This is a great product I will continue to use, but it is not a replacement for tampons.

Unfortunately, Instead is leaky -- and when it leaks, it doesn't leak like a tampon, only letting out a dribble of excess fluid, but rather spills the ENTIRE collected contents of the cup. For this reason, except on my lightest days, I use it in *addition* to a tampon. Not surprisingly, it is the most vulnerable to leaks when I am working out (running or climbing). 

The reason I continue to buy Instead are that I can take out the tampon and have sex with it in place (yay!), and I can use it on my heaviest flow days (when I used to have to change my tampon every hour or two) to enable me to go several hours between tampon changes. Also, on very light flow days at the beginning and end of my period, I can use it without a tampon since I know any leaks will not be substantial.

Be forewarned that Instead is very messy to remove. It's impossible to take it out without having the fluid that has collected in the cup spill out inside your vagina, because you have to squeeze in the sides to remove it. If you're doing this in a public restroom, it may be awkward to deal with blood all over your hand!

Overall, with the limitations I've described, I find it to be a useful product -- but NOT, as the manufacturers would have us believe, a replacement for existing sanitary products. 

Recommended: Yes