Customer Reviews

DivaCup Model 2 Post-Childbirth

5 star:		(304)
4 star:		(47)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

The Instead softcup caught my eye while searching for tampons one night, so I bought some to see what they were like. I really liked the idea behind them, but I thought they were too messy, wasteful, etc. At least tampons will *eventually* decay in landfills. Plastic won't, so to use 5-6 plastic disks a month... I had issues with that. Plus, I have a very heavy cycle, so while I do believe it's possible to use the Instead cup without making a mess, I never achieved it. I had to take a washcloth with me to the bathroom to avoid looking like I'd just violently murdered someone.

So, I did a bit of research and discovered Diva cups. And, WOW! Since they're shaped differently than the Instead, they are easier to use, plus I can remove mine without reenacting the Boston Massacre.

Since I do suffer from mennorghia, I cannot go all day without changing it, but I've bought myself a little bit more time between trips to the ladies' room. I used to use 2 tampons every hour. Now, I just empty this every 2 hours. Lol, I'm starting to feel almost normal!

The menstrual cup is easy to use and comes with complete directions. Instead of being surprised by my period and ruining underwear, when I feel the tell-tale backache, I insert the cup and just check it a couple of times a day. I may actually start buying nice underwear again!

Seem a little grand as a title? Maybe...

But I wish I'd had one of these my whole life.

It's easy to use (try it before your period starts so you can get the hang of it), and as long as you're not squeamish about your own fluids you will be SO GLAD YOU GOT THIS. It's easy! It's CLEAN! It keeps your outside clean and your insides moving, not to put too fine a point on it, which just leads to optimum vaginal health.

Don't buy the wipes that Diva sells; just rinse it in hot water and when your cycle is done boil it as directed in the package and put it in the cloth bag (NOT A ZIPLOCK). It'll be clean and ready for you next time.

Also, don't be alarmed when this gets stained, because it will. Totally normal!

The only cons I can offer are that you might find that you can feel the nub on the end a bit; I got used to that really fast. It doesn't feel any different than a tampon, which is to say if you can feel it more than a teensy bit you don't have it in right so try again.

Also, this is probably not going to work for people who can't use tampons, since the principal (cramming something in your nethers) is the same.

However! If you use tampons all the time with no problem, get one of these instead. You'll save yourself some money, make your area happier, and your drainpipes will thank you. (No matter how biodegradable they say those things are, I can guarantee you they stick around quite awhile.)

So one of the many new devices I purchased for this trip was a Diva "Moon Cup". Since feminine hygine supplies would be hard to come by and waste-producing, I opted instead to buy a thing like a Barbie Deluxe Toilet Plunger, and stuff it up my hooha.

The theory is that the cup catches your pan drippings, and you empty it a couple times a day, washing it with hippy soap, and reinserting. It presupposes you are enough of an Earth Mother to be OK not only with your monthly outpourings, but also with generally fossicking around in your flaps. Now, I am no stranger to gore. Nor am I squeamish about my delicate rose of delight, except that I have no such illusions about it and indeed am always reminded of nothing so much as stuffing an oddly-warm raw turkey. So, when after several weeks of teasing, the Period Fairy threatening to postpone the Communist Invasion until I was actually getting on the plane (I was about ready to scream and cry at some hapless unwary male just as a sacrifice to appease her) at last I greeted the rosy-fingered dawn and set about embarking on my new life as a eco-friendly Diva.

The Moon Cup comes in two sizes; Size A, for youthful nymphs under 30 who have never given birth and have silken tresses and tinkling laughs and are all size 0, and size B, for Big Ol' Bitches like m'self, who have either spawned, or are so old (ie over 30) that they might as well have been poppin' them out like Duggar Donuts, because their sugar walls are now echoing corridors full of cobwebs and slackness. Of course the packaging phrases it more nicely, but I was miffed to see that despite having never replicated, I was still doomed to the Big Gulp size because of my age alone.

