Period Cup – Menstrual Cup with 12h Leak-Free Comfort - Soft 100% Medical-Grade Silicone - Eco-Friendly Pad & Tampon Alternative Reusable for 10 Years - One-for-One Donation – Size 2 Violet

I just finished my first cycle using this Lunette cup and thought it'd be a good time to post a review. Overall Experience: On the day I knew my period was coming, I was able to put the cup in and leave in all day just in case! It was great not having to worry about it or checking all the time to see if it was time to put a tampon in. On the second day, when it had actually started flowing, I wore the cup for about 6-7 hours and it worked great! No leaks at all! I was like WOW, do I already have this down? (I read A LOT of reviews and most said there is a learning curve, which I do agree with, but I was surprised at how easily I got it!) On the third day, which is probably my heaviest, I wore the cup for about 9 hours and it didn't leak once again! I was still so surprised. On the fourth day, this is when it all changed. This day is heavy too and a few hours after putting it in, it didn't feel quite right down there so I checked it out and it leaked! Yes leaked! I was freaked out because I was at work and there was blood everywhere (sorry, TMI). Since I was freaked out I wasn't able to reinsert it so for the time being I had to put a tampon in (which I hated doing, I could already tell the difference and I hated it!) On the last day, I was determined to make it work again since it worked so well in the beginning... And it did! I wore it for 11 hours with no leaks at all. Woohoo! Insertion/Removal: So far I have found the recommended "C" fold to work best for me even though it is a little wide (I am not a virgin so that may help). It pops open really easy! Plus I don't feel it at all, it's SO much more comfortable than a tampon. I ran 2 times while the cup was in and it worked great still but it did work itself up pretty far and at first I freaked out but did the "bearing down" technique and it wiggled down. To remove it I just always pinch the bottom and wiggle it and then take it out. So I never had a problem removing it or it getting stuck. I also never found it too terribly messy. Seal/Position: So the key is to get it in the correct position and to make sure it is "sealed". I am pretty sure the day it leaked I accidentally inserted it too far up and it wasn't sealed all the way. So it should sit LOW! I still have the stem on mine (doesn't bother me!) and it does stick out a little or you can feel it right inside. It is hard to turn it completely to seal it, I just tend to wiggle it up and down and make sure it's open (sometimes it feels flat to me but still works!) and then I tug on the stem and if it doesn't budge then it's sealed! I recommend wearing a liner at first just in case (that's what I did) and eventually once I get the technique down 100% I will stop wearing a liner. I still give this cup a 5 star rating even though I did have that bad leaking experience because overall it was so great! I will never go back to tampons!

Let me start by saying that I love my Lunette. But for those of you trying out menstrual cups for the first time, I want to take you through my journey so that you can be more prepared than I was. Stick with it! You’ll get it. When I first researched menstrual cups, I was so intrigued. There’s a great girl on Youtube named Bre, and she had me convinced that these would forever change my life for the better. So when I ordered my Lunette, I couldn’t wait for my period to start so that I could come to the light. My sister bought a Lena cup and was just excited as I was to test it out. Her period came first, and so by the time mine came I had heard all about her experience, which alerted me that this “learning curve” that everyone mentions involves a bit more painful trial-and-error than I originally expected. So when my period started, I was more cautious than excited, but I was convinced that I could figure it out. I had some lubricant ready, I had studied all the folds to try, and I just went for it. And boy! Pain! I’m a virgin, so maybe I just needed some time to loosen up down there, but there was some definite pain while I was learning how to do it right. I was in the bathroom for probably 20 minutes trying to figure it all out. Inserting, failing, reinserting, failing again. When I finally got it to go all the way in, it didn’t feel right, and I didn’t think it had opened up. I had also left the stem on, and it needed to be trimmed. So