The Merula XL menstrual cup is the highest capacity cup on the market boasting a 50ml capacity! Its rounded bottom provides more space for collecting versus similar sized cups with a tapered, bullet design.
The slight vacuum means the cup can be worn whatever the condition of the pelvic floor muscles. It has an adaptable, two-rung stem that can be shortened to ensure an individual, optimally comfortable length.
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What's Included
One Merula XL Cup, one coordinating fashion fabric pouch, and user instructions.
Cleaning
Remove and wash your cup every 12 hours or more often if needed. Wash with a gentle hand soap or a specific menstrual cup wash. Boil your cup monthly to kill any bacteria or use a specialty menstrual cup steamer as a hassle-free alternative to boiling.
-I used a Diva Cup (Size 1) for years, but over my last few cycles, it started failing me. It would actually collapse overnight while I was sleeping, leading to leaks and frustration. I realized my body needed something much firmer and more reliable.
Switching to the Merula XL has been such a relief.
-The Fit: I have a very high cervix (I can’t reach it even on my period!), so the height and the ladder stem on the Merula are a necessity. It doesn't "disappear" like other cups.
-The Performance: Unlike my old cup, this one stays open and secure all night. No more leaking.
-The Learning Curve: I’ll be honest—it was uncomfortable at first just getting used to the unique shape and firmness. But once my period actually started and I got into a rhythm, it worked incredibly well.
It might not be every reviewer's favorite, but for a high "vault" and someone who needs a cup that won't collapse, this is the one. I’ve finally found my perfect Goldilocks cup! 🖤✨
Just used the Merula XL cup for a full period cycle for the first time. I wore a pad the whole week too just in case there were leaks, and there were a few leaks here and there, but nothing major. One night the cup overflowed while sleeping (even though I emptied it right before bed), but I had a pad on too, so no harm done. I was never 100% sure if I inserted the cup right and had the seal tight, as there were some leaks throughout the week, but I'm hoping in the next few cycles to get more confident and get a good technique down. I used the punch down fold, had no pain the whole week, and removing was pretty easy to get the hang of too. I would bear down a bit while sitting on the toilet if it was too hard to reach, pull the tab down a bit and then poke the bottom of the cup to break the seal. Hoping to pair with period panties soon for a fully reusable period arsenal! One flaw, no more spontaneous period sex, so may want to try a disk eventually because that was a bummer. But overall, an enlightening and cool experience! -Bri
I wanted to live this cup so badly but holy crap it hurts! I have a heavy flow so I love the idea of a high capacity cup but I’m not sure if it’s the firmness or the shape but I have so much discomfort with it most of the time. Occasionally I can get it in and it will sit okay but it’s rare. I’ve been using a cup for over 8 years and I keep trying this one every so often hoping something has changed and it will magically work but sadly it doesn’t work for me.
If you have a heavy period where you're buying Ultra tampons and having to change them every hour or you have to take medication to make your period lighter, THIS CUP IS FOR YOU. The Merula XL is a game changer. I went to a water park wearing this! No leakage, no mess, didn't have to empty it until I left the park after 4+ hours later. Highly recommend this cup for anyone with heavy periods.
I had an extremely long and heavy period thanks to starting birth control post baby. I tried the Teiut cup and it was okay, a little too soft to get up but great capacity. The Merula XL was perfect. It didn't feel too firm and I loved the sort silicone. It let me get 8 hours of wear out of it when I was getting 2-3 with my Saalt or Tampax. It didn't slide as much as those either. I love it so much that I'm going to buy the regular size for my lighter days.
Period.Shop is a good little shop! Lots' of good info, great tone, good humor. The products are great too.
I found the Merula XL through the quiz. I used a menstrual cup for years and loved it, but then I gave birth and the cup I had relied on (Diva) no longer worked for the new shape of my cervix. I also have a heavy period, and a low, tilted cervix so I tried several different brands and styles, but they were too long, or too soft, or couldn't get good suction, or didn't hold enough. I tried the larger Diva cup, a MeLuna cup in 2 sizes (one was too long, the other too small), a Jenni cup (ended up being too soft for my pelvic muscles), and the Intimina disc which didn't work at all for me. I was about to give up. Then I stumbled on Period Shop and gave it a browse...
