Soft, Safe, Reusable Menstrual Cup - Ranked 1 for The Best Tampon Alternative - 100% Medical-Grade Silicone Period Cup for Feminine Care - Buy One We Give One (XL)

Okay I’m about to get real and graphic so if you can’t handle what I’m about to share, skip this review. I’m 5’4’’ and morbidly obese at about 330 pounds. I would shop for my wallet killers aka pads and tampons down the same aisle when I need to replenish. I kept looking at the Diva Cup on the shelf and was turned off by the price. That’s what gets me...the price. Was I that willing to fork over a ridiculous amount of money for something that’s supposed to save me so much more the rest of my life? No lol! Money is too tight these days. So I broke down and asked in a makeup group I’m in on Facebook about the Diva Cup and what their thoughts were on it. A vast, large majority said it was best thing they ever had. Which is exactly what I wanted to hear. I needed to hear the support whether it was good or bad. So I ordered this at the tail end of my period so it’s not like I had a lot of “obstacles” in the way trying this out. I’m a very huge woman so I found that doing the trifold method versus just folding the cup over once worked best for me. I relaxed my muscles and just pretended like it was a tampon I’m inserting only it’s a purple silicone funnel lol! I tried inserting standing up and it just wasn’t working for me. I did wayyyyy better sitting down on the toilet which is best when you have to take it out anyway. I almost had it perfectly placed the first time inserting it. Reading the directions first put me at ease. Little things like you can pee with it in and not to use it for post natal bleeding. It was nice to read the small pamphlet for helpful tips, advice and how to take care of your menstrual cup. It felt funny at first and then I made myself move around more. I sat down on the sofa and I felt the cup go up more and I felt even more comfortable. One thing’s for sure, you can’t be afraid to get friendly with your “southern territory” so that you can make sure the cup is positioned like it should. Don’t be afraid to push the cup up higher. If you feel like something is stuck down below, it’s probably not in right. When it feels comfy, you’ll know. Some will feel it and others won’t. For me, I know it’s there and yes I feel it but it’s not an annoyance. I never felt uncomfortable to the point I need to adjust it. For those of you that work a lot, this cup is supposed to serve no leak protection for up to 12 hours and it’s true. I get up in the morning and unplug to shower and sanitize my cup. I pop it in and although it’s supposed to be leak free protection, there’s nothing wrong with putting on a panty liner for insurance. So that’s what I do. I go to work as normal and by the time I get home, I unplug, clean, sanitize and shower. I’m usually at my heaviest on day 2-3 and I go 5 days max when I’m on my cycle on average. I work at a daycare (for now....last day is in three days and then I’m going to a desk job!). Working with kids you’re up and down, constantly moving. I wore a panty liner and the Pixie Cup today and there was no leaking whatsoever and no discomfort of any kind. No smells. No blood on my underwear. No tampon in sight. No long Infinity pads the size of an eagle’s wing span. Being so big is so tough. I’ll have a heavy cycle and I’ll wear the Super absorbency tampon with a Heavy or Overnight absorbency Always Infinity pad at the same time. And having a big backside it just sucks up my underwear and then blood can easily got up the crack of my butt no matter what kind of menstrual armor I put on and I have to go to the bathroom just to wipe myself up. Granted, I wear black pants everyday, but blood can smell and no one is gonna tell me I smell but they might if I’m not around. Or I go to the bathroom and sit down on the toilet and there’s blood on the back part of the toilet. So I wipe the blood away and Lysol the toilet until it’s dead and wipe it down like I’m getting paid for it. I hated how I would smell and I was changing my pads and tampons. This Pixie Cup has given me peace of mind and freedom. For once, something makes me feel good about myself. Maybe once I get this weight loss surgery next year I’ll be even more confident in my body and struggle less with inserting this Pixie Cup. We have a 9 year old and 2 year old, both girls. So maybe when that time of the month starts for them, it might be something for them to consider if they’re comfy with it and save some money and protect their bodies in the long run. It’s important that they make their own choices when it comes to what they wanna do with the feminine products they use. Since I’m now educated in the benefits of a menstrual cup, not just for saving money, but for better health practices too, it’s another option for our daughters to consider when that time comes for them. Another important thing I was worried about is this thing disappearing into my body and I never see it again. For those of you that have had a child, push like you’re pushing a baby out and you’ll see the end of the cup and remove it. For those of you who haven’t had a baby, push as if you’re trying to pee or like your trying to have a bowel movement. I always wondered that if I shove this thing up there, will it want me to retrieve it haha. Keep in mind I’m a very big woman so when I sit down, that Tsumani-like force of my butt pressing against any surface is going to move things North, South, East and West I ain’t lying. And I still was able to get it out. So yes, I’m impressed with this, told my mom about my experience and how much I liked it. She didn’t even know something like this existed even though it’s been out for a long time now. I explained to her how it’s used, the benefits, etc. She wish she had it when she started her cycle. As far as the cleansing wipes, they’re good and if you wanna go cheaper, you can always have a small bathroom clutch bag and store some unscented baby wipes in a zip lock or get a travel sized pack of wipes and store it inside of your bathroom clutch so that you can easily clean your cup in the bathroom if you’re out in public or at your place of business. In case you might drop your cup in the toilet, get a backup cup or have a backup pad or two just to keep yourself covered until you can properly sanitize it once you get home. I even used Vagisil to clean my Pixie Cup and very hot water. I’m cheap, I try to use what I have before spending a ton of money right away. Hope this review helped!

