Athena Menstrual Cups - Larger Size - The Original Softer Reusable Period Cups for Women – for Regular to Heavy Flow – No Shift Menstruation Cup with Form Fit Rim for Easy Insertion

OMG! I am so obsessed with my new Athena cup. I was hesitant to try this newer method of menstrual maintenance (I've been a long time user of tampons and pads) but thought what the heck, I will give it a go! Being an active person, I was looking for a solution for biking, canoeing, etc. for when good old Aunt Flow shows up each month. This product is the answer I have been looking for! Now, I don't have to worry about how/where/when I am going to change my tampon or pad, which is especially amazing when it comes to outdoor sports (it's not like there is a bathroom around the corner when you are out on the bike trail or in the middle of a lake).I am 37 years old, never had children, and have a normal to heavy flow. I went with the Size 2 on this cup and it's perfect, but I'm sure the fit is different for each woman since we are all unique in what feels comfortable. I will admit I was a little nervous upon the first time inserting this, but it honestly isn't that big of a deal...just find the fold that works for you! Breathing is important and it allows you to not tense up. I was nervous that it was going to be a long trial period before I would be comfortable using this, but I can honestly say I found it super easy right off that bat. Granted, it's a little awkward the first couple of times...but really pretty simple.One thing that I found very helpful - a tip that I found online - was to aim back towards my tailbone and to make sure that the "stem" isn't hanging out past your opening. If you can walk around and not feel the cup, you've got it right! The cup will naturally unfold and create a suction seal once inserted properly. Also, do a couple of kegels once you've got the cup in; that kinda secures it even further! When taking it out, pinch the bottom of the cup to release the suction. You don't have to pull super hard, and the cup will just naturally glide out.Bonus: Mine is hot pink, which is super cute and makes me feel less yucky than I would staring at a stained clear cup. Also, I find this very easy to clean with feminine wash and really hot water, before I store it in the breathable cotton pouch it came with.No more pulling out dry tampons, no more wasting money on tampons, no more running out of tampons when you need them most! Wear a panty liner if you feel more comfy (I do at night) but I had zero issues with leakage, even after peeing several times with it in. I am so, so glad to have found this worry-free solution to what used to be a monthy curse.

I bought several cups to review here on Amazon. I also have a Diva cup which is much more expensive. I wanted to see if the quality and comfort of the cheaper cups was comparable to the Diva cup.I received a green Athena cup, which is my favorite color. They have lots of pretty colors to choose from and the bags are also cute with a ribbon that has the brand name for a drawstring. I like that because when I was reaching for a cup I could tell which one it was easily. I bought a size two because I have had children. The cup comes with instructions on how to use it. The cup itself is somewhat firm, I would say it feels the same as a diva cup. If I close my eyes I can't feel the difference in the two. With the Diva cup I had to cut the tail off because it bothered me, but this cup has a very short firm tail and didn't bother me at all. I could wear it very low and it was comfortable. This cup has 4 holes around the rim to break suction when removing the cup. So when I inserted the cup it went in fine with the punch down fold. I felt the rim pop out with no problem. The base of the cup was firm enough that I could twist the cup to make sure it was in place and I also like to pull down gently so its not so high and I know I have a good seal. This cup never leaked and I wore it all night without changing it and in the morning it had a great seal and contained everything. Also it seems like all of the cups I bought including the Diva cup are basically the same height and rim size (post pregnancy size). Overall I really like this cup and I would buy it again! It was a great price much cheaper than the Diva at only $14.95.

Feminine products get expensive fast; any woman can tell you that. When I started really focusing on saving money, I looked at how much was being spent each month on different items. A box of my favorite tampons is almost $7. When you use a box a month, plus liners, it really adds up. That is what first got me to look at the Athena cup. I was super nervous. A reusable cup? Sounds kind of weird (even a bit gross) - but I really wanted to save money.At first, I HATED the cup. It was hard to insert (I spent a good 20 min in the bathroom attempting to use it the first time) and was uncomfortable. Even when properly inserted, I could feel it. That doesn't happen with a tampon! I kept reminding myself of the savings, though, and I kept trying.Now, the Athena cup is usually super easy to insert. It takes less than a minute. Even when I first started using it, having no previous experience whatsoever, I did not have a leak. Can't say that about tampons! Many uses later, I still have never had a leak using the Athena cup. I've even used it overnight. After cutting the stem (which I was super nervous about doing) the cup is much more comfortable. I can walk around without it rubbing. It can be worn a lot longer than a tampon without getting too full or worrying about changing it. I don't worry about leaks anymore. Long drives while I'm menstruating aren't an issue, and I don't have to carry tampons or pads with me. I can even go swimming with it, and I don't have to worry about any strings coming out of my swimsuit!Another awesome thing about the Athena cup is that it doesn't contain the nasty chemicals that are often found in tampons and pads (unless you get the really expensive ones). Even if you aren't too concerned about chemicals, the ones in tampons and pads are a huge concern - because they can make menstrual bleeding and cramps worse. As someone who already has horrible cramps, I will take any relief I can get.I also bought the wash to go with my Athena cup. It's worth it to keep the cup properly cleaned, and it takes so little each time that I'm not very concerned about the price.