Amazon.com: Customer reviews: DIVA Cup - Medical Grade Silicone Cup for Period Care - Reusable Menstrual Cup - Up to 12 Hours of Continuous Wear

Top positive review

Divacup: no more period smells wafting to neightbors' noses!

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2015

I love my cup so much!!!!

BASIC WONDERS
I was a diehard disposable pad girl until I started enjoying camping and the great outdoors four years ago. Tampons dried me up too much/hurt/smelled and I didn't know anything else existed. The cup eliminates the need to carry pads into the wilderness (yay, weight savings!!!) but most amazingly, it eliminated the smell that pads get after you've been using them for a few hours. Why didn't I know about this sooner!!???!! Diva cup has also been amazing for traveling around the world. No more worrying if I brought enough pads/am carrying enough with me during the day! Just go pee, dump it out, continue on your way. Four years of owning my cup and it is still going strong.

INSERTION TIPS
Insertion was a small learning curve - at the beginning, I did mess up and get uncomfortable poking of the cup stem into my vaginal walls/outer labia. At first, I put the cup super low in my vagina and it hurt (my cervix descends during most periods making the entire vagina short). Turning the cup inside out to make it shorter makes it too wide to be comfortable for me. Over time, my vag canal has become longer on my period - between that and trimming the cup's stem, I no longer get poked. The stem is easily trimmed with regular scissors (only do a little at a time so you don't take too much away!!!). Note there is a way that you can "walk" a low sitting cup up deeper into the vagina to prevent poking. Insert, pop the cup open (run finger around outside rim to be sure it opened correctly and that you cannot feel your cervix [cervix is a bump in the vagina which feels like the tip of your nose. you may feel a small 'hole' which is the entrance to your uterus] - note blood comes out of your cervix so if the cervix is outside the cup, it does you no good), hold stem/cup base with thumb and index finger, push up slowly & gently and while rocking the cup side to side.

I used to be more 'tight' (virgin) and could only do the punch-down fold (any other fold was too big - there are so many folds, please google them to find one good for you!). Since then, I have worked my way up to the C-fold for insertion. Water based lube is your friend if you're worried! Avoid silicone because silicone lubes can change silicone materials like the divacup. The punch-down fold was great when I didn't have an IUD, but since getting one, the C fold is an easier way for me to guarantee not catching the IUD string between the cup and the vag wall. The moment I really "got it" as far as insertion was watching a youtube video where a lady uses a cylindrical vase to represent the vagina (definitely look for that one; author "the cup guru"'s "How To Use A Menstrual Cup").

IUD BIRTH CONTROL
For me, it's been four periods with both the IUD and Diva cup. I left my IUD strings long but you can have them trimmed super short. The first 2 periods, I used the punch down fold. The next two I switched to C-fold. Before insertion, reach up and push the ends of the IUD strings up as high as you can get them, preferably wrapping around cervix; then insert cup low in vagina. Gently and slowly "walk" the cup up into the vagina using steps described above. During removal, go slow. Feel around the rim to make sure the string didn't migrate down to hang outside the cup - that happened to me once when I had the cup low and subconsciously squeezed my pc muscles really hard while squirming around (if that happens, push inwards on the rim at the spot where the string is, push string up into the cup so you don't pull on it during cup removal). Squeeze stem and cup gently to break suction, "walk" cup down the vagina; tilt stem up slightly to make for easier removal (your vaginal canal runs more perpendicular to the length of your body, not straight up and down) I've had no problems with IUD expulsion (*knock on wood*).

REMOVAL
The first time you try a cup removal, try doing it at home with no pants on (and on tile floor/in the tub if you can) to avoid messes. If not on your period, you can practice by filling the cup with a *little* plain water, inserting cup, and removing. It took about 2 periods until I got comfortable with the angle at which to pull. I stand with feet shoulder width apart/wider, knees bent. In public bathrooms, I still usually put a ~1 square foot paper towel/toilet paper on my underpants crotch because I'm clumsy and have dumped an entire ounce of blood on my pants before. As my period goes on, the vag walls become more slick with mucus so both insertion and removal become easier. If it remains difficult for you, try smearing the cup outside with a water-based lubricant first.

CLEANING
I use [clean] toothpicks to clean out the little holes at the top. If you pull the cup really hard (don't break it though), you can stretch the holes a little in the shower and let the spray of water clean out clotted blood from the holes too. During my period, I'll wash the cup with a few drops of divawash once a day. I sterilize mine once a month in a 2.5 Quart Aluminum Cook Pot with LidStansport 2.5 Quart Aluminum Cook Pot with Lid: chosen because I didn't want handle(s) sticking out of the side. I'd much prefer enamel (avoid potential chemical leaching), but at the time, there was no enamelware with no protruding handles (now there is:Blue Speckled Enamelware Convex Kettle w/Lid-2 Quart, 4.5H x 6.5D). The pot can double as a place to soak cloth liners (although I just let the blood air dry on mine; no dark staining on cotton flannel!) or place to hand wash bras. To sterilize, drop cup into pot of boiling water for 10 minutes, drain water, pick cup up carefully with clean paper towel, dry cup off, shove into cloth bag until the next use (don't forget about it as silicone can melt if the pot boils dry).

LEAKS
I always use the cup with a cloth pantyliner because I've been known to forget the cup is in (yes, it is that comfortable) and it overflows. I used to empty it every 8-12 hours. Since getting the paragard copper IUD, I need to empty it every 2-3 hours. Sometimes a public bathroom isn't available and I've leaked through my pants (it's situations like that where a heavy [cloth] pad would have been handy). My cup only leaks when the cup gets too full (this cup is the wrong shape for some womens' bodies so they need another cup brand to avoid leakage - and that's okay!).

STAINS AND ODOR
My cup stains a little towards the middle of the period, but amazingly, the stains disappear after its monthly boiling. An unpleasant odor tends to develops inside the cup (not on the outer sides) half way through my period. That also goes away with boiling. My body chemicals may just make me lucky - no residual effects on the silicone....but if your cup staining and smell doesn't go away, try hydrogen peroxide (lingering odor and staining from healthy individuals can be very normal). I've been thoroughly checked for vaginal diseases by my gynecologist because I freaked out when the cup&midperiod-blood started smelling bad/not metallic (everyone says when the cup is inserted, the blood isn't exposed to air; they said the internal blood would only smell bad if there was some sort of bacterial infection! I'm here to say that is not always true. With the plethora of reviews online today [not as prominent when I started using the cup], you can see that a bit of odor is not unusual, but if you suspect something, keep calm and see a doctor. they can give you peace of mind/treat you for anything). Smell not noticeable from full cup while fully inserted.

ADVICE ON BACK-UP PANTYLINERS/PADS (recommendations)
Sometimes I forget to insert the cup until I see faint pink on toilet paper after urinating (problem recently fixed with reminders from the android app "period calendar/tracker" from abishkking - recommended free app). That means for at least the first period day, there is a little blood on the lower vaginal walls which continues to flow downwards outside of the cup. To keep underpants clean, disposables are fine but wasteful&polluting. Reusable cloth options are way better and cheaper in the long run. See the big cloth pad companies' websites for a sample cloth liner for the price of shipping (party in my pants, lunapads, gladrags). Lots of etsy sellers sell liners & pads cheap with fabulous cute prints, many fabrics (I love cotton flannel; some come with a bottom layer or PUL [a medical grade plastic to prevent leaks]), and professional stitch quality. Combinations of flannel, quilters cotton, minky, silk, fleece, corduroy, denim, nylon, interiors (bamboo terrycloth, zorb) and more!

SHOPS: google caroline's creations 09 [my personal favorite], pinklemonadeshop [silk liners! comfy and supposed to be good for ladies with yeast infections, non etsy], sew sweet creations, sweet sydney bean, mother moon pad, or fuzzibunz mama cloth [non etsy] as my recommended sellers. Thong liners available in some shops. Amazon also seems to carry a nice reusable selection these days.

