Hesta Menstrual Cup Introduction
The Hesta Cup is a recent addition to the menstrual cup world. Here are a few quick facts:
- Released in 2017
- Made in the USA and registered with the FDA
- Two sizes of Hesta Menstrual Cup (small + large)
- The large Hesta Cup has a huge capacity of 40 ml, making it a great choice if you have a heavy period
- Some excellent customer reviews
- Eco-friendly, and affordable
- Hesta makes a number of different organic period products
Hesta Cup Review
A Review of the Hesta Menstrual Cup with Silicone Case
Hesta Organic has been around since 2015, and they got their start by producing a line of organic cloth menstrual pads, as well as period panties. See our review of these cloth pads here.
In late 2017, they came out with a menstrual cup, which we’re going to review here.
First Impressions of the Hesta Menstrual Cup
Our first impressions of this cup are positive. Hesta Organic is a reputable company that has some top-quality products. The menstrual cup is made in the USA from medical grade silicone. The cup is registered with the FDA in the USA.
In terms of designs and sizing, the most obvious thing is that the cup itself it very long, and the stem is very short. This is a nice change from most other cups because removing it is quite easy.
To take out a sanitary cup, you should grasp the base with two fingers, and then squeeze in. This breaks the suction seal and you can then pull the cup out.
A common mistake that people make is to pull it out by the stem. This does NOT break the suction seal, and it makes it difficult to remove. It can also damage your menstrual cup, and cause some serious problems if you’re wearing an IUD. You should only pull the stem down gently if you can’t reach the base of the cup yet.
You can check out the Hesta Cup over on Amazon:
Hard Case: Interesting!
The case is an interesting addition. Most (all?) other period cup companies include a cloth storage bag. The key thing for storing a menstrual cup is air circulation. The holes in the case from Hesta do appear to be quite small, and we wonder if there will be enough air-flow. Presumably they’ve tested this and had good results though, so probably nothing to worry about.
Let’s explore more details about Hesta Organic, the pros and cons of this period cup, and then some common questions that you might have about it.
About Hesta Organic
Hesta Organic was founded in 2015 in California. Their ultimate goal is to help people love themselves, and love the environment. They want to offer simple, sustainable products at affordable prices.
Hesta organic is most well-known for offering a nice line of organic cloth pads, as well as some stylish period underwear. Although they are a bit more expensive than the mass-produced non-organic options, they do have some great reviews on Amazon, and plenty of satisfied customers. For organic products, they are actually quite reasonable priced.
We’re impressed at what Hesta Organic has managed to do in only 3 short years (we’re writing this review at the beginning of 2018). We love having more top-quality feminine hygiene options to choose from, and these offerings from Hesta definitely fit into that category.
Check out some of their products in the chart below:
Buy the Hesta Cup on Amazon:
Because the Hesta menstrual Cup is relatively new, it can be extremely difficult to find it in stores. If a store does actually stock a menstrual cup, it’ll probably be something like the Diva Cup, and certainly not one of these less popular ones.
In our experience, the best place to get menstrual cups not Diva Cup is on Amazon.
You can get the period cup by itself, or you can get it in a set along with some of their organic cloth pads. The latter is a nice option if you want to completely make the switch away from disposable feminine hygiene products.
It can seem quite expensive to make the switch to reusable feminine hygiene products, if you’re only spending $5 or 10 a month on disposables. However, these reusables can last for 5-10 years with proper care and cleaning, so they’re far cheaper in the end.
Consider making the switch now to maximize savings over your lifetime.
2 Sizes of Hesta Cup
There are two sizes of Hesta Cup. Unlike many other companies that recommend the small, or large based on your age, or whether you’ve given birth vaginally, Hesta recommends sizing based on normal, or heavy flow. They also mention that the smaller size is better for beginners.
Small Hesta Cup: 30 ml capacity, 70 mm length, 42.5 mm diameter.
Large Hesta Cup: 40 ml capacity, 70 mm length, 46 mm diameter.
The small Hesta Cup is similar to the small Diva Cup with a 30 ml capacity, 70 mm length, and 41 mm diameter.
The large Hesta is similar to the large Diva Cup in length and diameter, but has a much higher capacity at 40 ml (vs. 30 ml for the Diva). This is due to the increased cup length, but shorter stem length.
