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Can I use a menstrual cup with an IUD? Everything you need to know
16 de April de 2026
A menstrual cup costs between 15 and 30 euros in Spain and lasts up to 10 years. Compared to the expense of 60-120€ annually on tampons and pads, the cup pays for itself in just 3 to 6 months. If you've never stopped to do the math, you'll be surprised at how much you spend each year without realizing it.
Menstrual Cup Prices
The menstrual cup market has grown significantly in recent years, which means that today you have options for every taste and budget. But be careful: the price of a menstrual cup isn’t everything.
You can find cups ranging from about €10 to models that cost around €35-40. The most common price range, where the majority of quality options are concentrated, is between €15 and €30.
Some factors that influence the price:
- Material: Medical-grade silicone cups are the most recommended by gynecologists and tend to be a bit more expensive, but they ensure safety and durability.
- Brand and origin: A cup made with strict quality controls is not the same as one from an unknown source.
- Included accessories: Some brands include a sterilizer or usage guides, which can justify a price difference between models.
- Size: Most brands offer at least two sizes, and the price is usually the same regardless of which one you choose.
At PapayaCup, you will find menstrual cups with an included sterilizer for €22.20, made from high-quality medical silicone. A very honest price when you compare it to what you will save in the coming years.
Calculator: How much do you spend annually on tampons and pads?
Here comes the part that changes the perspective for many people. Let's do the real calculations.
Common starting data:
- Average menstruation: 5 days a month
- Typical usage: 4-6 tampons or pads per day
- Total per month: between 20 and 30 units
- Average price of a box of tampons or pads (20 units): 3-5€
With these numbers:
Item | Monthly Expense | Annual Expense |
Tampons/pads | 4-8€ | 48-96€ |
With pain relievers and other products | 6-12€ | 72-144€ |
Ruined underwear | - | 20-40€ |
If you are someone who uses several types of products —tampons for the day, pads for the night, panty liners in between—, the annual expense can easily exceed 100€.
And that, multiplied by 10 years —which is the average lifespan of a quality menstrual cup—, amounts to between 600€ and over 1,000€ of money that you are literally throwing away.
This is not an invented number to scare you: it’s what many users of disposable products spend on average without being aware of it.
Menstrual Cup vs Disposables: Real Costs Over 10 Years
Let’s put the numbers side by side, no tricks.
Realistic Scenario: User with an average spending of €80/year on disposable products
Menstrual Cup | Tampons and Pads | |
Year 1 | €22.20 (cup + sterilizer included) | €80 |
Years 2-10 | €0 | €80/year |
Total Over 10 Years | ~€22 | ~€800 |
Savings | - | ~€778 |
And if your spending is somewhat higher, the figures are even more striking:
High spending scenario (€120/year on disposables)
Menstrual Cup | Disposables | |
Total over 10 years | ~€22 | ~€1,200 |
Savings | - | ~€1,178 |
Our clients at PapayaCup save an average of €1,200 in 10 years by switching to the cup. A real figure, not an optimistic estimate.
The payback is quick: with a usual expense of €80-100 annually, the cup pays for itself in less than 3 months. From there, every cycle is money you keep.
Cheap cup vs quality cup: is there a real difference?
This is a legitimate question. If an €8 cup and a €22 cup serve the same purpose, why pay more?
The short answer: they do not serve the same purpose, and here the difference matters.
What makes a difference in a menstrual cup:
- Certified medical silicone: Not all silicones are the same. Medical silicone is inert, does not release toxic substances, and withstands repeated sterilization cycles without degrading. Some ultra-cheap cups use lower quality materials that can deteriorate over time.
- Design and ergonomics: A well-designed cup is easier to insert, fits better, and is unnoticeable during use. This makes a huge difference in the experience, especially at the beginning.
- Real durability: A quality cup lasts 10 years with proper care. A cup of questionable quality can deform, become rough, or change color much sooner, necessitating replacement.
- Support and warranty: Serious brands like PapayaCup provide clear information about materials, usage instructions, and customer service. With a cup of unknown origin, that does not exist.