Liners & pads ***don't*** have to be soaked in water after use!!!!!!!!!! The only time my cloth developed a smell was during soaking when I forgot to change the water daily. That smell was ****awful**** (and I *know* bad smells after having cleaned men's restrooms)! Get any smell out with multiple applications of Bac outBiokleen Bac-Out Stain and Odor Eliminator-32 fl oz.; but following these steps below, you won't need to do anything for smells: if liner/pad is blood soaked, rinse with water and let air dry (you don't even technically need to rinse if you get it to dry fast enough). If there are only small to medium spots of blood, just let it air dry. Place dried pads in laundry bag. Toss in with regular clothing in the washing machine [weeks later is okay] (no special soaps, water temperatures, pre-treating, nor fabric color sorting needed. no fabric softener.) - just do what you normally do. The dried blood completely washes out (trust me, my cotton flannel pad tops look like new even though they get blood on them every month from small leaks/my accidents. Your experience with staining may vary of course, but letting the blod just dry doesn't preclude sanitary pads after you send them through a washing machine. [caveat: there are very light, hard to see tiny stains on my white silk pads and white fleece pads using this method - whatevs right? no one else looks at my pads but me and washing machines take care of any blood related ickyness people talk about]. On dark pads, I do have minor bleaching from acidic vaginal secretions so buying dark cloth pads won't necessarily save you from *all* discolorations....)

TAKING LINERS WITH ME ON THE GO
Just in case I need a new liner in the middle of the day (accidental spill/leak), I carry liners around in a planetwise wet/dry bagPlanet Wise Travel Wet/Dry Bag, Owl(plus a plastic produce bag or those non-crinkly small plastic bags giftstore purchases come in, to prevent leaks when carrying soiled pads). A ziplock or a Blue Q coin purse (plasticized recycled grain fabric )Blue Q Peacock Zipper Pouchor a Logan+Lenora Wet/DryLogan + Lenora Wet + Dry Diaper Clutch - Small Cloth Diaper Wet Bag with Dry Pocket - Carry Wipes, Diapers, Creams, Cloth Pads, Breast Pads, or Toiletries - Made in USA - Waterproof (Downtown Athenian)are other options I alternate between. Items labeled wet-dry bags (like the ones I listed) usually have a water resistant zipper. Keep new liners in the dry pocket, used liners in the wet pocket. Wet bags are sold in many etsy stores in delightful patterns and sizes.

WASHING CUP IN PUBLIC BATHROOMS
Sometimes handicapped stalls include a sink - that's perfect for washing a cup after dumping the contents out. I went as far as to buy a perineal irrigation squeeze bottleDYND70125H - Perineal Irrigation Bottlewith my new divacup (for situations when one has no running water); effective but totally unnecessary. I almost always forgot the bottle at home anyways. A wad of toilet paper will get all visible traces of blood off your cup (and almost everything off fingers). I always feel a little self conscious walking out of a stall with bloody fingers after insertion, but then I think: "eh, you'll probably never see the other ladies again/they're probably too embarrassed to say anything to you. Menstrual blood is NATURAL - you're not dying; just move on with your day, wash your hands. The menstrual blood was just inside your uterus, if it had encountered gross bacteria/viruses up in there, here's a hint, those buggers would already all over your body/bloodstream. Probably in your mouth too; what are you going to do, never floss again?" You can wet a paper towel to carry into a stall for a hand wipe too.

EXERCISE
I love that I can swim with a cup in and not have to get the weird water gush feeling one has with tampons (tampon absorbs water and when you squeeze your pc muscles a little, it's like wringing a sponge).

During ski season, my butt doesn't get cold when the blood in a traditional pad would cool off.

OTHER MENSTRUAL OPTIONS
If you're looking for a travel menstrual cup, look at the Intimina lily cup compact which folds down like those silicone camping cups. It packs away slightly smaller than the diva cup (but isn't as stiff, so removal requires more concentration to avoid spills).

Look into menstrual sponges for period sex (I have a review for them) or the Instead softcupInstead 12 Hour Feminine Protection Cup 24 ea. Natural sea sponges (Premium Ultra Soft Sea Pearls Reusable Sea Sponges - Multi Size 3 Pack) or synthetic (gynotex or beppy) - note sponges not FDA approved but that doesn't mean it can't be 'safe enough' for you (see my sponge review for my opinion).

TSS
Cups don't seem to carry the same level of TSS risks as tampons do because they don't absorb the fluid and hold it next to a lot of your internal tissue (however I have heard of two cup-TSS cases where they believed blood in the little holes incubated bacteria and the specific chemistry of the female let the germs bloom. The literature doesn't say how long the cups were in but it could have been longer than 12 hours. That being said, I've left mine in for 24 hours with no ill affects (as have many others posting in online forums); YMMV.

232 people found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

Evan

Not the Period Miracle I was Hoping For - Risk of TSS

Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2020

This is Evan's wife, not Evan. Thought I would get that out of the way first. Lol!

I was excited to buy this for a few reasons:

1. It's supposed to be a period game changer. Comfortable and no worrying about period care several times a day? - sounds wonderful!
2. Less cost and less waste since this reusable cup should be the only thing that you'll need
3. Can wear for extended periods (pun intended) of time without having to change it.

Before I get super critical I do want to say that this cup probably works great for some people depending on how their body is. Unfortunately, it did not for me, and none of the above reasons why I purchased it in the first place are true for me.

I do have a lower than average cervix. I have given birth before, so I went with the recommended cup size.

I understand that It will take you a while to get used to using a cup and so you should keep trying/playing with it for a few cycles until you figure out how to use it. I have used this now for several cycles now, and my problems persist.

The Cons:

1. It is M.E.S.S.Y. Like, blood all over your hands - really messy. And if you aren't comfortable with your anatomy this may not be for you.
2. It slips down throughout the day and is uncomfortable. This could be due to the fact that I may have a weaker pelvic floor - but I've been to a physical therapist who says that I don't. It could be that I haven't had it suction correctly - but I've been able to run a finger around the top of the cup to confirm that it is the correct shape. I can't for the life of me get it to stay where it should. It tends to wriggle it's way down just outside the vaginal opening and stays there. It's quite uncomfortable.
3. Only after I bought it did I realize that menstrual cups are indeed linked to TSS. You can google it to see some studies done. It's recommended that you only use a cup for 6 hours at a time.
4. It leaks, and I still need to wear a liner. The cup will leak once it is full. The blood won't just stay up in there, it will find it's way out if you don't change it once it's full. Low cervix + heavy flow is probably one of the worst combinations if you are trying to use a cup. That is part of my problem, but I also get leaks even when the cup isn't full. I have to make sure my cervix is resting inside the cup because it is so low. I can feel and be sure that my cervix is inside the cup, and still I get leaks even when my cup is barely full. I've used this cup for several cycles now and have yet to go a day without a leak.
5. Using it in a public restroom is less than ideal. You really should be washing them out when you empty them, and it's not always possible when you are in a busy public restroom with two sinks. ;p

The Pros:

1. I am sure this works well for people who have the right body type. (High cervix)
2. It does seem to be a little safer tampons are.
3. I can go a little longer between changing this than I can with a tampon.

I really, really wanted to love this product, but it just isn't working for me. I wouldn't say that no one should get it, but I would suggest that you do a little research before you do. For starters, see if you can find your cervix and determine if it is low or high. Visit the website putacupinit.com. They have tons of information about cups, and can recommend a good cup for you based on your body and flow type.

Again, I am sure this works wonderfully for some people, it just really didn't for me. If you've already searched for your cervix and know it's high (or can't even feel it) I am sure this would work well for you.

10 people found this helpful

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From the United States

Christina C

Divacup: no more period smells wafting to neightbors' noses!

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2015

Color: ClearSize: Model 1 (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

I love my cup so much!!!!