So, chalice in hand, fingers washed, and let's fold that thing like a taco (no, not THAT thing, the other thing!) and cram it up where only one man has gone before and even then not for a damn long time even when he WAS still around. I'm sure I imagined the rusty creaking sounds as I tried to shove something which was larger than anything previous (with the exception of various medical speculums which, I believe, were constructed by the same person who designed the Montlake Drawbridge)into the Gaping Maw.

Now, you're supposed to roll the cup up, smuggle it past the border, let it expand, then turn it clockwise (or counter clockwise, or then one way and another, stopping when you hear the click, or something...) anyway, you're supposed to be able to turn this thing like a dial in there."If the cup does not turn easily, you did it wrong" Oh, of course, I'll just grasp hold of a thing about the size, shape, and slipperyness of the pointy end of a peeled hard-boiled egg, which is now buried in the meaty folds of my innermost femininity, which, I may add, are well-sluiced with the special effects from a Quentin Tarantino film, and spin that sucker like a dredel.

There is, also, a small stem at the base of this cup, which, being made of the same slippery silicon and about a centimeter long, is about as helpful as providing a live, untrained earthworm for a handle. More on this later.

So, rotate this thing in situ, to ensure a good 'seal' and a comfortable fit.

Does. Not. Happen.

Ladies (and gentlemen, although I hope for your sake none of you gentlemen are reading this), I tried. I hauled that thing in and out of there more times, and with much less joy, than Eeyore with his birthday present, and not once could I get that thing to "turn easily". I finally gave up, since it seemed, at one point, to be "fully inflated" and more or less in the right place. Frankly I think that having left my furrow unplowed for so long, I'm not exactly the proper degree of hotdog-hallway that the instruction-writer was intending to address, but so be it. Let's give this thing a whirl, if we can't give it a twist.

Fast forward a few hours in which I've done nothing much. To its credit, I don't feel the presence of THE CUP at all, no discomfort, not even a vague sense of "eugh" as I sometimes have when knowing all that stands between me and my khakis is a small cottony Dutch boy. In fact, I'm getting rather concerned that the Diva Cup has wormed its way in like some form of parasitic jellyfish and is now eagerly migrating up my fallopian tubes, with me all unknowing. Time to go fishing.

And that is where I discover that, while it's difficult to try and 'turn' a Diva Cup newly lodged in your sanctum sanctorum, it's a freakin' log-fall compared to trying to recover said Cup after it has gotten comfortably settled in the downy folds of your blood-engorged tissues. Yes, indeed, if cram my fingers up there to the point of pain, I can just, tantilizingly, tickle the end of that goddamn silicone 'stem'. Grasp it? Not in hell.

Of course the instructions say, if this happens, DO NOT PANIC. Well, thank god for that, because I was already running through the list of people I'd trust with a flashlight, a set of forceps, and an experience that would scar both of us for the rest of our lives. There were instructions for different positions, and "bearing down" and so forth, which I tried, to no avail, and I was pretty sure that my ham-fisted efforts (ahem) were just making things worse on the "swollen" front, so Diva and I took a break, and retired to our respective corners for an hour or so.

Now I brought out my secret weapon: Beer. If, gods help me, I ever have to have a baby, I intend to be drunk off my ass for the delivery, and I surely hope that the Fairy Prince Unicorn Elvis who is my chosen Babydaddy will provide a bedside IV of godly ambrosia, or at least Jim Beam. But anyway, two beers and I'm good to go spelunking in quest of the Holy Grail once more.

Either the beer, or the break, or the combination of all of these and squatting on the bathmat like a Neanderthal crapping, finally, produced enough of that goddamn 'stem' to grab (which was good, because I was dreading having use the kitchen tongs Up There or something) and, with a surprising amount of horrible suctioning "discomfort", the invader was routed! And, wonder of wonders, it was indeed partially filled. Not filled with DELICIOUS CANDY, no, but it did seem to have been, you know... -working-, before I so rudely dislodged it from its parasitic feeding. I felt a combination of grudging respect and intrigue, as one might upon meeting a foe worthy of their steel. Provided we could agree to disagree on the whole "turn 360 degrees in place" aspect, perhaps this could indeed be a workable partnership. Better than bleeding into the Rupununi and attracting every caiman, pirahna, and candiru fish for fifty miles.

