How To Measure Cervix Height Before Buying A Menstrual Cup?
This article was medically fact-checked by Women’s health expert and Gynaecologist Dr. Alyssa Dweck.
There’s something seriously satisfying about the body traits that make us unique. Whether you can roll your tongue, wiggle your ears or have a super cool scar – our quirks define us. Why is it then, that so few women are familiar with the individuality of their intimate anatomy?
Cervix height is an easily accessible and very useful bit of info that can improve everything from your sex life to your period – but it’s an absolutely essential part of owning a menstrual cup.
What Is The Cervix?
The cervix is a tiny but very important part of the female anatomy. It is essentially the connection between the vagina and the uterus. It looks like a little doughnut of flesh around 3cm in diameter, that varies in firmness depending on your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and arousal.
What is the Purpose of Cervix?
Cervix has a tiny opening that allows sperm to swim in and menstrual fluid to flow out. Your multifunctional cervix is also designed to adapt for childbirth, with the ability to expand up to 10cm during labor. Check out pictures of actual cervixes and cervical position at the Beautiful Cervix Project (very NSFW).
What Has The Cervix got To Do With Menstrual Cup?
Buying a pair of jeans that don’t fit you is a pretty uncomfortable (and frustrating…) experience for most of us. Well, imagine buying something for your vagina that doesn’t fit. Ouch isn’t the word… If you know the length of your vaginal canal, then you can choose the menstrual cup that is the best length for your body.
The menstrual cup comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but what’s important is that it sits below your cervix to collect the flow, while also being fully inside the vagina (stem and all). To find out your measurements, check the dimensions of your cup, and see how it measures up before you buy.
How To Measure Cervix Height?
- Everything starts with hygiene so before you start exploring your body, you must wash your hands with warm water and mild soap. When you are completely sure your hands are clean, find yourself comfortable position and check your cervix and start measuring cervical height. If you want you can do this while taking a shower, be sure to relax and be kind to yourself.
- Insert a (clean) finger into your vaginal opening. Keep moving until the tip of your finger is touching your cervix. You’ll be able to distinguish your cervix from the rest of your vagina, as the tissue is soft and a little bit firmer than your vaginal walls. It feels a little like the tip of your nose. Be careful not to make pressure on your cervix walls, you do not want to harm yourself.
- If you can only get one joint of your finger in then you have a very low cervix. Two joints (middle of your finger), you have an average cervix height. If you can fit inside or if your entire finger fits into your vagina before you touch your cervix then you have a high cervix. When you are done, wash again your hands and continue with the process.
- Once you are familiar with cervical measurement, you can note the measurement and compare it against the length of different menstrual cups to find out the perfect one for you. Just make sure you check out other factors before you make your final decision.
The Monthly Cycle Of Your Cervix
But it is not only about ‘how’, another most important thing is ‘when’ to measure your cervix. It’s not just your period that is affected by your monthly hormone cycle. The actual cervical ‘position’ changes throughout your cycle as well! Around ovulation (when you’re most fertile) the cervix is often higher in the vaginal canal and tends to be a bit softer. Close to and during menstruation, many women’s cervixes move lower in the vagina and become firmer.
Your cervix height even changes throughout your period – which also affects the type and length of cup you should buy. Try checking your cervix height at different stages throughout the month and your period, so you can be sure to pick a cup that fits you throughout menstruation.
Best Menstrual Cup For Low Cervix
For women with a low cervix, shorter menstrual cups like the Lily Cup Compact tend to be a better fit. The Lily Cup Compact is a full 2cm shorter than the classic Lily Cup, so it can be fully inside the vagina and still sit below your cervix. Plus, the Lily Cup Compact’s stem can be trimmed down for comfort or you can even turn the cup itself inside out to make it even shorter.
Check out our size guide for Lily Cup Compact’s dimensions and our article on how to trim both types of cups here.
Best Menstrual Cup For A High Cervix
If you have a higher cervix, then you can use either a longer cup or a shorter cup – according to your preference. For women with a higher cervix, a longer cup, like the classic Lily Cup, can be easier to reach during removal, and also has the added benefit of a higher capacity. However, you can also use a shorter cup, you’ll just need to engage your pelvic floor muscles to push the cup down a bit more for removal.
Intimina’s Ziggy cup 2 is a reusable menstrual disc that can be worn during periods and used for menstrual sex. It comes in two different sizes and it fits persons with both – higher and lower cervix.
