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Cleo Cup Review
The Cleo Cup is made by an Australian company, but the actual period cup is manufactured in China. However, it does appear to be made from the highest quality medical grade silicone and the company seems reputable.
Compare this to something like the Hengsong Cup, or the Vida Cup which are also made in China. They are astoundingly cheap, but of dubious quality and we certainly don’t recommend them.
Related: Are Cheap Menstrual Cups a Good Buy?
The Cleo Cup has some excellent ratings over on Amazon. However, it appears that many of these reviews were in exchange for a free or discounted menstrual cup, so this shouldn’t be entirely trusted.
For a menstrual cup manufactured in China, it’s extremely expensive. Compare this to something like the Dutchess Cup, also manufactured in China and of similar quality, that is almost 1/2 the price.
Is the Cleo Cup a buy? Keep on reading to find out! Or, head on over to Amazon to check it out for yourself:
The Cleo Menstrual Cup
2 Sizes of Cleo Cup:
Small: 30 ml capacity, 43 mm diameter, 73 mm length
Large: 30 ml capacity, 46 mm diameter, 76 mm length
As far as the dimensions go, it’s pretty average in the menstrual cup world. The 30 ml capacity is standard and works well for most people, except for those with an extremely heavy period. In that case, you might want to consider one of these high-capacity cups.
The Cleo Cup is longer than average cups, which won’t make it suitable if you have a low to medium cervix. Check out these low-cervix menstrual cups for a better option.
One thing that we hate is how companies put out a “small” and “large” menstrual cup but that they’re not actually that much different from each other. This is the case with the Cleo Cup. The small is only 3 mm shorter and narrower than the large one.
Cleo Cup: Longer than Average Menstrual Cup
If you have a normal to high cervix, you might not be happy with a shorter than average menstrual cup (less than 70 mm). You reach up into your vagina to get the cup out, and it’s nowhere to be found!
Have you had this experience? You might need a longer menstrual cup. At 73 mm (small) and 76 mm (large), the Cleo Cup can make a nice choice if you have a high cervix.
To remove a menstrual cup, you should squeeze in at the base of the cup with two fingers to break the suction seal. If you can’t reach the base, you should pull down gently on the stem until you can. With the longer Cleo Cup, this should be very easy to do.
More information here: Menstrual Cup Length Comparison Chart.
Learn how to Measure your Cervix Height
People that Like the Cleo Cup are Saying:
“It works well and doesn’t leak as much as the Diva Cup. It just seems to snap into place more easily for whatever reason. I like the suction is gets to my vaginal wall. It’s so strong!”
“The instructions and all the useful tips they included were very helpful when I was getting started. I had to phone the company with a specific question that I had and they were very responsive.”
“It was really easy to use and it also worked! No leaks, no mess. Overall, the Cleo Cup is a great buy and I’d recommend it just about anyone.”
“I love the hot pink colour. The lack of markings and holes on it make it really easy to clean as well. Overall, this thing is great and I’m happy I went with this one.”
How to Use the Cleo Cup
If you’re new to menstrual cups, you probably want to know how to use the Cleo Cup! First things first, when compared to tampons, menstrual cups can be a little bit intimidating. They are much bigger, and it can seem difficult to insert them.
The other thing to consider is that there’s a learning curve to using a period cup. It takes most people 4-5 cycle to really feel confident with one. Keep on trying, and put on a pad to catch the leaks in the meantime.
Besides that, here are a few simple steps you can follow:
- Wash your hands, and the cup well
- Fold the Cleo Cup (see video below), and insert it
- Remember to point the cup back and down towards your tailbone, and not up towards the sky
- The cup should pop open pretty easily. If it doesn’t, you can jiggle or twist it, or take it out and try another fold.
- Leave the cup in for 12 hours, or when it’s full and starts to leak.
- Take it out by pinching in at the base with two fingers to break the suction seal. Use the stem to pull down the cup gently if you can’t reach the base.
- Clean the cup, and then reinsert it.
Sounds like the Cleo Cup is exactly what you need? You can check it out for yourself over on Amazon:
How to Fold the Cleo Cup
One of the Longest Menstrual Cups
Do you know your cervix height? It not, here’s what you need to do:
- Reach into your vaginal canal with your index finger
- If you can touch your cervix easily with the tip of your finger, you have a low cervix.
- If you can just touch your cervix when your finger is fully inserted, then you have a regular length cervix.
