Lena Menstrual Cup - Soft Reusable Period Cups for Women - Large, Pink

I think that in general menstrual cups are difficult to review meaningfully because personal anatomy quirks are such a factor, so I'm going to try to give some information that hopefully will make it easier to evaluate whether or not my experience will match up with yours. I'm also going to do my best to avoid TMI whenever possible, but let's be realistic: this is a review of a menstrual cup. There is some amount of TMI that is just part of the process. I am a long-time menstrual cup user (both the Diva Cup and the Lunette), but I have always preferred to sometimes use other feminine hygiene products under some circumstances - sometimes it's just easier to use tampons, and I prefer to not use anything internal at night if I can get away with it. I prefer menstrual cups specifically (1) when I wake up with cramps but haven't actually gotten my period yet, and (2) on my one or two really heavy flow days, when I would have to change a super absorbency tampon every hour or so but could get away with four to six hours on a menstrual cup. I have always had to trim the stem of menstrual cups (the little piece that sticks out below the cup) because I find them uncomfortable and I don't think they make removing them any easier. In terms of which brands I've used, I started with the Diva Cup, switched to the Lunette because I had some discomfort with the Diva Cup (the smaller one), but found the Diva Cup a lot easier to pop open than the Lunette, so I switched back. I am in my thirties, but because the smaller Diva Cup was already a little uncomfortable (I am a delicate flower), I didn't ever switch to the larger one. I haven't ever been pregnant. Given that context... I chose to try the larger Lena Cup specifically because of the shape. I'd had some problems with leaks on the smaller Diva Cup, but I was pretty sure it was because of the heaviness of my flow and not the diameter of the cup, so I didn't want to switch to the larger one (as I'd mentioned, the smaller one was already a little uncomfortable). The Diva Cup gets wider when you go to the larger cup. The Lena Cup gets taller. The Lena Cup is also less flared - from pictures, I could tell that it was a more consistent width from top to bottom, which just seemed like it'd work better for me, since I felt like it was really a width issue with the Diva Cup that was causing my discomfort. As it turns out, the Lena Cup is a LOT more comfortable than the Diva Cup for me, personally - as in, the larger Lena Cup is more comfortable than the smaller Diva Cup. Because it's less flared, the pressure (all three of the menstrual cups I have tried exert some outward pressure) is more distributed, and that makes it a lot less uncomfortable for me. It's not totally unnoticeable, but it's more like wearing a tampon than having something pushing at me in a really localized area and in a really intrusive way. (It is, however, more noticeable than a tampon, and it seems to sort of... take up valuable bladder space, so I do have to pee more frequently. See? TMI.) I'm not sure if it's the shape or what, but something about the design of the Lena Cup also makes it a lot easier than either the Diva Cup or the Lunette to change tidily, particularly in public restrooms. The blood collects at the bottom, not on the sides (which was a HUGE problem for me with the Diva Cup), and it seems like it's easier to remove it without spilling. [My feeling on the public restrooms is that if you can't change it in a public restroom it's a total nonstarter as a feminine hygiene product, so here's a tip about emptying menstrual cups in public restrooms in general: wash your hands and wet down a paper towel before you go into the stall, empty the cup into the toilet, wipe it out with toilet paper, and then use the wet paper towel to wipe the sides and inside of the cup before reinserting it. Paper towel gets folded up and goes in the trash receptacle (NOT the toilet), like a tampon or a pad. Everything else gets flushed. This requires a few tries before you get the hang of doing it without setting that wet but clean paper towel down on the knee of your jeans and no, it's not ideal, obviously, or a long-term solution, but it'll get the job done in a pinch.] The real place where the Lena Cup excels for me, though, is that I have had absolutely no problems with leaks. None. Not even overnight on my really heavy flow days on a weekend when I'm sleeping in. None. It's a real godsend, not to have to wear a pantiliner or backup pad or get up in the night to empty it, and to know that I can actually get some work done during the day without setting an alarm to interrupt me every couple of hours just to make sure everything is still copacetic. I haven't gone longer than ten hours without changing it, even when I do sleep with it in, or longer than about six hours during the day, but emptying it three or four times a day without incident is a vast, *vast* improvement over either the Diva Cup (which was fine as long as I was wearing a pantiliner to deal with leaks but still kind of nerve-wracking) or tampons (which I had to change literally every hour, and woe unto me if I forgot). A few other notes. The material on the Lena Cup is very firm and it pops open easily after being folded for insertion: I can't do a tri-fold with it (which I had to do with the Lunette and didn't like), but a bifold works just fine (it was sort of hit or miss on the Diva Cup). The air holes are really easy to keep clean (this was really, *really* not true on the Diva Cup). The downside (and isn't there always one) is that I do think it's a little bit harder to remove than the Diva Cup. I did trim the stem, as I mentioned before, and I always remove menstrual cups by pinching the base, but it seemed like the Lena Cup was just a lot more firmly seated, the first couple times I tried. This is possibly related to why it doesn't leak, so I'll take it. I've used it a fair few times now and I've got the hang of it at this point, so we're good. I still do not use it exclusively in preference to tampons or pads.

