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Keeper Menstrual Cup Review
The Keeper Menstrual Cup is the original, modern day menstrual cup. Here are a few quick facts:
- The only menstrual cup made from latex (most are made from medical grade silicone)
- Extremely durable and can last for 10+ years
- 2 sizes of Keeper Cup (small and large)
- Keeper Cup is the firmest menstrual cup you can buy
- Longer than average length
- Made by Glad Rags, makers of the XO Flo Menstrual Cup, and organic cloth pads
It can be difficult to find the Keeper Menstrual Cup in stores, which is why we recommend shopping online. Find it here: Keeper Cup on Amazon.
Keeper Cup Introduction
The Keeper Menstrual Cup is a bit unusual in that it’s made from latex, unlike most other menstrual cups which are made from medical grade silicone (for example, the Diva Cup, Lena Cup, and MoonCup).
Latex is very durable, and the Keeper Cup should last you for years, if not decades. Compare this to the silicone or TPE menstrual cups which last for 5 years or so. This makes the Keeper Menstrual Cup a very economical option.
The big negative with a latex menstrual cup is that some people have an allergy to it. Another possibility is that they begin to develop a latex allergy after years of using the Keeper Menstrual Cup.
For those who are sensitive to silicone, the Keeper makes an excellent choice and we’re happy that there’s another option on the market today (along with the Meluna Cup, made from Thermoplastic Elastomer—TPE).
Check out the Keeper Cup for yourself on Amazon:
Keeper Cup Unboxing
Latex = Extremely Durable
However, it’s not all bad for the Keeper Cup! The very, very good news is that the Keeper, with proper care and cleaning will last far longer than the silicone ones, more than 10 years in some cases.
Compare this to a normal menstrual cup that you may have to replace every 2-3 years. Some companies even recommend that you replace a silicone menstrual cup every single year!
Related: How Often to Replace a Menstrual Cup
Keeper Cup = Very Stiff
One of the other unusual things about the Keeper Cup is how stiff it is, compared to some of the soft menstrual cups. It’s actually the stiffest menstrual cup that we’ve ever come across.
Some people love this. The Keeper Cup pops open very easily once it’s inside of you. However, it does take a while to get the hang of inserting it and making sure that it actually does pop. The fold is key. Experiment for yourself and see what fold works for you.
Some people, however, find that the really stiff cups are quite uncomfortable. They can press quite strongly on your vaginal canal walls, sometimes causing cramps or other discomfort.
What works for you really depends on your body.
Related: How to Insert and Remove a Menstrual Cup
Firm Menstrual Cups
Best Overall | Firmest Menstrual Cup | Most Colourful |
---|---|---|
Yuuki Cup | The Keeper Cup | Lady Cup |
Check Prices | Check Prices | Check Prices |
Soft vs Firm Menstrual Cups
For more details about soft, average, and very firm menstrual cups, check out this menstrual cup stiffness chart:
Keeper Cup: Longer than Other Menstrual Cups
Another thing that’s kind of unusual about the Keeper Cup is how long it is. At 79 mm, it’s a full 10 cm longer than the more average cups like the Diva Cup or MoonCup, which come in around 70 mm in length.
This is a good thing for people with a high cervix. In order to remove a menstrual cup, you should grasp the base, break the suction seal and then pull it out gently. However, if it’s too high up, you’ll need to pull on the stem in order to get it low enough to grasp the base.
If you have a very high cervix, but a cup that is too short, then you might not even be able to grab the stem easily. In this case, it’s better to get a longer cup like the Keeper.
However, if you have a low-cervix, this is most certainly not the right cup for you! Instead, consider one of these low-cervix menstrual cups.
Check out this menstrual cup length chart for more details:
How Can I Measure My Cervix Height?
If you’re not sure whether or not you have a high cervix, here’s how you measure it. Insert your index finger into your vaginal canal.
- If you can touch your cervix easily with the tip of your finger, you have a low cervix/short vaginal canal. You should consider a short menstrual cup Under 60 mm in length.
- Can you touch your cervix with your finger fully inserted? You have a normal height cervix/average length vaginal canal. A menstrual cup between 60-75 mm should work well for you. You may have to trim the stem of a 75 mm menstrual cup to length.
- If you can’t touch your cervix, you have a long vaginal canal/high cervix. A period cup that is 70+ mm will work best for you. It’s kind of a case of the longer the better.
How and Why to Measure your Cervix Height
The Keeper Menstrual Cup Reviews
People are saying things like:
“It lasted for 10 years and is still going strong. It’s super economical when you consider how long lasting it is. Imagine how many tampons and pads I would have used during that period of time. It seems crazy to me!”