BASIC WONDERS
I was a diehard disposable pad girl until I started enjoying camping and the great outdoors four years ago. Tampons dried me up too much/hurt/smelled and I didn't know anything else existed. The cup eliminates the need to carry pads into the wilderness (yay, weight savings!!!) but most amazingly, it eliminated the smell that pads get after you've been using them for a few hours. Why didn't I know about this sooner!!???!! Diva cup has also been amazing for traveling around the world. No more worrying if I brought enough pads/am carrying enough with me during the day! Just go pee, dump it out, continue on your way. Four years of owning my cup and it is still going strong.

INSERTION TIPS
Insertion was a small learning curve - at the beginning, I did mess up and get uncomfortable poking of the cup stem into my vaginal walls/outer labia. At first, I put the cup super low in my vagina and it hurt (my cervix descends during most periods making the entire vagina short). Turning the cup inside out to make it shorter makes it too wide to be comfortable for me. Over time, my vag canal has become longer on my period - between that and trimming the cup's stem, I no longer get poked. The stem is easily trimmed with regular scissors (only do a little at a time so you don't take too much away!!!). Note there is a way that you can "walk" a low sitting cup up deeper into the vagina to prevent poking. Insert, pop the cup open (run finger around outside rim to be sure it opened correctly and that you cannot feel your cervix [cervix is a bump in the vagina which feels like the tip of your nose. you may feel a small 'hole' which is the entrance to your uterus] - note blood comes out of your cervix so if the cervix is outside the cup, it does you no good), hold stem/cup base with thumb and index finger, push up slowly & gently and while rocking the cup side to side.

I used to be more 'tight' (virgin) and could only do the punch-down fold (any other fold was too big - there are so many folds, please google them to find one good for you!). Since then, I have worked my way up to the C-fold for insertion. Water based lube is your friend if you're worried! Avoid silicone because silicone lubes can change silicone materials like the divacup. The punch-down fold was great when I didn't have an IUD, but since getting one, the C fold is an easier way for me to guarantee not catching the IUD string between the cup and the vag wall. The moment I really "got it" as far as insertion was watching a youtube video where a lady uses a cylindrical vase to represent the vagina (definitely look for that one; author "the cup guru"'s "How To Use A Menstrual Cup").

IUD BIRTH CONTROL
For me, it's been four periods with both the IUD and Diva cup. I left my IUD strings long but you can have them trimmed super short. The first 2 periods, I used the punch down fold. The next two I switched to C-fold. Before insertion, reach up and push the ends of the IUD strings up as high as you can get them, preferably wrapping around cervix; then insert cup low in vagina. Gently and slowly "walk" the cup up into the vagina using steps described above. During removal, go slow. Feel around the rim to make sure the string didn't migrate down to hang outside the cup - that happened to me once when I had the cup low and subconsciously squeezed my pc muscles really hard while squirming around (if that happens, push inwards on the rim at the spot where the string is, push string up into the cup so you don't pull on it during cup removal). Squeeze stem and cup gently to break suction, "walk" cup down the vagina; tilt stem up slightly to make for easier removal (your vaginal canal runs more perpendicular to the length of your body, not straight up and down) I've had no problems with IUD expulsion (*knock on wood*).

REMOVAL
The first time you try a cup removal, try doing it at home with no pants on (and on tile floor/in the tub if you can) to avoid messes. If not on your period, you can practice by filling the cup with a *little* plain water, inserting cup, and removing. It took about 2 periods until I got comfortable with the angle at which to pull. I stand with feet shoulder width apart/wider, knees bent. In public bathrooms, I still usually put a ~1 square foot paper towel/toilet paper on my underpants crotch because I'm clumsy and have dumped an entire ounce of blood on my pants before. As my period goes on, the vag walls become more slick with mucus so both insertion and removal become easier. If it remains difficult for you, try smearing the cup outside with a water-based lubricant first.

CLEANING
I use [clean] toothpicks to clean out the little holes at the top. If you pull the cup really hard (don't break it though), you can stretch the holes a little in the shower and let the spray of water clean out clotted blood from the holes too. During my period, I'll wash the cup with a few drops of divawash once a day. I sterilize mine once a month in a 2.5 Quart Aluminum Cook Pot with Lid Stansport 2.5 Quart Aluminum Cook Pot with Lid : chosen because I didn't want handle(s) sticking out of the side. I'd much prefer enamel (avoid potential chemical leaching), but at the time, there was no enamelware with no protruding handles (now there is: Blue Speckled Enamelware Convex Kettle w/Lid-2 Quart, 4.5H x 6.5D ). The pot can double as a place to soak cloth liners (although I just let the blood air dry on mine; no dark staining on cotton flannel!) or place to hand wash bras. To sterilize, drop cup into pot of boiling water for 10 minutes, drain water, pick cup up carefully with clean paper towel, dry cup off, shove into cloth bag until the next use (don't forget about it as silicone can melt if the pot boils dry).

LEAKS
I always use the cup with a cloth pantyliner because I've been known to forget the cup is in (yes, it is that comfortable) and it overflows. I used to empty it every 8-12 hours. Since getting the paragard copper IUD, I need to empty it every 2-3 hours. Sometimes a public bathroom isn't available and I've leaked through my pants (it's situations like that where a heavy [cloth] pad would have been handy). My cup only leaks when the cup gets too full (this cup is the wrong shape for some womens' bodies so they need another cup brand to avoid leakage - and that's okay!).

STAINS AND ODOR
My cup stains a little towards the middle of the period, but amazingly, the stains disappear after its monthly boiling. An unpleasant odor tends to develops inside the cup (not on the outer sides) half way through my period. That also goes away with boiling. My body chemicals may just make me lucky - no residual effects on the silicone....but if your cup staining and smell doesn't go away, try hydrogen peroxide (lingering odor and staining from healthy individuals can be very normal). I've been thoroughly checked for vaginal diseases by my gynecologist because I freaked out when the cup&midperiod-blood started smelling bad/not metallic (everyone says when the cup is inserted, the blood isn't exposed to air; they said the internal blood would only smell bad if there was some sort of bacterial infection! I'm here to say that is not always true. With the plethora of reviews online today [not as prominent when I started using the cup], you can see that a bit of odor is not unusual, but if you suspect something, keep calm and see a doctor. they can give you peace of mind/treat you for anything). Smell not noticeable from full cup while fully inserted.

ADVICE ON BACK-UP PANTYLINERS/PADS (recommendations)
Sometimes I forget to insert the cup until I see faint pink on toilet paper after urinating (problem recently fixed with reminders from the android app "period calendar/tracker" from abishkking - recommended free app). That means for at least the first period day, there is a little blood on the lower vaginal walls which continues to flow downwards outside of the cup. To keep underpants clean, disposables are fine but wasteful&polluting. Reusable cloth options are way better and cheaper in the long run. See the big cloth pad companies' websites for a sample cloth liner for the price of shipping (party in my pants, lunapads, gladrags). Lots of etsy sellers sell liners & pads cheap with fabulous cute prints, many fabrics (I love cotton flannel; some come with a bottom layer or PUL [a medical grade plastic to prevent leaks]), and professional stitch quality. Combinations of flannel, quilters cotton, minky, silk, fleece, corduroy, denim, nylon, interiors (bamboo terrycloth, zorb) and more!

SHOPS: google caroline's creations 09 [my personal favorite], pinklemonadeshop [silk liners! comfy and supposed to be good for ladies with yeast infections, non etsy], sew sweet creations, sweet sydney bean, mother moon pad, or fuzzibunz mama cloth [non etsy] as my recommended sellers. Thong liners available in some shops. Amazon also seems to carry a nice reusable selection these days.

