LENASensitive Menstrual Cup, Soft Reusable Period Cup, Tampons,Period Underwear and Menstrual Pads Alternative, Feminine Care, FSA Eligible, Silicone Menstrual Cups, Made in USA, Small, Clear

This is my first time trying out a menstrual cup and I really love it. (I've included a couple things that I have found work for me at the end of the review.)I wasn't sure which one to buy, so I took an online quiz and read hundreds of reviews and advice before settling on the Lena Sensitive Small. While I realize not every cup work for every person, I got really lucky and this one works really well for me.From the very start, I liked it. The packaging was cute and, even though it has no bearing on functionality, it was a nice first impression. The cup is a soft silicone but it's sturdy at the same time; it's a good balance.Since I'd never used a cup before, I was a little nervous about putting it in and having it leak. Like practically everyone else, it took some trial and error, but by the middle of my second cycle, I was able to get it inserted correctly every time. After figuring out what works for me, I can insert it quickly and correctly in about ten seconds or less.As much as I'd like to not have to cut the stem, I think I'm going to have to since the stem can be pretty uncomfortable for me sometimes. The stem is quite long and my cervix is about midway up, so sometimes it sticks out a little and can be irritating. The stem isn't absolutely necessary since you're not supposed to pull it for removal, but it's not a bad thing to have for grabbing the cup. I might try trimming it a little at a time until it's comfortable before just cutting off the whole thing.I love that you can wear this for up to twelve hours, which I've been able to do, especially being able to wear it through the night. It's so wonderful not having to worry about leaks or changing it after only a few hours, though on my heavier days, I've had to change it around the six-hour mark. It's still better than tampons.When inserted properly, I don't feel it (aside from the stem) and I often forget it's there. That's a big bonus. Like some reviews I've read on various sites, you can sometimes tell when it's "full" because you can sort of feel the weight of it, if that makes sense? That can be helpful so it doesn't get too full before you empty it.It can be messy, yes, but that's just the nature of the product. I have not had a problem with it spilling or anything upon removal, even when the cup gets pretty full. I always carry a travel-size pack of baby wipes with me, which has come in handy when I need to empty and re-insert it when I'm not at home. I strongly recommend that little tip as it helps make it less messy.Now that I have found the insertion method that works for me, I no longer worry about leaks, which makes this one of the best purchases I've ever made.While every woman's body is different, I definitely recommend this particular cup as a really great option to try. I'm in my late 30s, never had kids, am barely moderately active, I have a pretty heavy flow, and this works for me, if that helps anyone for reference. I am really happy I tried this and I wish I had tried this years and years ago.Here are some things that work for me:I use the punch down fold, which has been so much better than the C-fold. I insert it most of the way, leaving just the bottom outside before I let it go so it opens. Sometimes it doesn't open immediately, but I just push it up from the bottom, while it's open, into place and it's fine. If it doesn't immediately open, I squeeze the bottom third of the cup and rotate it a little and that will always open it for me. To check to ensure it's open, gently run your finger around the entire cup - you will be able to tell if it isn't open because you it won't be smooth and you will feel where it's folded of pinched together. It needs to be completely open for it to work.As gross as this is, once I get it inserted and it's open, I run my finger around the top to make sure the cup is around my cervix. This part is essential. If it isn't around your cervix to catch everything, you are going to leak. Once I make sure it's around my cervix, I grab the bottom and gently pinch it and give it a light tug to make sure it's secure. Don't pinch too hard or you risk breaking the suction. I've not had the fortune of being able to really feel the suction like some people claim, so as long as it doesn't move when I lightly tug on it, it's fine.Make sure the holes just under the top lip of the cup are clear before inserting to make sure a proper seal can be achieved.When removing it for the first time, don't panic. It's awkward and it can be pretty difficult the first time, but tensing your muscles will make removal that much harder. I have found that what works for me, with practically no mess, is to pinch the bottom of the cup and shimmy it down a little bit to break the seal, then keep slightly wiggling it back and forth until it's mostly outside, then grab the middle of the cup, without squeezing it, and gently and slowly pull it out and a little forward so that you bring it out almost upright. It's prevented any spills or splatter using that method, rather than pulling it downward. Then, dump it, rinse it (if you can) and reinsert it and you're good to go.Also, emptying and reinserting it in the shower is always a good option.

