturers haven’t yet given their data to show that the products work as advertised, and this isn’t a requirement for the usual TGA medical device clearance. Even if we had reliable scientific evidence showing that cervical cups can promote conception, we could not assume that the same results would be attained after using menstrual cups and discs. This is especially true for menstrual cups, as they are longer than cervical caps and can hold fluid substantially away from the cervix.

Clarifying Common Misconceptions

While some theories suggest menstrual devices may affect conception, there is no evidence of direct fertility benefits. Claims that these products enhance reproductive outcomes are speculative and lack solid clinical evidence. When planning your fertility journey, consult expert advice and established medical practices.

Evan kurzyp

Evan Kurzyp

Evan is the founder of Fertility2Family and is passionate about fertility education & providing affordable products to help people in their fertility journey. Evan is a qualified Registered Nurse and has expertise in guiding & managing patients through their fertility journeys.