Saalt Cup Regular

This is the first time I have worn a cup. I didn't know which brand to buy but I knew I wanted a flexible one. I watched an informative youtube video first so I was aware of the need to "break the seal" before removal, I'm happy I watched it first because the video said if you don't break the seal it is painful. Even watching the video, removing was not super easy although not super hard either. I don't think I would want to remove it in a public bathroom although I'm sure after a year of practice, it won't be so weird. I made sure to get a very flexible one which this one is. I like it, it's much more comfortable than a tampon because it doesn't dry you out. I think I did leak some, I probably should have purchased the larger one because I think that one would leak less but I have light periods and am a baby about new things. Unfortunately it didn't arrive before my period started so I only got to try it out about 2.5 days in which is when my period begins to lighten quickly. I wore it for probably 8 hours before I took it out and it was about a quarter full. I can't imagine removing it full but I guess we'lll see how that goes in the future. It's weird to be 34 and learn new ways to take care of menstruation. I'm almost like what's the point, but I probably still have 10 more years of periods. I also bought thinx underwear which was much more expensive than this cup but also, come on, who wants to sleep with anything inside of you if they don't have to? It's so great that women now have so many options to choose from, so much better from the days of tampons vs. pads. The only thing I have to say is I wanted a black one to keep it from staining and like who cares if it's a pretty color lol but I have a pretty green one.Edit: I have finally used my cup during heavy menustration. I skipped using it on vacation because I didn't want to deal with something I'm not comfortable with while hiking and stuff. It's definitely necessary to be very comfortable with yourself. I find I have a little bit of trouble getting the cup to pop open after insertion but it after some maneuvering it does. Even on heavy days it doesn't really leak much but I pop it open and kind of pull down on it some to make a seal. I think the leaking is just the blood that is under the cup after insertion but it's a pink color and doesn't go through my panties or anything (I always wear black panties on my period).Removal requires two hands. It very much could be a very messy accident. I am a housewife and I do not go to a job so I do this in the bathroom naked. When I start working again I will probably buy the bigger cup but we'll see if this can hold a full first day of menustration. After a few hours on the first day I removed it mostly out of curiosity and it spilled on the floor so I still don't know if the small size is all I need.I am very happy with the comfort, I did not remove the stem and I use it to locate it inside of me. I am not worried about it getting lost. It does not cause me any discomfort and it is much less gross than a tampon when you need to go to the bathroom for other reasons than your period. I really hate when I have to go to the bathoom with a tampon in because the string hangs down and when you wipe, it goes up your butt. I usually remove my tampon every time I go to the bathoom but with this thing in, it doesn't get in the way. I heard pooping was difficult but I just found that I don't push quite as hard and it's not that weird. When I'm on my period, I don't need to push anyways.Edit 2: I decided to go ahead and purchase the larger one so I can wear it longer and maybe hike with it. It was a little annoying to wear the small one because I did have to change it every few hours on a heavy period but after my period is done being heavy, I almost don't need to wear anything. I wish I had just purchased the big one to begin with because it's not like I can give it away but oh well. I have a low cervix on my period so I wasn't sure but I think the bigger one will be fine because it's so soft. I will probably update after use.Edit 3: I am now happy I have both the big and small. I wear the small on that day when you think you will start your period, but you're not sure. Especially if I'm out. It's small enough it's not too bothersome on that day. I also wear it on light days and at night, although the bigger one could probably work on these days as well. I have gotten better at dealing with leaks. Cups work differently than tampons and they don't soak up blood so you have to take some extra precautions to prevent leaks (although the leaking isn't like a tampon leak unless your cup isn't big enough, even when I was leaking I could just wipe it away and not worry much). So I have found that if you wear a cup all the time, you will leak less. This means at night while sleeping. If not, you can put the cup in and then take a half bath for 15 minutes or so. This removes a lot of the excess blood. If you are short on time, you can wet your fingers with water and then rotate your fingers around the cup to remove any blood that may be around it, do it a few times. Leaking is pretty much only a problem on your heavy days, on light days, it's not an issue.Removal: I'm a lot better at removal. I can now get it every time in under a minute and I have little hands, although I am a bit limber which helped a lot at first lol