I took it out, trimmed the stem, and put it back in. Fiddled around with it until it popped open. Walked around. It was still uncomfortable, so I took it out again and trimmed the stem to the first little notch. I reinserted it again and it felt much better. Eventually I just cut it all off (as I’ve read many people did), and that made all the difference, but for the first couple of days I had a little notch of stem left…mainly because I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get it out without it on there. But once I learned the technique, it was unnecessary, and I trimmed it off and now I can’t feel the cup at all when it is in. It’s great, and I’m much more confident with it now. I love that I can leave it in all day on most days and not worry about it. On my heaviest day, I was emptying every four hours or so because it was leaking(my guess is because it was full). But all other days, I just emptied it once or not at all. And removing it was painful in the beginning also, maybe because I had to get more flexible down there. I also ended up pretty bloody a lot, but luckily I was only ever changing it at home and I had my bathtub right next to me, so I’d just empty it in the toilet and rinse it out in the tub. So what I’ve learned that I hope can help others: First, lubricant is a fantastic friend in this learning process, and it just made everything easier, especially in the beginning. Like I said, the learning curve for me was painful, but lubricant made it much better. Second, ***and this is a great tip*** when you fold it, make sure that the folded over side is facing down, so that when it pops open, it won’t hit your urethra. That can be painful. It also slides in easier for me, with less risk of pain. So the doubled over edge should be facing toward your back, and the smooth edge should be facing toward your stomach, or up. That helped a lot. Third, definitely wear panty liners in the beginning. I guess there’ll be a time when I’ll have the hang of it enough to feel comfortable without a liner for extra protection just in case, but it’s definitely necessary on my heavy days for now. My sister has also gotten into the reusable cloth liners and she’s a big fan of those now. That used to disgust me, but now that I’m on the cup and happy with it I’m thinking, “What the heck? Why not try it out?” That much less to buy every month and throw away. Fourth, as it turns out, cups aren’t that uncommon. I hadn’t heard of a single person around me before I tried them out who used one. But just the other day I was talking to a family friend and it came up that she uses one. And after trying it out, I really am like, “Why not?” It’s so much better in many ways. I’m convinced that many of my friends (who all gave me that “really?” look when I mentioned my new menstrual cup adventure to them) will all be trying it out in the future. Fifth, the Lunette cup wash is great. I got some because it had fantastic reviews, and I’m glad I did. I don’t have to worry about using a harmful soap on it because it is specifically designed for the cup. And it smells so soothing…just makes the period a little better. And it only takes a small drop to wash the entire cup, so the tube will go a very long way. Like at least a year, I would think, if not two or three. Lastly, let’s throw away the belief that it’s all roses and daisies with menstrual cups. I think I had this glamorous view that I would get the hang of it right off the bat and it would be the best thing ever. But that learning curve is a toughie for the first few days. (Am I sounding like a broken record yet?) That first insertion…ooh that was painful. But you just have to tell yourself, “No, I can do this.” and try again until you get it right. Just like trying a tampon for the first time. When you finally get it right, it just clicks. I should be starting my next period in a couple of days, and I’m excited now to have another go at it and get to where it’s easy and second-nature. My sister is on her second cycle with her Lena cup now, and she texted me the other day, “The learning curve is zero now. I remember how to do it, and it’s completely painless!” And that’s after just a single cycle with it, so the time it takes to figure it out (although painful) has not been very long for her or me. So stick with it! It will take a while to get used to, but keep at it for at least a whole cycle until you judge whether it’s right for you. That was very long, but I hope it helps! Good luck with your Lunette!