I bought my first Lena cup in May but wanted to give it a few months before I left a review, since I felt that way my review could be more helpful to others. This was my first time ever trying a menstrual cup - I have used tampons pretty much for the past 10-15 years. Based on the company's recommendation in the FAQ, I initially purchased a size small. I hesitated with the sizing at first because although they recommend the size small for women who haven't used a menstrual cup before or had children, I didn't think it would be big enough because I have a crazy heavy flow (sorry, TMI). Nonetheless, given their recommendation and the fact that I'm a pretty small person, I decided to start with the small. The very first period, I really had difficulty getting the cup into me. It would take me like 6 or 7 tries each time, so I pretty much gave up after the first two days because I got so sore. Also, I was having to pull it out and empty it every 2.5ish - 3 hours, which was really annoying because even with my heavy periods, ultra tampons usually give me 3-4 hours. So after switching over to tampons again mid-period, I figured I would give it another shot the next month. In the meantime, I had received an email from the company just checking in with me, so I responded with my two concerns- that I had a hard time inserting it and that I was having to change it too frequently. I then received a very nice response with some helpful tips and letting me know that I should follow up if I had any more concerns after trying them. So, June came around and I tried the cup again, keeping in mind the insertion tips they had sent. Lo and behold, the tips + the extra practice made it much, much easier to insert the second time around (taking an average of 2x per insertion - not perfect but much better than the first month). Unfortunately, I still could only go 2.5ish -3 hours on my heaviest days before emptying - otherwise the cup would get too full and I would leak. So, I followed up with the company, just letting them know, and they responded back right away saying that they thought I might be happier with a larg cup and would send one out to me free of charge! Having just finished my July (and third) period using the large cup, I can finally feel comfortable in saying that this is an awesome product and an awesome company. I ended up using the large the entire period because I was too lazy to switch to the small, and unlike tampons, it's not dangerous to use a larger size even when your flow is lighter. It was harder inserting the larger cup, but it still only took about 2-3 tries per time (and I expect that to get easier as I continue to use it in the future). This might be TMI but I find that the easiest way to insert it is by folding it into the 7-fold and then kind of just feeding it into my vagina. I can't push it in too hard or quickly because that hurts, but by inserting slowly and gently, it doesn't hurt at all. I have had zero problems with it sealing over my cervix, but it's easier to stick your finger around the edges to make sure it has formed the seal. Time wise with the large cup - on heavy days, I can go about 4 hours before having to empty, and on lighter days, I can go forever before remembering to empty. So while the heavy days are pretty similar to ultra tampons, the lighter days are SO much better because I don't feel nervous if it sits in me for longer than 8 hours ( the max for tampons)! Plus, this cup doesn't dry me out like tampons do. It's also wayyyy cheaper - I've already saved money by just using it for 3 cycles. It's also better for the environment (if you care about things like that) plus you don't have to worry about having accessible trash cans (not always easy when you're a guest at someone else's house). I will say this - I like to wash it off in between taking it out and inserting again, and to wash my hands as well. So, I am most comfortable using this when I know I can use a private bathroom with a sink right by me. I would not feel comfortable emptying and changing in a public restroom. Besides for the mess on my hands (TMI but I haven't perfected emptying/inserting without getting anything on my fingers), I wouldn't want my fingers that close/inside my vagina after having to touch public surfaces (such as the stall door). That's just me though - I'm a germaphobe. It's definitely easy and possible to use in any bathroom, I personally just wouldn't do it yet in public ones. I hope this review can help anyone else out there contemplating switching to a cup from tampons. This review is totally honest and not biased, even though they did send me the large cup for free after the small cup (which I had paid full price for) wasn't working for me on my heavy days. At no point did they ask me to write a review when they gave me the large cup for free. And that's the main reason I'm happy to write such a good review - I can't stand the companies that now pay people or give people free things in exchange for biased reviews. This company just wants its consumers to be happy and to be able to use their products, which is so awesome and which makes me much more likely to recommend to friends.