I first learned about menstrual cups when I saw that the period subscription box I was using offered Softcups. I was intrigued by the concept, so I gave them a try...and I loved them! This led me to look into reusable cups. Softcups are shaped and function very differently than reusable cups, so I did quite a bit of research before settling on Lena cups. The main cup that comes to mind when people mention menstrual cups is the Diva cup; however, I learned that Diva cups are some of the largest menstrual cups available, and that they're not a great fit for everyone. The cup has to be small enough to properly expand and lightly suction to the walls of your vagina. If it's too large, it won't seal and can collapse, which causes leaks and is also uncomfortable. Since I wasn't really sure how to measure myself, I didn't want to risk wasting a good bit of money on a cup that might be too big. So, I spent hours researching for some of the smallest cups I could find. I compared the width of the rim and the length of the body (not including the stem) of so many brands. It was actually a lot harder than I thought it would be since many brands don't list the measurements. It's great that most brands have a large and a small option, but one brand's small can be larger than another brand's large, which is maddening! For example, the small Diva is 43mm wide and 53mm long, while the large Lena cup is smaller at 45mm wide and 50.7mm long. The small Lena is 41mm wide and 46mm long, so it is significantly smaller than the small Diva. I believe the small Lena is a much better size for first-time users, unless you are absolutely certain that your cervix sits high during menstruation and can use a longer cup. Other things to consider when choosing a cup are what it's made of, where it was made, and what safety standards it meets. Lena cups are made of medical grade silicone, are made in the USA, and are FDA-registered, so I was confident that it was safe to use.Now, for what I love about my SMALL Lena cup (details for this large at the bottom, but this list still mostly applies to it):• No more leaks!!! I've never had a leak during the day or even overnight, and I can actually wear nice underwear with confidence knowing that they won't be ruined. It holds so much more than the tampons I was using. When I first starting using this cup, I emptied it every few hours (like I did with tampons), and it was nowhere close to being full. I can safely go all day without having to empty the cup.• No more dealing with my period in a public restroom! I only have to empty it when I wake up and right before bed, which is the best thing ever! I can't even express how much I love not having to deal with it during the day. Public bathrooms are already not ideal, so not having to worry about changing a tampon is a huge plus! On heavy days (which are rare), I might have to empty it once during the day, but I literally have never needed to empty it in a public restroom in the 17 months that I've been using this cup...compared to changing tampons every few hours. If I do need to empty it in a public restroom, it's nice that I don't need to carry anything with me, and it's no messier than changing a tampon.• Better for my vagina! Tampons don't discriminate when they're absorbing, so they can really dry you out (and anyone who has ever pulled out a dry tampon knows how freaking painful that it is!). That messes with pretty much everything up there, especially the good bacteria and your pH level. They also increase your risk of developing toxic shock syndrome (TSS) because they absorb and trap any bad bacteria. Cups don't mess with any of that. Since they don't absorb anything, your vagina remains unchanged, so there's no bounce-back time after your period where it needs to rebuild the supply of good bacteria and get back to a healthy pH level. Your risk of developing TSS is also much, much lower, so menstrual cups are safer to use over longer periods of time.• Better for the environment and my wallet! I love that there's no trash (wrapper, applicator, the tampon itself) each time I use my cup. When you think about the thousands of tampons you'd use throughout your life, that's a lot of waste that won't end up in a landfill. And for the price of a few boxes of tampons, you'll get years of use out of a cup (as long as you take care of it). I'm saving a ton of money by not buying tampons every month, and I'm reducing the amount of waste I produce, so that's a win-win.I really don't have any negatives for my small cup. It has some minor staining after 17 months of use, which is completely normal and will happen with any cup you buy. I'm sure a dilute hydrogen peroxide soak will make it look brand new again. I recently bought some backup Lena cups, so I've included pictures of the new ones (a small pink compared to this large clear). I was curious to try the large, since the small works so well. It did fully open, but it was harder to remove because there was more suction and it was just a bigger cup to remove. I probably could have worn it with no problems once I got used to it. However, I will continue to use my smalls, and I will just keep the large for after I have children. I also showed what the rim of the large looks like for two different folds (the C/U fold and the origami fold) so you can see approximately what size it'll be for inserting it. Keep in mind there are many different ways to fold a cup, and it's completely up to personal preference.If you've read through this mini-essay of a review, I hope it helped! The condensed version is that I cannot recommend Lena cups enough! They have truly changed everything about my period experience, and I no longer dread when it arrives. Do your research, look up tips, watch YouTube videos, and give them a try!!