For anyone who trains regularly—whether it’s lifting, running, CrossFit, or yoga—your body becomes your most valuable tool. You pay attention to fuel, rest, mobility. You invest in gear that works, that doesn’t distract or disrupt your focus. But when it comes to period care, the options haven’t always caught up to the demands of an athletic lifestyle.
Tampons can shift. Pads are uncomfortable. Period underwear doesn’t always hold up to high-impact movement. So if you’ve ever found yourself modifying your workout because of your period or just feeling less confident in your gear, you’re not alone.
The good news? Menstrual cups have evolved—and some, like the MeLuna Sport, are now designed specifically with athletic bodies in mind.
Let’s break down how menstrual cups are changing the game for active people and why the right one could be one of the most functional additions to your routine.
Why Menstrual Cups Work Well for Athletes
The first thing most people notice when switching to a menstrual cup is the freedom. You insert it, and for the next 8 to 12 hours, you can almost forget your period exists. No leaks, no frequent changes, and no backups required.
For someone with an active schedule or long training sessions, this kind of uninterrupted support matters.
Menstrual cups collect fluid rather than absorb it. That means they don’t disrupt your natural balance and they aren’t affected by movement in the same way tampons can be. Once inserted correctly, a well-fitting cup stays in place—even during core-intensive workouts, long-distance runs, or extended yoga flows.
They’re discreet, reusable, and once you get used to the insertion and removal, they become one of the lowest-maintenance options available.
Still, not every cup is equally suited for athletic bodies.
The Challenge: Athletic Bodies Need a Different Kind of Support
There’s a reason some menstrual cups don’t work well for people who train regularly.
Stronger pelvic floor muscles can compress softer cups. What works fine for a casual user might not hold up under the pressure of powerlifting or deep breathing during Pilates. A cup that gets squashed loses its seal. And when the seal breaks, leaks happen.
Even small leaks are a major issue when you’re in leggings or shorts. And nobody wants to spend their workout feeling distracted by that low-level worry.
So yes, cups are a great option—but they need to be designed with this in mind.
The MeLuna Sport: Made for Movement
The MeLuna Sport is one of the few menstrual cups developed specifically for people with strong pelvic floors. It’s made from a firmer version of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), a flexible medical-grade material that adapts to your body but resists collapsing under pressure.
What makes it different?
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Firmer walls: The Sport model is about 25 percent firmer than the standard MeLuna Classic. This helps the cup maintain its shape during intense movement, including exercises that heavily engage the core.
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Reliable seal: Because it stays open, the cup keeps a consistent seal against the vaginal walls, preventing leaks during running, cycling, lifting, or inversion-based yoga poses.
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TPE material: TPE warms to your body and feels soft once in place, but is less prone to biofilm buildup than some other materials. It’s also a good option for people who are sensitive to silicone or latex.
The firmer design does mean insertion and removal might feel slightly different than with a softer cup. But for athletes, that tradeoff often results in much better performance.
If you’ve tried a cup before and experienced leaking during squats or anything with bracing and pressure, there’s a good chance it just wasn’t firm enough.
Why TPE Matters
Most menstrual cups on the market are made from medical-grade silicone, which is safe and widely used. But TPE offers some unique advantages.
It tends to feel softer against the body and adapts to body temperature more quickly. It’s also less sticky in texture, which can make insertion easier for some people. And importantly, TPE is less likely to hold onto bacteria or develop odors over time.
For users prone to irritation or recurrent infections, material can make a noticeable difference. And for anyone spending hours in training gear, having a clean-feeling, odor-resistant product just makes things more comfortable.
Other Benefits of Using a Cup When You’re Active
Beyond firmness and materials, the general advantages of using a menstrual cup become even more obvious when you’re physically active:
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Longer wear time: You don’t have to worry about changing it mid-workout or during a long event.
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No shifting: Once positioned, it doesn’t move or bunch like pads, and there’s no string to tuck or tape.
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Discreet: No lines, no bulges, no extras in your gym bag.
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Cost-effective: One cup lasts for years, which frees up money for the gear that really matters.
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Sustainable: You’re not adding to the pile of disposables every month.
If you’ve ever scheduled workouts around your cycle, packed extra supplies for long runs, or felt limited by what you could wear, a cup can take those worries out of the equation.
What About the Downsides?
There’s a learning curve. Let’s be honest about that. It takes time to learn how to insert the cup correctly and figure out the best fold or technique for your anatomy. You may need to try it for a couple of cycles before it feels intuitive.
The firmer material in the MeLuna Sport can also make removal slightly more noticeable. If you’re new to menstrual cups, this model might feel like a bold first choice—but for someone with a strong core and active pelvic floor, it may actually be the right starting point.
One thing that helps? Knowing your cervix height and general pelvic anatomy. Not everyone has the same vaginal canal length or tilt, and choosing a cup without considering this can lead to poor fit, leaks, or discomfort.
Not Sure Where to Start? Take the Quiz
The best way to avoid guessing is to take a menstrual cup quiz. A good quiz will ask about your flow, cervix height, fitness level, and whether you’ve given birth. Based on your answers, it recommends a size and firmness level—often pointing toward models like the MeLuna Sport for those with strong pelvic floors or active routines.
For anyone serious about their training, comfort and reliability shouldn’t take a backseat just because it’s your period week. Finding the right cup is one of those things that seems small but ends up making a big difference in how freely and confidently you can move.
A menstrual cup isn’t magic. It doesn’t stop cramps or make workouts effortless. But when it fits right and holds up to your routine, it’s one less thing you have to worry about.
And that kind of reliability—especially during training—is worth its weight in gold.