“Awesome. It’s easy to insert and remove and it doesn’t leak. I’ve recommended the Keeper Cup to so many of my friends. I’m proud to say that I’ve converted more than a handful of them!”
“It’s one of the longer menstrual cups on the market today. This won’t work well if you have a low-medium cervix, but mine is quite high so it’s fine. I actually prefer this because I can grab it quite easily when removing it.”
Buy the Keeper Menstrual Cup
The best place to get the Keeper Cup is on Amazon. It’s one of the less popular cups on the market today, so you’ll probably not be able to find it at your local drugstore.
Do you want to have a safer, healthier, more affordable and eco-friendly period experience? Then you’ll need to get a menstrual cup!
Check out the Keeper Cup on Amazon today:
2 Sizes of Keeper Menstrual Cup
Size A (large, after-childbirth). Capacity: 25 ml. Diameter: 46 mm. Length: 79 mm.
Size B (small, before-childbirth, and for C-section births). Capacity: 21 ml. Diameter: 45 mm. Length: 79 mm.
Keeper Menstrual Cup Capacity
At 21 and 25 ml, the Keeper Cup’s capacity is a bit below average. The Diva Cup (small + large), for example has a capacity of 30 ml. It is better than a jumbo tampon at 10 ml, so if you have to change a tampon every 3 hours, you should be able to make it 6-7 hours with the Keeper Cup.
If you have a very heavy period, you may want to consider another, high-capacity menstrual cup like the Super Jennie. It has a capacity of around 40 ml, which might even allow you to sleep through the night!
Did you ever think this would be possible? Pair up one of these high-capacity cups with an overnight pad, and you may be able to sleep through the entire night on your heaviest flow!
Check out the Highest Capacity Menstrual Cup
The Keeper Cup Pros
1. Can last way longer than silicone (10+ years is quite normal).
2. Stiff material so pops open more easily than the Diva Cup or the Moon Cup.
3. Very long stem so easy to remove. It can also be cut for comfort.
4. Creates “super-suction” because it’s so stiff, reducing leakage.
5. Easy to clean.
6. FDA approved.
7. Holds up to an ounce of fluid, which is 3-4 times more capacity than even a jumbo tampon.
8. It’s the first modern-day menstrual cup that’s still around today (see: Menstrual Cup History).
Is the Keeper Menstrual Cup Good for Beginners?
If you’re looking for your first menstrual cup, you may want to know whether or not the Keeper Cup is a good choice for you.
In general, we recommend firmer menstrual cups for beginners because it’s easier to insert them. When you fold, and insert your cup it should just pop open and snap into place pretty easily.
The downside to the firmer cups is that a very small percentage of people may find them uncomfortable.
Softer menstrual cups will almost always be very comfortable, but they can be difficult to get to open inside of you.
What about the Keeper Menstrual Cup? Is it good for beginners? Although it’s a very stiff cup, it’s almost too stiff. The newer cups made from silicone are a bit more pliable and comfortable, and it’s also very rare for someone to have an allergy to this material, unlike with latex.
Check out some of the better options for menstrual cups for beginners:
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 |
The Keeper Cup Cons
1. Some people are allergic to latex rubber.
2. It’s very stiff, which can make it difficult to insert for some people.
3. At 79 mm, it’s a full 10 mm longer or more than the other popular menstrual cups on the market. This is a big negative if you have a low, or even medium cervix height.
4. One of the smallest capacities of all menstrual cups for the “B” size (pre-childbirth). Not great for those really heavy flow days.
5. Lack of ridges on the stem can make removal quite difficult.
What about Sex with the Keeper Menstrual Cup?
A common question that people have is whether or not they can have sex while wearing a menstrual cup. It’s a great question! The short answer is that it depends on what kind of sex.
For anything that’s not penetrative sex, a menstrual cup like the Keeper Cup is an excellent option because your partner may not even know what you have your period.
However, for penetrative sex, the Keeper Cup is not suitable. It’s simply too hard, and there isn’t enough room for everything “up there.” Trust us, it won’t be comfortable for anybody involved!
A much better solution are Instead Soft Cups. They are disposable menstrual cups that sit right up under the cervix, unlike the Keeper Cup which sits low in the vaginal canal.
They’re soft discs, and neither you, nor your partner may even know that you’re wearing one.
You can check them out for yourself over on Amazon:
Instead Soft Cups Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLN5mVhcirw&t=18s
How Often to Replace a Keeper Cup?
Top quality menstrual cups like this one aren’t cheap! It makes sense to find out how long they’ll last for. If only a year, it may not be worth it to make the switch from tampons.