- Maybe you can’t touch your cervix at all? You have a high cervix/long vaginal canal.
How Long is the Cleo Cup?
At 73 mm (small) and 76 mm (large), the Cleo Cup is one of the longest menstrual cups you can buy. It’s certainly not the cup you want if you have a low cervix, or even an average length one.
However, if you have a long vaginal canal, you might want to consider it. Perhaps you’ve found the short or average length cups difficult to remove?
In order to take out a menstrual cup, you should grasp the base of it. You can break the suction seal by pushing the sides in, and then pull it gently out.
However, if the cup is too high up in your vaginal canal, then you’ll need to pull the stem gently until you can grab the base. If you have a shorter cup, but a longer vaginal canal, you may not be able to find the stem, and you’ll have to push down with the muscles in your pelvis. A longer menstrual cup will make this whole process much easier.
Too Long? Trim the Cleo Menstrual Cup Stem?
If you find the Cleo Cup is too long for you, it’s not really a big deal. The company mentions on their website that you can trim the stem to whatever length you want. Of course, trim just a little bit at a time to see what works for you.
It is helpful to have some stem in place to make removing the Cleo Cup easier. Another thing you can do if you have a very, very low cervix is to cut the stem off completely, and then turn the cup inside out. You do lose a bit of the capacity of your Cleo Cup when you do this however. So, you may have to empty your cup a bit more frequently. However, it’s often a better option than buying a new cup!
Although you lose some capacity when doing this, it does make it shorter.
For more details, check out the menstrual cup length comparison chart:
Cleo Cup Pros:
- People that use this cup generally seem to like it, commenting that is doesn’t leak.
Buy the Cleo Cup
Cleo Cup Cons:
- For a period cup made in China, it’s extremely expensive. Although, this period cup does appear to be made of the highest quality silicone and it is an Australian company.
- Very little real information on the company website.
- The stem is very long, although it can be trimmed.
- Many people comment on Amazon that while this cup isn’t terrible, the next one they tried from another company ended up being much better.
Consider one of these Menstrual Cups Instead
It’s not that the Cleo Cup is bad. It’s just that there are better options out there for your first period cup. You can check out some of them here:
| Best Overall | Best New Cup | Best for Low Cervix | Best Soft Cup | Best for Period Sex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lena Cup | Saalt Cup | FemmyCycle | Sckooncup | Ziggy Cup |
 |  |  |  |  |
| Check price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
How to Clean the Cleo Cup
Menstrual cups, including the Cleo Cup cost a good amount of money! It only makes sense to take care of them in the best way possible. The goal is to get them to last as long as possible, even up to 10 years in some cases.
Here is the advice from the company on how to clean the Cleo Cup:
- Wash your hands before inserting or removing the Cleo Cup
- Clean the cup with a mild, water-based soap, or a menstrual cup cleanser
- Empty your cup at least every 12 hours (more often if necessary due to your flow)
- If you’re in a public bathroom, use a tissue to wipe off any menstrual fluid, then wash it like your normally would next time you can
- If you have trouble inserting the Cleo Cup, don’t use lube because it can damage it. Instead, get the Cleo Menstrual Cup wet
- At the end of your period, you can sterilize the cup by boiling it for 5 minutes in a pot on the stove. Be sure to keep an eye on it to make sure the cup doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot
- Most importantly, don’t keep your Cleo Cup in an airtight container. Store it in the cloth bag that came with it.
For more details, please see: Menstrual Cup Cleaning Guide.
What about a Menstrual Cup Wash?
A common question that people have is whether or not they should use a menstrual cup wash. Most companies recommend either a mild soap, or one of these products.
The choice is yours! Menstrual cup cleansers are very nice, but they can also get a little bit expensive if used al the time. If you want to check them out, we’ve narrowed down the choices for you in this handy comparison chart:
Best Menstrual Cup Wash
| Best Overall | Most Economical | Best Menstrual Cup Wipes |
|---|---|---|
| Divawash | Dutchess Cup Wash | Lunette Wipes |
 |  |  |
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
What about Sex with the Cleo Cup?
A common question that people have is whether or not they can have sex while wearing the Cleo Cup, or another similar menstrual cup. The easy answer is no!
But, of course, for anything that’s not penetrative sex, the Cleo Cup is actually better than a tampon. This is because there are no strings hanging out, and your partner may not even know that you’re on your period.
