• The story of Leia Menstrual Cups began in 2020, when Lena Dolgan, a practicing OB/GYN, was preparing for maternity leave. Lena had long been aware of the lack of good menstrual care solutions for people with weakened pelvic floor muscles. Convinced that with help she could do better, Lena spoke to her brother Konstantin Dolgan about designing a new and more useful menstrual cup solution.

  • menstrual cup low cervix

  • Konstantinan is an entrepreneur, certified product design specialist, and CEO of the product development company LA New Product Development Team (LA NPDT). And like Lena, he believed that a better product could be made. Determined to develop a better solution, brother and sister set their minds to work to solve the challenges of Lena’s patients and stretch their creative muscles.



  • SO, HE PUT HIS BEST MIND

    TO WORK. HIS GOALS WERE THREE-FOLD:


    • To keep his sister busy 
    • To solve the challenge for her patients
    • To satisfy his own curiosity and stretch his creative muscles

  • Under Lena and Konstantin’s direction, LA NPDT conducted extensive market research utilizing the product discovery process. This research revealed that, in addition to the challenges Lena outlined, there were many other issues which a redesign of the menstrual cup needed to solve.

    Most menstrual cups are very difficult to remove, are prone to leaking, are too large, and have a rubber-like texture. They lack sensitivity for the individual circumstances of the people who use them. The designers of LA NPDT were tasked not only to solve the practical engineering challenges, but to think empathetically about the product’s users.
    The result of their hard work is the ultimate menstrual care solution: the Leia Menstrual Cup.

  • THE LEIA MENSTRUAL CUP HAS GONE THROUGH A RIGOROUS ENGINEERING PROCESS. OUR TEAM WAS DETERMINED TO ENSURE IT IS THE VERY BEST MENSTRUAL CARE PRODUCT ON THE MARKET. TO THAT END, WE SPENT TWO YEARS EXTENSIVELY TESTING AND REFINING EVERY ASPECT OF OUR DESIGN.

  • First and foremost, we wanted to be sure the cup was comfortable. So we used a variety of different materials in our prototype testing to determine which would provide a gentle and comfortable experience. Our comprehensive examination of designs ultimately yielded a compact and velvet-like cup made of silicone rubber, and treated with a special coating for an even softer feel.

  • The resulting cup is soft enough to be comfortable while providing enough elasticity to both fit the body and hold its shape. The firmness of the material allows for the slanted rim design, an essential element integral to the success of the cup. This slanted rim, which can fold during insertion and removal without spillage, naturally fits the vaginal shape with ease and comfort. Unlike most other menstrual cup products, it is specifically designed to accommodate all cervical positions, from low to high.
  • menstrual cup low cervix

    Another critical consideration was ensuring the cup would be easy to remove when full. We designed the grip rings to be thicker than usual and extend further than other cups on the market. This encourages an easier removal process and also aids adjustment for positioning.

  • menstrual cup low cervix

    We also wanted to ensure the cup would be just as easy to insert. So we designed the slanted rim and larger-than-usual
    seal ring to sit comfortably within the body and be held in place naturally.

    Finally, we wanted to ensure the cup would not leak. The firmness of the silicone rubber prevents the cup’s body from collapsing on itself during the removal process, while the flexible rim folds shut to prevent leakage when the cup is removed from the body.

  • menstrual cup low cervix

    To make identifying the sizing of each Leia Menstrual Cup easy, we have included the size indicator directly inside each cup so that the proper cup can be selected at a glance.

  • Sustainability was also an important consideration. Most menstrual care products are single-use and generate significant landfill waste. But due to its quality materials and design, each Leia Menstrual Cup is guaranteed to last for 15 years.

After two years, fifty prototypes, and over one hundred case studies with users, Lena and Konstantin were ready to make their product reality. In 2022, the Leia brand was launched and is now available to you!

It is our hope that people around the world will use and benefit from the Leia Menstrual Cup. It is a product born of Konstantin’s rigorous design and engineering process, and Lena’s care for her patients. Above all, it is a product we feel privileged to bring to market.





  • SO, THAT'S THE LEIA MENSTRUAL CUP:

    A PRODUCT OF RIGOROUS ENGINEERING AND SUSTAINABILITY.