Let me start off this article by saying I have never shied away from discussing experiences related to menstruation hygiene or reproductive organs. I have given in-depth sex talks to many friends over the years and have even done a full demonstration of inserting a tampon.
So you’d think I would have been less afraid of trying out a Diva Cup, right? However, I was definitely nervous and unsure of myself going into this experiment. I won the menstrual cup as part of a prize package for HCUCD’s menstruation hygiene product donation drive this past spring, and figured I might as well give the Diva Cup a try.
Here’s what happened.
Tuesday:
9:00 a.m. – I read the instructions. Then I read them again.
9:05 a.m. – I washed my hands and the cup, took a deep breath, then tried to insert the cup. I had a really difficult time inserting with the cup folded in the “u” shape that the diagram had illustrated, so I switched to the triangular shape that the pamphlet also illustrated.
9:10 a.m. – Okay, smooth insertion. But I was having major issues with getting the cup to fully open once it was inside. I could tell that part of it was still folded by feeling the base of the cup, so I decided to practice removing the cup and wear a tampon for the rest of the day.
9:15 a.m. – No trouble at all removing it!
Wednesday:
8:00 a.m. – I re-read the instructions, washed my hands and the cup, and got ready to insert. I felt the cup fully open once it was inside, and felt supremely proud of myself for inserting successfully.
8:15 a.m. – I used the restroom before I left for class, and could feel a tiny bit of the stem still protruding, which made me feel confident that the cup was exactly where it should have been.
10:15 a.m. – I started to feel some very odd, painful pressure from where I usually feel my cramps, but tried to ignore the sensation and focus in class.
11:30 a.m. – The pain was too persistent to ignore, and I became paranoid that the cup was folded or somehow incorrectly placed. I decided that after lecture I would run to a single-person bathroom on campus where I could remove the cup and wash it without anyone seeing me.
12:15 p.m. – The single-person bathroom finally opened up, and I got to business. The good news: there hadn’t been any leaking! The cup was working! The bad news: I couldn’t feel the stem at all, and couldn’t remove the cup, which seriously freaked me out. On one hand, the pamphlet said that squatting helps your muscles depress and slightly push the cup down so you can grab the stem. On the other hand, I was way too panicky to do anything except silently freak myself out.
12:20 p.m. – I worked up the courage to squat and immediately felt the stem. I pulled down a little bit, then felt around the base of the cup and folded in one side. I immediately heard a distinct popping sound – that better have been the cup, and not some other part of me!
I removed the Diva Cup and washed it in the sink with hot water. Then, I put the cup in a plastic bag I had brought with me to school and spent the rest of the day with the pad I had worn for insurance. I figured the pressure I had felt earlier in the day was just regular cramps, and that they felt super different with the cup inside of me.
Thursday:
9:00 a.m. – I decided that I should try to wear the cup for a full school day, so I got everything ready.
9:05 a.m. – Success! Third time’s the charm, right?
6:30 p.m. – The Diva Cup worked perfectly: no leaks, no pain!
Overall, I was thankful I tried using the cup. I felt so clean throughout the day I wore it and didn’t worry about accidental leakage. The hardest part was definitely just getting over the misconceptions I had about the cup, because it really isn’t that scary or difficult to use. It’s a smart, eco-friendly device that eliminates a lot of worrying during my period, and I’m excited to continue using it!