If you want to have sex during your period, try the Instead Soft Cup. It’s a disposable, flexible disc that can also be worn for up to 12 hours.
Instead of sitting low in the vaginal canal like traditional menstrual cups, it sits right up under the cervix. Because it’s flat, and so high up, neither you nor your partner should even notice it’s in there during sex.
However, the thing we don’t like about the Instead Soft Cup (and Flex Menstrual Disc as well) is that it’s disposable. You lose out on many of the benefits of menstrual cups (eco friendly, cheaper).
That’s why we recommend something like the Cleo Cup for everyday use. Then, keep a box of Soft Cups in your cupboard for those “special” times when you want to have sex during your period.
You can easily buy Instead Soft Cups over on Amazon:
https://youtu.be/XLN5mVhcirw
There are more options for sex during your period beyond the Softcup, including one reusable one. Check out all the choices here:
The Best Period Sex Options
| Best Overall | Most Eco-Friendly | Easiest to Insert |
|---|---|---|
| Instead Soft Cups | Intimina Ziggy Cup (reusable) | Soft Tampons |
 |  |  |
| Check Prices | Check Prices | Check Prices |
Can I get Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) from the Cleo Cup?
Another common question is whether or not you can get toxic shock syndrome from the Cleo Cup (or other menstrual cup). Let’s talk facts for a minute.
To date, there has only been one reported case of TSS from a menstrual cup (the Diva Cup). It happened because the person cut themselves when inserting the cup at the beginning of their period.
Of course, there are thousands of cases of toxic shock syndrome associated with tampons.
It should be noted, however, that the overall risk of TSS from tampons is very, very low. This is especially true if basic precautions are taken, such as changing the tampon frequently.
And the other factor is that far more people use tampons around the world than menstrual cups.
Taking these factors into account, it’s clear that the overall risk of TSS from feminine hygiene products is low. However, it seems that the risk from menstrual cups is lower than with tampons.
Can I use the Cleo Menstrual Cup with an IUD?
Menstrual Cups and IUDs.
A common question that people have is whether or not they can use the Cleo Cup with an IUD. It’s an excellent question! Here’s what the company has to say:
- Seek the advice of a medical professional before using a menstrual cup with an IUD.
- After you get your IUD inserted, wait two cycles before using the Cleo Cup so that your IUD can have some time to settle.
- There should be space between the IUD and your menstrual cup. Place the Cloe Cup as low as possible in the vaginal canal.
- You can ask your doctor to trim the stems of your IUD as short as possible.
- Take special care when removing your cup. Break the suction seal by pinching in at the base with two fingers, instead of just pulling it out by the stem.
The Cleo Cup and Peeing
If you’ve never used a menstrual cup before, you may wonder if you can pee or poop while using one. The short answer is yes! A quick anatomy lesson.
You have three holes “down there:”
- Urethra (where pee comes from)
- Anus (where poop comes out of)
- Vagina (where you insert your menstrual cup)
In theory, using the Cleo Cup shouldn’t interfere with either bodily function.
However, you may have the experience of it taking a long time to pee when you use your cup. This is especially true if you have a big and/or firm cup that presses strongly against the vaginal canal walls. This in turn can cause the urethra to become a bit restricted because the vagina and urethra are in close proximity to each other.
As long as it’s not painful, it isn’t a big deal. Just be patient! However, if you find this painful, then you’ll need to switch to a softer menstrual cup.
The Takeaway on the Cleo Cup:
As far as menstrual cups go, this one isn’t a terrible choice, but it’s also not a great one either. In the reviews on Amazon, we found numerous comments along the lines of, “I didn’t hate it, but the Diva Cup (MoonCup) (Lena Cup) (etc.) was just so much better.”
However, the biggest negative is how expensive it is. It’s one of the most expensive menstrual cups you can buy. If you’re going to splurge, why not get yourself the Lunette Cup. It’s the same price, but it’s a whole lot better menstrual cup.
The Lunette is made in Finland from top-quality medical grade silicone and has some extremely high user ratings on Amazon. It’s the cup many people start with, and end up sticking with for the rest of their lives.
You can get the Lunette Cup on Amazon today:
Have your Say about the Cleo Period Cup
What do you think about the Cleo Cup? Is it a solid buy, or are you considering another menstrual cup brand. Leave a comment below and let us know.
