Oi | Organic Initiative - Menstrual Cup | Small - Slim-fit, Wear for 12 hrs | Reusable, Leak Free (17 ml) - Tampon and Pad Alternative

I have a silicone cup and a TPE cup (this one) so I think I can provide a rundown of a few key differences I've found between them. That said, every cup is a little different, so it's not like all silicone cups are going to be like mine.The Oi Girl is a softer material, and after an hour it seems to fit me very comfortably. It is slightly more difficult to put in, simply because the surface is more matte and less slippery than silicone. The stem is also on the chunky side, which doesn't bother me. However, I'm happy to deal with all those aspects of the cup.I wouldn't say there are too many noticeable differences between TPE and silicone other than that, but there is some research on the subject of safety. One study finds TPE is less likely to breed staph bacteria (which contribute to Toxic Shock Syndrome) than silicone is, which makes TPE a safer material. I do a lot of camping with no boiling/soap cleaning opportunities, so I feel better about TPE's ability to stay safe with just a rinse and a cleaning cloth wipedown. Conversely, it seems to be well-accepted fact that silicone is more durable, lasts longer, is less porous, and is less susceptible to staining. Finally, while TPE is completely medical grade and DEFINITELY produced cleanly, not all silicone cups adhere to the same standards. Some silicone is responsibly produced, but some comes from questionable sources. My cheap silicone cup probably isn't as responsibly sourced as it should be.I'll report back with how the Oi Girl stains and keeps its shape once I use it for a longer period of time. I do like that it's a very opaque material, since my silicone cup is partially translucent and visibly darker on the inside after a year of use.