}057{ Diva Cup
I want to have a chat about feminine hygiene products today. Why? Because a lot of people are far too shy about it. It’s a product women all need in their life, so why are we so embarrassed about it?
So, throughout my life I’ve used pads of various brands, tampons and a diva cup. I’ve never been terribly regular or consistent in my periods. Sometimes they’re light, sometimes they’re heavy, sometimes they’re short sometimes they’re long. There have been several things throughout all of my periods, I’ve noticed and I’ve had to make choices on them.
I first learned about Diva Cups when I started working for drugstore.com 4 years ago. I thought they were the most disgusting things, and the whole concept grossed me out. However, it became clear that for me it may be something necessary.
After having one of my longest periods of my life (it lasted about a month and half) my body wanted nothing to do with pads and tampons. Pads were giving me rashes (not matter what style or brand), and tampons were drying me out to the point it hurt to use them. So I started considering my options and decided to give Diva Cup a chance.
First off, they’re not easy to use. The concept is easy, but it takes time and patience to be able to properly use it. You have to be comfortable with the fact that you are going to have to keep your fingers in place while you insert it, because you need to keep it rolled until it’s inside of you. At that point you need to let it expand and turn it so that it’s fully expanded. You may even need to run your fingers along side of it to ensure that it has fully opened, because you want to make sure you don’t leak out.
The suggested use for Diva Cup is no more than 12 hours, but it has no link to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) so if it runs a bit later don’t freak out too much. Just don’t make it a habit. Just remember, the longer it is in, the more chances of overflow (especially if you’re bleeding heavy) and the farther it can migrate upwards.
We all know that the vagina is nothing but muscles. So those muscles will pull the diva cup farther up inside of you. This doesn’t really harm anything, it just makes it harder to get sometimes.
To remove, you need to pinch the end of it and pull it out of you slowly. You will want to ensure before you pull it out completely that you have a good grip on it, because you don’t want to spill blood every where. After you’ve emptied it, you would want to make sure you rinse it out or clean it (if possible). If you are in a place where you aren’t able to clean it at that time, make sure you wipe it out. A clean piece of toilet paper will help you out in a time of need. But you will want to make sure that you rinse it out or wash it at least once a day.
To wash it, you can use a gentle soap that is safe for all over your body. You can also purchase DivaWash which is specifically meant for it. Proper care will ensure your product will last longer.
Keep in mind there are two styles of Diva Cups, and it depends on age and life experience on which one you should be getting. Be sure to check out Diva Cup‘s website for more information on their products and which style would be best for you.
Personally, I use a combination of tampons and the Diva Cup for my periods. Pads never seem to work too well for me, as my bleeding is so irregular I can have a day where it’s been from light all the way up to heavy, and I don’t like bleeding out. So I rely on tampons for regular days when I’m just working, and rely on the Diva Cup when I have a day off and know I will be asleep for more than 12 hours, or when I’m working out. You need to find what works best for you, and make sure you stick with it. Remember, no one can tell you what is best for your body but you. So you need to make sure you are comfortable with the option you are using, and if you aren’t you need to look around. There are more options than what this blog includes. Including reusable pads, and sea sponges.
I remember one of my first thoughts about this product when I first read about it was “well wouldn’t feel the blood moving?” and the answer is no. You don’t feel anything. I find for the most part, as long as it’s inserted properly it feels more comfortable than tampons.
I don’t believe I have anything else to say on the matter. I believe this touches on the use, the product, and the only question I ever had. Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this, and I’ll be happy to try and answer as best as possible.
I also hope that whomever has read this has found this educational, and feels a bit better about the product. It may seem weird but it works.
About 'Manda
A woman making her way in the world. Writing reviews, making life changes, sharing recipes, and just trying to get by.
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