Friday Flops: The DivaCup
Posted on May 22, 2009 by Miss Britt in Friday Flops
My mother first told me about the DivaCup a few years ago. Actually, she went further than that – she actually bought me my very own DivaCup.
My mother is a generous hippie granola nut.
For those of you who have never heard of the DivaCup before, despite the Internet’s recent fascination with it, allow me to explain. The DivaCup was designed as an environmental (and economical) alternative to tampons and pads.
Oh, yes, it’s going to be that kind of post.
Basically, the DivaCup is a silicone cup that a woman puts in her vagina to catch the blood from her menstrual period. Instead of having to change a tampon or pad, you take the cup out, empty it, and put it back in. Yes, I know, it sounds disgusting. Although honestly, does it sound anymore disgusting than “it’s a cotton ball on a stick that you shove in your vagina to absorb the blood from a menstrual period”?
We ooze blood from our crotches every month. Pretty much any product that addresses that need is going to have an ick factor associated with it. That is not enough to dissuade me from investigating a product because what is worse than a blood catcher is not using anything. Clearly.
There are actually a lot of good reasons to use a DivaCup.
The biggest plus of a product like the DivaCup is that it is better for the environment. Instead of using disposable products like tampons and pads, you have one product that you use over and over again. Of course, when you’re using anything in your vagina over and over again, it’s important that to take special care to keep it clean. The product, I mean. DivaCup sells a special DivaWash soap that is fragrance free and specially designed for sylicone. You don’t want the silicone to break down, obviously, and you don’t want to use a soap that can cause irritation, obviously.
Another reason to consider the DivaCup is the economic factor. One DivaCup costs about $32. The average woman spends about $200 each year on feminine hygeine products. And it never fails that when you are feeling the most broke, you will start hemorraging and find you have no tampons in the stockpile. Or maybe that’s just me. Whatever. One cup is cheaper than buying tampons or pads over and over again.
So – with all of those excellent reasons for using a DivaCup, why is it on the Friday Flop list?
The bottom line is that it’s a pain in the ass to use. It’s messy. I mean, yeah, periods are messy and anything associated with them has some kind of messiness included. But having to deal with a CUP full of blood is extra messy and gross. Contemplate, if you will, the word “spill”.
Oh, yeah.
There’s also the cleanliness factor. Sure, you can wash it out. And you SHOULD wash it out. But imagine being in the bathroom at Nordstrom’s and having to hobble out to the communal sink to wash out your DivaCup. Right? Yeah, no. And not washing every single time is simply not a good idea.
My last complaint is probably the most delicate. Silicone has it’s own odor. The last thing I want to do is introduce a new odor to my reproductive region. Enough said.
Now, should you still want to try a DivaCup for yourself, the last thing you need to know is that one size does not fit all. The DivaCup comes in two sizes. One is for women under 30 who have not given birth and one is for women over 30 or anyone who has given birth. I’m trying really hard to ignore what that says about the state of my vagina.
Locally, you might be able to find the DivaCup at a health food store, including most Whole Foods.
Or you can buy a DivaCup online here:
Diva – The DivaCup Model #1 Prechildbirth Cup
Diva – The DivaCup Model #2 Postchildbirth Cup
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Posted on May 22, 2009 by Miss Britt in Friday Flops
I wonder how many certified divas actually use it. I’d guess none. But they probably have their very own people who act as tampon changers.
@avitable, You are one brave, brave man right now.
I don’t know Britt.
I fucking love my diva cup.
I mean everytime I use it I shoot fairy dust and rainbow glitter out my ass.
Really.
It’s a side affect. Read the packaging.
The only thing I don’t like about the diva cup is trying to come up with a creative explanation for my son when he asks what that rubber thing is.
Last time I told him it was a nipple shield.
I’m running out of good ideas.
@Redneck Mommy, thanks i just spit coffee out of my nose!!!!!!
Really and truly, I’ve been using my Diva cup for years, and I love it. It takes about 3 months to get the hang of it, but after that, you hardly know it’s there.
Other reasons, besides cost, to use it:
- reduced incidence of yeast
- less vaginal dryness than a tampon (can’t believe I’m saying that on the internet)
- it leaves you feeling cleaner (really)
- no leaking (once you get the hang of it)
You’re right, you wouldn’t want to deal with it in a public washroom. I just usually plan to be in a private place when I have to clean it.
Please keep an open mind. It works.
And by the way, I am indeed a diva. Ask my husband.
I have been thinking about using the diva cup for a while now as tampons are HELLA expensive here and, guess what, it is like finding a needle in a haystack if you want the ones with the applicator.
@DaDuck, I would HANDS DOWN use one of these over a tampon without an applicator.
@Miss Britt, yeah, I am thinking about getting one. I just had a bad experience with the ones you buy in the store. Working, white shirt, in a hurry. Needless to say the bathroom at work looked like a murder scene.
I use it. I would have climbed a mountain to sing it’s praises when I first started using it.
Then the itching started. Apparently, I’m sensitive to the materials or something. Which really sucks, because I felt a lot better during my period in regards to cramping and such.
Wow, all of these people use it? I never expected ANYONE to say they use it, haha!