Not for People with a Low Cervix
At 70 mm in length, the Hesta can be a good option if you have a medium to high cervix height. 70 mm is considered to be “average” length in the menstrual cup world.
However, if you have a low cervix, this cup will not work for you, especially when you consider the very short stem. Even if you cut it off completely, you won’t do much to reduce the overall cup length.
This is unlike something like the Diva Cup, which has a fairly long stem. If you do buy it, but then realize you actually have a low cervix, you can trim the stem off. This will reduce the overall length by quite a bit, and you may be able to make it work for you, without having to buy a new cup.
If you have a short vaginal canal, you should consider a low-cervix menstrual cup which will work much better for you. The one that we most often recommend is the FemmyCycle Low Cervix Model. Check it out for yourself on Amazon:
Heavy Period? The Hesta Cup is a Nice Option
There are a number of reasons why you might want to make the switch from tampons to a period cup. They’re cheaper, better for your health, and friendly to the environment. Another reason is if you have a heavy period.
Tampons have a capacity of 5-10 ml, while regular cups like the Diva Cup hold around 30 ml. There are a few high-capacity cups with room for up to 42 ml. There are only a few cups on the market today with 40 ml of capacity, so we’re happy to see another option.
Compare the large Hesta to even a jumbo tampon at 10 ml capacity. At 40 ml, that’s 4x the capacity. This means that if you had to change a jumbo tampon every 2 hours on your heaviest flow day, you should be able to make it 8.
Pair a high-capacity period cup with an overnight pad, and you might even be able to sleep through the night!
How to Use the Hesta Cup
IF you’re new to the world of menstrual cups, they can seem a little bit intimidating at first. They are significantly bigger than tampons.
The main thing to keep in mind with using the Hesta Menstrual Cup for the first time is that there’s a learning curve to using any menstrual cup. It takes most people 3+ cycles to really feel 100% confident in using it.
Beyond that, there are a few simple steps you can follow:
- Wash your hand and the menstrual cup with mild, water based soap and water.
- Fold the Hesta Cup, and insert it into your vagina. Point it back and down, towards your tailbone and not up towards the sky.
- The cup should just open pretty easily by itself. If it doesn’t, jiggle, or twist it. You can also try taking it out and inserting it again.
- You can wear the Hesta Cup for up to 12 hours. Or, you may have to change it more frequently if you have a heavy period.
- Wash the cup well with soap, or a menstrual cup wash and water. Reinsert it.
- At the end of your period, you can boil the cup in a pot of water on the stove for 5 minutes to sterilize it.
How to Use a Menstrual Cup for the First Time
Hesta Menstrual Cup Pros:
- The base is very long, which can make removing it very easy
- Hesta Organic is a reputable company
- Made in the USA from medical grade silicone
- The large is a nice option (40 ml capacity) for people with a heavy period
- Some excellent reviews on Amazon, and a nice overall user rating
- It has a nice design that make it easy to insert, and remove
- It doesn’t leak for most people
- Eco friendly (can be used for years)
- Affordably priced
Hesta Menstrual Cup Cons:
- Neither the small, nor the large are good options for people with a low cervix
- It’s a relatively new product and there aren’t many reviews yet on Amazon
- Very short stem, which makes it difficult to modify the length if it’s too long (unlike most other cups)
What about Sex with the Hesta Menstrual Cup?
An excellent question is whether or not you can have sex while wearing the Hesta, or any other menstrual cup. The short answer is that it depends on what kind of sex you want to have!
For anything up to penetrative sex, a cup is an excellent option. Since there are no strings hanging out, it’s possible that your partner may not even know you’re on your period.
However, for penetrative sex, a traditional cup will not work. It’s too big, and too stiff. Even if you tried, all that activity would dislodge the cup, and cause some serious leaking.
The good news is that there is a much better option! Read more about it below.
Consider the Instead Soft Cup for Period Sex
If you want to have sex during your period, consider the Instead Soft Cup/Flex Menstrual Disc. They are flat, flexible discs that fit right under your cervix, unlike regular cups that fit lower in your vaginal canal.
The major negatives to these products is that they’re disposable (single use only) and that they can be a bit difficult to insert and remove (do you have long fingers?!). Many people opt for a menstrual cup because they’re great for the environment, and also far cheaper than disposable. You lose these two big advantages when you use a disposable cup on a regular basis.
That’s why we usually recommend keeping a box of these in the bathroom cupboard for those period sexy time, and then using a cup like the Hesta for regular times. It’s a nice solution!