Liners & pads ***don't*** have to be soaked in water after use!!!!!!!!!! The only time my cloth developed a smell was during soaking when I forgot to change the water daily. That smell was ****awful**** (and I *know* bad smells after having cleaned men's restrooms)! Get any smell out with multiple applications of Bac out Biokleen Bac-Out Stain and Odor Eliminator-32 fl oz. ; but following these steps below, you won't need to do anything for smells: if liner/pad is blood soaked, rinse with water and let air dry (you don't even technically need to rinse if you get it to dry fast enough). If there are only small to medium spots of blood, just let it air dry. Place dried pads in laundry bag. Toss in with regular clothing in the washing machine [weeks later is okay] (no special soaps, water temperatures, pre-treating, nor fabric color sorting needed. no fabric softener.) - just do what you normally do. The dried blood completely washes out (trust me, my cotton flannel pad tops look like new even though they get blood on them every month from small leaks/my accidents. Your experience with staining may vary of course, but letting the blod just dry doesn't preclude sanitary pads after you send them through a washing machine. [caveat: there are very light, hard to see tiny stains on my white silk pads and white fleece pads using this method - whatevs right? no one else looks at my pads but me and washing machines take care of any blood related ickyness people talk about]. On dark pads, I do have minor bleaching from acidic vaginal secretions so buying dark cloth pads won't necessarily save you from *all* discolorations....)

TAKING LINERS WITH ME ON THE GO
Just in case I need a new liner in the middle of the day (accidental spill/leak), I carry liners around in a planetwise wet/dry bag Planet Wise Travel Wet/Dry Bag, Owl (plus a plastic produce bag or those non-crinkly small plastic bags giftstore purchases come in, to prevent leaks when carrying soiled pads). A ziplock or a Blue Q coin purse (plasticized recycled grain fabric ) Blue Q Peacock Zipper Pouch or a Logan+Lenora Wet/Dry Logan + Lenora Wet + Dry Diaper Clutch - Small Cloth Diaper Wet Bag with Dry Pocket - Carry Wipes, Diapers, Creams, Cloth Pads, Breast Pads, or Toiletries - Made in USA - Waterproof (Downtown Athenian) are other options I alternate between. Items labeled wet-dry bags (like the ones I listed) usually have a water resistant zipper. Keep new liners in the dry pocket, used liners in the wet pocket. Wet bags are sold in many etsy stores in delightful patterns and sizes.

WASHING CUP IN PUBLIC BATHROOMS
Sometimes handicapped stalls include a sink - that's perfect for washing a cup after dumping the contents out. I went as far as to buy a perineal irrigation squeeze bottle DYND70125H - Perineal Irrigation Bottle with my new divacup (for situations when one has no running water); effective but totally unnecessary. I almost always forgot the bottle at home anyways. A wad of toilet paper will get all visible traces of blood off your cup (and almost everything off fingers). I always feel a little self conscious walking out of a stall with bloody fingers after insertion, but then I think: "eh, you'll probably never see the other ladies again/they're probably too embarrassed to say anything to you. Menstrual blood is NATURAL - you're not dying; just move on with your day, wash your hands. The menstrual blood was just inside your uterus, if it had encountered gross bacteria/viruses up in there, here's a hint, those buggers would already all over your body/bloodstream. Probably in your mouth too; what are you going to do, never floss again?" You can wet a paper towel to carry into a stall for a hand wipe too.

EXERCISE
I love that I can swim with a cup in and not have to get the weird water gush feeling one has with tampons (tampon absorbs water and when you squeeze your pc muscles a little, it's like wringing a sponge).

During ski season, my butt doesn't get cold when the blood in a traditional pad would cool off.

OTHER MENSTRUAL OPTIONS
If you're looking for a travel menstrual cup, look at the Intimina lily cup compact which folds down like those silicone camping cups. It packs away slightly smaller than the diva cup (but isn't as stiff, so removal requires more concentration to avoid spills).

Look into menstrual sponges for period sex (I have a review for them) or the Instead softcup Instead 12 Hour Feminine Protection Cup 24 ea . Natural sea sponges ( Premium Ultra Soft Sea Pearls Reusable Sea Sponges - Multi Size 3 Pack ) or synthetic (gynotex or beppy) - note sponges not FDA approved but that doesn't mean it can't be 'safe enough' for you (see my sponge review for my opinion).

TSS
Cups don't seem to carry the same level of TSS risks as tampons do because they don't absorb the fluid and hold it next to a lot of your internal tissue (however I have heard of two cup-TSS cases where they believed blood in the little holes incubated bacteria and the specific chemistry of the female let the germs bloom. The literature doesn't say how long the cups were in but it could have been longer than 12 hours. That being said, I've left mine in for 24 hours with no ill affects (as have many others posting in online forums); YMMV.

232 people found this helpful

Helpful

Miss M

Wish I had found out about Menstrual cups sooner

Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2015

Verified Purchase

1) you must be comfortable touching yourself
2) you must be comfortable getting a bit messy
3) have a sink nearby
4) relax!

If you are dry it can be a bit of a pain to get situated. There are a few ways to fold the cup to get it in and have it pop open but not all will work every time. I have had to insert and reinsert this a few times because the cup wouldn't open.
I will push my vaginal walls out with my fingers in hopes to open space up enough for the cup to pop open - this works about 50% of the time.
I will spin the cup to make sure nothing is pinched in still - this will cause leakage, and spinning helps prevent a vacuum seal which will make removal difficult.

I insert and remove at home - where I have a squatty potty. This, I have found, helps everything immensely! I have tired to insert in the tub while squatting, sitting on a regular toilet in a public bathroom, and while standing with a foot up. Using the squatty potty is the easiest, followed by the tub.

Public bathroom is the worst due to fear of germs, dropping it, getting to a sink etc. This should not discourage anyone tho! I have had years and years of practice with tampons and have been using this for not even a year! Learning curve is there, but once you know how to get it in and get that down it just becomes practice.

Tips: you should NOT leak, if you are leaking it is not in right or you have the wrong size in. I am 32 with no children and use Cup 1 - I have purchased cup 2 to see what the difference should be. There are also different brands - if Diva doesn't work another style may help based on the depth of your cervix.

These cups wont be too big - the vagina is like an umbrella and will open to accommodate the 'girth'. You should not feel this at all (unless you kegel). Tampons you can sometimes feel - they are long, or are poking something in an odd angle, and they dry you out - this, you should not feel at all as the vagina itself has no nerve endings. However, if you are uncomfortable the stem could be to long, you could have a shallow cervix, or it is in at an odd angle and poking at the wrong angle. If so, take it out and re-insert.

You must fold this to insert it!

Tip 2: Before you insert clean yourself up, insert it, and clean yourself up again. This will help you figure out if you are leaking truely or it is just blood caught around the cup after insertion.

Tip 3: know your flow! I have overflowed this cup once - I noticed leaking and removed the cup; it was full!
If you have mucousy flow it will 'fall out' as you remove the cup. Be prepared!

Sanitize in boiling water after your cycle. This should last you YEARS!

COMPARISON:

I purchased DivaCup Size 1 as my first menstrual cup. My cat has a rubber and now silicone fetish and proceeded to run off with it after I rinsed and put it on the sink before insertion.
Figured I would buy some of the 'generic' or less expensive options, try them out and compare since DivaCup is on the pricer side.

DivaCup $28 ish
Anigan EvaCup 2/$35 dual pack
Athena $20
Blossom $18

I chose the LARGE or Size 2 for each cup except my original Diva
To start all cups are the same in height - about 2.5" high - you can see in the image with the yard stick
I used each cup for a few days of my cycle, both light and heavier/mucusy flow. All worked perfectly, there were zero leaks

DivaCup Size 1 is for prebirth/under 30. Size 2 is postbirth/over 30. The difference is the overall width through the entire cup, the difference is slight.
DivaCup is by far my favorite except that the stem is open - that collects blood/fluid and it is difficult to clean. The wider stem does help it with removal but not all the time. It also only comes in clear, it will eventually discolor since blood stains.

DivaCup has a moderate firmness and a thin edge. It is easy to fold and insert and opening is not an issue most of the time (suction is to blame the times it is difficult)

Blossom Cup is my second favorite. It is visually similar to Diva, comes in funky colors which is a bonus for the staining. I got Red which is really a salmon color, should have chosen lime green. It has a thin edge just like Diva and is moderate in firmness. Easy to fold and insert, opening is not an issue. The body is slightly softer than Diva which may make removal difficult. I tend to grab the base just above the stem to remove.

