My sister and I are two totally different types of people and we live crazy-different lifestyles. However, we both like to be green and we do talk about all kinds of personal things, like feminine products. So when I told her that Lunapads.com had approached me about reviewing their eco positive period products, she told me that she’d heard tons of great things about Diva Cups and totally wanted to try one. While she doesn’t currently blog, she was writing blogs on the Internet before the term “blog” was coined, so I suggested she do a guest post review for my blog.
I was not pleased or encouraged by this news. A few cycles?! There are very few experiences that have me unhappily filthy with blood that I’m willing to keep trying at for several months. I’m just not going to have that kind of patience.
So should you get yourself a Diva Cup? Sure, why not! Especially if you have some beef with tampons. Be aware that there’s both a learning curve to the whole folding, insertion, twisting, forming a seal process and that the sensation of wearing it takes some getting used to. I recommend talking with a friend who is an experienced user, or seeking out tips/further instructions online to really maximize your Diva Cup experience and help cut down the steep learning curve.
I’ve always wanted to try this but have been a bit apprehensive. I like the eco-friendly aspect of it.
Just a quick note that it’s a LOT easier to do the changeover in the shower for the first few times. That way the mess factor doesn’t matter, it just washes away immediately. Also, there are a variety of menstrual cup brands on the market, each slightly different. Searching out some people who describe the pros and cons of different brands, I’d settled on the Lunette, and LOVE it. So much less hassle.
I’ve been using the Diva Cup for about 3 years now and LOVE it. Not only is it green, but I don’t have to worry about Toxic Shock Syndrome, or about the bother of changing a tampon if I’m in the middle of something. I didn’t feel like it took very long to get used to it. If you can feel it, you know it’s in wrong! Just follow the instructions closely. You should be able to twist it 360 degrees with relative ease if it is in and expanded properly. Just give it a chance!
Also, it does tend to get discolored over time, but this is normal. Boiling it in some water with a dash of white vinegar does wonders. You can use a toothpick to clean out the holes around the rim, just poke in and twist, to clean out residue. You may need to remove it from water, scrub a bit with a papertowel or cloth (t-shirt rags work well), and place back in a few times to get it really clean but it works wonders!
Don’t be discouraged if you experience leakage initially, my friend had the problem but now that she is more comfortable with inserting and removing it it is working much more effectively!
Good luck all you Divas out there 🙂