but now it doesn't matter that much. I actually use a different technique for the big and small. So for both I hike up one leg on the bathtub or toilet with the lid down. I break the seal. I use the pointy part to locate and perhaps move it. For the small, I can reach the top of the cup and I pull it out from the top. It is easier to remove. Now, the large is more difficult to remove because I cannot reach the top of the cup when it is in place. Instead, I grip it from the bottom and pull it out from the bottom. Pressing down can help. When I first started using it, removal was kind of stressful and once I did fail and have to wait 10 minutes before trying again. But now I can remove it in a minute. I have never removed it in a public place but with the big one, I probably won't have to. If I anticipate I cannot make it home in less than 12 hours (and you might be able to get more than 12 hours out if it in a pinch depending on how heavy you are), I would wear thinx underwear and just wait until I got home, myself. Or maybe try removing it halfway in the day before it is very full because removing these things is messy and in a stall, I just can't imagine.One last precaution, these are very comfortable and you may forget you are wearing them. Especially near the end of your period when it is lighter. I didn't die but now my cup has a weird smell. I did a lot of things to the cup to make the smell better like washing it a lot, airing it out, and I soaked it in water that had a little bit of essential lavender oil in it (the only thing that worked), and then boiled it again. It still has a smell but it's an improvement. I'm sure the manufacturer would not suggest the essential oil thing but it still works and didn't irritate my body. I don't suggest doing this often to the cup, I'm not someone who tries to use scented things or anything. I was just desperate. I read some people set alarms to let them know when they need to change it, because you just don't feel like you're on your period and it's easy to forget.

All the raving you hear about menstrual cups. Well it is true, this little piece of silicone is freaking fantastic. I was an avid pads user, tampons scared me, honestly the thought of shoving anything up there was scary, but one of my roommates swore by the cup so I thought I would give it a try. I read the reviews and decided to go with the Saalt Cup in the small/regular size and I am so glad that I did.Pros- Environmentally friendly, I’m not dropping half a box to a box of pads in a landfill once a month.- Wallet Friendly, I’m no longer dropping quite a chunk of money on pads- Leak Free, I have only ever leaked twice and it was when I was a lazy butt and wore it more then 12 hours cause I didn’t want to get out of bed- Can do practically anything in it, I jumped on a trampoline, swam, did a handstand, and much more while using this cup- If you are using body literacy/fertility awareness and know that your period is going to be starting in the next 24 you can pop it in, and is no pain or discomfort and you are prepared for your period to start at anytime that day/night- You can’t feel it, like seriously if it is in right you can feel nothing, I will forget it is there- Easy to clean and sanitize. Just wash with a mild soap between changes and boil for like 5 min in between cycles to sanitize.- You help your self and other women. I love that they donate to charities that help other women get period products.Cons- Bit of a learning curve. I was able to figure it out by the end of my first cycle with it but I know some people take longer.- I feel like the stem breaks too easily or at least mine did. During my first cycle while I was still figuring things out the stem broke. It works fine without the long stem but I wish it has lasted longer then a few days.- You need to be comfortable with your lady bits.- It can get messyTips- Do your research before hand look up different folds. I prefer the triangle fold.- Make sure you know what a good seal feels like. Solid Rounded bottom.- Practice putting it in and taking it out before you have to go any where give your self some time to get use to it. Because it of the design you can practice with it before your period even starts.- Get the size that fits you. Regular is for low cervix women and woman who haven’t given birth. The large is for those with heavier periods and those who have given birth.- Learn to take it out in the shower or on the toilet. I honestly had an easier time learning from sitting on the toilet then in the shower, but the shower is good for less mess.- Wear a panty liner or period panties the first few days as a pack up as you are learning. I never ended leaking in my first days but the back up gave me a sense of security as I learned to trust the cup.I am really so glad I gave the Saalt cup a try. It is super convenient and was easy for me to use. I get excited for my periods now because there are all these things I can do now that I wasn’t able to do before when I just used pads. If you are like how I was an avid pad user who had never had anything in her vagina before don’t be afraid to give the Saalt cup a try it is easier then it looks. Most problems take time and practice to get over and the pros really do out way the cons. I would have given it 5/5 if not for the stem breaking so easy. It really was a great purchase and I highly recommend it.