Massive praise for this brilliant little device. I am a former Diva Cup user (and liker...but not lover). I also own a Blossom Cup, but I'm so happy I didn't settle and stop there, because for me, Lunette is "The One". Why? The firmness and size of the Lunette is perfect. I KNOW when it snaps open and is the right place. The Dive cup seemed like it never really got into the right position without somewhat of a struggle on my part, and while the Blossom cup is softer and didn't pinch me or feel like it was pressing too hard against something (bladder? bowel?) like the Diva did sometimes, it was too soft and "flimsy" in in structure that it was a little difficult to know if it was in the right position and opened up correctly. YMMV, and Diva or Blossom may be perfect for you, but Lunette is my Goldilpcks menstrual cup and Holy Grail. It's not too flimsy or too stiff, the size is perfect (I didn't need to trim the stem at all and I can never feel it-the Diva cup poked and felt a little uncomfortable), it opens perfectly every time, removing it is so easy-just inch the bottom the break the auction and wiggle back and forth a bit while moving it downward), I can't ever feel it inside me at all, I have NEVER had even a single leak with it (which I cannot say about Diva or Blossom), and FINALLY I understand and wholeheartedly agree with the reviews I've read where women say they can't live without their menstrual cup, and that it makes your period (and you!) so much cleaner, and that time of the month so much less messy and less of a hassle. I LOVE MY LUNETTE CUP. I chose coral because I thought it wouldn't show stains, and it hasn't so far. I am very regular, so I put it in on the morning I expect my period and am prepared, worry-free and mess and leak free always, too. THIS is what a menstrual cup should be. Get over the gross factor and do yourself a favor. It's your body! Get to know it and love it and you'll feel so much more in tune with yourself and your natural cycles. And in all honesty, using the Lunette cup is MUCH cleaner and less bloody/messy than tampons and pads (now THOSE activate MY gross-out factor!). Take the time to learn to use it properly, try out a few different folds (I prefer the C fold), go through the learning curve and I promise you may become one of us super fans, and tell every woman you know about how astoundingly awesome this little thingy is! I'm NEVER going back to tampons. Who needs to harmful toxic chemicals they are filled with, and to add to the pollution of our planet? How gross is it to step on a plastic tampon applicator on the beach?! Just quit those nasties cold turkey. Just say no! Just say Lunette! I'm 51, and have had 3 kids vaginally, but am not a large person am in fairly good shape and do not have a low cervix if that helps anyone. Lunette is awesome about making sure you have received the correct size and will make it right if you didn't. I got the one they recommended for women over 30 who've given birth and mine fits like it was made for me. I'd give this thing 10 stars if I could. It's fine for my heavy flow on my first two days and all the way through the last day. Highest recommendation and two huge thumbs up!

I've been intrigued about menstrual cups for a year or so and finally took the plunge and bought one. I did some research on the various types of menstrual cups and decided on the Lunette because it seemed the smallest and I liked the idea of the stem being shorter (more on that in a little). My flow isn't heavy - I only use light tampons - so I bought model 1. I'm in my early 20s, no kids. There is definitely a learning curve to using this product. For my first cycle using it, I only used it when I was at home and could adjust, take my time getting it in, etc. It was a bit tricky getting it inside on the first try, but by the end of my cycle, it was no problem. I found it easiest to put it while standing up. After a few minutes of wearing it, I no longer really feel it inside me and sometimes forget its in there! I still wear a liner while wearing the cup, but that's more out of paranoia. I have note experienced any leaking at all (not a single spot!) so I'm sure I'll stop wearing the liners over time. I've worn it at home, at work, at the gym, in bed, and always feel comfortable. Going to the bathroom is no problem - it is separate holes after all. I feel some pressure on the cup when I pee, but the cup doesn't move. Taking the cup out is certainly the hardest part. This is where I regret getting a cup with a shorter stem, as I guess I misjudged the size of my cervix. After a few hours of wearing the cup, it seems to travel 'up' a little, so I have to reach in quite a bit to pull the cup out. Once I get a good grip on the stem, the cup just pops out, but it certainly makes the whole process messier than it might be for others. Also, the first few times I tried to take it out, I was convinced it was stuck inside me and started freaking out., which didn't make it any easier! After calming myself down, I realized it was a heck of a lot easier to get the cup out while sitting (as opposed to standing like when putting it in). When taking the cup out the first few times, take a few deep breaths and relax. You WILL get it out! To clean the cup, I first tip the contents in the toilet and then go to the sink and rinse the cup in cold water. I'm hesitant to have to deal with this while in public/at work, but thankfully I don't need to change the cup too many times during the day. I change the cup in the morning, after work, and before bed. But again, my flow is quite light (thank you birth control). Before my cycle starts and after the last day, I boil the cup in water for 5 minutes to sanitize it. Overall, I really like using the cup and recommend those who are curious to just give it a try. It is a lot more comfortable than tampons/pads and I'm not constantly worried about leaking throughout the day. Even if you don't experience the too-short-stem issue like me, there's a lot more touching than with tampons/pads. If that makes you uncomfortable, a cup may not be for you. In time, I may try a different cup with a longer stem, but for now, I'm happy with my Lunette! While the initial cost may seem steep, it will soon pay for itself now that I've stopped buying tampons and pads. And with the cup, I don't have to stock my car, desk at work, purse, gym bag, etc. with tampons, liners, and pads 'just in case' or worry about being somewhere without a tampon when I need to change it. The cup has made my period so much simpler! Now if only it cured those mood swings.... :)