Finally, I think I have found MY cup. I have been using menstrual cups for about 15 years, which means I have tried more than a few in my quest to find the perfect one for me. I am in my 40s now, pre menopausal which means terribly heavy flow (which I have always had due to rebellious ovaries) and constant fear of leaks, especially in public. I just went through my first cycle with this cup, (size XL) and I can happily say that the only time I experienced any manner of leakage was during the night, when I normally have issues with all other cups...but that was only upon actually rolling out of bed to stand up, thus squishing the cup which was already full to capacity and causing a bit of overflow. Other than this, I had no other issues at all!!! Here's my take on the cup itself: Design: Despite the XL being green, which is my favorite color, I don't give two flying figs what the thing looks like considering where it's going, but the thickness of the cup is what I feel makes it fab. Unlike more pliable cups, I feel the lack of leakage has a great deal to do with the fact that it doesn't squish as easily, and the Pixie is nice and firm. Insertion: If you are a practiced cup user, you will have no issues with putting this cup in. It's business as usual...fold in half, then in half again. If you are a new cup user, you will have issues no matter which cup you choose, as there is a bit of a learning curve, so don't let this stop you. I say, go for it. Give this one a try. I will never, ever use another tampon so long as I live and this is the best menstrual cup that I have yet to use. Comfort: As with most, this cup cannot be felt if inserted properly. I tend to pop one in before work when I begin to cramp and know my period is soon to arrive just as a safety precaution in case I begin my flow and am not at home. Complete comfort the whole time to forgetting I have it in until I experience the 'duh' moment and remember to check it that evening. Removal: Again, business as usual. Bear down, pinch and pull. Easy peasy. I dont know whether the little tab at the end makes it any easier to remove or not as I tend to pull the tip of the cup itself, not the tabs, but it seems 'grippy' and removal is just as easy as others I have used. Maintenance: This is the first cup for me that has come with little wipes, which is cool when I use this at work. Are they necessary? Probably not, but I thought it was a nice touch. As with others, I boil my cup after each cycle to sanitize and store it in it's cute little pink pouch until the next month. Would I recommend this? Most definitely! I have 2 daughters who have not yet begun their cycles, and while I will start them out on smaller cups for obvious reasons, I plan to order another for myself very soon as back up and one for each of my daughters for when they start menstruating. Another thing I love, by ordering all these additional cups myself, I am helping to donate menstrual cups to women who would likely otherwise not have one. Bravo Pixie for such generosity, and understanding just how much one little silicone cup can change the way a woman looks at an unavoidable unpleasant situation!