UPDATE: I started using this cup again after spending a good long time being too afraid of getting my IUD sucked out again, but I have had no further issues. I decided to give it another try because, first, it really is supposed to be safe to use with an IUD as long as you break the seal correctly, and I have many friends with IUD's who use the cup no problem. Second, when I got my IUD replaced, the doctor did tell me that my uterus was previously measured as smaller than it actually is, so my IUD actually may have been placed incorrectly the first time. I really think this is the main reason it came out, and the cup's slight suction may have just helped it along a little. Lastly, I am at the point where if my IUD did come out again, I wouldn't be horrified like the last time a few years ago. Don't get me wrong, I love the IUD, but I am close enough to wanting to try for kids now that I could be fine with using condoms for a while if it did come out. All of that being said, I really don't think it will come out again and I am SO happy with how this cup works. There is a little bit of a learning curve, but it's a small one and once you get it, it's amazing. I was lucky in that this is the only menstrual cup I have tried and it seems to fit perfectly without giving me issues with leaks. I have also not had any issue with irritation or infection, but I am very careful about keeping it clean. I wash it with Hibiclens cleanser (make sure to rinse thoroughly) each time I take it out to empty it, and then when my cycle is over I do a diluted vinegar soak (about half water half white vinegar) followed by a 20-minute boil before storing it in its little bag until my next cycle. I know there is a lot of variation in how people clean theirs but this has worked for me without issue, including no issue with lingering smell or discoloration. I LOVE that I can enjoy my days without worrying about dealing with my period and making sure I am near a bathroom. I can put it in in the morning and go all day at work, school, or wherever I am without messing with it and then take it out when I get home. Plus, there is less odor and no more dealing with peeing on tampon strings. This is really a game changer for me and I highly, highly recommend every woman tries this for at least a few cycles to get the hang of it before giving up. On a side note, a tiny bit of lube around the rim of the cup before insertion makes it a lot easier, so definitely try that. As of right now, I am thinking I will be a cup user for life--well, until menopause that is...so try it! And if you have an IUD, make darn sure you break that seal! *** ORIGINAL REVIEW: I think this is an excellent cup of great quality. However, it sucked my IUD out. It came out right into the cup!! I believe there are people who use cups with IUD's, but you must be careful to break the seal properly before removing. I tried to make sure I did this, but I obviously didn't do a good enough job because it still came out. Luckily, my insurance paid for it to be replaced, but I won't try using this again while I have my IUD. Not worth the risk, but your mileage may vary.

This is my third menstrual cup. I've tried out a Diva and a Moon cup so far. I ended up buying the Lena after my other two cups met an unfortunate fate (always store your menstrual cups in very high or inaccessible places if you have dogs). I was attracted to Lena's high reviews (especially those who mention it to be comfortable) and the great price here. So far, it seems to be pretty great. Hands down, it is the most comfortable of all the three cups. It is short like the Moon cup so it doesn't sometimes feel like it's sticking out (like the Diva), but seems wider and the flared bell shape seems to keep it from slipping around like the Moon was notorious for. This saves me time having to adjust it. It appears pretty easy to clean—much more than the Moon Cup (which has a gazillion big ridges and it stained like crazy). The Lena feels softer/more pliable than the Moon cup, but it's firmer than the Diva (I still think Diva has the nicest texture—as its walls are thinnest). So far, the LENA has not leaked yet, and I have a feeling it won't as it seems to stay put and have a nice wide opening. It's almost perfect! However, I removed a star as I would like it better if it was actually clear. I knew it was tinted purchasing it, but the pink color is even more opaque than it looks in the picture. I just can't feel completely comfortable putting something inside me (for hours at a time) that has dyes in it. I have a lot of sensitivities (latex, spermicide, sugar-based lubes) and worry about obtaining more. It claims to be medical grade silicone, but how many heart replacement valves and other surgical implants are actually dyed pink? Also having it colored makes it harder to see if it's actually *clean* or being able to see what your flow is doing (I had some irregular periods so this is important to me). So despite how comfortable the Lena is, I'm probably going to still end up going back to Diva as my main menstrual cup. I will keep the Lena in my purse for emergencies. If the company ever made it in clear, I'd be happy to give them 5 stars, though.

