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

When the feminine world started going nuts over menstrual cups, I thought it sounded disgusting and unhygienic. I was so sure of it and thought all the hullabaloo and hyped interest was ridiculous and was certain the fascination with it would blow over soon enough. After a while, I started reading into it more, curious what had everyone so excited. Now, I have to say that this is possibly the best investment I have made for my feminine health in years.Prior to this investment, my periods were awful! If I used tampons, I suffered during my periods with intense chills, hot flash-like episodes, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and occasional constipation with a constant urge to try and use the bathroom, and ALWAYS with the awful cramps that Midol hardly touched. If I used pads, my misery was generally limited to one or two days of the above, excluding the cramps which have been my friendly, once-a-month, week-long visitor for years. On top of that, because I bleed so heavily, I could not change my pad enough to feel at least "clean" and the smell always made me super self-conscious though I have never had anyone tell me they could smell anything. I often suffered from UTIs if I wore pads, no matter how hygienic and careful I was. (I'm a nurse, I am well aware how to clean my lady parts, thank you very much.)After doing some occasional reading about menstrual cups here and there, I decided "what the Hell" and threw caution to the wind to give it a try.I was surprised by the size of it when it came in the mail and balked at the idea of putting it up inside me, especially during my special time of the month. It seemed like a terrible idea and I thought it would cause some real discomfort. It was soft and flexible though, which is the only reason I gave it a try at all. I followed some advice I had read and didn't use the cup on the heaviest days of my period for the first month, just so I could get the hang of using it. It was a little tricky to figure out at first and a little messy when I would change it out. The tricks, such as folding it over on itself and twisting so it popped open, giving its "tail" a tug to make sure it was secure all worked well for me.The only time I have ever had it "leak" was when it either got overfilled, which has happened and can happen very quickly because I am such a heavy bleeder, or when I'm having a bowel movement - yes, with it in! I never suffered from any of the discomfort some people had upon insertion or trying to have a bowel movement. Funnily enough, I have been using it as a gauge to figure out how much I put out in a given day and have since talked to my doctor about the amount of flow I have been considerably larger than the average output.Most importantly: Wonder of wonders; miracle of miracles! I no longer suffer from chills or feeling feverish, nausea is mild and I have never gotten sick again. I still occasionally have some bowel discomfort and cramps, but they're more irregular and less severe, something I can easily control with Midol or a heat pack. I have also not had a single UTI since I made this investment, which is a success story in and of itself!All in all, this little device is amazing and I recommend it to all my friends and family members who have vaginas, even for the ones who are just curious to see what the hubbub is about! Try it. If you hate it, chuck it. It's only $20, but it could be the best $20 you ever spend!The ONLY thing that I don't like about this product is that, if you purchase a lighter color, it does stain. I had purchased the teal one initially because I thought it looked nice, but after a bit of use, there is some staining around the tab used to pull it out and the rim at the top that does not go away when I clean it. After a month or two of use, I also purchased a hot pink one which I keep in my work bag, in case I start at work. That has not changed colors or stained in any way that I have seen yet.

I have been using this cup for the last 3 months and am thrilled with it. Had read this review below and had been waiting until I was sure that it was a product to endorse before sharing it … this person below is speaking about the Diva Cup that you can get locally at SHOP N’ KART or at Amazon … I got the Athena as it was more in my price range and have found it to be a perfect match for my body. I love this product and am sharing this review below because I like how she says it … why aren’t we telling everyone about it! So I am … or this is my attempt to and btw I cut the stem she talks about off after the second month as it was irritating and it isn’t needed and have had no discomfort at all since :I also give it 5.0 out of 5 starsWe Have to Tell Everyone!By RH on March 23, 2011Size: Size 2 - 1 Pack Verified PurchaseSeriously? Why doesn’t everyone know about this? It’s like this weird secret – I mentioned it jokingly in a bar the other night, practically under my breath (while blushing), and three women SQUEEEED as we all came out of the Diva Cup Closet and talked about our Secret Love. And one woman mentioned that she couldn’t wait for her next period, and I swear to god, I FEEL THE SAME WAY. It’s crazypants, people.Why is it a secret? Why aren’t we telling EVERYONE?1. First, let’s all get over that it’s blood. Yes, it’s blood. It’s coming out, one way or another. I’ve found the Diva Cup cleaner than tampons (after that first month which was a very steep red learning curve, indeed. Second month, I had it down and used it while traveling. On a plane. For reals.)2. Don’t worry that you’re too heavy a bleeder. The packaging says most women bleed 1 to 1.4 oz a month. Me? I fill the 1 oz cup in 3-4 hours on my heavy days. No problem – I used to have to swap tampons every 1-2 hours in the bad old days, and now I don’t. Quick dump, rinse, replace. (Great idea someone had about bringing a water bottle into the public stall. Or really, a little piece of paper will wipe it out just fine, replace and go, wash it when you get home.) I used to go through an entire box of tampons a month, plus pads. In less than three months, this has paid for itself.3. Don’t worry that you’re not built for it. FULL DISCLOSURE and TMI ALERT: I have TWO cervixes (and two uteruses, two – jealous? It’s called uterus didelphis, not as uncommon as it sounds, no one even noticed in me till I was 35, and I’d had multiple ob procedures), so I wasn’t sure this product would work. I even wrote to the company before I bought it, and they didn’t know, either! But because the cup sits below the cervix (or cervices, in some special cases), it works. I bought size 2, since I’m over 30, and it fits right (see note 5).4. You’ll find your magic insertion method. You will! Mine is inserting HORIZONTALLY as they recommend, a twist while bearing down, and then letting the kegels take that puppy up to do its miraculous job.5. If that stem seems uncomfortable, TURN THE CUP INSIDE OUT. I saw that recommended somewhere, and it’s the secret for some of us, I’m telling you. Makes it wider and shorter, and I don’t feel it at all. You don’t need the stem to pull it out, and it almost seems like having the stem inside the base makes it easier to grab (again, bearing down slightly is what works for me).Good God. It’s a miracle. TELL EVERYONE! Hire skywriters! Every gal has to find this out! If just ONE of you buys this because of this review, my work will be done. And if you’re some creepy guy who’s grossed out after reading this because I tweeted it, then, well. You deserved it, didn’t you?BEST PRODUCT EVER!