I bought the small FLEX Cup a couple of weeks ago when it was on sale. The one thing about silicone is that it collects lint like crazy, hence why there is some on the cup. I always wash cups before using them, and you should too. Anyway, here are my thoughts on the FLEX Cup. Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. Always consult your physician before trying out products like these and others. This is not a sponsored post.

I liked the idea of it, even though I was leery about the stem. Since I can feel the stem on every cup, and it’s very uncomfortable, I cut them as short as possible. I should also note that my cervix sits higher during my period, and the stems still bother me. Cutting the stem, most definitely, not an option with the FLEX Cup. You can, however, put the ring close to the base, which helps.

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The cup was easy to insert. The part of the stem that sits inside the cup is thick, so folding it wasn’t quite as easy (of course), but it wasn’t that bad. The material is pretty flexible. Similar, in terms of flexibility, to the DivaCup versus lena. I used the “7 fold” method, and it went in just like any other cup. To check for suction, if you don’t feel it, you can grip a bit of the base and give it a slight tug. You can also feel for the base to be rounded with no flattened areas. Just don’t pull on the ring or it could release the suction putting you back a the beginning.

After getting situated, could I feel the stem? Yes. Initially I thought I would have to remove it right away, but I thought, “No. Give this a minute, and see if your body gets used to it.” Unlike other menstrual cups, the stem on the FLEX Cup is much more flexible. In most positions, I felt it slightly or not at all. When I was sleeping, it was relatively comfortable as well. Upon sitting up when I would wake, or when first putting the cup in, I would question whether or not I wanted to leave it in. A couple of minutes later, I didn’t even feel it. The time when I felt it the most was during urination. It’s a bit uncomfortable, so if you really have to go, don’t push too hard. Long story short: Yes, I could feel it, but it wasn’t a deal breaker like I thought it would be.

One issue I was concerned with, aside from feeling the stem, was leakage. A comment that I had seen often was that the cup leaked. I always use a liner (typically washable, but on occasion disposable) just in case. Unlike some other users, I did not experience any sort of leaking regardless of activity. Even sleeping gave me no problems. The stem was great at plugging up the bottom…as it should be. Even though water is not the same consistency, you can put some in the cup to check the stem placement and leakage.

I have to empty smaller cups every 6-ish hours during the first two days since it is quite heavy. If it’s a larger cup, I can go as long as 12 hours, but tend to empty them every 8-10 hours. Emptying the FLEX cup is simple. Well, it was when pulling on the ring actually broke the suction. The first time I had to empty the cup, I pulled on the ring, and had to pinch the base of the cup to break the suction. It definitely works better when the cup is close to being at capacity. When I was able to pull the cup out using the ring, I was happily surprised that it was effortless and painless.

The holes just below the lip of the cup are a bit bigger than with other cups, so when you’ve removed it, you will want make sure that nothing is plugging those up. Due to the nature of the cup, you can’t just wipe it would and shove it back in. Honestly, you shouldn’t do that anyway, but it’s especially so with this cup. We aren’t always in facilities where the toilet has its own sink. I recommend that, if you are out, remove/empty the cup, do your best to wipe it out, and put it in a wet bag until you can wash it at home. You will probably want to keep a spare cup or two of your choice to use once you’ve removed FLEX.

FLEX Cup is priced competitively, yet high, at around $40 unless you can find it on sale. The price point, for a product that is difficult to clean/re-insert if you’re in a public restroom, is high. It could easily be priced at half (or below), but if they can make more, well, that’s business. They have a version of a Softcup; I could never use it because it’s too wide, and have the same issue with theirs. However, if you haven’t had issues with discs, perhaps give it a try. They are disposable, though, and have not been tested for multiple uses. Hopefully they will have a sustainable disc in the future.

Have you tried the FLEX Cup? Let me know if you have, and what your favorite zero-waste period product is.

Peace & Love, always!