The best place to get SoftCups is on Amazon:
Can I use an IUD with the Hesta Cup?
Hesta Organic doesn’t have a lot of information about the cup on their website, and we were unable to find specific advice about using their product with an IUD. However, we are able to offer you some general advice about menstrual cups and IUDs.
First of all, check with your doctor. Everyone is different and what may work for you, may not work for someone else. Besides that, here are a few tips:
- Be gentle when inserting and removing your period cup. This goes a long way towards preventing any problems.
- Ask your doctor to trim the strings as short as possible. This prevents them from getting stuck in, or around your cup.
- Make sure there’s space between your cup and cervix by getting the correct length of cup. If you have a low cervix, it may not be possible to use a cup with an IUD. Check with your doctor.
- ***Important*** When you remove the cup, be sure to break the suction seal first. You can do this by pinching the base in with your two fingers, and then pulling it out.
Can I Pee while Wearing the Hesta?
You may want to know whether or not you can pee while using the Hesta Cup. Let’s talk anatomy for a minute. You have three holes “down there:”
- Urethra (where pee comes from)
- Anus (where poop comes from)
- Vagina (where you insert tampon or menstrual cup)
In theory, a sanitary cup like the Hesta shouldn’t interfere with either pooping, or peeing.
However, you may have the experience that peeing takes a long time while you’re using a cup. This can happen because the urethra and vagina are quite close together. Because a cup is quite big, it can push against the vaginal canal walls quite strongly, which push against the urethra, and cause it to narrow slightly.
Most people find that this isn’t a big deal, but if you do, we recommend trying one of the softer menstrual cups.
Is it Possible to Get Toxic Shock Syndrome from the Hesta Menstrual Cup?
Toxic Shock Syndrome is a rare, but very serious condition that can be caused by tampons, among other things. Can you get TSS from a menstrual cup as well?
Let’s talk facts. To date, there is only one reported case of Toxic Shock Syndrome being caused by a cup (the Diva Cup). There are thousands of cases from tampon use.
It should be noted that there are far more tampon users than menstrual cup users. The overall risk, even from tampons is extremely low. However, it is clear that it is very, very unlikely to get TSS from a cup.
How Often to Replace the Hesta Cup
Over on Amazon, the company mentions that you can use the cup for years. What does this mean exactly?
In our experience, top-quality menstrual cups that are made from medical grade silicone (like the Hesta Cup) can last for 5-10 years. This assumes that you take care of them properly.
The up-front cost of menstrual cups is a lot. It just makes sense to get the most years out of them as possible.
Here are a few tips for extending the lifespan of your Hesta Cup:
- Keep the Hesta Cup clean. You can wash it with a very mild soap and water, or a menstrual cup wash (see the comparison chart below). You should wash it every time you remove it.
- Deep clean your Hesta Menstrual Cup at the end of your period. Use an old toothbrush to get in all the holes and cracks. You can also boil it in a pot of water on the stove for 5 minutes.
- Store the cup in the cloth bag that comes with it. NEVER put a menstrual cup into an airtight container.
Compare Menstrual Cup Washes
The Takeaway on the Hesta Menstrual Cup
Overall, the Hesta Menstrual Cup seems like a win! We’re always happy to see more menstrual cup options from top-quality companies, especially those made in the USA or Europe (the Hesta Cup is American made).
We love the long base/short stem combo. This means that removing it is very, very easy. Instead of struggling to pull down a slippery stem until you can grab the base, you should be able to just grasp the base directly.
If you’re struggled with removing some of the other cups, you may want to give this one a try. At 70 mm in length, it’s the same as the Diva Cup. However, you will probably find this one easier to deal with.
Another reason to consider this one from Hesta Organic is that the larger size has a capacity of 40 ml. Most cups are in the 25-30 ml range, so this one is a nice option if you have a heavy period. 10 ml really can make a difference, especially at night when you probably don’t want to get up to deal with your period. Pair a high-capacity cup like this one with an overnight pad for some serious capacity.
Buy the Hesta Cup
At the time of writing, the Hesta Menstrual Cup was out of stock on the company website. It was however available on Amazon. You can check it out here:
Hesta Cup: Have your Say!
What are your thoughts about the Hesta Menstrual Cup? It is a win, or are you considering another menstrual cup brand?
Leave a comment below.
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