My least favorites are a tie between EvaCup and Athena Cup for different reasons.
Athena Cup is SOFT - very flimsy, the edge and body squeeze too easily and they just feel inadequate. The softness of the cup makes it hard to have the edges pop open inside you. These cups were the ones I had the most difficulty with.
I just could not get these to open without a lot of internal manipulation (pushing the vaginal walls out to give the cup room to expand). I also had a tough time removing the cups - because they are so soft when you grab the body of the cup it squishes, I couldn't get a good grip. They do come in funky colors and I love the black and teal.

EvaCup has the exact opposite problem, they are FIRM. The edge of Eva is thicker than Diva and the rest, not in width but in length down the cup. This edge is very firm, much firmer than the body which is firmer than Diva by far. This makes folding the cup much more difficult and insertion harder. It does help with popping the cup open but I found if I didn't have a really good firm grip on the cup it opened before I had it high enough. I could feel the cup and had to remove and reinsert a few times before it was high enough and in the right spot to do its job. Eva also comes in some funky colors - the two that came in the dual pack were pink and purple.

OVERALL:
Any of these will work, the best is to pick one and figure out what you like/dislike. Too firm, not firm enough, hard to remove?
Firmer go with Eva, softer go with Athena, somewhere in the middle Diva or Blossom
Colors - go with anything but Diva

1,661 people found this helpful

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Sue W.

Surprised at how well this works - first time user experience and tips

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2015

Color: ClearSize: Model 1 (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

Note: going to give all the honest and gory details just to be helpful :)

This is my first cup and I was brand new to this concept. I have friends who use softcups and went to investigate, and wasn't too wild about how they were disposable. I wanted something reusable, for both greenness and convenience - you never run out! It seems there are several different reusable cups, but the Diva Cup seemed extremely popular and got mostly good reviews, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I research a lot before I buy things, so I was pretty well informed on how it works, watched you tube videos, etc. I think that helped with product use. A few thoughts for those considering:

SIZE: I am a 35 year old who hasn't had children, and while it recommended the larger size, I figured I would start with the smaller and go larger if needed. The size of the product can be intimidating as it is, so figured start small and move up vs. the alternate. The smaller size is working fine for me.

VOLUME: I also have very heavy periods the first 2 days, and the next 3 are extremely light, so was hoping this would handle it. I mean, we're talking super plus tampons being changed every few hours on the first few days. I was really hoping for something like this that would hold more and be less leaky. My periods are also pretty regular, so I know to about 24 hours when they will start, so a huge bonus of this was that it could be put in ahead of time to be ready.

PRODUCT ITSELF: I love how little space this entire contraption takes up. I had a huge drawer devoted to all sorts of tampons and pads, and this is just a tiny corner of it. Which is awesome for storage both at home and when traveling, but also makes me happy to think about how many tampons I won't be throwing away anymore. The cup itself surprised me at how "firm" the silicon is. It's thicker and less flexible than I expected, but that makes it durable and didn't give me problems using it. Reading said it will get more flexible over time too, so that's just something to note.

USE: It's a little intimidating, as is anything new, but when my period arrived, figured it was time to give it a shot. I recommend trying this at home when you've got time, just so you can keep an eye on things and have the freedom and privacy to mess with it later if needed. I read about two different ways to fold it when inserting, and definitely think the "push down" method is better. That makes the top much smaller to insert vs. the C fold. Have a good grip on it though, as it wants to pop open. I also had boiled it for safety when it first arrived, and had wet it in the sink before trying to insert. I had read that this takes time/several cycles for people to get the hang of it, and also heard horror stories of people not able to get it out, and I prepared for the worst. So here goes:

Day 1 - Watched the DivaCup video one more time before using, just to refresh my memory. Did the push down method, put it in, and it wanted to pop open before I even had it in all the way. I actually got it in with little problem, and was surprised. Gripped the base like you are supposed to and did a full turn, also tried to feel around the outside to see if it was open. Aside from the stem being slightly uncomfortable, it was in! I was shocked, I did it! I'd read you could trim the stem to make it more comfortable, but figured I'd give it a few tries before doing that. Sweet! I was now inspired by my future of minimal period products. Aside from the stem, I also couldn't feel it, so it was comfortable. This is going to work!

Day 1 - a few hours later - welp, we've got some leaks. I'm disappointed. Is it too small? Should I have gotten the bigger size? Will I be one of those people that can't use these? I tried to shove the negativity aside and focused on the daunting task of getting it out. Pulled down slightly on the stem so I'd have better access to the base, gripped the base and tried to "break the seal" people talk about, and surprisingly again, didn't have a problem pulling it out. If you have longer fingernails, or even moderate fingernails, be extra careful. Things can get pinched and it's unpleasant. The cool thing about the cup is it has measurements inside, and I could see it wasn't like I was overflowing at all, there wasn't even much in there. I rinsed it out and figured I would make attempt number 2. This time, I tried to insert less like a tampon and more towards the tailbone (like the video talks about). Again, was able to get it in, 360 degree turn, and gave it a little tug down to try and put the seal in place, as some reviews said. I also put on a pad to block any leaks/spotting. This time the stem seemed at a more comfortable angle and slightly farther in.

Day 1 - evening - NO LEAKS. I'm in shock - it can't be working this well already, can it? I decide to do the recommended empty in the shower this time. Yes, it can look like a murder scene if you've got a heavier period, but the shower process was fantastic and I decided to do all changes there when possible. It's much easier to get "everything" clean, and then you can put the cup back in before getting out.

Day 2 - I'm sort of amazed. While the first attempt had leaked, I haven't had a leak since. It's comfortable/unnoticeable when I have it in, and I rode my bike with it just fine. I took a pantyliner pad with me when I went out, just in case, but didn't need it at all. Left in the full 12 hours, no problem. Over night, no problem. I'm not going to bother trimming the stem either, I can't even feel it when I'm wearing it anymore.

Day 3 & 4 - same as above. I hope I'm not abnormal, but I haven't had an issue since.

I've been so pleased that I ordered the Divawash to wash it between cycles as I think this is a keeper. I'm also noticing I'm not as "dry" feeling - like tampons suck every last bit of moisture out, and I definitely haven't experienced that the last few days. Also makes me happy I'm not putting bleached things in myself, nor creating waste, and have gotten rid of the risk of TSS.

If you are considering trying a cup, I really recommend it. It's definitely going to be some trial and error, but I'm really pleased with how it's been working. I've also read that some ladies who didn't get it to work tried other brands and had success, so I'd say don't give up if you really do struggle. But honestly I was expecting a LOT worse, for this to be a huge ordeal, and it's actually been quite simple. Some people worried (including me) about getting it lost, however I found it stays in place really well, but I can actually move it slightly up or down if needed. Another big concern is getting it stuck. I definitely gripped the bottom and tried to break the seal/push in the sides, and honestly had no issues with it coming undone. Now that I'm on day 4, I'm going to leave it out at night to give things a little break in there, but don't really need it overnight at this point anyway. I'm really excited to think I haven't used one single tampon this entire week, and only went through three pantyliner pads as precaution (didn't need any of them). Amazing.

My biggest problem now is what am I going to do with all these extra tampons I hope to never have to use again? :)

84 people found this helpful

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Middlebunny

Fibroids? Menorrhagia? Need alternative to OB Ultra?

Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2011

Verified Purchase

Looking for an alternative to the OB Ultra or suffering from Fibroids or Menorrhagia? This may be the solution you seek.

OK...to summarize what will be an extremely long evaluation, let it just be said that I absolutely love my Diva Cup. I also love Amazon for carrying it and having the "genius"/"recommendations for you" program that automatically suggests products based on what you buy or search. Otherwise, I might not know this product existed or be able to experience a sense of freedom that I haven't had in more than 8 years.

