The DivaCup is a silicone cup worn
vaginally that collects menstrual flow. It is considered a healthy,
convenient, and economical alternative to tampons and pads. It comes
in two sizes: Size 1 fits best for women under 30 years old who have
never delivered a child vaginally or by caesarian section. Size 2 is
recommended for those over 30, whether they have given birth before
or not.
Why I Wanted to Try the DivaCup
- being
non-disposable, I like how plumbing friendly this product is. Tampons
have so often clogged the toilet, and I can't stand having a bunch of
used menstrual products in the garbage can where guests can see and
kitty can reach.
- there are no
risks of Toxic Shock Syndrome like with tampons, or skin irritation
like with pads
- since I no
longer need to make a monthly purchase, it's easier on the wallet
- you can wear it
for up to 12 hours at a time. This saves me time and stress, as I
don't have to balance my busy schedule with tending to my period
- being able to
wear it for up to 12 hours is extremely beneficial to my more active
lifestyle. I can now plan camping and fishing trips without worrying
about having to carry feminine products with me
- it can be worn
during swimming and sports
- even though I'm
sensitive, the cup is made of silicone, which is incredibly rare for
anyone to have sensitivities to
My First Impression
Upon
taking it out of the box, I noticed that it was soft and malleable,
which is always a bonus in a product that I want to move with me. It
wasn't too big, but had a curious stem on the bottom, and I worried a
bit about it poking me. I later learned that this stem can be trimmed
if needed. I didn't think I'd have a problem dealing with insertion
and removal as I've been using an alternative disposable menstrual
cup for some time with no trouble, so I was pretty shocked as I
unfolded the 3 page instruction manual it came with, for something I
perceived as a quick and easy to use product. It was a bit daunting
to find out that I was going to have to insert the cup, then rotate
it while inside to prevent leaking- a lot more hands on than I
expected.
Trying the DivaCup For the First
Time
After reading
through the lengthy instruction manual twice (or was it thrice?), I
felt overwhelmed and confused. Finally I decided to just pop it in
the way I felt would work best. Surprisingly I got it on the first
try. I spent the day comfortable and largely not thinking about it. I
was sure I finally found the product that would make my period as
painless as it could be. At the end of a long day, however, I
realized that cleaning and reinserting the cup probably wasn't
something I'd want to do half-asleep until I got more used to it.
This is also when I learned that the handy little stem on the end
wasn't meant to pull on to get it out. It was up to me to bear down
with my muscles to remove it, and I wondered if that was going to be
as easy as it sounded, especially since I haven't been doing kegel
exercises. Turns out it was that easy, and I appreciate not having to
reach in to get it out.
After Day 1
When cleaning the
cup for the first time, I was a little put off by seeing a day's
worth of menstrual flow just sitting there, not absorbed into any
cotton as I've grown accustomed to over the past 10+ years I've been
dealing with this. This made me slightly squeamish when I tried to
insert it, so days 2-4 I dealt with a fair bit of leakage.
Admittedly, that's all user-error, and it got better as I got faster
at putting it in and learned just how to do it correctly.
I should have
listened to the DivaCup website:
Tips for Success
No one expected you to ride your bike without training wheels on your first try. Likewise, finding the right fold, routine and time of use for your DivaCup may take a few cycles. Once you’ve got a handle on it, you’ll be inserting and removing the cup without even thinking about it.
Summary
Overall, I love
this product. It has a steeper learning curve than I expected, but
the pros far outweigh the cons. I am confident that by my second or
third period, I should be able to handle it like a pro. Being
incredibly forgetful, I enjoy not having to remember to throw tampons
in my bag before leaving the house, because I've already got my
coverage with me. With my irregular period, it's also a relief not
having to deal with scrambling for a new box of tampons or pads when
a surprise period pops up. When my period got lighter, I was relieved
to be using a non-toxic silicone product, rather than irritating my
body with a mostly dry tampon or pad. And most importantly, I've made
a better, healthier choice for my body and the environment I live in. When asked, I always say yes, I would recommend this product!
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