Hang onto your hats, ladies, because I just did something this month that I know a lot of you have been wondering about. How do I know that? Um…cuz I asked and you responded with “you try it first”.
So I did.
This month I tried the DivaCup.
*insert dramatic music here*
I was totally nervous, kinda grossed out and super skeptical about all things DivaCup before I tried it out. I was pretty sure the entire week would be an uncomfortable disaster with ruined pants and a lot of embarrassing moments I’d have to hide and not talk about.
Boy, was I wrong. And before I get into my experience with the DivaCup, I’ll cut to the chase right now and let you know that I’m a convert. I freakin’ love this thing and will never ever go back to tampons or pads again. Yup, you read that right…never ever.
I thought I’d write this article on the things I wish I’d known before I tried out the DivaCup this month. If you’re thinking about trying it out yourself, I hope this post will help you.
Lesson #1: There are 2 sizes of DivaCups. Model 1 is for women under 30 who haven’t had kiddos. Model 2 is for women over 30 who have had the babies and experience all the glory if getting old and/or birthing babies! Hello, Model 2.
Lesson #2: While you’re at the drugstore, don’t forget to buy something to wash your DivaCup with. They have specific wash called DivaWash, which is what I got because I like taking the guesswork out of things and there were specifications as to what you can use, so I just went with what their recommendation. They recommend the DivaWash (obviously), so that’s what I got. It can be found right next to the DivaCups at most local drugstores.
BUT…if you can’t find the DivaWash at your local drugstore, it is recommended to wash your DivaCup using warm water with a mild, unscented, water-based (oil-free) soap.
Lesson #3: The DivaCup website is bombass. If you’re at all nervous about trying out the DivaCup yourself, get over to the website. There are a ton of videos you can watch that will answer A LOT of your questions! From how to place the cup, how to remove, how to clean, what to expect, etc. It’s honestly one of the most informative sites I’ve been to.
Lesson #4: You can wear your DivaCup up to 12 hours…with no leakage. I was suuuuuper doubtful on this one because as I’ve gotten older, my periods have gotten heavier. A little TMI, but previously I would go through 3 super tampons in just over an hour! So, I was skeptical on this all day protection thang.
But…holy smokes…all was FINE. 12 hours of solid protection, no leakage and I didn’t have to think about a thing all day. Well, once I relaxed and stop worrying about how effective the DivaCup would be, of course!
Lesson #5: The DivaCup is super comfortable. Once you figure out how to insert the DivaCup properly for your body (which for me took one try…seriously…one try), you really forget it’s there. How freakin’ awesome is that? The tutorials online show you two different way to insert the cup, so be sure to watch them…they work and make it pretty dang easy.
Lesson #6: It’s really not as gross as you think it’s going to be. Yes, the cup collects your period blood. And yes, I just wrote that and it made me cringe. But no, it’s not a big deal to remove and clean the cup. Showers are a wonderful thing and it was super easy to remove and clean the cup while showering at the end of my day. Seriously…this was NOT a big deal and was the part I was MOST nervous/grossed out/skeptical about. I repeat…Not. A. Big. Deal.
Lesson #7: You can be as active as you want to be and the DivaCup stays in place, so stop worrying. I ran sprint intervals on my treadmill, I did an 8km run, I taught two bootcamp classes at a Hot Mama Retreat in Jasper, I did a yoga class and I completed a plyometrics workout. Each workout was done with zero leakage. None. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada. And that was after having the cup in place anywhere 1 – 8 hours. BOOM! Something easy for us active, super busy, healthy Mamas to wear and (seriously) not worry about.
Lesson #8: I actually do care about the environment. While saving our earth wasn’t high on my priority list when it came to period protection, it’s certainly a bonus. Don’t get me wrong, I do A LOT to help save this beautiful earth, but I was way too nervous about the DivaCup to say that I’d try it to help save the planet. Now that I’m a user, it’s just an added bonus that I get to help in a small way. It’s pretty awesome.
Lesson #9: Storing the DivaCup is super easy. I always wondered what you did with the cup when you weren’t using it. DivaCup makes it easy and gives you a cute little satchel to keep it in. So yeah…that one was easy.
Lesson #10: Don’t knock it ‘til you try it. I was probably the biggest skeptic out there about the DivaCup. Mostly because I thought it would be well…super disgusting. I’m just being honest here. But, it’s not. It really isn’t. The fact that I don’t have to think about it for 12 hours, that there were no accidents, that I could be as active as I wanted to be and that I never ever have to worry about forgetting to buy tampons ever again makes using the DivaCup for the rest of time a no-brainer for me.
I truly didn’t think I’d be a fan, but I wanted to give it a whirl…because I was curious and um, well, you all made me do it! My turn is done. Now, it’s yours. And, I swear to you, it’s not scary or gross or anything. Yes, it takes some getting used to, but it is absolutely worth the effort. It’s cleaner, offers better protection and honestly is incredibly easy to use.
I’m a big fan.
Honest. Go on, now. Go get your DivaCup. Off you go!