As soon as I heard that I could have 0 waste from my periods using a menstrual cup and washable pads, I ordered some immediately. I've been using this cup for about 3 months and here are my experiences as a person not used to and typically uncomfortable with insertion: I use this cup about a day after my period starts since I have a heavy flow for most of my cycle. Or at least I thought I did based on the amount of pads and tampons I would go through. I personally was never comfortable using tampons inserted since I could never get them in correctly and only used them on top of my pad like a sponge. These would get completely soaked and I would have to use at least two large ones a day. So, obviously I had a much higher learning curve than most since I had to learn how to insert anything properly. I insert mine while sitting on a toilet since I find this the most comfortable (and in case I have any drips). On some tries it slips out of my fingers too early, is uncomfortable, and I have to remove it and try again. It usually takes 1-2 tries each time for the first few days to insert it deep enough consistently. Sometimes I have to shift it around to get it to fully expand and seal. When it is in right, I sometimes feel a bit of pressure like something is stretching my vagina, but this goes away after an hour or so. After, I don't feel it and have zero issues with leaks, though I wear washable pads just in case. Removal is usually painless. I wiggle the stem, pinch the bottom, and try to fold it over like how I inserted it since otherwise it would be painful to remove. Some days its fine and others I just can't relax enough or can't get the right grip/fold and it hurts trying to remove it. This is just a technique I have to practice since I'm not used to insertion to begin with. I give my vagina a break if a removal was particularly uncomfortable since I don't want to get stressed about using it. Generally, I am fine and comfortable with using my cup for most of my period. Otherwise, the only issue I have is the stem is a little long, though I haven't trimmed it yet since it is very helpful for removal atm. When I have the cup too low I can feel the stem poking me, but when its inserted deep enough I don't. Cleaning between use is super easy. I just rinse with cold water, using my fingers to scrub, then hot. I dry with a towel, make sure there is no lint or debris. Between uses I boil as instructed while I'm cleaning the kitchen. All in all, I like using the cup since when it works, it works! Its simple to clean and I can just pop it in the little drawstring bag and into the bag with my washable pads for storage. Since using the cup, I've had zero issues with leaks and stained underwear. Its something I will definitely get more skilled at using with time and it will save on a lot of smelly trash and money spent on women's products.

this is going to be detailed to touch on a few issues. first, I am in healthcare and work at a busy hospital so liked the idea of having something be able to be worn for more than a few hours. I also like the idea of non cotton...sometimes I just find the cotton w/liquid to just be sort of gross. would rather empty the little cup to be honest. COMFORT: I tried the "instead" disposable cups in the past. they are a bit more comfortable than this only in that they did not take getting used to or need any repositioning. they sort of popped right into place. but again, they were disposable so a different material and product in that sense. After a few tries, the Lena settled in and it was ok but there are times that I need to stop and re position b/c it is noticeable. the idea of one of these things is to not realize its there and there have been several times that I do in fact notice and then have to arrange to re position. overall, though its ok. the little stick def needed to be cut to feel comfortable but that's ok, the instructions say you can safely do this and not ruin the product. I had to do a few times to get it the correct length for me. CONVENIENCE: it IS convenient it itself as far as leaving it in and emptying it. I feel it is actually CLEANER if that makes any sense b/c I feel like its being removed, cleaned and replaced w/o any cotton pieces being left behind. my body felt all over CLEANER when using this is what I am trying to say. it may NOT be convenient if you need to empty in public bathroom in which people share multiple sinks and stalls. my work bathroom is a one person stall w/ sink right there so this is not an issue for me. between that and my own house, I have zero problems finding a place to change. I find shower time is always good for this. EFFECTIVE: I have used it 3 mos now. the first one I got used to it, the 2nd one was good and the 3rd month, I def noticed some leaking issues. nothing that needed major intervention but def enough to be annoyed by it. even after emptying, adjusting and doing again, it took place. and I have a very light cycle in general so this was not due to overflowing issues. While I could work around the fact I had some leaks, I certainly would not wish to be swimming or in a situation where this would have made a difference. All in all, I am still on the fence w/this. I wanted the convenience and ease but w/the leaking, am hesitant now to use for the upcoming month which falls on a holiday and I will be at the pool and no leaks allowed! so may try again the month after to see if still having the issues or if that was a fluke. the size is correct and I am comfortable w/my body as far as putting in and removing (in other words, I am not squeamish) and I never had any leaking whatsoever w/the "instead" disposable type. I realize an advantage of this type is the kindness to the environment vs the disposable kind and do appreciate that. so not sure if the traditional method may just be best for me. ***sorry if this was graphic in any way but for something like this I think people want the details***

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!