Before (practice on a dry run) So it did this weird thing where it didn’t pop open inside at first but now I thought I figured it out but I’m not sure if when I put my finger up there if it’s folding because of my finger?? But also if I like take it out it pops open then, and I’m not sure if it because it’s not opened or if it just folds down because my opening it small and it smushes it ?? Also I kept pinching my skin around my vagina which hurt a lot, but I left it in over night since I could feel my period coming, and I emailed them my concerns. Day one I started my period at school at close to the end of the day so I popped it in and bam! It just went in so easy and it make a loud slurping noise which probably didn’t sound so good to the other girls in the bathroom lol. I put a pad on just Incase. And it worked! It didn’t leak and it did its job! I took it out in the shower at the end of the day surprisingly there wasn’t much blood but it I poured it out it like exploded like it was super concentrated. It I put it back it back in it wouldn’t cooperate yet again, and First I thought was because I was standing, then I tried Sitting on the toilet didn’t work, but when I laid down in my bed it popped right open and sucked in air, I got a little freaked out because it felt like there’s to much air in there but a little bubble came out and I feel much more comfortable now. Day 2 I was pleased to see that is didn’t leak during the night and it was working! But emptying it made a pretty big mess though. I wore it for the day, it worked perfect! I kinda learned that with this then you just have to trust it to work, because there’s no way to for sure know if it popped open completely. But I never ever had any leaking! Or pain or feeling uncomfortable. Although my only complaint is that the removal and putting it back in was painful but it would quickly go away and it fine, and it was fine though the night! They also emailed me back and explained there was learning curve, and my body needs to get used to it, they also offered to send me a smaller cup! Day 3 It’s still working and I think I’ve got a pretty good hang of it!! It still is a little painful going in and out, but I totally forget about it when it settles it’s pretty crazy! With tampons I constantly feeling bubbles and keep reminding myself to change it not to risk any infections, and with pads well it’s feels like a diaper so it’s impossible to forget. But with the cup i totally forget I’m even on my period! It’s amazing! I just can’t believe that I don’t feel something that big! It’s also amazing to clean, it’s just so east and everything just slides out, so far it hasn’t stained! But that might be because it’s pink and not clear. Day 4: Not sure what else to say! It did it’s job and it was great! Went in and out smoothly and no leaking ! After: So I made a mistake,,, and totally forgot to take it out aaannnd now it seems to be stained with a horrible smell, but! I read up on it, and I’m soaking it in a 3% vinegar bath which many people say cures the bad smell I’m hoping it’ll work! Over all review: I’d definitely give this a 6 out of 5 if I could! This is a amazing product! I can’t believe that I used to be so creeped out by these things and when my sister told me about it I thought to myself “I’ll never use that vampire shot glass!!” But look at me now! I love how reused able it is, making it so eco friendly! I love how you don’t have to deal with making sure you have enough tampons or pads when you go on a trip! Also not to mention if apocalypses/natural disasters where to happen this will be a lifesaver (sorry to be a downer but I live in a high earthquake risk) also the company making these are just the best! They really care about what people have to say, wether it’s good or bad, they also donate a cup to a woman in need which I love and think is amazing! I’m totally hooked and am happy with this cup!

Review update: I bought the small size and it's definitely more comfortable. The cup isn't as deep, but I never filled it up anyway. So I've been using this thing for 3 cycles now and, while I will say it's pretty cool and a healthier alternative to tampons, I wouldn't exactly say that "it will change your life!" as some other reviewers have insisted. Well, other than the fact that it takes an additional 2-5 minutes while getting ready in the morning because this thing is freaking hard to maneuver. I'll start with the bad, or slightly annoying. I don't care what anyone says, I can still feel this thing. It's not painful or even that uncomfortable, but I can tell it's there. It's just like a... pressure. It kind of feels like when your tampon is too saturated and wants to come out. It won't just slide out though, cause if you put it in right, it is SUCTIONED in there. I mean like, really suctioned. You gotta give the little tab a pretty solid yank to get it out. And getting into your fun dungeon? Let me tell you, if you don't like sticking your fingers up your cooch while you're bleeding, menstrual cups are probably not for you. It can get a little slasher film if your flow is heavy. Also, if for some reason you had to take it out in a public restroom, it could be awkward. The only way I have found to get it in correctly is to squat down, fold it in half, and jam it up the ole Dagobah system. Then you gotta run a finger around the outside of it to make sure it popped open. And THEN if it isn't positioned just right, you have to pinch the bottom of it with TWO fingers and rotate it around until you get it where you want it. If you have a tiny giny, some parts of this process will probably be difficult for you. However, it does WORK. I was concerned about it leaking or not being big enough to hold all the blood, but apparently I bleed less than I thought, because it has never leaked or overflowed. I can work (I'm a massage therapist), do yoga, exercise, and sleep in the thing with no spillage. As an added bonus, if you're disgusting like me, it is actually pretty cool to see how much your vajay bleeds during your period. And also, you can "double right-click your mouse" with it in, with no gory mess... I don't know from experience or anything, I just HEARD... from a friend. Oh and maybe best of all, NO THREAT OF TOXIC SHOCK! So there you have it, ladies. Now you can decide whether you want to be awesomely feminine like me, or be a stringed loser with TSS. The decision is yours. P.S. There are many options to choose from when picking a menstrual cup. I picked this one because it rhymes with DIXIE cup and I like to party.