8/17: bought a clear one for wanted a dye free one and this time i didn’t buy it from Amazon themselves like i did purple one. bought it from a seller with 100% feedback for less and well not saying seller is selling copycats (at least not knowingly) but, this one has a weird scented like chemical/rubber smell. like it was soaked in some kind of liquid that has a slight scent which absorbed into cup permanently for even after washing it with cup cleaner and boiling it for 20 mins twice, the smell is still there! there was no real smell on my purple one when i received it other than packaging smell that went away after washing and boiling it so i don’t believe this is normal at all.. check and boil your cup before you cut off stem so you can return it if still stinks like this, i didn't and now am stuck with a cup i will not use. this is my 4th cup in one week and i have ordered one more brand today (juju) which that one will more than likely be my last cup since it is the longest, has no irritating ridges on stem like this lunette cup has and it has the perfect firmness of 4 like this lunette cup has.. In the end after starting out with a soft & small cup and moving on up through the firmness and sizes, this lunette model 2 cup was the best fit for me in firmess and the length size (2.80" including stem) was better than others & acceptable even though it still rode up in me a tad bit farther than i like BUT it has one major drawback (for me), them making the stem flat with rough ridges, meant to be there for a better grip (which definitely works at that), overlooked the fact that those rough ridges would irritate a lot of us women down there who aren't perfectly straight in there or swell up, the stem feels like sandpaper when it rubs/pokes against your wall (especially when you sit).. Because of that squared flat ridge stem (which i cannot cut off since i need to keep it long since cups ride up in me), this cup turns out to be the most unconfortable of all the cups, yet it is my favorite for it is the best fitting one and i was totally in love with it upon first use because i used the C-fold (which doesn't work well with the softer cups - the fold down works best with those) and started putting it in and loosen my grip a little too early and it went halfway in crooked, yet i was able to keep pushing it in and it popped open just like that ---no pushing around cup needed, no sticking finger up there like i was digging for gold or something, no twirling 360 and no having to take cup back out 3-5 times on average because it just wouldn't close up no matter what (that part with first cup almost made me say the heck with this after a 15min bathroom time that made me want to throw a fit but, i went straight online afterwards and bought the aneer cup sterilizer thing that came with 2 cups so i would not give up)... this Lunette ci- really was the easiest cup of them all to insert, it truly does pop open in there easily even if swelled up in there and for that alone, this cup is worth every penny IF stem doesn't end up bothering you or if it does you don't mind cutting it off if your cervix isn't higher up)!! With that said, i am pretty sure when the JUJU #3 cup gets here it will be my last cup and more than likely it will be the best for 'my' body and my sanity, if by chance it is not, than i will deal with the stem on this lunette (maybe the rough edges can be rounded off anna cup: small - firmness i think is a 1 or 2, way TOO SOFT to pop open in you. aneercup: small & large - firmness 3 (the large is pretty good, do like this one better then lunette but, firmness of lunette is best) this purple lunette model 2 cup - firmness 4 (soft yet stiff) my next cup JUJU 3 high pelvic - firmness 4 (Longest cup available i believe, 3.07" including stem) -the one important thing i learned in my menstrual cup adventure is DO NOT buy menstrual cups with a firmness under 3, they will make you irritable and cause leaks for they do not open up very easily and the tricks given by others do not work well on those!! -I think the aneercup sterilizer machine with the 2 cups (SM & L) for $30 something is a better choice than one lunette for beginners, firmness is in middle, its comfy all around and it closes up decently (not automatically like this lunette though), usually 2 tries max and i had it in perfectly. once you get the hang of it, you will know; which size cup is best for you, whether you need to move on to a brand with a shorter cup or a longer cup, wether you need a cup that holds more fluids, and wether you need a softer or firmer cup (if you swell up & are tight down there, firmer is better, the softer cup just get squished up and are a pain to get opened in there and will leak).. UPDATE 4/18: yikes i wrote a book above instead of a review!! Anyhow, raised rating from 4 stars to 5 stars, i fixed the scratchy grip rings around stem by trimming them all off with my 'cuticle cutter' (gets closer than a nail clipper) and rounded off the stem end sides so corner of it doesn't poke on my sides. now stem feels smooth but, still has hairline grip rings around stem and i now love it..

