Divacup: Woman’s New Best Friend

The DivaCup is the best “feminine protection” product out there today. If you’ve never heard of it before, it is basically a reusable silicone menstrual cup. 

Unlike disposable products, the DivaCup is reusable for ten years (though now the official website claims that it should be replaced annually). You can go up to 12 hours between emptying it, though, depending on your flow, you may find that you need to empty it every 4 to 6 hours on heavier days. 

It is hypoallergenic, so you don’t have to worry about irritation, as is commonly a problem with pads.There are no chemicals in it like there are with pads and tampons. Since it catches the blood, rather than absorb it and hold against your skin like tampons, there is no risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome. 

At first it is a little uncomfortable and awkward while trying to insert it, but once you get the hang of it, it is effortless to insert. It is simply a matter of figuring out the easiest way to fold it for you. If you insert it right, you also can’t even feel that it’s there. 

To remove it, you simply have to find the stem, and pull on it while lightly squeezing on the base of the cup with your fingers to break the suction. It may be a little awkward at first if you are uncomfortable with touching your body in that way, but you will get used to it after a couple cycles and it won’t be a big deal anymore.  Some women cut off the removal stem, but this is not necessary. If the DivaCup is inserted correctly, you shouldn’t even be able to feel it. 

After emptying it, simply empty the cup into the toilet, wipe out any excess blood, and rinse it in hot water. If you are in a public restroom, you can simply empty and wipe it out with toilet paper and rinse it the next time you are home (though you may find that you can go all day without needing to empty it until you return home). Once your period is over, you may want to boil the cup or use the specially formulated “DivaWash” to thoroughly clean it so it is ready to use for the next month.

Image via Wikipedia

You can do anything you can do while you’re not on your period while using the DivaCup. It stays in place while you are doing any kind of physical activity, such as dancing, swimming, and yoga. You obviously still can’t have sex while it is inserted, however. Cramps may also be less painful or noticeable while using the DivaCup as opposed to tampons.

It’s perfectly safe for any woman or girl who has gotten their period to use, including young girls who have just experienced menarche. Some people seem to think that virgins can’t use the DivaCup (or tampons for that matter), but this is just not true. 

Because it is reusable, you are doing your part to help the environment by using the DivaCup. About 12 billion sanitary pads and 7 billion tampons are dumped into the environment each year. These products contain harmful chemicals that can damage ecosystems. But the DivaCup does not have these chemicals, and you do not need to dispose of it after each use.

You will also save a lot of money by switching to the DivaCup. Most women spend about $150-200 on feminine hygiene products a year. The DivaCup only costs about $30-35 and can be used for up to ten years. It literally pays for itself after only a couple months!

DivaCup comes in two sizes. The first size is for women who are under 30 years old and have never had a baby. The second size is for women who are over 30 and women under 30 who have had a baby.

The DivaCup Is available throughout the United States. There are similar products available in other parts of the world, however, including MoonCup (UK), LadyCup (Austria, Germany, The Czech Republic, Slovakia), and Lunette (Findland, Austria, Germany, Clovania). There are also disposable versions of the menstrual cup available from various companies, though they tend to get less favorable reviews than the reusable versions. 

For more information, check out the official DivaCup website.