Now for the longer, more information than you might really want, version of my review. I'm including details that might be helpful to anyone with similar medical conditions which I'll get to discussing a little further in this review. To start, let me explain that I'd previously been introduced to the concept of an internal menstrual cup a while ago. Unfortunately, my experience then was vastly different than my recent experience with the Diva Cup. To be specific, several years ago, I tried the "Instead" product and found it to be a very good idea in theory; however, it proved to be very, very bad in reality. The "Instead" device was reminiscent of the Ortho-All Flex Diaphragm (contraceptive device) only it was too large so it kept popping out of place and zooming out of me creating an unpleasant mess. The Diva Cup is not as flat or frisbie-like. It is conical and has a longer, less rubbery reservoir which works much better for me than the disc-like shape of the "Instead" device. While it does take some time to get used to insertion and removal of the Diva Cup, I figured it out in a few hours and it proved to be a lifesaver during a recent 7 hour flight to London from the US.

A little background history on me is that I have fibroid tumors and menorhagia (extremely heavy bleeding) as a result of the tumors. This basically means that my cycle lasts about 20 days with about 2-3 extremely heavy flow days (heavy flow = changing a 18 gram capacity OB Ultra tampon [product now discontinued] every 1-2 hours), 3 normal flow days and another 15 days of light flow and/or spotting. Yes, this is a nightmare for which I've had 3 unsuccessful surgeries; however, I have finally found a little freedom from my cycle through use of the Diva Cup.

I'm no longer trapped in the house or confined to places like work with private or semi-private restrooms nearby. While my flow is so heavy that I must still empty the Diva Cup every 2 hours on heavy days, I'm not constantly trying to monitor the flood that is my cycle and wearing both a maxi/overnight sized pad and an ultra tampon. I'm no longer attracting attention to myself in public restrooms with noisy plastic wrappers or squeaky disposal devices. Given the fact that OB discontinued their Ultra sized tampon and I would have otherwise been left without sufficient protection to allow me to travel from my house to work (about 45 minutes), my discovery of the Diva Cup was a lifesaver.

It arrived just prior to my London trip and extended the amount of time I have between trips to the restroom by another hour. That is almost double the time allowance that I had with the OB Ultra. Given that I'd once been threatened with Homeland Security arrest when I asked to be allowed emergency restroom access on a flight caught in runway limbo (detached from gate and on the runway but awaiting clearance to take off such that no passengers were allowed out of their seats), I wasn't sure whether I'd survive a transatlantic flight during my menses. Although I still had to use the restroom about 3 times during the flight, I wasn't arrested or threatened by insensitive flight attendants which was a major accomplishment. Now, I can once again travel by plane and only worry about the condition of the aircraft and training of the pilot like most people.

Although this has been mentioned in previous posts, it warrants mentioning again. If you are squeamish, the Diva Cup may not be for you. Because of my experience with leaky tampons supplemented by icky maxi-pads, I may be somewhat desensitized to the mess; however, unless you happen to somehow manage the unlikely act of spilling the contents of the cup on yourself instead of into the toilet, it is far less messy than dealing with tampon/pad related "accidents". Here are some helpful hints/general thoughts that I picked up from google searching "menstrual cup reviews" and "menstrual cup folds":

- Keep extra tissues with you since it is sometimes difficult to access sufficient paper from rolls in public/office restrooms. I'm boycotting Johnson & Johnson and its subsidary, McNeil-PPC, Inc., for the unexplained shortage and discontinuance of the OB Ultra tampon, so it seems appropriate to mention the non-J&J products that I keep handy. This is my list so you should be aware that the Diva Cup manufacturer doesn't recommend using anything with lotions or non-Diva brand cleansers: (1) Puff's Ultra Soft and Strong - Travel Pack tissues; (2) Always's Always Clean wipes and (3) Cottonelle Fresh Flushable Moist Towelettes

- If you are on-the-go, it is good to pick up a small, inexpensive bottle of water or travel with a Lavette/Perineal Bottle (which you must fill with clean water before entering the toilet stall) for your in-stall rinsing needs. While you can simply use tissue to clean out the cup, I prefer to rinse the cup as well as my perineal area with clean water prior to reinserting the device.

- There are tons of different types of insertion folds or at least a lot more than you'd expect. Since I didn't really like the two that were recommended in the Diva Cup instruction manual, I googled "menstrual cup folds" and was rewarded with various options. I actually prefer the "origami" fold. Once inserted, I rotate the Diva Cup to ensure a proper seal. If you have a heavy flow, fluid may leak down and coat the canal walls in between the short period of time it takes to remove, clean and reinsert the Diva Cup. If this occurs, you may have some light leaking so you should wear a panty liner or light/thin pad as protection.

- If you view the Diva Cup as an environmentally friendly way to handle your cycle, you may also be interested in purchasing washable (and organic) menstrual pads. I just ordered some so they haven't arrived yet; thus, I must reserve my opinion. Still, they sound like a good idea so I'm excited to try them.

- Although I've only actually tried the Diva Cup (size 2), I have also purchased the Moon Cup (size A) and the Lunette Cup (Selene/Blue - Model 2) as back-up alternatives to my Diva Cup because they are very similarly shaped and I didn't think it was necessary to commit to one brand when there are several on the market. I've only experienced one cycle using the Diva Cup; thus, I haven't tested the Moon or Lunette Cups yet. I just wanted to have more than one Menstrual Cup and since the reviews for the other two brands were just as positive as those for the Diva Cup, I thought I'd purchase one of each. Because the Lunette is actually a european brand (I think it is French) and the Moon Cup is the version of the "Keeper" marketed to Americans, I purchased all brands via Amazon to avoid issues with foreign sellers. In the spirit of full disclosure, I'm an Amazon Prime member so most of my on-line purchases for non-clothing items are through them.

Clearly, I have a very specific medical condition which one might think would make the Diva Cup or a similar product less advantageous; however, the contrary has proven true for me. For those with a normal cycle, I suspect the use of a Diva Cup would be an all-around slam dunk. Try it and you may like it. If you are concerned about the cost, start calculating how much you spend on disposable menstrual supplies in 2 months. I suspect that will cover the annual Diva Cup cost and that once you graduate from the trial and error phase of insertion techniques, you will also love the Diva Cup.

34 people found this helpful

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Doc Smith

God Bless the Inventors of This Product!

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2013

Color: ClearSize: Model 1 (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

Every menstruating woman needs to try this!

I wish I had known about this method of menstrual cycle management about 14 years ago! I just tried the Diva Cup for the first time and even with a bit of a learning curve, I already love this device. I haven't tried other brands of menstrual cups, and I'm pretty impressed with the Diva, but this type of product is something I'm going to recommend to as many of my female friends as possible.

NOT AS ICKY AS YOU THINK
I have a doctoral degree in physical therapy, so the "ick factor" wasn't an issue for me, since I've dealt with cadaver dissection, nursing home patient bathroom issues, and non-healing wounds. But my advice for those grossed out by it is "YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU TRY." It's just menstrual fluid. This is a natural and healthy function of how God created our bodies, and you can learn to deal with it gracefully. Imagine: stop buying endless boxes of pads and tampons. Stop having to hide all the used products in the trash can with globs of toilet paper. Stop worrying about untimely leaks because your flow is so fast that it gushes right around the super-plus tampon you've only worn for one hour. Stop losing sleep because you have to get up to deal with wet pads three or four times a night!

BUILT FOR A REALISTIC AMOUNT OF FLUID
The Diva Cup holds considerably more fluid than even a super-plus tampon. Even during the heaviest day of my cycle this time, I was able to wear this cup leak-free for at least twice as long as a tampon would have held up. For those of us who have much heavier flows than the "average woman," (whoever THAT is!), this product should make a very happy difference in your attitude about your menstrual cycle and your ability to cope with it gracefully. (I suspect the tampon and pad industry deliberately makes products designed to hold far less fluid than what they know most women produce in a cycle, so that we have to keep buying more and more of their paper goods and making them rich! It's like the automobile industry: they have electric and other alternative cars ready to manufacture, but because the oil companies want to get rich, most people don't even know about them. God forgive us. Ok, end soap box).

