Sometimes, when I tell my husband what I’ve been chatting about with my girlfriends, he raises his eyebrows. I guess guys don’t have the equivalent of a “little friend” to discuss, or perhaps I have a very open group of friends. Most of us see our cycles as a fact of life, something we have to put up with on a regular basis, and so it comes up in our conversations. Like my DivaCup.
I’ve heard about the DivaCup for a few years and recently, in part because of a friend’s rave review, decided to try it out. I like the idea of not spending money on feminine hygiene products and not filling up my garbage each month.Another thing that attracted me to the DivaCup was the fact that most feminine hygiene products contain perfumes, drying agents, and other chemicals. After Sunshine’s birth, my midwives warned me not to use most brands of pads as the chemicals in them would interfere with my healing. How do those chemicals affect me the rest of the time? With the DivaCup, I don’t have to worry about that.
If a woman’s period is her “little friend,” then the DivaCup is her “best friend.” After just one day of using it, I could totally understand why my friends raved about it. It was just as easy to use as a tampon, but I didn’t have to be constantly checking my purse or the bathroom drawer to make sure I had enough products around. Just remove, drain, rinse, insert again, and go.
The DivaCup is available in two sizes. I found it easy to insert, although once or twice it seemed to be a bit more difficult. The cup comes with complete instructions for use and care. It can be worn for up to 12 hours at a time, so you only need to empty and reinsert it twice a day (unless you have a really heavy cycle). (I like that!) It can also be worn while doing sports, as it will not leak or shift (again, this was important for me as I’m a swimmer and don’t want to worry about my little friend while I’m in the pool).
Overall, the DivaCup just simplified that time of month for me. The DivaCup website has a ton of information if you have questions or concerns about this product. You can also follow DivaCup on Facebook.From the website: The DivaCup is the only menstrual cup allowed for sale in Canada by Health Canada. It also holds market approval by the US FDA. The DivaCup is latex free and is made from top quality silicone, a material that has been used in healthcare applications for over 50 years.
“With all the state-of-the-art conveniences Western society has developed, it baffles us why outdated feminine products are still being used. We believe that reusable menstrual cups are the next generation of feminine hygiene because they are the most environmentally responsible choice. They are also the most convenient and reliable option available and are not linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome.” ~Francine Chamber (DivaCup creator)
I was provided with a DivaCup for this review, but I was not otherwise compensated for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.
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12 Comments
I posted about the menstrual cups on my blog the other day, after reading yours. I have several people that are interested but still have questions, as well as myself.
Deborah – it takes a bit of practice, I think. But I’ve had messes from other products too. 🙂
Kathleen – hmmm. It’s not supposed to leak (another reason I liked it) so maybe it needs to be adjusted a bit more? Or maybe you have the wrong size? I wonder if they have a “help!” section on their website or someone who can give you some tips?
Christine – for heavy cycles, you can just empty the cup more frequently. I start really heavy so just check it more often, but it shouldn’t leak like other products so then the heaviness shouldn’t but such an issue.
Thanks for sharing, everyone. It’s great to hear different thoughts and ideas. 🙂
One of my best friend swears by the Diva Cup and has been using it for years. I’ve always been curious, but have an issue with blood. LOL! I don’t like it and my cycle lasts for 8 days of heavy bleeding. Sorry, probably TMI, but that’s the reason I don’t use the Diva Cup. Maybe it’s worth trying though. My friend really loves hers.
I have a Diva Cup but I’m still having trouble getting it in right, it keeps leaking. I do like the idea of not feeling like there is anything between my legs (pads) or a string hanging out (tampon).
I have heard many good things about these. I think you finally convinced me to make the leap and pick one up. Thanks!
I tried a similar cup years ago, mostly because of environmental concerns. I have to say I really didn’t like it, as it was very difficult to place and to remove without making a mess. I should give the DivaCup a try though. I’ve heard great things
Thanks again Bonnie. Will check it out.
Brenda – do check out the website, as DivaCup also offers a DivaWash for the cup and lots of advice on cleaning it. Lots of people worry about that with cloth diapers too, but honestly, just wash it. The best prevention for getting sick is washing hands with normal soap. The same for diapers and the DivaCup. Check the website and the instructions with your cup. 🙂
I’ve been wondering about these as well. I am not sure I would like it but then again tired of spending so much money on things that just get thrown away.
Thanks Bonnie. I’m not squeamish about blood, I think I’m more worried about sanitary issues. I’ll read a lil more about them because I’d love to not have to spend money on pads & tampons. Thanks
Brenda – I’ve used tampons for years, so to me the cup was similar, but without the hazard of toxic shock syndrome. As I said, it also seemed to come with so many benefits – less garbage, less expense (once you’ve paid off the initial investment). For me, it was like the decision to use cloth diapers. It just made sense. I know some people will find both cloth diapers and this cup a little bit “gross,” and I’m not squeamish at all, but both seemed to have so many advantages that outweighed having to clean them.
I keep seeing this all over the net and reviews by users but I am having a hard time stepping away from tampons and pads. How did you get past the initial thought of the cup?