How The Diva Cup Changed My Life! All The Reasons to Switch to The Diva Cup and Some Great Tips for Use!
A few years ago, I started to have issues of an allergic type reaction with conventional menstrual products. I then switched to organic, which were somewhat better, but didn’t get rid of the problem completely. I resigned myself to redness, irritation and pain during my cycle, in addition to all the other typical discomfort associated with my period. I didn’t know there was another option, until a friend was raving about her DivaCup. So excitedly…optimistically, I gave it a try.
Now the first couple of months that I used the DivaCup, I HATED it! It was uncomfortable and hard to get in and out. Disappointed, I gave up and stopped using it. Six months later, I was talking to another friend, I mentioned how uncomfortable I found it, and that I had given up. She told me that this was common, and once you used it a few months and got used to how to put it in and take it out correctly, you should barely be able to feel it, if at all. I stuck out a couple of months of growing pains and haven’t looked back! No more irritation, plus all kinds of other benefits, including being super convenient!
How it works:
DivaCup is a brand name for what is called a cervical or menstrual cup. It is a reservoir that cups over the cervix and forms a seal around it. The blood fills the reservoir, and the seal prevents blood from escaping around the edges. When it is full, you pull it out to empty it, rinse it and reinsert.
Benefits:
- Not having to remember to bring extra tampons or pads with you wherever you go - great for travelers!
- A person with a moderate flow only has to empty twice a day.
- Large capacity, so if you have a heavy flow, it means less changes than with pads or tampons.
- No more bulky pads at night or night-time leakage! The seal prevents leaking, even when laying down
- Hate that feeling of pulling out a tampon that is not quite full or inserting a new tampon on low flow days? That dry, raw, ripping sensation? Yeah, not a problem with DivaCup!
- It’s made of medical grade silicone and therefore hypoallergenic!
- Less garbage! Less garbage! Less garbage! The planet will thank you!
- Save money! Diva Cup retails for $39.95…how much money did you spend on your period last year? Most people see a $100-150 in savings annually.
- No panty liner required! If you use tampons, you know, they don’t quite fit exactly, and there is usually some leakage, so a panty liner is required. Not a problem with DivaCup! If you establish a proper seal, it doesn’t leak!
Tips:
- Wet with warm water before insertion
- Don’t use the nub as a handle to pull it down, bear down to push the cup lower, then grab the cup itself with two fingers and squeeze it enough to break the seal and it will come out relatively easily
- Be sure to trim that little nub down to a comfortable level! If it is too long, it can rub on the vaginal opening and cause irritation and discomfort. I left it longer thinking I needed it to pull the cup down and that caused a lot of unnecessary discomfort
- Sometimes (not always) having a bowel movement can be a little more difficult, or knock the cup out of place, so be aware of this, and re-establish the seal after a BM to prevent leaks. Do this by grabbing the end and twisting it until you feel it move back into the right place. Knowing where the “right place” is comes with practice in insertion, so don’t worry if you don’t get it right away.
- When getting used to the Diva Cup, wear panty liners until you get accustomed to how to put it in properly, as when you insert it, if you don’t form a proper seal, a small amount of leakage can occur.
- If you ever suffer from severe cramps, keep a few tampons or pads on hand, as, sometimes, on a painful cramp day, the Diva Cup can be somewhat uncomfortable. I have varying degrees of pain, from mild discomfort to severe. I have only had to take mine out due to cramping once in over a year of use.
Cautions:
- I have read and been told that using DivaCup with an IUD is problematic, as it could get caught on the string from the IUD, and inadvertently move it or pull it out. I have also read articles to the contrary. It is best to do your own research (on their website, elsewhere online, speak to women you know) and speak to your doctor or health care professional, and then make a decision that is right for you.
- Read the care instructions carefully to ensure longevity. If you start to experience irritation from the DivaCup, it likely needs to be replaced.
- Don’t use lubricants to insert DivaCup, as they can break down the silicone
Check out their website http://divacup.com. And buy it here!
And see how menstrual cups are helping women and girls in Africa here.