The Diva Cup can be worn for up to twelve hours before it's advisable to empty it. Although I'm rating this product with five stars, please realize that a fast, heavy flow may require more frequent attention. However, I estimate that for me, the Diva Cup can still hold 3-4 times as much fluid as a super-plus tampon. When I would have had to change the tampon every two hours, I was comfortable for 4-5 hours with the Diva Cup. Besides the heaviest day, I was able to wear it for 10-12 hours. This frees up some time and mental energy for better uses than being in the bathroom.

HEALTHY, COMFORTABLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY AND FINANCIALLY BENEFICIAL
The healthy and safety factor of the Diva Cup is another major benefit in my opinion. Tampons can over-absorb the natural moisture of the vaginal environment and disrupt your chemical and fluid balance, increasing the risk for invading bacteria to colonize (why toxic shock syndrome can occur). The Diva Cup maintains your normal chemical and fluid environment and does not increase risk of infection. Tampons can irritate the epithelial lining of the vaginal walls because of their dryness whereas the medical-grade silicon of the Diva Cup is very comfortable and smooth (and cannot leave behind any fibers). The Diva Cup is also environmentally safe. Rather than creating pounds of soiled paper-products every month that will go sit in a landfill, the Diva Cup is reusable and minimizes the impact of menstrual management on the planet. It also saves you money. I calculated that on average, each cycle costs me about $6.00 (I live in a rural area and the stores are probably cheaper than if you live in a city). So I spend at least $72.00 per year on feminine products! The Diva Cup cost me a little under $30, with shipping and handling, so I've effectively cut my cost in half.

THE LEARNING CURVE
Given all the positive things I've said about the Diva Cup, there still may be some trial and error as you get used to it. Read the instructions thoroughly. If you need more help, go to the Diva Cup website for more useful tips. I found it was easy to insert, but a little tricky to insert CORRECTLY. Removal was a little tricky at first because of the suction seal; I learned I can't pull it straight out, but, like the instructions teach, I had to pinch the base of the cup to break the seal, then work it laterally and medially as I pulled from an angle. I've only used it for one cycle so far, however, and I am confident that it will become automatic and hassle-free in time. If you're used to inserting tampons, you have to unlearn that motor program and think about inserting the cup at a much lower angle. For me, sitting with hips widely abducted (legs apart) was the best way for insertion and removal. The directions are right-on in this area, too: you really should be able to rotate the cup holding the base, if it's inserted properly. The way it looks right out of the box is the same way it should fit when you have it properly placed. I found it helpful to insert my third finger (the longest) alongside the outer edges of the cup to check if the cup felt like it was completely unfolded. If it was, and if I could rotate it freely, then I had no problems. At worst, if you have it too high or if it didn't unfold completely, it could feel uncomfortable and it may leak a little. Just remove it and try it again. It gets pretty easy with practice.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
I am a recreational runner, cyclist, swimmer, and hiker. I'm also learning to windsurf, and I regularly practice a strength and endurance brand of yoga and pilates. The Diva Cup has been great with all these activities. Where a tampon would wimp out on me with an increase in blood flow during a long run, (and I'd have to hurry to the bathroom to change it as soon as I was done), the Diva Cup holds secure. My pilates workout, with several supine, prone, and inverted positions with hips above the head went very well with the cup being comfortable and secure.

The Diva Cup company recommends Kegel exercises if you have trouble with the cup staying in place. As a PT, I strongly agree. God bless Kegel exercises, too. I do a set daily, while I'm doing my nightly dental routine. You don't have to spend a long time or do tons of reps. Just be consistent with it. A PT, an OB-GYN, or a good PCP should be able to advise you if you're struggling with these. Also, recruiting your lower abdominal and buttocks muscles will help to automatically elicit some muscle activity in the pelvic floor, so if you really can't get the hang of Kegels, start with pelvic and abdominal strengthening, like bridges and pelvic tilts. Having good muscular control of the pelvic floor will also make inserting and removal of the Diva Cup go more easily.

OVERALL, A WONDERFUL PRODUCT
So at the end of my long and zealous review, I just say Thank You God for giving some wise person this idea. Apparently, menstrual cups have been around since the first half of the 20th century. In the U.S., we don't hear much about them, unfortunately. The U.K. and Canada, I understand, better utilize this resource. I hope to encourage as many women as I can that this product is worth a try. Save money, manage your menstrual cycle more easily, be more environmentally responsible, stay active, make life simpler, learn about the wonderful body God gave you and its normal functions, and develop a more thankful and graceful attitude about your cycle.

16 people found this helpful

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Margo T

LOVE MY DIVA - WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME THINGS I SAW IN OTHER REVIEWS

Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2014

Color: ClearSize: Model 2 (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

As others before me have said, due to what this product is, this review cannot be properly done without discussing my body & my period with you all. So I give it 5 stars for me. I'm over 30 and have had 5 vaginal births so I use size 2. This is the first (and only) menstrual cup I've ever tried. I got lucky and Diva has worked for me. I had a 2 month learning curve - didn't have difficulty with insertion or removal but took me a couple of months to get to the point that I'm quick enough doing it that I feel I could do it in a public loo if I had to. Chances are that unless I'm out of town somewhere, I won't have to. On my heavy day, I change it after about 6 hrs. On my light day, I keep it in all day and just change at bed-time and in the morning. The one issue I have is that since I've had so many babies (and mine were all in the 10 lb range), I have some issues with prolapse. This means that while my cup comes down with just a bit of bearing down, I have to reach in and do a wee bit of "search & rescue" to find the stem and then bear down again while pulling to remove it. After 4 cycles, I've perfected my "search & rescue" mission and can take out / re-insert in about 30 seconds. I just had to figure out where exactly to line up my fingers to be ready for the stem when it comes within reach. I literally do forget that I have my period. I wear a glad rag liner as a back up (altho I've never had a leak) but I also wear it to remind myself that I have my cup in so I don't forget to change it at some point. With five kids, it's great to know that on my heavier day I only have to change it midday and at bedtime and on my light day, not at all during the day. I'd never be able to wear a tampon for 12 hrs without worrying about toxic shock. I am going to buy a second Diva. It's not necessary but if I were ever to drop my cup on the floor by accident, I can just use the other one. Also, this summer I will likely have my period during a week when I'll be spending days at the lake where the only facilities will be a pit toilet or a porta-potty. I know I can just wipe it out with toilet paper and re-insert but since those loos are even germier than your average public bathroom, I think I'd rather do a swap out in that situation. (But again, I may not have to worry about it more than one day and I may be able to orchestrate our outing around when I need to change my cup.) Being clear, the cup will discolour over time but if that really bothers you, I believe you can use vinegar & baking soda in your boiling water to help get it clear again. Even after just a few cycles, mine is ever so slightly cloudy but I don't care about that. (By the way, some other brands come in colours so if discolouration is a concern, you could look into Lunette or MeLuna or other brands that have colours like orange or purple or green which aren't likely to show discolouration).

Now that I've said that - I want to address some of the things you may have read in other reviews.

1. Since our bodies are not all the same, we aren't all going to be able to use the same cup. The reviewers who commented that they couldn't get a good insert / had issues with leaking probably wouldn't have these issues if they tried a different brand / shape of cup. Diva is not the only menstrual cup out there. If you Google "menstrual cup sizing chart" or something to that effect, you'll find more than one chart that shows all the different brands out there and their sizing. If you know your anatomy well enough to know what you want (short, wide cup; longer cup; bigger volume for super heavy flow...) then you can probably fairly accurately determine which brand & size is going to work for you.

2. Several women mentioned the stem pinching them and assumed this was due to improper placement. There are solutions to this. One might be to get a different cup. It's possible your cervix is low / you have a short vagina (esp if you haven't had children yet) and you need a cup that isn't as long or is shaped differently. You can trim the stem off if you don't rely on it for finding / removing the cup. Or you can turn the cup inside out (which also changes its shape slightly) which will make it smooth on the outside and more comfortable. Or it is possible it's not inserted properly. Every once in a blue moon I feel the stem and I just bring the cup out and reinsert and voila, it doesn't pinch.