But not without some boundaries first. I tied a ROPE to that stupid stem this time.

This is my first adventure with a menstrual cup, and so far I've used the diva cup through 2 cycles and I like it very much.

Pros:
You don't have to buy pads. Good for your wallet and the environment!
You only have to mess with it twice a day, which is super convenient.
Mine has never leaked. Ever. Which is great. It's incredibly freeing.
Mine never hurt (which I noticed some people reported) going in or out.
You can sleep and swim and everything else with it, no problem.
No tampon string, which I like.

Cons:
It can be a bit complicated to insert. Even now, using it my second month, there are times when I have to try to insert it several times before I get it right.
At first you'll spend some time with your fingers jammed up there, turning it. Which is not as clean or pleasant as tampon use.
More mess in the toilet and sink/shower that, at least for me, needs extra cleaning.
I can feel the cup often in a way I never felt tampons. It doesn't hurt, but I can still feel it. Not sure that's a con, but...
Sometimes, when I am using the restroom, the cup gets pushed out a bit and I have to reinsert.

Lol, laughing because this is so TMI, but I wanted to review the product because, cons aside, I like it so much. Wish I'd heard of it years ago. It is so easy and convenient and clean.

I 1st learned about the Diva Cup on a message board and my interest was piqued.

At 1st, I thought the price was a little high. But then, I realized that if I mastered the Diva Cup, I'd more than recoup my losses in the long run- by not having to purchase pads or tampons ever again.

Boy am I glad I decided to go for it!

Now.... I'm going to assume that everyone reading a review about the Diva Cup is a woman, since I can't imagine why in the world a man would be on this page...

So, I'm going to write frankly, woman to woman, on my experience with this.

I was initially concerned that the cup wouldn't work for me. I have an extremely heavy flow. I've had situations in which using both a pad AND a tampon (super absorbent-mind you)still resulted in embarassing moments. And this was within a VERY short time after inserting/applying the before mentioned product.

Happily, I've had no problems with any leaks. (But, to be on the safe side, I do wear a pad, just in case. So far, the pad's proven to be unnecessary.) The Diva Cup has the capacity to hold FAR more than pads and tampons can.

I warn you though.... There's a learning curve to using this. And it seems that everyone has a different way to fold it, which will work best for them.

What helped me A LOT was googling Diva Cup Folding and reading the different techniques that other women were using.

I'm a satisfied customer :)

Seriously? Why doesn't everyone know about this? It's like this weird secret -- I mentioned it jokingly in a bar the other night, practically under my breath (while blushing), and three women SQUEEEED as we all came out of the Diva Cup Closet and talked about our Secret Love. And one woman mentioned that she couldn't wait for her next period, and I swear to god, I FEEL THE SAME WAY. It's crazypants, people.

Why is it a secret? Why aren't we telling EVERYONE?

1. First, let's all get over that it's blood. Yes, it's blood. It's coming out, one way or another. I've found the Diva Cup cleaner than tampons (after that first month which was a very steep red learning curve, indeed. Second month, I had it down and used it while traveling. On a plane. For reals.)

2. Don't worry that you're too heavy a bleeder. The packaging says most women bleed 1 to 1.4 oz a month. Me? I fill the 1 oz cup in 3-4 hours on my heavy days. No problem -- I used to have to swap tampons every 1-2 hours in the bad old days, and now I don't. Quick dump, rinse, replace. (Great idea someone had about bringing a water bottle into the public stall. Or really, a little piece of paper will wipe it out just fine, replace and go, wash it when you get home.) I used to go through an entire box of tampons a month, plus pads. In less than three months, this has paid for itself.