The Merula XL is the first cup in 10 years that stayed put, held enough, got good suction despite my low and tilted cervix, and DIDN'T LEAK AT ALL NOT ONE TIME!!! I went camping on the 3rd-5th days of my period and it was amazing. I didn't have to find a port-a-potty every 20 minutes to empty a leaky cup, or rely on disposable pads for the weekend. I used ONE disposable pad, just in case, as backup since this was my first cycle with the Merula XL, and I threw it out nearly clean! I am very happy I discovered Period.Shop, and the Merula XL. I can go back to extolling the virtues of menstrual cups now instead of doubting my faith in them.
After doing my research and finding period nirvana on YouTube, I found my Goldilocks! Yay! Works well for my high cervix. It only leaks if it’s time to change. Love it! My go to Menstrual cup if I don’t use a disc. Easy insert, easy output, and no mess at all! Thank you!
I’ve always had a heavy period, and it only got worse once I was put on blood thinners. I tried the cheap cup from Amazon to dip my toes in the waters of period cups, and after it started to discolor, I decided it was time to switch. The Merula XL cup is glorious. It’s a thicker material than my other one which took a little getting used to, especially when I remove it, but it is AWESOME. Also the fox bag is adorable.
Well..I am super old (57) to be getting my period and have been hesitating for too long from buying another menstrual cup..but the cup I have been using is not doing the job with the my flow change (pre menopausal crime scene flow-I guess). I am also an avid tennis player and hiker. It came down to running off the tennis court to the bathroom during a match for me to look at getting a new cup. WELL literally the Merula XL is a game changer. I had a very important match, of course got my period, and used the Merula XL cup for the first time. I did do a trial fit and walked around to see if it was comfortable, I was surprised it was. Game day absolutely no leaking and no discomfort. I am 5' 6" 125 and wear small and size 6. Looking at this cup I thought it was way too big. It wasn't. I wish I had gotten this sooner. I want to thank Kim Rosas and Period Shop for being here for women and women's health. If I ever get to talk periods with anyone I praise you and your work. Thank you.
After some issues with my previous cup, and amidst the frustrations of a heavy period requiring me to empty it every hour or so for two days, I wanted to try something new. This cup felt like the opposite of my previous one (saalt soft), which I had chosen due to being sensitive to the feel of having a cup in. It came out almost every bowel movement, and its capacity just wasn't cutting it. This new cup totally changed my period experience! I'm glad I risked trying something completely different.
Happiness is German engineering, Italian cooking, and Belgian chocolate…I have tried many different cups before this one and this is the first cup that has not leaked once. Even overnight. Not once.
I can get almost any cup to work well for me during the day but at night it’s another story. My pelvic muscles relax but my cramps intensify. My cervix moves from average height to way out of reach. And my flow is ridiculous-growing up my mom used to make me sleep on towels when I was on my period-I’m not kidding. To add to all of this, my cervix, I have discovered, is not perfectly centered, but sits to the left, and this probably explains a lot of my nocturnal menstrual cup woes. I mean, I’ve tried the Saalt Regular, the Super Jennie Size 2, the Tampax Heavy Flow, and even the Venus cup Large, and I’ve woken up to a big, bloody mess in the middle of the night with every single one of them.
Not with the Merula XL.
I love this cup so much I’ve ordered another one in case something happens to this one.
And look how cute the pouch is! Perfectly performing cup, adorable pouch. I’m sold.
Merula xl midnight is my 2nd cup. I started with the diva cup 2 (for 5 years-which was great) but I switched over for 2 reasons:
I love the extra capacity! And I’m a fan of the black color so I don’t have to deal with soaking in hydrogen peroxide to take care of stains!
So far this is a bit of a learning curve switching from diva to merula... instead of the c fold I’ve found the punch down fold works better. And the fact that there are no air holes means the cup doesn’t pop open as readily. But I think once I get use to the minor adjustments it’s going to be perfect for me. I love the capacity and the sleek black color! Absolutely no leaks and very comfortable. Really glad I decided to switch.
The diva cup is still a great option... and I would definitely recommend more for beginners. Just was not a fan of the staining due to clear color!
