Abstract: A menses collecting apparatus includes a basin and a closure. The basin may transition between a collapsed or folded state prior to insertion by a user and an expanded or unfolded state after insertion by the user. The menses collecting apparatus may be collapsible/closed radially prior to insertion by the user, and may collect menses in the expanded state after insertion by the user. The closure may also transition between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The closure may be collapsible/folded when transitioning between the open configuration and the closed configuration. When the basin is in the expanded state, the closure may also be in an open configuration or the closed configuration. The menses collecting apparatus may employ a tension-based mechanism to transition between the different basin states and closure configurations. The menses collecting apparatus may be configurable to fit within an applicator to assist in the insertion of the menses collecting apparatus.