The conclusion is simple: paying a little more for a cup with guarantees is always the smartest long-term option. A €22 cup that lasts 10 years is infinitely cheaper than an €8 cup that you have to replace every two years —and in that process, you lose money again and have to start the learning curve from scratch.
PapayaCup Packs and Offers
One of the smartest ways to start with the menstrual cup is to take advantage of the packs that combine several products. Because there’s something many people don’t know: the menstrual cup and the menstrual disc are not the same, and many users end up wanting to have both for different times of the cycle.
At PapayaCup you can find several options depending on what you need:
- Anatomical Menstrual Cup with Sterilizer: €22.20 — the perfect entry option. Medical silicone cup with sterilizer included, no need to buy anything else to get started.
- Comfort Pack 2 cups (sizes S+L) with Sterilizer: €29.90 — ideal if you’re not sure which size suits you best, or if you want to alternate depending on the days of the cycle. With free shipping to the Peninsula and Balearic Islands (orders from €27).
- Healthy Menstruation Pack: now at €33.51 (previously €39.80) — combines cup and hormonal balance infusion, designed for those who want to take care of menstrual health more comprehensively.
- PapayaDisc 2 Menstrual Discs (S+L): €25.90 — if you’re curious about the menstrual disc, the pack of two sizes is the smartest way to start.
- PapayaDisc Comfort Pack 2 discs + Sterilizer: €29.90 — everything you need to use the disc comfortably from the first cycle.
The packs are ideal if you still don't know which option will work best for you, and in all cases, the price is a minimal fraction of what you would spend on years of disposables.
Why choose PapayaCup?
There are many cups on the market. The question is reasonable: what makes PapayaCup different?
- Certified medical-grade silicone: The PapayaCup menstrual cup is made from medical-grade silicone that meets European safety standards. There are no shortcuts in materials.
- The sterilizer is included: You don't have to search for or buy anything else. With €22.20, you have everything you need to start from the first cycle and keep the cup in perfect condition for years.
- Design aimed at ease of use: Many people who have had difficulties with other cups find that the design of PapayaCup is more intuitive. The anatomical shape, flexibility, and handle are designed to make the learning curve as short as possible.
- Honest and transparent pricing: €22.20 with sterilizer included is a fair price for what it offers. It’s not the cheapest cup on the market — and that's a good thing — but it also doesn't charge an unnecessary luxury premium.
- Cup and disc in one place: Few brands offer both the cup and the menstrual disc with the same quality and consistency. If you want to try the disc over time, you don't have to search elsewhere or research materials and guarantees again.
- Free shipping from €27: All packs exceed that threshold, so shipping to the mainland and Balearic Islands is free on most purchases.
In summary
The menstrual cup is not just an eco-friendly alternative. It is, above all, a very smart financial decision.
With an investment of €22.20 in a PapayaCup menstrual cup —with sterilizer included—, you can save between €600 and over €1,200 over the next 10 years. The payback occurs in just weeks. From there, each cycle is practically free.
If you add to that the convenience of not having to buy products every month, the reduction of waste, and the peace of mind of using a certified safe material, it's hard to find a serious argument against making the switch.
Buy your PapayaCup from €22.20 (with sterilizer included) and save over €1,200 in 10 years.
Frequently asked questions about the price and savings of the menstrual cup
The PapayaCup menstrual cup with sterilizer included costs €22.20. If you want both sizes (S and L) plus the sterilizer, the Comfort Pack is priced at €29.90. You can check all options in their online store.
It depends on your flow and the products you use, but the average is around €60-100 annually if we only consider menstrual hygiene products. If you add pain relievers, underwear that gets ruined, or other extras, the figure can exceed €120.
Generally speaking, yes. The most important aspect is the material: a cup must be made from certified medical-grade silicone. Very cheap cups may use inferior quality materials that degrade faster or do not offer the same safety guarantees. The price difference between a cheap cup and a quality one is €10-15, but the difference in durability and safety can be enormous.
If it's your first cup, the PapayaCup Comfort Pack (€29.90) is the smartest option: it includes sizes S and L plus the sterilizer, so you don't have to guess which size works best for you before trying it. If you already know your size and only need the cup, the individual option with sterilizer included at €22.20 is all you need to get started. In either case, the price is lower than the cost of a quarter's worth of disposables.