I really love the Merula XL! It's the only cup that I can wear for 12 hours straight and not have a single leak. Previously I tried both the small and regular Saalt and the Merula OS. While I love both of my Saalt cups, I can only go 7 hours on my heavy day with the regular. I find that my cervix dips into all of my cups, thus compromising the capacity. The XL has a wide diameter so my cervix can comfortably dip inside, and the cup length (without the stem) is shorter than the Saalt regular. I am active with an average height cervix, and the XL never budges when I exercise. I found that the XL opens and seals better than the OS. If you need more capacity and have a medium to high cervix, I would try the Merula XL!
I needed to replace my Femmecycle cup, which is no longer being made, but most cups out there don’t lean toward the bulby shape that the Femmecycle has. But the Merula does! I debated between the Merula OS and the XL, eventually settling on the XL because I really wanted that capacity! But whooowheeee is she large. Lol! Still usable, and as someone who is not bothered by firmness, the Merula XL will be my go-to for those super heavy days.
Downsides - the size and firmness means that I need to change the way I fold it for insertion. Also, I have to make sure it is placed just right, because if it sits too low, it will definitely cause discomfort. Now I didn’t really have an issue with this, but I could tell I will have to be a little more mindful of that compared to a regular sized cup. I do kind of wish I had gone with the OS instead for that reason.
Upsides: huge capacity! Looooops! Too many cups don’t use loops, and I hate it. Sometimes my cups like to travel upward, and being someone with a belly, the freakin tail style cup is useless when you gotta go searchin! Loops all the way! It is one of the reasons I loved my Femmecycle soooo much. I am pleased to have another cup in my repertoire that has loops. Maybe I’ll get the OS eventually too.
I have a extremely heavy flow to the point I'm anemic. Ultra tampons do nothing for day 1 of my flow, I change every hour and my other cup I was changing just as frequently. This 50ml cup I go through 2 hrs at least on my period day 1 so I say that's an improvement. On day 2 this will last me 8 hours, and so and and so on. I'll say you have to be able to relax your pelvic muscles and pull it out quickly otherwise it's uncomfortable since it's pretty big but I learned quick.
I enjoyed this cup! Firmer and larger than my old one but that’s the reason I got it. Insertion was a little painful the first day but it progressed wonderfully. With this one it sealed better and held twice as much so we finally got a leak free period!
I originally didn't like this particular cup because I found it somewhat difficult to insert. But I have to say after a full day of wear this disc didn't leak at all and I didn't feel it at all!
Heavy flow girlie here! On my second day (heaviest), I had to empty every 3ish hours, which is a win in my books. On my 3rd day (semi-heavy), I emptied every 6 or so hours. After that, I emptied every 12 hours. Needless to say, A WIN! This isn’t my first cup, so I’m very familiar.
It wasn’t painful inserting or taking out or wearing. 10/10 recommend.
I have been using this cup since 2018 and it is my go to for heavy days! It takes some getting used to but collapsing the star side for insertion and twisting it around allows for the ¨pop¨ so you know it has completely opened. No pop could mean not opened and leaks will happen. It holds a lot and when I let it fill, it is a slow leak not a gush like a disc could have.
It works better for someone who has given birth and/or only on heavy days because of potential discomfort on lighter days. On lighter days I use a more flexible, softer cup or just a liner.
I’ve tried a few cups here and there and this cup was the best. It will hold you down in the heaviest days and does not leak at all. Definitely my favorite cup. I’m going to try the one size next!!
Super odd to get in and out cud of its shape but finally cound a cup that works for my postpartum body! I was leaking so much on my heavy days with my other cups. Not this one thank goodness. I was able to go longer periods without dumping which is more ideal when I am working.
good size for heavy flow and fairly easy to use. although i wish this cup had the 2-4 holes for opening the cup/breaking suction for insert and removal. it can be difficult to use sometimes.
I’m a long time cup user who’s had pelvic floor issues since having a baby three years ago. My old cups just weren’t doing the trick anymore... They were literally falling out no matter how far I pushed them up or ensured they were suctioned, especially when I was active. So I started my hunt for a wider cup - enter the Merula XL. Once I got it in the correct spot and suctioned, I felt like I could take on the world (also helped with urinary leakage from my pelvic floor issues, which is a big plus). I consider myself a cup expert after using them for 10 years, and even I had to make multiple trips back to the bathroom the first time I used it to fix it before it was in there correctly. I didn’t take a star off for that though because once it was in, it was in - didn’t fall out while I was playing volleyball and I didn’t leak (urine or blood). Big win for me and I will continue to use it.
