Lena Menstrual Cup Original Reusable Medical Grade Silicone Period Cup For Heavy Flow Large Purple

Ok... for those of you who are 1st time cup users. Or, are like me. Who are reading countless reviews not know what cup to get...THIS REVIEW IS FOR ***Y O U***!I have heard about period cups for about 2 years now and have meant to get one. But I kept being cheap about it and unsure what one to get or the size?!?!A little about me... I am 35, I have 3 children. ALL born via c-section (not by choice). I am told I am very "tiny/tight" down "there". I am heavy set 5'4 and about 210lbs. I usually use MEGA and SUPER PLUS tampons because I have a crazy heavy flow... This caused me a lot of confusion as to what size I would be. So I bought the pack of small and large.At first glance when I opened the box. I automatically assumed I would need the large. However, when I tried inserting it. I couldn't get it to "open" and seal... I didn't give up. I ended up trying the small. Snipping the tail and it fit comfortably for my first period...A few suggestions... I change/clean mine 2-3 times a day. I do NOT suggest waiting 12 hours to clean it. It will begin to smell... and develop a slight odor. Here is what I do. I wake up. Take cup out. It sort of empties itself into the toilet. I am assuming you realize this is MESSY... and you clearly need to be comfortable and know your body... anyways, Before I empty it. I have a cup on the bathroom sink next to me with VERY hot water. And summers eve feminine wash inside... I empty out cup. Wipe myself. Then rinse in the sink and put in the cup for a few minutes. Rinse it out again at sink. And re-insert... mid way through the day. I will usually just empty it into the toilet. Wash in sink with warm water and antibacterial hand soap. Then re insert. I shower in the evening before bed. So when I take my shower. I take out my cup as I'm inside the shower. (Captain Morgan pose) and soak it a good 5-10 minutes in very hot water and summers eve feminine wash. I wash my body. I also use the feminine cleaner "water works" while in shower. And then I reinsert it when I'm done with the shower... works great.When this is inserted correctly. You will "just know." And you will not leak. After my first period using this device. It was a game changer for me. And a LIFE changer. My period wasn't such a BLEH stinky. Uncomfortable mess of constant Tampon changes. I'm only of those woman who HATE to wear a pad. And won't. Lol.That said, my second period last month... I started earlier and unexpected the day of my sons Birthday party. Luckily, I wasn't stressed because I had my cup and it was a life saver for me running around after 25 4/5 year olds. This period, I tried the large and it worked for me. On my HEAVY HEAVY day, it "fit" better...So this is what I do now... I wear my SMALL cup on my lighter days... or overnights when I don't tend to bleed as much. And I wear the LARGE cup during my heavy cycle days. It sounds weird to comfortably wear both cups. But, I do.I just ordered another set of 2 because I'm paranoid. I want my sister to try these also. I actually share how amazing these are with ALL friends... and I highly suggest all woman to try them as they too will have you wishing you started using them sooner.Lena seems to be pretty firm in feel. And made very well and are of a better quality then say the diva cup. I've looked at it at the store and it seems very big. Where as LENA is a tulip shape and I can see that it likely would hold more. And isn't flimsy. Awesome. Amazing product.Oh! And when you buy, LENA emails you a few times to check in on your and see if you need help with your cup. Great company.

Fellow women!! So I am pretty sure alot of you are interested in switching to menstural cups versus the regular pads and tampons. I can tell you that making this switch has made me feel so free and comfortable during my period, I can do anything! I did alot a research before purchasing my lena cup and am very pleased with it so far. First of all it is a decently priced, unlike other mentstural cups, especially if you are just planning on trying it out. It is also one of the best priced bell shaped cups out there. It is made out of soft 100% medical-grade silicone that is easy to bend, but holds it's structure enough to spring back to it's orginal form after inserting it in. For first timers I would recommend trying to practice putting it in a few times before your first time used during a period; RELAX and give yourself some time- swatting on the floor was the easiest way I found, but after a while you get used to it! After putting it in just make sure it did spring back and nothing is preventing it from making a complete sucction; low vs. high hanging cervix. It is a little scary at first and don't worry it won't get stuck up there, just use your kegel muscles to push it back down (If you aren't sure how to use your kegel muscles don't worry you will figure it out!). I have learned so much about my body ever since using the lena cup - I know heavy days vs. light days. No there isn't any period smell! Sure other people may not be able to smell it, but you, yourself sure can. Be careful when breaking the seal and pulling it out; don't pull to fast or you may spill it over yourself. Keep a good grip on the grip rings and slowing pull it out; without letting it slip out of your grip. Read the directions that come with it; very helpful!My experience!I guess I was lucky, because after practicing a few times when I wasn't on my period I was able to put it in correctly and didn't have any leaks! I still wore a panty liner just in case. After I put it in I literally couldn't feel it; I was shocked. I when through my day very concous of it so a few times I thought I felt it, but after a little while I completely forgot about it. I did start spotting a little bit on my first day, but it was due to a heavy flow kind of day- I took out the Lena cup poured the blood out, rinsed it with warm water and a little bit of soap and then put it back in - Volia no spotting. On my heavy day I took it out a total of 3 times, regular and light days 2 times. When I started spotting on my heavy day I thought I bought the wrong size - so don't fret you might be having a heavy day.Sleeping at night was one of the things I was really worried about; Make sure you empty the cup at the lastest before you go to sleep and really check to make sure that it is one correctly - I didn't make sure the first night, because I got cocky and I ended up leaking big time, the next night I made sure to check and empty it out right before I went to sleep and it was perfect! I was worried about the air holes at first, but in the end it didn't cause an leakage. I was very active during my period and saw no leaks, the last few day I was daring enough to go without panty liners (I ran out and saw no rush to run to the store). If it helps I have fairly regular periods that last 5 days - It is usually heavy during the first few days and lightens up. I feel bloated and sometimes experience cramps - the Lena cup did not cause any of these symptoms to worst. I am truly impressed with this product and will continue to use it for a long time.Tips:If you are wondering about soft vs. hard silicone - I would go with soft, because it is more versitle - When I was figuring out how to put it in and want something a little harder I would run the cup under cold water and it would cause it to get a little bit firmer for insertion and then soften up within the body!