It just depends on what’s most comfortable and convenient for you. So if you haven’t already, it’s time to check that cervix height and then you can choose the best menstrual cup size for your own body. Happy measuring!
Facts checked by:
Dr. Alyssa Dweck
Alyssa Dweck MS, MD, FACOG is a practicing gynecologist in Westchester County, New York. She provides care to women of all ages; she has delivered thousands of babies. She is proficient in minimally invasive surgery and has special interest and expertise in female sexual health and medical sex therapy. She is top doctor in New York Magazine and Westchester Magazine. Dr. Dweck has co-authored three books including the most recent release The Complete A to Z For Your V.
Written by:
Lane Baumeister is an internationally-based Canadian writer with several years’ experience creating educational and entertaining articles that discuss intimate health and sexual well-being. When not waxing profound about menstruation, she devotes herself to enjoying extremely good food and equally bad movies.
I use to put on sanitary napkin during my period. Tampon isn’t so popular here, there is issue abt tampon & virginity lol I found out abt menstrual cup couple of months ago, spending few months of hesitating but now I strongly agree to use it. This article helps me, as a beginner, what step need to do so I can pick the right menstrual cup size for me.
The pictures demonstrating what they mean by measuring is extremely helpful i was a bit confused before i saw the pictures. thank you!!
Glad they helped!
Hi..
It was my 4th of period today and the menstrual cup that was ordered by me also arrived today so aftr disposing off the tampon I tried the cup..medium in size since my flow is nt much also m unmarried 36yrs. Anyways insertion wasnt that diff but in the evening wen i tried to pull it out ,I had to struggle really hard and it took almost 10min or smthn i guess..I had this idea if I have to go to gynae to take it out tom. Anyways after much much struggle it came out but pulling out this way with such hardship is like really giving me tension that how m I gonna use it in my next month cycle or say in future. Please suggest wat shud I do if to go for smaller one or larger size…
Thanks in advance
Hi Madhu!
I’m sorry to hear you struggled with removal! Luckily, I think a little practice will help. Generally, the inability to easily remove won’t be because the cup is too large. Generally it is more likely that you did not completely break the seal at the the top of the cup. Try squeezing the edges of the cup (first one way, then the other) as you wiggle it loose. And if you’re finding the sensation is uncomfortable, I recommend making sure you are very very relaxed (deep breaths!) and potentially using a water-based feminine moisturizer to improve the sensation. Let me know if that helps!
Hello,
I have an extremely high cervix. I tried a “large size” menstrual cup that was approx 6.5 to 7cm long from rim to end of tail & lost it inside me. After much struggling, I finally retrieved it. I cut the string off a tampon & tied it to the ball at the end so I wouldn’t lose it & tried again. I used a C-fold but I’m assuming it wouldn’t open cuz there was zero suction when I pulled it out using the attached string.
I really want to make menstrual cups work due to environmental reasons, the cost of one time use products and the itch & irritation caused by them, but so far I don’t think anything is going to work for me ?
Any advice?
Thank you
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to INTIMINA.
I’m happy to hear that you’re interested in our cups!
Our Lily Cup is designed for a high cervix and for light to heavy flow. It comes in two sizes: Size A: If you haven’t given birth or you gave birth by caesarean, this is a perfect size for you. This size is perfect for those of you who have a medium flow.
Size B:
This size is recommended for women who gave birth or for those who have a weaker pelvic floor. If you have a heavier flow, this will be the perfect match for you.
In comparison, the Lily Cup One is for any cervix height and for light to medium flow.
The difference between the two is that Lily Cup has softer silicone and a spill-proof rim while the Lily Cup One is firmer, has a thicker rim, rounded edges and it is wider at the base and narrower at the top. Lily Cup One comes with a loop on the end for easy removal.
If you’re still unsure which cup would suit you better, you can check out our quiz at: https://www.intimina.com/quiz
Once you have chosen your cup, you can also look into our quick start guide at: https://www.intimina.com/blog/use-menstrual-cup-quick-start-guide/
Should you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know, I’ll gladly help!
Kind regards,
Hi
I have the Ziggy cup b
But it keeps leaking and when I take it out which is always a struggle because I have high cervix and so hard to reach when I take it out the bottom is in the cup and there is blood everywhere
I have used for a while now
But it is always a struggle and always a leakage
What is going wrong ???
Getting so frustrated
Hi Sol,
so sorry to hear this, our customer care will contact you and try to solve this problem.
Best regards