My Diva Cup Experience: Facts & Tips For The First-Timer
/I tried the Diva Cup and I'm never going back to pads or tampons again!
The Diva Cup is a menstrual cup. Used without the harsh chemicals and fibers in most pads and tampons, this silicone cup can be worn for up to 10 hours!
I will admit that I was apprehensive about using the Diva Cup. Even when I was placing the order on Amazon, I had already convinced myself that when the package arrived, I was going to take one look at the size of the cup and say oh hell-to-the-nah and send it right back. That didn't end up happening of course. So in my attempt to get as many women to try it as possible, I'm going to go through some common misconceptions about the Diva Cup (most of which I believed before using it myself) and some tips I have for best use.
Misconception #1: The Diva Cup has a "suction" effect so it must be uncomfortable.
Fact: True, the Diva Cup is structured somewhat like a suction cup for the vagina. It is designed with little air holes towards the base of the cup to allow it to "suction" to the walls of the vagina so that it catches blood (I know this sounds crazy, but trust me you don't feel it-no pulling sensations, just a secure cup). Because of the design, it acts as a barrier to prevent any leaks. Unlike pads, which can over flow because blood is a liquid and liquids spread when being poured (essentially its like you're pouring the blood from your vagina), or tampons, which have a limited absorbency because it is made of cotton and other synthetic fibers. Imagine you've just put on jeans. Now imagine that someone comes and drenches you in hella water. Your jeans are going to be able to absorb only so much liquid before the excess drains off. Same with your tampon. (maybe this was a good analogy, maybe not- you get my point)
Personal Note: I hate using pads because it seems awkward to just sit in your own blood all day and I live in Houston- its too hot to be feeling dirty. I prefer pads, but I don't feel comfortable sleeping in them overnight because I have this unreasonable fear of suddenly dying from toxic shock syndrome because I slept for too many hours.
Misconception #2: The Diva Cup will leak.
Fact: The Diva Cup is made of a strong, durable-yet-flexible, health-grade silicone. However, that doesn't mean its leak proof. The Diva Cup WILL leak, if you put it in WRONG. As I mentioned before the Diva Cup is designed to have a "suction" effect so there is no chance it will leak if you put it in correctly. The main reason people experience leaking (which I did on day 2 of my period) is because the cup is not fully opened or is placed incorrectly.
In order to make sure the cup is properly positioned and fully open you should be able to easily rotate the cup fully once. If you find that you can't, take it out and start over- no big deal.
Source: www.divacup.lv
Personal Note: I personally found better success with using the second insertion model since the cup is only partially pushed in for insertion, it opens fully once you release it and easily rotates. I also found that it inserts better when you are sitting. I insert it when I'm in the shower by squatting down. If I'm changing it during the day while I'm out I'm sitting on the toilet (don't worry I carry my own toilet covers).
Misconception #3: My flow is too heavy to use the Diva Cup.
Fact: Despite the fact that it feels like you are losing all the blood in your body during your period, you really only lose 1-2 ounces of blood (unless of course you've been diagnosed with a medical condition that states otherwise). It's unlikely that you will even fill the Diva Cup- even when wearing it overnight (trust me, I was worried about this too).
Misconception #4: It's too messy to use.
Fact: The idea that emptying your cup is going to have you looking like Carrie is unrealistic but you can't be afraid of a little blood.
I actually feel like this is much more sanitary than using pads and tampons simply because you are emptying to contents of your cup directly into the toilet. No hassle with removing pads and having the blood roll back and drip onto your underwear (I know I'm not the only one) or having to deal with blood on the side of your thighs because those "winged" pads are really some bullshit. No having to yank out a tampon and roll it up in a bunch of paper towel just to transfer it to a disposal and ending up with blood on your hands (again, I know I'm not the only one).
Personal Note: My nails are naturally long and for some reason, ridiculously sharp. If you have long nails be careful when rotating the base because I did scratch myself a few times.
Misconception #5: The Diva Cup is too painful to insert.
Fact: This goes back to making sure it's inserted correctly. If it feels painful, it's definitely in wrong. This is virtually pain free. If you are a tampon user, you really should have no issues at all. If you don't use tampons- just breathe through it. Most people who complain about it being painful have either inserted it wrong or too far inside. The cup isn't going all the way up to your cervix (refer back to picture). The stem of the cup should be in line with the opening of your vagina. If you have to go fishing to find it-it's too far in.
Personal Tips For Use:
1. Use a panty liner- because it was my first time using the Diva Cup, I wasn't sure how well it would hold up and if it leaked, how crazy it would be. So to be safe, I used a panty liner for the first 3 days until I felt like I really got the hang of it.
2. Insert the cup going back- imagine that you're trying to angle the cup towards your tailbone so its horizontal and not going straight up. Remember when we mentioned leaking because its not positioned correctly? You don't want that. This is why a sitting or squatting position is best for insertion.
3. Kegels- To make sure my Diva Cup is properly in place, I do a few kegels. If I can feel it moving up and down as I'm contracting my muscles, I know its secure and fully opened. Plus kegels are life!
4. Push like you're doing a #2- when removing the cup, I try to avoid having to grab the stem because of my sharp claw like nails, so to make it easier to remove and to push the stem out a little but further, I push like I'm on the toilet to handle some business. Remember you only use the stem to pull so you can grab the base and remove it gently. If you yank that baby out by the stem- prepare for a literal bloodbath.
5. Wet paper towels- Because you're supposed to wash your hands before removing the cup at any time, I use wet paper towels when I'm in public to close and lock restroom doors so my fingers aren't dirty. Also, when using the restroom in public the Diva Cup site mentions just emptying the cup and wiping it out with a wet paper towel. I didn't really care for that which brings me to my next point.
6. "Mad Dash"- I mentioned using panty liners to protect myself against leakage. Here's why they came in clutch- I wasn't about to use paper towel to half-assedly clean my Diva Cup so I would pull up my underwear (which were lined) and quickly go out and using my elbows turn on the faucet to rinse out my cup (of course still with my wet paper towels to lock my stall again). It seems unrealistic to do that but I made sure to use the restroom 1) when it was empty (you can discreetly wash the cup though with people in there- I did it several times) and 2) when I know I didn't really have to go that bad because it takes some time the first few times.
7. Cleaning- I used my feminine wash to clean the diva cup since it is pH balanced and unscented, however Diva Cup sells their own wash. DO NOT use scented soaps, oil based soaps, or antibacterial soaps as they compromise the silicone.
8. Changing Cup- Even though you can wear the cup for 10-12 hours, I only wear it about 7-8 hours meaning I change it three times a day instead of two. When getting started, you're going to be a little paranoid and want to change it because you think its going to overflow or you think you're leaking. Sure you can go in and do a quick "panty check" but don't let that fear ruin your experience with the Diva Cup!