This is my second Pixie Cup. I initially made my purchase based on the buy one give one, which is pretty amazing. I have been using menstrual cups for a couple of years now and they are definitely not created equal. I like the Pixie cup for its fit and the “stem” length. It’s a firm cup but not uncomfortable to place, wear or remove, however, the more it is used the less firm it is but does not become flimsy to the point of not serving its purpose. I have extremely heavy menstrual cycles so I use the large and do have to empty it several times daily otherwise it will leak (for me). Overall, I have been very happy with this brand and have recommended it to others.

========= UPDATE: ========= IT’S ALL IN THE FOLD! I stand corrected, so I will change my previous rating and chalk it up to my lack in knowledge of other folding techniques useful for tight or strong pelvic canals. I learned that there are several other cup folding techniques out there and found that that tulip fold (aka 7 fold, I think) works for me! Since I am new to this cup thing, I was under the impression that the two (2) cup folding diagrams, located in Pixie’s instructions, were the only existing techniques. So thankful that my pride won’t allow me to accept defeat so easily. Hopefully, I will get the hang of this folding process. With the tulip fold, it took only one attempt to comfortably insert the cup AND I DIDN’T FEEL THE BATTERY OF THAT HARD RIM. Also, didn’t have to rotate the cup to get it to open. All I did was give it a little downward tug and I instantly heard the cup pop as it opened to seal into place. I also found that laying down on my back with legs up during insertion is a great way to get the cup to pop open and seal every time (but this is only useful while I'm at home). While in the restroom, doing a track runner stance (which pretty much look like I'm doing lunges) works to get the cup to open for me as well. (I will leave my initial review up because maybe someone will have or is having all the same issues). ====================== I know that all our bodies are different, so with that being said: What doesn't work for my anatomy, may work for yours. This review may or may not be of use to you. I spent the first 2 days of my menses trying to get things to work with this cup. This is the first ever time I've purchased and have chosen to use an alternative to pads and tampons; this cup is making me want to throw the towel in all together! I will keep this review as PG as possible because I have no desire to be too personal or too graphic about my lady parts on here--so, here goes: First off, the rim of Pixie's silicon cup is too hard! I'm in my late 30s and so I have no problem with relaxing those muscles on command. It is impossible not to feel the brute prodding from the hard surfaced-rimming during insertion. I spent 45 mintues trying to get the cup in without the stem hanging out, so I ended up trimming it but it still hangs! Because the cervix changes altitude/elevation/position--whatever you choose to call it--someone experiencing a low cervix (or people with low cervices) may likely have issues of the stem hanging out of the vaginal canal. I went to bed the first night wearing the cup but the constant presence of the low sitting cup made me get up in the middle of the night to remove it. I felt tons of pressure while removing the sealed cup; although, I admit that the wide stem kept the cup upright so that no spills were experienced. My experience with this cup was far from comfortable due to the sensations of both the base and stem being ever present at the entry of my canal. Also, this cup would only seal if it was sitting in an uncomfortably low position! My cervix had moved a bit higher on the second day, so I was able to get the cup and stem completely in but it remained folded and it would not open to seal no matter how much I rotated or wiggled it. I did a full 360 rotation and the thing would only open and seal once I pulled it near my opening for removal. I have strong pelvic floor muscles, so even a very hard rim wasn't strong enough to get this cup to unfold--I can only imagine the pain I would had to endure had I bought a large cup. I will just look for a cup that has softer, more pliable, silicon material. I am only disappointed because this cup didn't work for me--I am not disappointed with the brand. Just too bad that I couldn't be one of the many satisfied Pixie cup users. My search continues.

