Update: I talk more about my Diva Cup experience when I reviewed it in this video.

What the heck is a Diva Cup?

The Diva Cup is a silicone (non-latex & BPA-free) menstrual cup.

I came across a lady  on a blog discussing her experience with using the Diva Cup about a year ago.  I was nervous about using it and didn't until about five months ago  when I saw this video on Youtube.....

Why I was nervous?

The idea of putting a cup inside of me? Ummm, no.  It looked sooo uncomfortable and strange.  Even though tampons are a fairly new concept (introduced in the 1930s) I wasn't too excited about changing.

Advantages of using a Diva Cup:

*Convenient- I no longer have to worry about whether or not I have enough tampons or pads on hand.

*Eco-Friendly- The average woman uses 8,000-17,000 tampons in her lifetime. That sounds like a lot of landfill waste that can be prevented.

*Cost Effective- Before using this device, I spent about $10 per month on tampons and maxi-pads.  My Diva Cup was $25 with shipping and can be used for several years.

*Discreet-I appreciate the little pouch that came with my  cup. 

*Doesn't interrupt daily activities- Like a tampon, you can still swim, bike, etc. while using the cup.

Some tips:

*Practice inserting and removing your cup while not on your period to get used to it without the mess.

*As Angela mentions in the video above, there is a learning curve with  using the Diva Cup.  I didn't use it outside of my home until the  middle of my third menstrual cycle because I was paranoid about leakage.  There's plenty of room in the cup to collect fluid, but leakage is caused by not inserting the cup properly.  I had two spills while using the cup at home.

*Watch a few Youtube videos with additional instruction on inserting and maintaining your Diva Cup.  The cup does come with a guide but Youtube was a better source of information for me.

*You can purchase your Diva Cup at any natural store or Amazon (like I did).

In my experience, change is always good. :-)

Have you used non-traditional menstrual methods? Let's talk about it in the comments section.

Edit to add: I received some great feedback about the Diva Cup but since I changed my comments to Disqus all of them were deleted (as well of all previous comments throughout the blog).  I was able to able save these five though.

“I LOVE LOVE LOVE my DivaCup. I've been using it for about a year and I have NO plans of ever going back. Once I got the hang of insertion, I was a breeze. No fuss, no mess...it just felt so right.”

-Keisha

Hey Monique!

Glad you shared this topic!

I have never tried the Diva Cup, but I am aware that it exists.  I was always curious about it, but too chicken to give it try.  A few years ago, I went another route, with cloth pads, but that didn't last long.  I think I might give it a try.  It is eco-friendly and a lot cheaper in the long run. 

Take care,

-Evelyn

I'm a Diva Cup Girl and have been for a couple years.   It took me 3 months and a couple diva-tastrophies to figure the whole thing out, but now I'm grumpy if I don't have it.  :-)  Not sure I would swim with it and running is sometimes a challenge, but otherwise it is great!

-Vegmom

Love Love Love my Diva Cup, until I accidentally threw it away. Oops. Lol. But I just ordered a new one and can't wait for it to arrive. It took me about the same time to get it right as it did with tampons and I no longer fear having something in too long or checking for leaks in the middle of the night like with tampons either. I wish I would've tried it sooner but I had a bad experience with an Instead cup back in the day and thought they were one in the same.  Never again will I have to worry about keeping tampons with me, not keeping them in too long or having them stored in every possible place I might be when my period comes. But I gotta remember to keep the cup out of the trash can lol

-Livindreamz

Me and the diva cup don't have a great relationship. I've had it since I got my 1st period after the birth of baby girl. I've tried it a few times, but still have not gotten the hang of it.

I have not given up, but I did put it away for the past few periods. I got tired of dealing with it.

Maybe, it's time for me to try again.

BTW- I'm so glad you posted that video. I saw a video of hers awhile back, forgot her name and wasn’t able to find her again until now :)

-Crafty Earth Mama