Today, Australian health information treats the period cup as an everyday option. Healthdirect notes that menstrual cups can be washed and reused, and Jean Hailes describes cups made from rubber or silicone that are reusable and more environmentally friendly than other products. It is easy to assume they are a recent invention.
They are not. This short history of menstrual cups runs back more than 150 years, through 19th-century US patents, wartime rubber shortages and a failed disposable cup, before landing on the medical-grade silicone menstrual cup used now.
Quick answer: Period cups date back further than most people think. A menstrual receiver was patented in the US in 1867, and the first latex rubber menstrual cup was patented by Leona W. Chalmers, granted in 1937. Medical-grade silicone cups arrived in 2002, and Lunette was founded in Finland in 2005.
How long have period cups been around?
Inventors were working on the idea by the 1860s. In 1867, S. L. Hockert of Chicago was granted US Letters Patent No. 70,843 for "Improvement in Menstrual Receivers". It combined a ring made of rubber, gum, gold or silver with a rubber sack holding a sponge, supported by a wire arm, a pad and a waist belt. It was closer to an internal pouch than a cup.
Who invented the first menstrual cup?
Leona W. Chalmers filed for a "catamenial appliance" in July 1935 and was granted US Patent 2,089,113 in August 1937. The patent describes a device made "preferably of pliable vulcanized rubber" that folds for insertion and opens inside the body. The V&A museum in London calls it the first menstrual cup made from latex rubber.
Why did it take so long for cups to catch on?
Several setbacks slowed things down:
- The Second World War. According to the V&A, Chalmers's cup was discontinued because of war-related rubber shortages, with production resuming once the war was over.
- Brief comebacks. The Science Museum Group says cups reappeared only briefly in the 1960s and early 1970s.
- A business problem. In 1970, the maker of one reusable cup launched a disposable version. Its president felt that buyers didn't want to wash and reuse a cup, and that happy users never needed a second one. The disposable cup was discontinued in 1973, the Science Museum Group records.
When did menstrual cups become popular?
Momentum built from the late 1980s. A soft latex cup made in Cincinnati from 1987 became the first menstrual cup to achieve moderate commercial success, according to the Science Museum Group. The V&A records the first medical-grade silicone menstrual cup in 2002, and Lunette was founded in Finland three years later, in 2005.
The Science Museum Group dates a broader resurgence in reusable period products to the mid-2010s. By 2019, a systematic review in The Lancet Public Health counted 199 cup brands in 99 countries, while noting the cup is still not commonly known despite its long history.
Frequently asked questions
When was the period cup invented?
The first latex rubber menstrual cup was patented by Leona W. Chalmers in the United States, with the patent granted in August 1937. Earlier devices for collecting menstrual blood go back to an 1867 US patent, but those relied on sponges, belts and wire supports rather than a soft folding cup.
What were early menstrual cups made from?
Early designs used rubber. The 1867 patent lists rubber, gum, gold or silver for its ring, and Chalmers's 1937 patent describes pliable vulcanised rubber. Medical-grade silicone cups appeared in 2002, and Jean Hailes notes that cups today are made from rubber or silicone.
Why are most modern cups made of silicone?
Silicone gives people a latex-free option and can be boiled for cleaning. The Lunette period cup is made of 100% medical-grade silicone and is free from BPA, PFAS, rubber and latex. Wash it each time you empty it. Boil 5 minutes before first use and after each completed cycle.
Is a period cup different from a menstrual cup?
No, they are two names for the same product. Lunette's own size guide explains that "menstrual cup" and "period cup" both describe a soft, reusable cup that collects blood rather than absorbing it. Lunette sells it as the Lunette period cup in Australia.
See what sets today's cups apart in 7 key features that make the Lunette cup unique.
From 1860s patents to Finnish-made silicone: the Lunette period cup lasts up to 10 years with proper care. Check our size guide to choose between Size 1 and Size 2.
General historical information only. This article is not medical advice.
