Lena Cup Reusable Menstrual Cup | Turquoise, Large | Experienced and Advanced Cup Users | Tampon, Pad, and Period Disc Alternative | Feminine Care Hygiene Products

I had always been squeamish about the idea of menstrual cups but anxiety about an overnight work event coupled with a super heavy flow led me to finally giving them a shot at 34 years old. I had been a pad user up until this point and as tampons don't work for me due to a low cervix, I had wrong assumed that cups would be the same. I chose the larger size and it was an absolute game changer. There was definitely a learning curve, it took me several goes of inserting and removing to get there but I did. After I inserted it for the first time, I had some trouble and did the classic panic that I wouldn't be able to get it out. The seal was strong and it took a few goes before I was fully comfortable reaching in to break it. As someone who has never given birth, I also found the final moments of removal a little painful but bearable. For me, the cup sat with the base just at the entrance to my vagina so with a gentle push from my pelvic floor, it brought it down enough for me to grip and I found I didnt need to use the stem at all. I worried about the cup spilling on removal but again, this was not an issue. Generally, the cup was comfortable. I did have painful cramps this cycle but it would be hard to size of the cup influenced this at all. I could feel the stem as the cup sat low for me so I would be tempted to trim the stem. Capacity wise, I have a heavy flow so I worried that the cup would overflow or leak but this didn't happen. I changed the cup 4 times a day at my heaviest, on waking, at lunch, when I got home from work and before bed and it would be about half full. Overall, I would say that I wished I'd have made the change from pads to a cup earlier. It was infinitely more comfortable than using pads and was wonderful not to have to worry about flooding as I usually do due to my heavy flow. I did find that I had to wear some extra protection as there would be a little residual blood after each changing but I am now planning on buying some reusable pads to deal with this. The added bonus of knowing you're not contributing to environmental damage is also wonderful. Happy first time user, very happy I gave it a go!

I had heard about the Diva Cup and was interested in the idea behind the reusable items, the cost effectiveness, and the eco-friendly aspect of the cup. I am a sufferer of not only very heavy periods, but also IBS and Interstitial Cystitis. When I read reviews abotu the Diva Cup, most said they had some issues with the cup pressing against their bladder. Since I had IC, this terrified me for fear of inducing an IC flare, which emulates the symptoms of a nasty UTI. I read that the Lena Cup was shorter and meant for people with low cervix placement, so I chose to buy this one in hopes it would not press against my bladder.Day 1 - So, the first time I tried this cup, I had a panic attack. I got it in after a few tries (it would pop open before inside) but I felt like it was pressing against my bladder, so I attempted to remove it and failed. Being already emotional, this fear of the cup getting stuck in there and having to be removed by a medical professional whipped me into a hormone-induced hysteria. I bawled my eyes out and tried every position imaginable, but that sucker was in there! Finally, after about 20 minutes, I realized the trick - get it low enough then pinch the base and wiggle out....go figure, just like the instructions that I failed to read had noted.Day 2 - Now that I knew the secret of menstrual cup removal, I decided to give it another go. Being a girl with a sensitive downtown and a heavy flow, I was tired of the diaper-like feeling one knows all too well if they use pads. I washed and put the cup in again and it opened up like a champ. No leaking. No discomfort. In fact, I barely even felt it. I have gone several hours without a tampon or pad and I am starting to LOVE this little gadget. With a bit of mastering, I can see this being my go to monthly helper.Stick with it, ladies. It takes some time to get used to, but I ended up loving it. I am so happy I decided to give the Lena Cup another chance. Do not panic if you can't remove it. Take a bath, relax, and calm down because the more upset you get, the more you tense up the pelvic floor muscles. Just wiggle it lower, pinch the base to break suction, and wiggle it out. I l love this invention and I am excited to change the way I live during my dreaded monthly bill.