Love, love, love my menstrual cup! I want to be upfront with the fact that I've never used any other brand. But I love this menstrual cup. I'm so happy to be free from using tampons. It's just me and two boys in my house, and I always had to bother with burying my used, wrapped tampons in the trash can to avoid grossing everyone out, even me! I no longer have to worry about that. This is a long review, and I apologize for that, but I've tried to pack it with as much information and wisdom as possible, after a year of menstrual cup use. If you are grossed out by blood and/or body fluids, then a menstrual cup is probably not for you. I will admit that there is a bit of a mess factor with using one if, like me, you have a heavy flow. There is no getting around the fact that you will get blood on your hands in the removal and cleanup process. While at home, I solve this by removing it in the shower. While at work, I'm lucky to have access to a handicapped stall that has its own sink, so I can have some privacy while dealing with the messier days. I had trouble with a lot of leaking when first using my cup. After the second month, I had almost given up. However, I discovered that the fold I was using just didn't work with the position of my cervix. I then tried a couple different folds, and finally found one that aligns the cup perfectly with my cervix and my issues with leaking are almost non-existent now. More about leaking - I've come to believe that some small amount of leaking is unavoidable with a menstrual cup. There is no getting around the fact that blood continues to flow while the menstrual cup is out for emptying/cleaning. When you reinsert the cup, there is now a small amount of blood on your vaginal walls, outside of the cup. This is what is called "slobber" in the menstrual cup community (great term, right?) and that blood will eventually come out as a small amount of "leakage." Depending on what I'm wearing any given day, I may choose to wear a panty liner, or, if I'm wearing something dark or a thicker pair of jeans, I may not. Making sure to dry the cup off before reinsertion helps with this tremendously. The right size for you. I have a very heavy flow for 2 days of my period and I wanted as much capacity as possible. That's why I purchased the Lunette as opposed to some of the more well-known brands. Lunette claims to have the highest holding capacity. There are several sizes of this cup, and I purchased the large one to insure I have the highest holding capacity I could get. On light days, I only need to empty my cup once or twice over the course of 24 hours. On medium days, I may need to empty 2-3 times. On heavy days, I empty every 2-3 hours. The good news here is that there is an indicator, of sorts, that your cup needs to be emptied. After using the cup for several cycles, I began to notice a burping or bubbling feeling when the cup was reaching capacity, that helped me to know when I needed to empty it. Overnight use. I found that, on heavy days/nights, upon waking and getting out of bed in the morning, I would overflow the cup. This led to several messes; lesson learned! On heavy days, some ladies wake several times during the night to empty their cup, but this girl likes her sleep, so on my heavy days/nights I simply wear a night-time pad to bed to catch the overflow when I wake in the morning. This has worked well for me. Staining. I noticed, after almost a year of use, that my cup had become stained brown. I did some reading, and there are several reported solutions to this problem. I chose the 50/50 peroxide/water soak to solve my staining issues. I simply fill a coffee cup with a 50/50 mix of peroxide/water and submerge the cup in it for several hours, then rinse with hot water. The cup comes out looking brand new. With the proper care, I'm sure this cup will last me for years and years, saving a TON of money that I used to spend on tampons and pads. You may want to avoid menstrual cups if you have any of the following: A small vagina and tampons feel uncomfortable. The cup is much larger than a tampon and will only lead to more discomfort for you. If you're grossed out by blood/body fluids. As I mentioned, a cup can be messy, so if you are