So I heard about menstrual cups on some blogger's site a year or so ago and thought "no, there's no way it's that great." Fast forward to now, I'm about to embark on a three month trip abroad with limited luggage space and a fear of not finding compatible period products (for example, in Greece it is hard to find tampons with an applicator). So I start timidly exploring the world of menstrual cups. All the reviews are great, and after spending five nights in my cart in a bachelorette style competition with other cups like Diva or Luna, the Pixie cup is purchased. When it arrived, I wasn't on my period, but I decided to put it in to test it and make sure it was comfortable. Like many of the reviews said, getting it in the first time was somewhat challenging. But once I had it in, I didn't even feel it! I'm also a dancer, so I left it in for rehearsal- the true test for any tampon or hygiene product (splits, jumps, kicks... you get the picture). Again, I didn't even feel it, and it stayed in place! No slipping half out or anything! Taking it out was a little difficult, but again, practice helps. Finally, my period arrived, and it was time to trust the cup. It was amazing! I went all day without worrying about Toxic Shock Syndrome, leaks, or discomfort! I will say that it took a couple (messy) attempts to perfect removing the cup without making my bathroom look like a murder scene, but I got the hang of it eventually. I was worried leaving something in so long would cause a smell, but there's none! Just a few tips: If you have a narrow vagina, I suggest using the fold where you press one side of the cup down with your finger and then use your other fingers to press the sides together- I think they call it the triangle fold. Either way, it makes the cup skinnier and is a lot easier to put in. Also, I was really confused about how to seal/check if the cup was sealed, because the directions said run a finger around the rim of the cup. While I thought that meant the very top, I've found you can check my running your finger just above the stem to feel for any dents in the bottom of the cup- there shouldn't be any if it is sealed right. I love that Pixie Cup donates a cup to women in need with each purpose, that the business is small, and that it is inexpensive but not cheaply made! I promptly bought another cup a week later so I had one to keep in my purse and one to keep at home. It's also helpful because you can gauge how much blood you're losing each day more accurately. I have anemia so if I notice a heavier flow I have to take some precautions, and the cup helps me regulate that. All in all, I would tell anyone who is skeptical to give this a try! It is environmentally friendlier than pads or tampons, more reliable, more comfortable, and great for things like camping or traveling. I don't have to worry about taking my purse with me everywhere or wondering if I've packed enough products! 10/10 would recommend!

I have had this for a year a more. Does it work? Yes. It does. Is it comfortable? Yes. Easy to clean. Yup. Easy to remove? I'll get to that. Does it do something other cups don't? No, not really. (Tl:dr - XL cup is the same size as everyone else's Large and that little dimple on top makes it hard to remove.) The cup came with its little bag and a bunch of samples like wipes and cup cleaner. Which was nice. I was excited to try this. It was a woman-owned/founded business and I thought their message was good. Still do. I got the extra large size because I have a super heavy flow the first few days of my period. And it always seems to come all at once. So much so that even with a cup I still wore a pad because my cup would (literally) runneth over. And I was already using a large(s) from another brand. Then I saw Pixie. Hemmed and hawed because of the price point. Easily twice as much (plus some) as my previous cups - and I got them for $10 for two. But that extra large...that could be a game changer. I could maybe stop wearing pads and still make it to the bathroom in time to change! Nope. I remember being excited about getting it, opening the box, and seeing all the little samples. Washing and disinfecting it. Then I *really* looked at it. Gee, looked smaller than I thought. Went to my bathroom cupboard, and took out my old one from its case. It was the as same height, width, and diameter as my old one. The only thing Pixie did was put the measurement line higher. What a major letdown. Still, the brand and company was good (still think that) so I decided to use it. And that's where we come to my real problem with this. You see my other cups have a little round ball you can use to remove it. Those are handy. The Pixie has an indent or dimple at the end. Believe it or not, it doesn't make a great grip for removal. It looks charming and is supposed to represent some kind of flower or something in nature if I remember correctly. What it is, is annoying. Do I still use my Pixie Cup? Occasionally. It's my backup for the ones I use regularly. Will I get another Pixie Cup again? No. Another Pixie product? Maybe, but more along the accessories lines than one of their main products.