The most confusing but important part of picking the right menstrual cup comes down to measuring your cervix height. Having a low cervix or a high cervix presents different needs. If you have a low cervix, you will need a low-cervix cup that has a shorter body. If you have a high cervix, you will want a longer cup that is easier to reach.
What and Where Is the Cervix?
The cervix is the base of your uterus, and it has a tiny opening. During menstruation, this opening is where your period blood exits. It’s important to know that your cervix changes position throughout your monthly cycle. Since it moves, you may notice that sometimes you can feel it easily, and sometimes, you can’t reach it at all.
The cervix plays a crucial role in your reproductive health. Learning about your cervix height can be important when using certain period products, like menstrual cups.
How to Measure Your Cervix Height
First, wash your hands. Next, you’re going to try to feel for your cervix. Most people find that it feels quite firm. To give you an idea of what the cervix feels like, take a minute to touch the tip of your nose. If you feel something softer, it’s probably the wall of your vagina, which feels similar to the inside of your cheek.
Now that you know what you’re looking for, insert one finger into your vaginal opening and gently feel around for the cervix.
Once you’ve located your cervix, use your thumb to mark how much of your other finger fit inside. Ideally, you want to mark just slightly into your vaginal opening.
Remove your finger, with your thumb still marking the same spot.
Use a ruler or measuring tape to measure how much of your finger fit inside. Millimeters are the ideal unit for accuracy; most menstrual cup brands and Period Nirvana’s resources only list in metric sizes.
Can’t Find Your Cervix?
If you can’t find your cervix, it could mean it’s very high and unreachable. In this case, measure the length of the finger you used and assume that the cervix is higher than that number. It’s best not to assume your cervix is high until you’ve measured the length of your finger.
When to Measure Your Cervix Height
For the purposes of finding your best menstrual cup fit, it’s best to measure your cervix while on your period. If you like to be extra precise, you can measure on the first and final days of your period.
When looking for menstrual cups, use the lowest number; this way, you will be sure it fits every day of you period. The cervix is usually the lowest at the beginning of your cycle, but this isn’t always the case.
Translating Your Cervix Height: Low, Average, or High?
Unlike the “knuckle” method for finding your cervix height, using defined measurements in millimeters is a little more work, but far more accurate.
A Low Cervix
44 mm or lower is considered a low cervix.
An Average Cervix
45-55 mm is considered an average cervix.
A High Cervix
Over 55 mm is considered a high cervix.
Finding Your Menstrual Cup Match For Your Cervix Height
Armed with your cervix height measurement and your “low,” “average,” or “high” status, now you can find your best menstrual cup match. When wearing a menstrual cup, you’ll want the entire cup and even the stem to fit inside. Unlike tampons, the stem of your menstrual cup is not designed to hang outside of the vaginal opening.
Period Nirvana has resources that can be as granular as you need, or broad for beginners.
For total beginners who are overwhelmed, the best place to begin is by taking the Period Nirvana Quiz. This quiz will your cervix height and some other questions to narrow down your choices to a few that are most likely to work for your body.
If you want more options for your future menstrual cup, the Cup and Disc Finder menstrual cup database is perfect for you. This database has all of the data for each menstrual cup and allows you to search based on the features and measurements you need.
For example, if your cervix is very low, and a cup with a body longer than 38 mm would not fit, you can filter for this. It can be overwhelming and frustrating to have specific needs when looking for the perfect menstrual cup, but the Cup Finder makes your research easier.
Many options are available via our retail store, Period.Shop, but if you don’t find what you need, there are links to other places to purchase cups that aren’t available in the US.
I just tried to find mine. Being the total noob to my own body that I am, ofc I am now confused. No idea what I hit, could’ve been my cervix. Could’ve been anything. I highly doubt that it was my cervix…there’s no way it can be so low that my fingertip could reach it right? 🤨
Totally possible you touched your cervix. It should feel like the tip of your nose. It can change height during your period as well.