If you had asked me a year ago if I would ever try a product like this, I would have said, "Nah. Not my thing. Thanks anyway, weirdo!" But, after a few weeks of research and becoming increasingly disappointed by the discomfort and unreliability of standard products, I thought it was worth a shot. It took a day or so to get the hang of it, but I can happily report that this product far outperformed my preferred brands of tampons and pads by a LONG SHOT. It's comfortable, reliable, re-usable (don't cringe!) and designed to work with my body. Now, I am encouraging my friends to buy the LENA cup or something similar so they can experience more freedom during their period. And trust me, I've never been one to "celebrate my womanhood", so to speak. But the LENA cup has really changed my perspective on the whole period discussion and had given me new peace of mind. Here are a few tips if you're still on the fence:Tip #1: Read, girl. Read.I am sure LENA's website is great, too, but my favorite resource for info on this subject is www.putacupinit.com. Yes, it's a real website, and nothing creepy, I promise! All the questions you have in your head about how to use this thing will be put to rest there. You can also take a quiz that will offer recommendations for a cup brand, which is how I chose the LENA model.Tip #2: Don't PanicJust chill. Yes, this product requires you to be (or become more) familiar with your own body, but it is worth it! Honestly, the experience is not as horrifying as you may think. It takes equal (if not less) time to empty/rinse/replace the cup as it does anything else. And it's no more messy. Really!Tip #3: Think AheadSince I am still a first-time user, I don't know I would feel comfortable managing this device in a public restroom. Mainly for access to a private sink. You can purchase cleaning "wipes" for this purpose. Meh - not sure about that. However, since you only need to empty this 2-3 times a day (3 for me on the heaviest day only), you could invest in a second cup for public/work scenarios. After emptying the first cup, you could wipe it out and store it in a zip-loc bag and swap in the sterilized cup. That would save you a really weird experience at the sink.Other side note - I have not used this for swimming yet, but I plan to! Never have I ever said that before. I usually ditch the idea of swimming that time of the month. I'll try and write an update once I've taken the plunge with this thing.Reasons to "woman up" and give this thing a try:1. Convenience and peace of mind. When properly placed, it's leak-proof and anxiety-free!2. Better and safer for your body - no risk of TSS or other harmful chemicals3. It's comfortable! Remember, take the quiz and try the recommendation. Don't give up, because once you find one that works, you'll be amazed.4. Eliminate waste and save money. We dump A LOT of the old stand-by products into landfills! Help the environment and your wallet with the LENA cup. It basically pays for itself in two months, and if properly cared for, can last well over a year.We're busy chicks. We've got great things to go out there and do/try/experience/conquer. Don't get held back by your period. Give the LENA cup a chance. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Take it from a skeptic who finally got up the nerve.

Was loving this at first. A few months out and it’s not sealing as well. I am not sure why. I am doing everything as indicated and it’s had leaks when cup is not full. If I have to replace it every 4-6 months at this cost then tampons are more cost effective. Do the walls loosen resistance after a few months? I love the fact it’s better for the landfills and that’s a main selling point with me. But I’m on a tight budget and a box of tampons will last a few months and significantly cheaper. I want to get away from the trash. But spending that much every 4-6 months is not saving me money. You have to buy the wash & I bought accessories too. It’s only cost effective if it works long term. Make them cheaper. It’s not a one and done product. If you want to spare the environment do not charge me $40 when I’ll have to replace it in a few months. It’s a silicone cup, I can get a silicone measuring cup for $5-6. This has less silicone. Great product but only if it makes sense financially.

I've been wanting to make the switch to cups for a while now, and I'm glad I finally got around to it. I had only ever heard of the Diva cup and was pleasantly surprised (and a bit overwhelmed) by all of the options.I read through multiple pages of reviews and cup comparisons before deciding on Lena.Lena is made of medical grade silicone so it's a softer/more flexible material that is very comfortable; I was scared off of other brands by mentions of a stiff, almost hard plastic feel to some cups. It is still thick enough to seem sturdy but not bulky. There aren't any ridges or seams on the cup that could provide discomfort. I quite like the shape, as well; I feel like the bell/flower design seems more natural and fits very well. The suction holes were easy to clean (if it wasn't for mentions of this with other cups I never would've known it was an issue).I haven't had it long enough to speak to its discoloration, although I'm not very concerned with it. I really like the aqua/turquoise color option (true to product image) because I'm not really a pink & purple (which seemed to be the only option for many other cups) person, although that would not have ultimately affected my decision of which cup to pick.Most comparisons used age and/or history giving birth as a deciding factor of which size to order, but I opted for Lena Large purely on flow. I feel like I'm on the average size (if you have concerns about being really petite, I'd say go for the small) and have a heavy flow so the Lena Large seemed like the best choice. Definitely heed the advice of giving yourself time to practice and adjust to the cup. I tried practicing with the cup before my cycle and couldn't get it to open and feared it was too big, but the customer service team was wonderful. They said they would replace my cup with the small but recommended some techniques and encouraged me to give it a few cycles before switching. I tried again at the start of my cycle and got it the first try! Lol, I was thrilled!I've worn it overnight with a very heavy flow (cup was filled up) and didn't experience any leaks. I've also worn it during the day and left it inserted while using the toilet; I was concerned with the added time of removing the cup and rinsing it when I'm in a hurry, but this was a nice plus and avoided that situation. I simply checked that it was still in position and went about my way. I change it at least every three to four hours (during the day) mostly out of habit, but based on how full it is I wouldn't be wary of going longer (I believe you can leave it in for 12 hours).Removal is a lot easier than I expected. I don't pull with the stem (because, to be fair, it seems a little flimsy for that) but rather just guide it out or apply slight pressure (there are ridges/grippers that can be quite handy - pun intended). The soft stem probably makes for a more comfortable experience and I'd take that over a more sturdy stem.Random note: I always assumed the odor was from the period itself but it seems like tampons (and pads) have been the culprit all along.I didn't notice any increased needs to urinate or exacerbated cramping.Once my cup is in I don't notice it all; as in, there were a few times ****I actually forgot that I was on my period.****HOW AMAZING!!!!The carrying satchel is cute and well made.I'll probably keep a box of tampons on hand just for convenience, early periods, and/or when my cycle is finishing up, but otherwise this will be my go-to product. I'm very excited about the future savings and eco-impact from not using disposable products.Overall great experience, especially considering that I'm a first time user. I will definitely use this in the future and recommend it to friends and family!