This cup holds much more than my previous and the shape/lack of holes at the top are very interesting. I got the hang of it pretty quickly, but I've used other cups for roughly 11 years. I can go out on my heaviest days with more peace of mind than ever because this cup is so good. Usually I have to empty every 1-2hrs but I can go 2-4+in this. It doesn't feel like it will leak in the morning after wearing all night, either. I'm no longer paranoid I'll have an accident.
This cup is awful. I’ve tried it several times during two cycles and I only got it to actually hold in place once. Other times it felt like it was placed correctly, but leaked, another time it was painful, and the majority of the times I couldn’t get it to pop open. I’ve used several different cups for over 5 years now and have never had this much trouble with one.
I love this cup!!! The capacity is amazing, it opens so easily because it is firmer than most cups and the ladder makes removing it so easy! I used to use the Flex Cup size 2 because I have a fairly heavy flow and a high cervix. I wanted a cup that was longer for ease of removal due to my anatomy, had an even higher capacity, and would maintain its shape as I removed it to make emptying and reinserting a cleaner process. I loved the Flex cup but the pull tab would pull the lip of the cup down far enough before I could reach it that it would begin emptying to early and removal and clean up was sort of messy. The Merula XL is firmer and that helps the cup keep its shape better and reduces spilling its contents until it is removed and dumped. I love this new cup even more than my Flex Cup and couldn’t recommend it more!
I've been using the Merula XL for two years, and I couldn't be happier with my decision. My journey with menstrual cups started with the Diva Cup, but I quickly discovered it wasn't the right fit for my high cervix. After learning more from Period.Shop on TikTok, I decided to try the Merula XL because of its extra toughness, which promised better leak protection.
This cup has been a game-changer! I no longer experience leaks and can go all day without worrying about changing it—even on my wedding day, it was flawless. The only downside is that, because it's a firm cup, it can cause some urination issues. It presses against the bladder, which might slow down or restrict urine flow. So, if you're prone to UTIs, this might not be the best option for you.
Overall, though, the Merula XL has been perfect for my needs.
I have been using a cup for years, but I always wanted one that could hold more for my heaviest day. I don’t know what the problem is but this cup leaked terribly!
Store owner replied:
Hi casey, I'm sorry that this cup hasn't worked for you. One difference in the Merula XL compared to other cups is that it lacks suction holes. This can sometimes make the cup harder to full open and seal. If you aren't doing so already try running a finger around the cup to determine if the rim is fully open. Pumping the bottom of the cup or pressing against the vaginal wall can help the rim open to seal.
The site was informative and super easy to navigate. I found answers to questions I had!
The merulaXL cup isn't for everybody due to how firm it is but for someone with a strong pelvic floor (I'm 18) and a outrageously heavy flow it works beautifully! It took some time to get it to open up fully (the rim) and the false leaks did have me stressed the hell out but once I got it to work it was a 2 minute max insertion process at MAX. The most struggle I have still (not crazy) is not getting enough air IN the cup for it to create a seal so the rim isn't fully open and the fact (for me) I need to open it when it's half way in to get enough air in so pushing it the rest of the way is a little painful but it keeps me completely leak free. Out of every cup I used since 13 this one has been the one for me! 👏🏼 it's just a fairly firm cup so the pressure can bother some people but personally it let's me know that it's fully open and it's not too much
This cup was a life saver for me in times of reeally heavy flow due to the use of a contraceptive coil and a big endometriosis cyst. For some time I had to empty the cup every 2-3 hours, so any other (smaller cup) would have only lasted 1 hour or so. I am very grateful for this product.
On the downside, the cup is really big and it might add pressure to your bladder.
I love this cup so much, I wish I had found it years ago. My period is very heavy for 2 days, and I can go almost a whole day without emptying it. It will leak overnight on my heaviest day, but not very much compared to other cups I have tried. On my lighter days its like not even having a period at all! :) I use period underwear for backup. I find it very comfortable as well. I have tried the Sckoon cup, the Diva cup, the Diva disc, and the keeper back in the day and this is by far the best for me.
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