3. Don't worry that you're not built for it. FULL DISCLOSURE and TMI ALERT: I have TWO cervixes (and two uteruses, two -- jealous? It's called uterus didelphis, not as uncommon as it sounds, no one even noticed in me till I was 35, and I'd had multiple ob procedures), so I wasn't sure this product would work. I even wrote to the company before I bought it, and they didn't know, either! But because the cup sits below the cervix (or cervices, in some special cases), it works. I bought size 2, since I'm over 30, and it fits right (see note 5).

4. You'll find your magic insertion method. You will! Mine is inserting HORIZONTALLY as they recommend, a twist while bearing down, and then letting the kegels take that puppy up to do its miraculous job.

5. If that stem seems uncomfortable, TURN THE CUP INSIDE OUT. I saw that recommended somewhere, and it's the secret for some of us, I'm telling you. Makes it wider and shorter, and I don't feel it at all. You don't need the stem to pull it out, and it almost seems like having the stem inside the base makes it easier to grab (again, bearing down slightly is what works for me).

Good God. It's a miracle. TELL EVERYONE! Hire skywriters! Every gal has to find this out! If just ONE of you buys this because of this review, my work will be done. And if you're some creepy guy who's grossed out after reading this because I tweeted it, then, well. You deserved it, didn't you?

BEST PRODUCT EVER!

This product is fabulous on so many levels it is difficult to know where to begin. I will begin by stating that I have used this product for almost 2 years, and my only regret is that I didn't start using this product much sooner than I did.

This is a medical grade silicone cup that is inserted into the vagina to contain menstrual fluid. At least twice a day, or more if flow is heavier, the cup should be removed to be emptied and re-inserted. The cup can be cleaned with soap and water, and can be boiled for 5 - 10 minutes between menstrual cycles, if desired. It really is that easy. The cup is flexible and bends easily for insertion. Once inserted, the user must turn the cup so it expands to its fullest and creates a seal. The Diva Cup does look huge, but it forms itself to the inner contours of the body. If inserted correctly, the user should not feel the Diva Cup at all.

I have used the cup in all types of circumstances, and have even taken it on vacations! Once to Spain! I have had a couple of leaks, but that was because I did not make certain the cup was fully expanded or because flow was heavy. And this was rare. I experienced more "accidents" with disposable products. I used this product during light days and heavy days, during days and overnight, while being inactive or being active.

The pros for this product are: one cost for the Diva Cup and not numerous costs over time for disposable products. No embarrassing applicators or paper to throw away. Nothing to worry about flushing into toilets or considering how to dispose of in sensitive areas, such as nature areas. Knowledge that one will not be adding to the landfills with "disposable" products that do not biodegrade so easily.

Some might feel some a certain level of discomfort about emptying the cup during the period, however, actually doing it is not nearly as bad as perceived. It's much cleaner than most women imagine.

I think if women tried this product they simply would not go back to anything else on the market - it's that simple, economical, and private.

Well, I can see that I am outnumbered here, but this thing is really not working out for me at all.

I have the right size(2), I am 30 with one child. I used it for my last cycle, and am on day 3 of the second cycle using it. It leaks, then it doesn't. Then it starts leaking again. I have tried as many ways as I can think of to insert, position, rotate, etc.

I am not squeamish in the least, and don't mind the process terribly, but I thought the whole point was convenience? It's not convenient to spend all day in the bathroom trying to make something work, when tampons are (excuse me) in and out! On top of the random leakage during the day (once during a Physics exam, which was awesome, and just tonight while voting, which was doubly awesome), I am leaking 2-3 times a night, and having to get up to do the whole process.

It feels comfortable when it is in, and I don't have a problem with insertion, but extraction is painful. I am breaking the seal to pull it out, but it still keeps unfolding and it really hurts. I don't want the feeling of a ripped perineum 20 times a period. And, sorry to keep going on, but it constantly feels like I am leaking, because I can feel the blood running down the inside of my vaginal walls. That's no different than a pad, fine, but when I don't know if the thing is leaking or just feels that way, I have to keep checking up on it. Plus, there are tons of air bubbles happening and I feel like I have a farting vagina!