This is the first time I have ever used any sort of menstrual cup of any sort and I am super pleased with it! My period has always been a bit of a pain between the smell and having to carry tampons and pads with me everywhere I go. Plus due to being trans it also causes a good amount of dysphoria. But this thing is freaking amazing!! Once you get it in you can't feel it and my only worry is forgetting that I have it in. I can't even feel it when I have cramps, something never feasible with tampons before. There is absolutely no smell too which I always thought was just the blood and gunk but turns out its the bad and tampons just holding it there. It helped with my dysphoria too since my mind wasn't on it all day and I didn't have to worry about leaking out, even while doing lifting at the gym or biking. Not going to lie though it's a bit tricky to get in, especially if you have never done this before. I also have vaginismus and knowing that insertion is pretty difficult to near impossible sometimes, I went out and bought some lube. If you also buy lube get water based not silicone based so it doesn't damage the cup. The first time took about 20 minutes and a lot of googling and watching youtube videos because I really did have no idea what I was doing. Once you get it in and feel it there for the first time it's easier to get it in quicker. I use the C fold since it's the easiest for me to hold and get it in there. Removal first time was also tricky but the rocking method covered in this little instruction manual they give you worked great. I also have a really heavy flow where I used to have to change out super absorbent tampons (I mean massive suckers) every hour or risk bleeding through I only have to change this every three to four hours which is a lot more convenient instead of having to rush to the bathroom. Plus there is no noise of opening a tampon or pad and trying to figure out how to hide it or where to put the trash and previous tampon/pad which is great! I also move around lot in my sleep and no leakage whatsoever, something I never achieved even with those huge diaper like pads. For anyone also worrying about packaging mine was very discreet and if you don't like the bag, like me, you can use any other cotton or other breathable fabric bag to case it. While it seems like a quite a bit of money it's already paid for itself with only one period since I would blow through pads and tampons like no one's business and it'll last years so it's definitely worth every cent. Best thing was no underwear got ruined my whole period (which lasts 8 days) so extra bonus points for that. You also don't felt damp or gross or anything either, it's amazing! Overall a super great product that helps reduce or eliminate a lot of problems that my period caused and I definitely recommended it for other trans people looking for a better way to deal with their periods.

We all have different body types, flows and fits so I would recommend using a survey putacupinit.com which is how I found this brand. I was using a diva cup and they tell you if you leak there is a problem with your body... not true... Lena fits perfectly and no leaks. Diva cup was very hard, complicated to fit and did not stay in place. This is softer but stays in place. Love it! The survey really helped!

Really love this cup. I have a low cervix and it sits inside all my cups as it is dangly, with this cup it is the nice tulip shape so there is the extra lip to keep it in place. I have had no leaks even on my heaviest days, I do have to change it more often than I would like on my heavy days, but on a light day I can leave it all day and not even notice it is there. It is firm enough to get a good comfortable position inside and stay there, plus it’s harder to spill it when you take it out because it is firm. Not too firm that it pushed the bladder etc. The silicone is much better than TPE cups I have previously used. The air holes are slanted and easy to clean, one rinse gets them clean. The packaging is nice and the bag is good quality compared to others I have had. Overall I would recommend this cup to anyone. I have used meluna shorty and the TPE wore out quick and became more oval than round and started to leak, it was good at first. I have also used a moon cup uk, which pushed against my bladder sometimes and was too large. Finally, I have used a femmycycle for low cervix, which I am pretty sure caused damage and elongation to my cervix due to the extreme suction. But this Lena cup is comfortable and quality compared to all of these.

Bought this to try and do my bit for sustainability however, its been amazing for changing how I manage my period!! This product is amazing once you've learnt how to get it to seal but it does take a little bit of getting used to which for me took a couple of days/tries. At the beginning its very scary & you think it's going to be lost forever however just relaxing makes life so easy. It means you can go out, move, swim, dance, whatever you want, without fear and you can do that all day realistically without having to fill your bag with supplies and always be thinking of what time it is. Fantastic product. I've only used it one cycle so far and already think I've mastered it, however from my experience it can be a little messy & you just need to get used to the sight of blood and some on your hands etc. I wouldn't go back to any other product now. Feels amazing - almost like you don't even have your period.

This is the best menstrual cup I’ve had. It NEVER leaks - I’ve had a mooncup in the past and no matter how it is worn, it would leak at the heaviest part of my cycle - this one does not budge once in place until you remove it. 100% worth it.

This is much better than my previous one, I wish I’d switched years ago. Would recommend