There is some good news for you though! A top-quality silicone cup usually lasts for around 5 years. Because the Keeper Cup is made from latex, it’s even more durable and it’s pretty normal for it to last even longer than 10.
This of course assumes you care for your menstrual cup properly. A few tips:
- Wash it thoroughly with soap and water during your period
- Store it NOT in an airtight container
- Keep it out of the sun
More Keeper Cup Reviews
Can I get Toxic Shock Syndrome from Menstrual Cups?
A common question that people have is whether or not they can get Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) from menstrual cups, including the Keeper Cup. Let’s talk facts.
There are thousands of reported cases of TSS being caused by tampon usage. There is one reported case from a period 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 way more people that use tampons than menstrual cups so this must be taken into account. And actually, the overall risk of toxic shock syndrome from tampons is really quite low. What is clear though is that the risk of TSS from menstrual cups is almost non-existent, while it is possible with tampons.
Can I Pee While Wearing the Keeper Cup?
Yes! You do not have to remove your menstrual cup before peeing or pooping. 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 the Keeper Cup
In theory, a menstrual cup shouldn’t interfere with either bodily function. And, you don’t need to remove a period cup before going to the bathroom.
Thankfully, because that would be a huge hassle! One of the reason that people use menstrual cups is because they can go up to 12 hours without emptying it, depending on flow.
However, you may have the experience that it takes a long time to pee when you’re wearing a menstrual cup, particularly one as stiff as the Keeper Cup. This is because the vagina and urethra are in close proximity to each other. If your cup pushes strongly against your vaginal canal walls, it may cause some restriction of the urethra.
As long as this isn’t painful, it’s not a cause or concern. If it is painful, consider switching to a softer menstrual cup.
XO Flo Cup vs. Keeper Cup
GladRags, the company behind the Keeper Cup has recently come out with a new menstrual cup, the XO Flo Menstrual Cup. You shouldn’t really think of the XO Flo as an updated Keeper Cup however.
In reality, the XO Flo is an entirely different kind of menstrual cups in terms of materials, sizing, and design.
XO Flo vs. Keeper Cup: Materials
The XO Flo menstrual cup is similar to most other period cups on the market today in that it’s made from medical grade silicone. The Keeper Cup is the only cup that is made from latex.
Medical grade silicone is much softer, and more flexible than latex. If you’re looking for a soft menstrual cup, consider the XO Flo. If you want a very firm menstrual cup, then the Keeper Cup might be the one for you.
XO Flo vs. Keeper Cup: Sizing
In terms of sizing, the XO Flo cup is one of the biggest, highest volume menstrual cups you can buy. It’s a nice option if you’ve given birth vaginally and are looking for a bigger menstrual cup.
Or, if you’ve used smaller period cups and found that they slid around inside of you quite a bit.
The XO Flo Menstrual Cup is also very high in capacity, and is one of the highest volume cups you can buy. If you have a very heavy period, then you might want to consider this cup.
***Stay tuned. GladRags is coming out soon with the XO Flo mini, a smaller version of this very large cup***
XO Flo vs. Keeper Cup: Design
In terms of design, the XO Flo cup is bigger, and wider at the bottom. This gives it a much higher capacity than the cylindrical Keeper cup.
We also love the stem on the XO Flo because it has small balls on it. This can make it much easier to grasp than the smooth Keeper Cup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKtrIbnAUKk
XO Flo Cup vs. Keeper Cup Takeaway
Overall, we’re very happy that Glad Rags has come out with this new menstrual cup. It’s a nice option for someone looking for a large, high capacity, but soft period cup.
You can check it out for yourself over on Amazon:
The Takeaway on the Keeper Menstrual Cup:
The Keeper menstrual cup is a different kind of cup, unlike many of the newer ones out there (Diva Cup, Moon Cup, Lunette) which are made from silicone and are far more flexible. This may suit some people who want something that will just “snap” into place and stay there.
However, others may find it uncomfortable and difficult to insert. Although it does have a long stem, some may find it difficult to remove due to the stiffness of it. The other difficulty in removal comes from the stem not having any ridges or lines on them, unlike most of their competitors. This can make it pretty slippery and difficult to grasp.
The big positive to the Keeper Cup is that it can be an extremely economical choice since it lasts for 10 years or even longer. This is unlike the silicone cups which start to degrade much sooner.
Some makers of silicone menstrual cups will tell you that their cup last for 10 years or more, but in our experience this isn’t really true. Most people have to replace them every five years or so, depending on the quality of the cup they bought.
Get the Keeper Menstrual Cup on Amazon: