Menstrual Cup Design

Menstrual cup solves a recurring problem with a single $30 purchase that lasts up to 10 years, replacing approximately 2,400 disposable products over that period. Design is a medical-grade silicone bell that folds to insert and opens to form a seal. Engineering is simple but the adoption barrier is high because it requires a comfort with the body that disposable products are specifically designed to avoid. Brands that succeed in this market are the ones that normalize the learning curve through clear instructions and community support. Environmental impact is significant, the average person who menstruates uses over 11,000 disposable products in their lifetime, while a cup reduces that to about a dozen over the same period. More people are talking openly about cups and the stigma around reusable period products is shrinking. Partly because the cost savings are hard to argue with and partly because the waste problem has become impossible to ignore. Most body types are accommodated with proper sizing, and companies offering 2 sizes based on age and flow volume demonstrate an understanding that bodies aren't uniform. Clear example of how design can serve both the user and the planet when the incentives are aligned.