Okay, ladies. Time to talk about menstrual cups! We decided to jump on the no-tampon bandwagon for a bit and have been experimenting with the Lena Menstrual Cup for 3-4 cycles now.
WARNING: We’ll be going into detail with this one and have lots to tell!
But first, let’s start with the basics.
What is a menstrual cup?
A menstrual cup is a small, bell-shaped, flexible cup typically made from silicone or rubber that’s meant to collect your monthly menstrual blood. You insert the cup just as you would with a tampon and can leave it in for up to 12 hours!
Why should you consider a menstrual cup over a tampon?
- Medical grade silicone is way safer than the rayon or bleached cotton that is typically used in tampons.
- You can leave the cup in for 12 hours, worry-free.
- It helps maintain a healthy pH level.
- It’s non-drying and non-irritating.
- You help reduce plastic waste!
Product Rundown
- Product: Lena Menstrual Cup
- Price: $25
- Where to buy: Amazon
- Perks: Voted #1 Cup for Beginners | Made in USA | 100% Premium Medical-Grade Silicone and Dyes | Processed Chlorine Free
Our First Time with the Lena Menstrual Cup
You know how they say your “first time” is never great? Yeah, same goes for these menstrual cups! Let me tell ya, these are definitely not the easiest to insert if you’re a first-time user.
Granted, the Lena Cup does come in multiple sizes, so thank goodness for that!
The first few times I used the cup, I felt very uncomfortable.
I could actually feel the cup when I walked, when I sat, when I went to the bathroom…it was awful! At one point, I couldn’t take the feeling and had to run to a public bathroom to take it out. Luckily, there was no one in the bathroom with me, so I was able to quickly rinse the cup out and stick it in my purse! Lol
Of course, being the newbie that I was, I simply wasn’t placing the cup far enough in for it to sit comfortably around my cervix. You really gotta maneuver it up there ladies!
Sam, on the other hand, had no problem getting it in! It was the “taking out” that was a big NO for her.
While Sam loves the concept behind it and thinks with time she could possibly learn to like it, she just couldn’t get past her fear of blood! The removal process can get a little messy, and it ended up making her woozy.
She did think that getting it in was fairly easy, though, and it felt pretty comfortable. But getting it out was SO hard. Getting a good grip on it in order to release the seal is very tricky, and you can’t just pull it out like a tampon.
However, after 4 cycles of using a menstrual cup…
I personally can’t live without it!
Having to rely on tampons and change them constantly throughout the day is serious pain the butt. Not to mention, it’s extremely wasteful!
After using a cup for a few months, I feel like a total pro.
- I can barely feel it…honestly I forget it’s in there sometimes!
- It’s getting easier and easier to put it in and take it out.
- Going to the bathroom is breeze! No pressure, no leaks.
- I haven’t had to take it out in a public bathroom again. Thank goodness!
I honestly just love the fact that I can completely forget about it for 12 hours.
My tips for first-time menstrual cup users:
- I find that putting the cup in standing up is MUCH easier than sitting down. It also helps to breathe out and relax your cervix as much as possible.
- You have to make sure it’s really up there people! Otherwise you will feel it throughout the day and it might sit on your bladder the wrong way causing pressure when you go to the bathroom.
- The best time to take it out is when you shower at night. That way you don’t make a mess out of our bathroom and can wash it right then and there!
Can the Lena Cup fully replace tampons and/or pads?
Technically, yes! But for us, it’s still a no.
While I have no problem using the cup during the day (and much prefer it over tampons), I can’t stand the thought of having it in at night. After I take that sucker out at the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is have to put it back in. I need a little break! So I always end up using a pad or a panty liner at night depending on the heaviness of my flow.
However, I’m definitely going to be investing in some period panties to help with this situation! We both have our eye on the Thinx undies, and I’ll be testing out some Amazon knock-offs as well to compare.
And as you know, Sam just can’t get past the bloody factor of it all, so for now, she’ll be sticking to her organic Lola tampons!
Worth it? Worth it.
In the end, we both agree that everyone should give menstrual cups a try. The majority of our followers said they could never go back to tampons after getting used to these cups, and I’m right there with them! Be sure to give the Lena Menstrual Cup a try and let us know what you think!