There is no way in hell you could get me to try that thing. I have issues with messy yuckiness, thanks.
When I needed it, I couldn’t find one anywhere. Now, I don’t need it anymore.
But can’t you also wear it for 12 hours before you need to empty it? That shouldn’t make it too hard to avoid doing it in public.
What I used toward the end of my periods was Instead, which is a disposible cup. Not quite as environmentally friendly, but I only used 2 a day rather than 8 or so a day (and it should be noted that periods get heavier toward menopause and I was heavy to begin with). It’s also available in Walgreens. And it doesn’t smell. Or itch. I loved them as was pissed they didn’t come out sooner.
HA! Actually, I have no idea what I did with mine, but now that I think about it, they were so much easier to use than stupid irritating tampons!
I’ve been curious about this product and a bit skeptical about trying it for the very reasons you’ve mentioned … and the fear of spillage.
Thanks for being the crash test dummy on this one. I think I’ll stick to what’s worked for the past 28 years, even though it’s bad for the environment.
Yeah, I used disposable diapers, too.
I’m with Hilly. The Yuk factor just ain’t my thing and I bleed so heavy anyway, I’m afraid it would over-flow in the worst of places, namely, WORK! And I just can’t stand the thought of washing something that had my vaginal blood in it. Just sounds WRONG! And I have enough of something being shoved inside my vagina, I don’t need anything else!
Cups rock! There’s a couple kinds if the Diva isn’t quite right for you but honestly, they are soooooo much better than tampons.
Once you’ve had practice you can tell if you got a good seal. And you can leave it all day even heavy days–put it in after morning shower, empty before bed in your own bathroom. And I’ve never noticed silicone to have an odor… but maybe my cooter just has magical fragrance properties?!
@thaidyed, Ugh, I would not want to wear it all day! Isn’t that unsanitary? I mean, they say not to leave tampons in for more than 8 hours to prevent Toxic Shock Syndrome… Eek.
Check out menstrualcups.org for LOTS of details. It’s not unsanitary and TSS is a load of…well, you know.
I have friends who LOVE it, but I haven’t tried it myself.
I think I’d maybe like to, though…
I was seriously thinking to myself as I started reading this, “how in the hell would I clean that thing out if I were at Target or the mall?” Ugh, I just feel icked out right now! I’ll stick with my happy Kotex tampons and Carefree pantiliners, thanks!
this is something that i was considering getting after i have the babies…and everyone i asked that used it wouldn’t tell me about the messiness of it..i wanted to know about that…and how likely you are to drop it in the toilet..and because it costs $32 will they go fish it out? i’m assuming you HAVE to, after all, it would clog up the potty…i’m going to have to keep thinking on this…oh, another question…what about sex while using it? i know my hubby would love to not have to give up sex for a week anymore…
@Jamie, um – the sex while using it rule is going to be the same as it would be for a tampon.
Once the space is occupied… uh… it’s occupied.
I know this comment is old, but I just wanted to weigh in. Try using the Instead disposable menstrual cup. I have relatively light periods, so I use one for twelve hours or so at a time. Intercourse is perfectly possible with these, and I’m not all dried out like I would be with a tampon.
The Diva cup is lower in the vagina, so intercourse with it is not practical.
i am so torn. i want to be all mature and environmentally friendly, but a part of me just doesn’t want to deal with the emptying and cleaning. not to mention insertion and getting a good seal. yeah, i don’t think i am ready for the cup. sorry, mother earth.
I have to admit, I have never heard of this before. And I’m kinda grossed out about cleaning it. I think I will put this in the “good idea, but not for me” bin now!
Oh. My. God. The OCD person in me just had a heart attack. Followed by a seizure.
It’s been a life saver to me, at least I don’t have to worry during my heavy days anymore. And I don’t get the feeling that it’s going to fall out before I get to the bathroom.
I’m chiming in with another “got it, love it” comment. I got one a year ago because I moved into a place with a very, very sucky toilet/cesspool and my habit of tossing the tampons down the john (terrible habit, I know) had to stop, I refused to go back to pads, and it’s fantastic. Like it’s been said further up, it doesn’t need to be changed as often as other period supplies – I do it in the morning and before bed, and I’ve never had a leak problem, and I’ve got a nastily heavy flow on my first day or so.
I don’t know if I’m just lucky, but I’ve also never made a mess in my bathroom with it when taking it out. I can only seem to get it out while sitting on the toilet, so I just empty it in the toilet and reach across the counter to rinse it in the sink.
I have never ever heard of such a thing… I think I must live under a rock or something.
Hi, Love the comments – the most important thing to include is that tampons are soooooo toxic for your vagina – and keep in mind the vaginal walls (oh yes – I said it) are the MOST absorbent area in your body – the last thing you need is to introduce bleach and other crap in the form of cotton tampons in there.
It does take a moment to get used to – like 3 mos as was mentioned – but that means during the first period you will be adjusting a bit and then be like – oh this is nice and then like oh I think I need to adjust it type stuff.
Byt the 3rd period you could be a pro – but seriously – less cramping – vaginal health up 100%, and a happier enviro! Can’t beat it
Try try again luv – thanks <3