Divacup Review by ameliajp

Ah ha! Finally found a girl who was brave enough to write a nice little review about her experience and evaluation of the Divacup for me! Thanks Amelia!! 😀

I started using a menstrual cup for the first time this past January.  I had read about it online but did not know anyone personally who had tried it.  I was hesitant at first because the thought of cleaning it made me nervous and I thought it was going to be very messy.  Once you get the hang of it though, it’s not.

I am not going to lie, the first couple of months I used the cup it was awkward and a bit messy.  I read the instructions over a few times to fully understand how to insert it properly to create a suction.  It takes a bit of practice to master it (best time to practice is when you’re not menstruating so you aren’t dealing with a messy situation).

Cleaning it out is not as bad as it seems either.  Lucky for me I have a sink right beside my toilet so I can just take it out, swivel, clean it, swivel back, and put it in.

With the DivaCup you also do not have to worry about TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome), and you can leave it in for 10 – 12 hours!  I empty mine once in the morning and once in the evening.  If your flow is extremely heavy you may need to empty it during the day.  The cup does hold 30ml and that is what an average woman bleeds during her entire cycle.  I know I bleed much more than that, but I can still get by on changing it two or three times a day.

So to sum it up…

Positives:  No TSS, holds more, less waste, saves money, no strings to tuck in, leak free, wear it in expectation of period starting

Negatives:  Costs a bit up front, practice to master the suction, cleaning it, a bit messy the first two months

You may wonder, what exactly IS a menstrual cup? Since the review above is for the Divacup brand, here’s the information provided on their site (source):

The DivaCup is a non-absorbent menstrual cup that simply collects menstrual flow. It is inserted in the vagina and sits at the lower base of the vaginal canal. It is worn internally, yet because it is soft and smooth, it cannot be felt nor will it leak when inserted properly.

The DivaCup is the most clean and convenient method of feminine hygiene protection. No need to touch the flow. It is worn low in the vagina, not near the cervix, so it is easy to remove. No mess!

The DivaCup ends hassles with unreliable disposables in endless absorbencies, shapes and styles. It is perfect for all activities – giving women true freedom without the worry, guessing and unreliability that disposable feminine hygiene products pose.

The DivaCup can be worn for up to 12 hours before emptying, washing and reinserting for use for another 12 hours. It can be used for light or moderate flows and is emptied more often to accommodate heavy flows.  Perfect for overnight use.

The DivaCup’s expert, proprietary, patent-pending features make it comfortable and assures ease of use and reliability. Perfect for traveling, running, biking, hiking, dancing, camping, swimming, diving, scuba, yoga, extreme sports and more…

• Latex-free, BPA-free, plastic-free
• No dyes, colors or additives
• Comfortable, reliable
• Clean, convenient, easy-to-use
• Worn for up to 12 hours at a time

For those who have not seen a Divacup before:

Here’s what the Divacup packages look like – very snazzy! 😀

For those who are not familiar with menstrual cups, you may wonder why there are two versions. 1 version is for women who are under 30 or have not delivered birth vaginally or through c-section. The other version is for women who are over 30 or have delivered birth through either birthing methods. You can buy one from here as well!

I hope this demystifies my stance on reusable products! I am very for-reusable products but I find it difficult for me to give an accurate review based on my lack of female anatomy to try it out. However, I’m glad Amelia took the time to write one up for me and appreciate her efforts in spreading the word about more environmentally-friendly and health-conscience form of menstrual hygiene!