Just on a final note, the product information for this also says that it holds about half of an average monthly flow. I don't have the packaging anymore, but they gave some figure in ounces. Well, I filled it on day 1 about 5 times. And, (surprise!) when it gets full, it also leaks!

I am about ready to give up! I really don't want to, because I love the idea, but honestly!

Wow! The Diva Cup rocks my world. Tampons have always leaked and/or dried me out. Pads are just yucky and wasteful. The Instead menstrual cup, which I've used for years, is good for when you want to have (mostly) mess-free sex while on your period, but is as wasteful as pads not to mention rather expensive and not always the most reliable (will leak on occasion).
The Diva Cup requires a short learning curve as to the insertion/removal but is well worth the time and effort. The thing does not leak and I cannot feel it when it is properly inserted. The only time I've experienced leakage is while making a BM, but it doesn't mean it is malfunctioning- it is just because of the proximity of the colon to the vaginal canal (I've experienced the same phenomenon with the Instead style cup too).
Ladies, if all this freaks you out then you need to get more in touch with your bodies!
This product is revolutionary and makes me feel better each month because I'm not polluting the environment and I'm also saving tons of money by not buying disposable products. It has paid for itself several times over now.
Only drawbacks are:
a)that you can't have intercourse while you are using it. There's no way around it- literally.
AND
b)the manufacturer advises not to use the D.C. with an IUD (though my personal experience is contrary to that advice. But one must be very careful if one is going to experiment and do so AT THEIR OWN RISK, as there is a lot of suction that happens when removing the cup and I'm sure that it could pull out an IUD if one doesn't first break the seal before pulling it out.)

More people need to spread the word and wise up to their inner Divas!

PS- I ordered the size 2 even though I have not given birth, had only just turned 30, and consider my vaginal muscles to be of a typically healthy condition and it fits great. Good luck with yours!

I am so lucky to have found such a product. Not only will it save you money by not having to purchase monthly sanitary products, but it really makes your life a lot easier while helping the environment. What else could you ask for?
You just put it in and forget about it for almost the whole day. Plus you don't have to worry about TSS! I have never been able to use tampons. The chemicals in them would give me headaches and cramping. If I could force myself to forget that, I then had to deal with incredible dryness after inserting tampon after tampon.
They are no messier then what I would imagine an applicator free tampon (OB) and my experience wasn't any messier then just a regular tampon. I think the biggest problem I had was finding a folding technique that worked for me. The instructions give you only the most simple and this makes for a large object to insert. A simple google search though and I was able to find the right technique for me.
It may not be the best thing for you right away. You have to remember this is something you are not use to. Give yourself time and practice. Don't give up with one bad experience. My very first insertion it hurt (because of not like the folding). I also cramped a little, but I am pretty sure this is either just because it was the first time my body had experienced this, I was tense, or because it was a little too far before my period started. It also hurt when I gave up and pulled it out. I waited half a day, retried with the different folding, and never turned back. After one not so good experience the rest of the time was as close to the perfect period that you can ever get. I never had to worry about it. I just kept a pantyliner in mostly for my own peace of mine.
I wondered why we never have heard of such a thing. Then I realized that all the makers of tampons and pads stand to lose an incredible amount of money! Just think about how much you spend on these products every month and the cost is ridiculous! Every time I would purchase them I'd think, "I hate how they can charge whatever they want because we HAVE to buy thing." Well I thought wrong because I have found the perfect solution. I have told every woman in my life about it and they are rushing to buy their own. I feel like a sponsor for them and that is a little weird, but I feel like woman need to know that there are other options out there for your monthly needs.
Only 2 things I would say is, don't give up right away. Give yourself time to get use to it. I also would also not recommend it for virgins. I think it would just be a little too large and painful. But that is it! I myself will never ever use anything else for my periods again!