highly sensitive to the gross factor, avoid menstrual cups. All-in-all, I couldn't be happier with my Lunette cup! I'm so happy to be free of tampons (and pads for the most part). I highly recommend the Lunette brand and have never regretted my purchase. I believe this cup will last for many years, saving me a significant amount of moolah. Give it a try. If you stick with it and find the cup and fold that work with your body, you will never look back and will wonder WHY on earth you didn't know about this sooner! Update 3/08/2014 I wanted to come back and let you all know of one drawback to this cup. For the last 2 months or so, I've noticed cervical pain during sex and a little bit of bleeding and more cervical pain after sex. Concerned, I made an appointment with my doctor for a Well Woman Exam (it was time anyway). During the exam, she noticed a few abrasions on my cervix that she said looked like cuts, and also what appeared to be abnormal cell change. Well, you can imagine how freaked out I was! Good news; my pap came back all-clear. Bad news, I think this cup has been really irritating my cervix, maybe even damaging it. For now, I'm back to pads and tampons, as I'm a little afraid to use this cup again. My advice; only use this cup if your cervix remains fairly high during your cycle. Mine sits really low and I think the cup is hitting it when it unfolds and just sort of riding on my cervix while it's inserted, irritating it. Maybe a shorter cup would work better?

I tried and really am a neat freak and careful about what I put on my skin/body. Good for heavy flow if you change it every few hours (like a pad or tampon I suppose) and wear a liner/thin pad. Great for light bleeding, but I would wear a liner at the very least. I feel that for me, I could not wear this past the first day of starting menses due to the inconvenience of having to sterilze the cup after every removal. Sanitizing involves using the wipes they recommend (with I don't know what chemicals) or boiling the cup. Due to me trying to avoid chemicals, I would opt to boil, but what do I do in the meantime when I have to boil my cup...I would have to have a backup Lunette pre-sanitized. If I am on a heavy day and not home for an extended period of time, I would have to have several Lunettes ready to go...and a way to sanitize them if I am away from home for an even more extended period of time. Or just do what I have I have been doing. DH gets grossed out by this menstrual cup thing...be forewarned...be discreet. I don't know what he would do if he saw a pot of hot water with lunettes floating around in there...the thought is funny, but I want to be sensitive to that. I suppose one could use the sanitizing wipes and then rinse off with water or something like that...but all I think about is having to do this in say a public restroom (which I read in someone's review on menstrual cups-not this one specifically). After trying this product in the comfort of my home for a few days...I can't imagine removing this thing in a public bathroom. I mean, your hands have to be really clean to be doing this (I think). And then, they may get really messy... I need immediate access to a clean sink when using a cup. Unless it gets easier, I would not use this if I was going to be away from home for more than a 2 hours on heavy days unless I wear a very absorbant pad. If it is a lighter day, say day 3 or so, then 12 hours is not unrealistic--but I would still wear some type of a liner in case or until super confident with the product. Hope it helps someone out there to make a practical decision. I don't know that I would have bought this had I known what I know now. It is a great idea, but maybe just not for everybody. I have two friends who had already tried it and couldn't get accustomed to it. I knew their experience and was willing to try it. I could take it or leave it...maybe I will try a different model or brand... As for comfort: For this cup and probably any other cup, I will say it takes a bit to get comfortable and familiar with where this is supposed to eventually end up. But when it is in position, it is barely noticeable...I was initially afraid to sit. I eventually couldn't really tell I was wearing it.

