Talisi Menstrual Cups Set of 2 with Collapsible Cleaner Silicone Sterilizer - Soft Reusable Period Kit - Tampon Pads Disc Alternative - Menstruation Feminine Cup Regular, Heavy Flow (Small & Large)

Since I had practically zero experience with having things inside my lady bits, I had an extremely difficult time with this cup, but finally managed it. The preparation was a horrible ordeal, but the eventual payoff was worth it.Don't spend money on a cup until you have accomplished the following things:1. Determined that you don't have vaginismus.2. Determined that you don't have a problematic hymen.Problematic hymen types are: imperforate (completely covers the vag. opening), microperforate (smaller than usual hole[s]), septate (band[s] of tissue stretching across the entire vag. opening), and unusually rigid or thick.If you have one of these types, you might not be able to use insertable menstrual products unless/until you either break your hymen or get a hymenectomy.*Important note* If you have an imperforate hymen, definitely go see a doctor. Otherwise, you'll probably suffer health problems due to menstrual waste having no way to exit your body.(Ftr, hymens have absolutely nothing to do with virginity. If you haven't had consensual sex, then you are still a virgin regardless of the state of your hymen, so don't worry about that as far as personal morality goes.)3. Are able to comfortably fit at least three fingers inside you.#3 was the one I had problems with. It took me _five friggin' months_ of daily stretching practice in the shower to finally get myself big enough to fit the stupid cup.The entire thing was extremely frustrating and very painful; it took me a while to figure out that the pain was (and still is) entirely concentrated in my vag. entrance. Having so much pain for so long seems to be unusual, though.Once you've gotten yourself big enough for a cup to fit, then you can actually buy it and follow the usual instructions and tips. I just wanted to warn other newbies that you might have to wait a long time and do a lot of work before you'll be able to physically use the cup. It's worth it, though.Other tips:-Trim and file your nails to avoid scratching the inside of your body, which I am told is quite painful.-At the beginning, use a mirror, a flashlight, and your fingers to familiarize yourself with your body so you can figure out where everything is and what it looks like.-Use lube for both self-exploration and the cup itself. If you want to save money and/or are environmentally conscious and/or don't want nosy housemates to find sex lube in your stuff, cooking oil will work fine (for menstrual cups and, I am told, also for actual sex).**Just make sure it's a "clean" type of oil like avocado or coconut; don't use gross synthetic stuff like "vegetable" oil. There was one oil that was safe but could cause an odor; I forgot which one it was but I _think_ it was olive oil.*Note: In my case, lube did absolutely nothing to decrease the pain, but it did make things a lot easier and faster, so there's still value in using it even if you're having trouble.-Note that the canal isn't really straight, it curves a bit. When you insert stuff, you have to aim toward the back at a pretty steep angle; don't try to go straight up.-Once the cup is actually in, feel around it to make sure that it's fully open. Dents = leaks.-----Once I _finally_ got all these problems figured out, the cup worked fine. I still have pain during insertion and especially removal, but while the cup is actually inside, I can't even feel it if it's placed correctly. Even if I don't get it quite right, any leaks are so light that a simple panty liner can handle them.Five stars for two reasons. First, because cups are so much more environmentally friendly than pads and tampons; but even better than that, the cup has turned my period from monthly hell into merely an inconvenience.For the majority of my reproductive years, I used pads. Over time, the effects got worse and worse, and nowadays, having to use pads makes my period a crippling illness for me. The cramps are so bad that I have to miss a day or two of work every single month; even when I take painkillers, I'm lucky if they even take the edge off. There's fatigue and weakness and just a general feeling of being miserable and sick.With the cup, though? It's like freaking magic. I still got cramps, but much less frequently, and they were so mild that painkillers silenced them completely. There was a bit of fatigue, but it was manageable; and there was no general illness feeling whatsoever. I felt like I wasn't even on my period. It blew my mind.So yeah; the five months of pain and frustration were absolutely awful, and I still don't find the technicalities of using the cup pleasant or pain-free, but it's absolutely worth it. It just took quite a lot of persistence for me to get to this point; if I'd been less motivated, I would have given up. I'm glad I didn't.

Good quality. happy with my product

Really comfortable and easy to use. Was able to try both sizes to see which was the better fit. Super reasonably priced

I love the idea of these but I just can’t get them to expand once inserted so I can’t use them

The media could not be loaded.  I had been seriously thinking about switching to a more convenient and affordable alternative to pads and tampons. I've used mainly pads for most of my life but in recent years (I'm in my early thirties) my periods have been getting MUCH heavier and my flow or the angle of my vaginal canal just doesn't work with tampons, I ALWAYS end up leaking on my heaviest days (yes, even with super plus ones 🥲), which is when I need the most help! Another reason I wanted to switch was because I hate having to adjust the type of underwear I use or activities I can engage in (like swimming) while on my period.Anywho, as a first time cup user, of course there is a learning curve and all bodies are different, so even though I watched PLENTIFUL period cup and disc content ahead of time, there's nothing like going in there and doing it lol.Honestly for the price of this product and being a first time user, it was not nearly as troublesome as I thought it'd be. I've been using the small one and emptying it every two hours or so during the heavy days as I get used to it. I am currently towards the end, so I'm going to leave it in a lot longer since I highly doubt it will get full anyway (absolutely no longer than the recommended 6-12 hrs).First time insertion was messy and a bit difficult, but adding a bit of lube around the edge of the cup and using the punch fold seems to be working (shown in the video using the large size). Make sure you push back and not up to get it in place. The hardest part for me so far is making sure it opens up before I go on my merry way. Pulling it out a bit, wiggling it around and dragging a finger around the perimeter seems to help. At first it was a little unsettling that it disappears so far up there lol, but you can definitely get it out.To remove I wouldn't recommend yanking straight down (the suction can be slightly uncomfortable), what I do is bear down so it will peak out, grab the stem and gently pull as I bear down in intervals (like you're pooping), then move it back and forth until one of the edges starts peeking out and slowly releases the suction. At the entrance it can feel a little tight but from there pull straight down, grab the cup by the sides and voila, it's out!I've had no leaks that I've noticed, and I can't really feel it while it's in there. I know part of the point is to not be wasteful, but this first time I've been using nitrile gloves to insert and remove just because my long nails can make the experience more...pinchy lolAll in all, I'm very happy so far and hoping this product will make my monthly period a far less inconvenient experience 😂IMPORTANT TIPS/REMINDERS!!!:1. Don't forget to sanitize (I'm boiling mine) for at least 5 minutes before first use and between uses.2. Wash hands before and after inserting/removing to avoid any bacteria getting in there.3. Rinse off with COLD water first after removing to try to avoid as much staining as possible.👍 10/10 great cup especially if you're a newbie like me, and if it doesn't work for you, you're not out $20-$40 by getting the more well-known brands 😎