Period products should not only be reliable, they should also be as free of harmful substances as possible. Stiftung Warentest has now tested tampons and menstrual cups – with positive results. Öko-Test has also tested tampons and menstrual cups several times. Here is an overview.
According to various surveys, around three quarters of menstruating people in Germany use tampons during their period. But for some years now, the menstrual cup has been gaining popularity as an alternative to conventional period products. “It can be used over many cycles and thus fits in with the zeitgeist of avoiding disposable products,” writes Stiftung Warentest. She tested menstrual cups in April 2021.
Menstrual cup test at Stiftung Warentest
19 tampon brands and ten menstrual cups were tested by Stiftung Warentest – both in practical use and in the laboratory. Almost all products performed well in use: the cups are just as reliable as tampons. The test subjects felt safe with all cups and with almost all tampons.
The the vast majority of tampons were in the test free from pollutants. An exception is, of all things, an organic tampon: the laboratory found nonylphenol ethoxylates in Naty’s tampons. These are surfactants that intervene in the hormonal system and can be harmful to aquatic organisms. Actually, they shouldn’t be found in organic cotton. When asked, Naty tells us that the tested tampons are no longer sold in Germany. The company is currently investigating how the substances could be found in the batch tested.
The test winner tampons are from whether ProComfort, but also the own brands of drugstore and supermarket chains as well as other organic tampons, such as Cosmea or Einhorn, all performed well.
The Menstrual cups in the test cut all but one with the grade “Well” from. The test winner is the “Papperla Cup” from Einhorn. Stiftung Warentest rated the Period Cup from Fair Squared and the menstrual cup from Facelle (Rossmann) almost as good.
Nine of the ten menstrual cups pass the test made of medical silicone, only the one from Fair Squared is made of rubber – from fair cultivation. Pollutants found the laboratory in any of the products.
The test subjects were also satisfied with the use and handling of almost all menstrual cups tested. They only found the Merula Menstrual Cup to be “satisfactory” in terms of comfort, insertion and removal.
The result of the test shows: If you choose menstrual cups, you have no disadvantages compared to tampons. On the contrary: Many Utopia users prefer the cups. And from an environmental point of view, they have a clear advantage: there is virtually no waste.
Stiftung Warentest only points out that menstruating people who use an IUD should better avoid menstrual cups to be on the safe side. Gynecologists warn that the IUD can be accidentally pulled out when removing the cups.
Öko-Test: menstrual cups in the test 2020
Öko-Test has already tested menstrual cups twice: 2017 and 2020. Öko-Test has also tested tampons several times.
In March 2020, Öko-Test examined 15 menstrual cups for harmful substances and subjected them to a stress test: Does the handle of the cup hold? Are there any pollutants in the cups? During the evaluation, Öko-Test attached particular importance to the fact that there are no critical substances in the menstrual cups. More than half of the products tested scored “very good”.
Almost all menstrual cups passed the test here too made of medical silicone. Only two of the cups tested were made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). In principle, silicone is considered to be well tolerated and food-safe, but TPE products also impressed in the test.
To the “very good” Products at Öko-Test 2020 included:
- Papperla Cup Menstrual Cup (yellow) from Einhorn, online ** among others at Amazon
- Me Luna menstrual cup Classic (red)
- Organi Cup The menstrual cup (size B), online ** at Avocadostore and others Ecco Verde
The Me Luna cup is made of thermoplastic elastomer, the other two menstrual cups are made of silicone. Öko-Test did not find any pollutants in any of the three products.
Öko-Test tampons and menstrual cups – All test results 2020 as PDF**
In four of the menstrual cups tested, silicone components can loosen, writes Öko-Test. This also affected two products in the previous test in 2017. According to Öko-Test, these compounds can be environmentally hazardous, which is why the affected products only “satisfying” have cut off.
Öko-Test found the silicone component D4 from the “Ruby Cup” to be particularly questionable. This is “suspected of endangering reproduction and classified as environmentally hazardous,” writes Öko-Test. Therefore, the Ruby Cup did the worst.
You can find all the details in the 04/2020 issue of Öko-Test and online at www.ökotest.de.
Leaderboard: Organic tampons, washable sanitary towels, menstrual cups & sponges
-
1st placeLunette menstrual cup
4.8
58
Detail Avocadostore **
place 2Kulmine sanitary towels & panty liners
4.8
17th
detailKulmine **
place 3Me Luna menstrual cup
4.8
13th
detail
4th placeOrganyc tampons, pads & panty liners
4.6
14th
Detail Avocadostore **
5th placeNatracare tampons, pads & panty liners
4.3
34
Detail Avocadostore **
Rank 6Almo panty liners & sanitary towels
5.0
5
detailAlmo **
7th placeMasmi tampons, panty liners & menstrual cups
5.0
2
detailBioNaturel **
8th placeMylily organic tampons
5.0
2
detailMylily.eu **
9th placeRuby Cup menstrual cup
5.0
2
Detail Avocado Store **
Place 10Bloodmilla panty liners & sanitary towels
5.0
1
detail
11th placeMooncup menstrual cup
5.0
1
detailKulmine **
12th placeSelenacup menstrual cup
5.0
1
detailStrawberry Week **
Toxic shock syndrome: There are no warning labels on menstrual cups
The use of menstrual cups (just like tampons) can lead to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). This is a very rare but life-threatening organ and circulatory failure.
Doctors say it is believed to be related to the use of tampons and menstrual cups. For this reason, the manufacturers should point this out on the instruction leaflet. While corresponding warnings are now common for tampon packaging, detailed information is missing for several menstrual cups, criticized Öko-Test in the menstrual cup tests in 2017 and 2020.
From an environmental point of view, menstrual cups are a better choice. (Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / PatriciaMoraleda) Stiftung Warentest does not explicitly criticize this in the menstrual cup test 2021, but also points out that it is important to change or empty the period products according to the manufacturer’s instructions (menstrual cups at least every 12 hours, tampons at least every 8 hours).
Conclusion: menstrual cups score with zero waste
It is up to each menstruating person to decide whether they prefer tampons or a menstrual cup during their period – from a gynecological point of view, in most cases there is nothing wrong with either option.
From an environmental point of view, menstrual cups are more recommended than tampons and Tie. In contrast to other period products, these are not disposable products. With good care, they can be used for several years without any problems and produce almost no waste. How exactly the ecological balance turns out in comparison to tampons and sanitary towels, however, is difficult to say.
Text: Annika Flatley & Sven Christian Schulz
Read more on Techzle.com:
- Menstrual Cramps: These Home Remedies Help
- Period underwear: how recommendable are period panties?
- Menstrual sponge: how to use and clean it
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