I wanted to buy the lunette cup because I wanted life on my period to be easier, for example I hate being at the beach and having to walk back to my hotel when I am on my period on vacation. I hate having to change tampons, and I often forget to bring them with me anyway. I liked that you can wear it for a long time and not worry about taking it out. There were a few things that happened during my first period that left me crying in the bathroom thinking of anyone to call to dig this thing out of my snatch. And no, I am not shy when it comes to digging down there. I use nuva ring bc, so I did not think taking it out would be hard at all. But boy let me tell you that suction inside of you makes it so hard to pull out and I need to share these tips because it went from me thinking I will never wear this again to its great and you just need to learn what to do in tough situations. tip 1: do not cut that little nipple string thing when you first try it if it feels too long. I made this mistake, I put it in once and could feel the tip thing and so I took it out and cut it to the next notch (it has little grip things I cut to the next one). Then after wearing it for a little bit I did not thing about it migrating upwards, and needing that part to be longer. Now, I cut my nails and my finger tips were raw from playing guitar so when I went to dig it out, I pulled and pulled and my fingers just kept slipping and I could not even grip with my nails. My fingers were burning from trying to take it out for 15 minutes, when I had a grip on it and pulled the suction was so intense I just couldn't. And they say you should pinch the cup to release the pressure, it is too high up for me to grab it with my fingers, and the one time I was able to do it, it did not even work. But there was a solution to this... tip 2: THEY ARENT LYING ABOUT THE KEGELS! After crying in the bathroom for 15 minutes, I decided to read the reviews again and forgot about people who said kegels. It came out so easily. It pushed it out enough for the cup part to actually be exposed and I could grab that rather than the string part. It came out in the first try. Do the damn kegels if you are unable to get it out. I will now do kegels every single time. tip 3: At first, the cup "inflated" as soon as I put it in. I started having the problem of it staying folded when I put it in. They say to feel the base of the cup with your finger, and it is obvious when it is not inflated. I kept taking it in and out and having the same problem. I found the only solution is to pull it halfway out and kind of wiggle it to let air get up there and I felt it pop right open and I just pushed it back up and I was fine. Weird because I did not have this issue at first at all. The first few times felt easy but I ran into these problems that made me so upset so I had to share solutions. After solving my problems, I love it. Never buying tampons again, not worrying about changing it all throughout the day, I never worry about bleeding through because you just dont. And when you see the amount of blood that comes out condensed in a cup, you realize it really is not that much. Another bonus is that its eco friendly, but that does not compared to how much healthier it is and I love that. I got the smaller one because I am 18 and I knew the big one would be difficult and I just do not need a big one. It was actually smaller than I imagined, and when you put it in if you squeeze it then fold it (there are many different folds I prefer the first one it tells you) it is nearly the size of a tampon. Just imagine putting in a rubber tampon with no applicator. And no, I do not feel it at all!! There were times where it felt like it was giving me awful cramps, I am not sure if it was the cup or my period. I do not usually get cramps so I want to blame the cup, but my period was much heavier than it had been in months so I do not want to blame it. Throughout the day its as comfortable as a tampon. I expected taking it out to be messy but not at all it stays perfectly in the cup and I just pour it out. and after 10 hours of heavy bleeding, the cup was not even half full so I know I never have to worry about it leaking. I wash mine with summers eve pH balanced wash, and sometimes I just wash it with antibacterial handsoap if that is not around. I figured if I am rinsing it with water so hot that it hurts my hand I am sure it all goes away. So just remember the tips. Never forget the kegels, and you will love it. I thought "oh how could I change this in public bathrooms" then when I got it I realized, no need to change it! I can wait till I get home. I change it once in the morning and once a few hours before bed then one more time before bed (just because I prefer cleaning it when I shower but I really would not have to). So good luck, and do not be afraid to be digging in your snatch. It is yours and if you want this to work well you gotta grow some balls. Enjoy never buying tampons again! *TMI********and yes, it is uncomfortable pooping with this in. I had to say that. I take it out in that event.