So if you decided to click this post, chances are you probably thought, “What the heck is a Diva Cup and why in the world is called a Diva Cup?” Well, I can definitely help answer the first question! For the second, you’re going to have to take that to the company itself.
The Diva Cup is a brand of menstrual cup. Now if you decided to read ahead, I’m going to be talking about my personal experience with using a menstrual cup for the first time and I will not be holding back any information so you have been warned.
Ladies, this is what the diva cup looks like:
A menstrual cup is exactly what it sounds like; it’s a cup that you literally stick up your lady bits to collect the remnants of your insides you shed while on your period. You may be wondering, “Why would I ever stick something that looks so daunting up my lady bits Christine?” so here are three reasons why you should switch to a menstrual cup:
1. You save so much more money in the long run when switching from pads/tampons to a menstrual cup. This means that when you buy a menstrual cup, generally, one cup will last you for a year or more because it is made of silicone or rubber (but it is important to keep an eye on the condition of the cup). That means no more monthly trips to CVS for a box of pads/tampons.
2. Using a menstrual cup rather than pads or tampons will make a huge positive impact on the environment. Rather than using an average of 12,000 tampons in one’s lifetime (that ends up in landfills and sewers), you would use around 4 or 5 menstrual cups in one’s lifetime.
3. There are 0 reports of getting toxic shock syndrome from using a menstrual cup. Toxic shock is a bacterial infection women can get when they use tampons for too long because the cotton becomes saturated with blood which becomes a breeding for staph bacteria, which causes toxic shock. Because your blood just gets collected inside a cup, the bacteria can’t grow and spread.
Now that you’re aware of some of the benefits of using a menstrual cup, this is part where you’re going to feel like you’ve known me for years once you’ve finished reading from here on out. Two years ago, I was brought to the attention of the existence of menstrual cups but I was always hesitant on trying because the mechanics of using the cup always kept me skeptical (and afraid, really). This month however, the Diva Cup Company graciously sent Her Campus Cal State LA a “Diva Cup 1” for a lucky lady to try out and so, I believed that it was a sign for me to suck it up and just try using the cup.
It’s a given that before you use something completely foreign and new (especially if it’s for a week of your own personal monthly hell), you’re going to try to figure out how it works before D-Day comes. The most important “disclaimer” tip I will give you ladies out there is that if you’re a virgin like me, sticking this cup up your lady bits is going to feel really weird and very uncomfortable to the point where it might hurt a bit. HOWEVER, this mainly refers to the first time you try inserting the cup up your lady bits when you’re going for a test run and you aren’t on your period. Don’t let this particular news deter you from trying to use a cup because your vaginal muscles does relax when you’re on your period so when the day actually comes, putting a menstrual cup inside you, will be a lot easier.
Another thing I would like for you to take note if you decide to use a menstrual cup: use a liner because you will spot at times but it is definitely a lot better than using a tampon or pad. If you’re afraid of how heavy your flow is and the cup won’t be able to hold it all, I suggest checking every two to three hours just to get a feel of how heavy your flow is (most cups also have measuring units to make your life easier). For me, I found out I could go about 8 to 10 hours before needing to empty my cup. That meant that I didn’t need to run to the bathroom in between classes to change my tampon, which feels AMAZING.
One of the most important steps you need to remember to make sure you do when you use a menstrual cup is to always check that the cup is fully open so no spilling occurs. Overall, I honestly prefer using the Diva Cup over tampons and pads because it was a lot less stressful. Now I’m not going to lie, I was in fact stressed to the max over all the possible ‘what ifs’ that could happen when using the cup for the first time so I strongly suggest you pray that your period starts on a Friday or weekend so you can use it in the comforts of your home and can worry without being even more conscious about it.
Finally to end this rollercoaster ride of what a menstrual cup is and my personal experience, there are many different brands/types/prices of menstrual cups out there and you have to find one that is the best for YOU. One of the most important issues in finding the right menstrual cup for you is knowing where your cervix sits. For example, if you have a low cervix, I would not suggest getting the Diva Cup because the cup is quite long when it comes to the shapes of a menstrual cup. It is important to make sure you don’t place the cup past your cervix and that the stem does not pass your vaginal opening.
For more information on mentrual cups, here are some helpful links:
- The Ultimate Guide to Menstrual Cups
- A Guide to Menstrual Cups
- Menstrual Cup Reviews
- What Menstrual Cup is Right for You?
If you have any questions you would like me to answer, feel free to tweet me at @kristyneee and hopefully I can answer them!