3. One person commented that they wouldn't recommend a cup for virgins. This is absolutely not the case. I wouldn't recommend this cup to a teenager (can't say whether or not a size 1 diva would work well for an adult virgin) but I know of one brand (MeLuna) and there may be others that sell a XS cup which is geared for teens. My 14 yr old niece was using her MeLuna when she was visiting us this past summer. When my own daughters start menstruating, I will talk to them about trying a teen sized menstrual cup. While not all teens are ready for using a cup (the security of a tampon string and just being able to pull it out without having to put fingers inside one's body is totally understandable for a young lady), a teenager or an adult female who is a virgin certainly CAN find a menstrual cup that will fit her body.

So for me personally, the Diva is a perfect fit and I am so glad that it's working out so well. I would urge you to look at the charts of the different brands of cups available before you buy so you don't spend money on a cup you can't use, can't send back and can't easily sell on eBay (although I think there are one or two sites that do re-sell cups). There are a few Facebook pages out there and other discussion boards as well so if you need to talk to experienced cup users to help you determine what brand / size will work best for you, I would recommend that so that you hopefully get the right cup for your body the first time. Have a happy period!!

17 people found this helpful

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T. H. Johnson

I used to hate it!

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2006

Color: ClearSize: Model 1 (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

When I first heard of Diva Cups I thought it was the best thing I've ever discovered. Imagine a product that will last for years, you don't wear outside of your body like a diaper and no fear of TSS. I read post from women online about the Diva cup and even visited the website. I finally decided I HAD to have one. When it arrived I was so happy and decided to give it a test run as I wasn't due for quite a while. After so many tries I began to realize that I made a terrible mistake! I couldn't get it in to save my life! After about 50 tries I managed to slip it in and walk around, I didn't feel anything but the stem, which was annoying. Then I decided to take it out and OMG! I couldn't get it out! After maybe 30 mins I managed to get it out and the suction was so terrible it felt like my insides were being ripped out with it! Not to mention that fact that I cut myself trying to grip it and started bleeding.

The instructions say that panic causes the pain but let me tell you, I believe the pain causes the panic! I never felt that bad taking out a dry tampon!! After that I was scared of my Diva Cup and placed it out of sight and out of mind. Unfortunately I also forgot to buy tampons so when my cycle came I was stuck with the Diva Cup and a few pads. I tried and tried and tried to get the thing in but kept failing and a part of me was glad cause I wasn't prepared for the feeling of ripping my insides out via my vagina. But a huge part of me was angry. The idea of wasting 30 bucks on a silcone cup was not happy!

Finally I did more research and found a menstral cup community. (A reviewer here had already posted it) and I used some of the tricks and ideas and Finally got it in and out no problems! Here are a few tips from a woman who wanted to kill the makers of Diva Cups.

Tip #1: Use lube. Maybe it was the fear but water alone will not do it. I recommend buying some KY or something with your cup.

Tip #2: Make sure you have nothing else to do for the day. trust me! The headache this thing could give you the first time would make you not want to do anything anyway.

Tip #3: Throw away the instructions that come with your cup. Useless!

Tip #4: Wash your hands and run the cup under hot water. It makes the cup soft. Make sure the tiny holes near the rim are clean and open. IMPORTANT!

Tip #5: Prepare to do more postions then a $10 wh**e. Sit down, stand up, lay down, squat. The postion that works for me is laying on my side using pillows and my elbow to prop myself up. It's the ONLY position that works for me. So I won't be taking this thing off at work.

Tip #6: The U shape crap doesn't work! Read the community site for other methods, some are: 7 shape, C shape, origami shape, pinch method. I tuck one side in creating a smaller tip. I forgot the name for it but the pictures are on the site.

Tip #7: When I get it in slightly I turn it a little but turning it when it's in all the way is impossible. I just make sure it's in past the "hump"(the part sticking out near the bottom when I tuck one side in), tilting it toward my tail bone, when the stem is trying to face up I push it to the back(not further inside) then stand up. I then go to the bathroom to urinate(cause it feels like I have to when I get it in) and when I sit down I loosen up to go. When I stand up I feel the air bubbles inside coming out. This lets me know that it's really sealing shut.

Tip #8: I then wiggle my hips a little and do a hula motion (tip from site) it helps making sure it's sealing up properly. Standing up straight and relaxing completely helps in the sealing too. When the last of the air bubbles are out I know I'm good to go. I wore it overnight and I just finished working out with it in and everything is fine.

Tip #9: While you're still in the bathroom. Wipe yourself with a tissue or you may end up spotting. This is cause some of the flow may have already gotten past while you're putting it in and sealing it.

Removal Tips: Remember when I said "make sure the tiny holes near the rim are clean and open"? Well this is why. When I described the "ripping out the insides" feeling, it was due to those little holes clogging up while I was struggling to put it in. So constantly check those holes while you're putting it in. It almost happened again while I was putting it in but I manged to get it out and I checked the holes and some were clogged. I used a sterilized needle to poke in there and clean them.

Tip #1: I have to sit down to remove it. Thank goodness! I can do this on a toliet.

Tip #2: Wash your hands and prepare to give birth! Cause that's what it is, it's like giving birth to a tinnie tiny baby, not taking a crap. Someone called it "Birthing the cup"

Tip #3: Use your muscles to gently push the cup down, Then grab the stem until you can reach up and pinch the base of the cup. Tilt it in a position toward your tail bone (Do not pull it straight out, it won't work) you have to tilt it.

Tip #4: When you relax and push, you must keep pushing even while you have a hold on it and pulling it out. When I stop pushing it hurts a little so I push the whole way through! When it's out I clean it making sure the tiny holes are cleaned too.

Stem Tip: The Diva is meant to be worn low not high, of course it'll ride up a bit but it never goes far up to where I can't push it out. If it's riding up too far, you might need a bigger one. Anyway the stem is annoying!! No matter if it rides up for not the stem will always poke you. When other women talked about trimming it I wasn't so sure. As I NEED the stem to get it out. But upon further inspection I saw that there is a alot of stem left at the bottom before reaching the first grip and since I never had a problem reaching the first grip I trimmed that open space of the stem off and what a difference!! I have it in now and I can hardly feel anything! So don't be afraid to trim the stem, but don't cut it off! Someone did and has no problems but if you NEED the stem like I do then don't take the chance.

So that's all I have to say. I hope my tips and the tips of others help you out. Don't let my first experience scare you off the Diva Cup. I was going to come on and write a really bad review until I finally found a way that worked for me.

373 people found this helpful

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Oshidori

Works well, but makes me very sick on certain days!

Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2014

Color: ClearSize: Model 2 (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

***UPDATE 6/15/14***
I decided to keep going with this one instead of trying a different brand cup. I learned that if I start the cup sitting very low (so low that it sticks out quite a bit when I'm sitting on the toilet; my muscles pull it in to where it needs to be as soon as I stand, or I adjust it while standing), I don't have any problems with hitting the Vagus nerve. Not to mention I pretty much never have any leaks either! Changing my rating from 4 stars to 5 now, this thing is great, and it's so nice not having to wear any pads in the summer!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, today I discovered a new term: vasovagal response. And let me tell you ladies, if this happens to you, REMOVE YOUR CUP IMMEDIATELY! I've had my Diva Cup for around 3-4 months now, and though it took a bit of getting used to, it works *very* well when I put it in right. I know that sounds very conflicting, but I'll explain why, please read on!

A little about myself: I am a 34 year old mother of one, and after a natural, uneventful childbirth I developed vulvadynia that was musco-skeletal related. After a year of physical therapy and medication (and after weaning my daughter at 3, all of which happened around the same time), the condition had resolved for me. But, some things remain. I seem to dry out very easily during my period, especially with the use of pads and tampons, which sometimes results in these very painful skin splits in the crevices of my labia; and my period is now much heavier and much longer in duration than it was before I had a baby (which can happen). My cervix is also tilted to one side. That last thing and the pain I would experience wasn't really the result of having a baby, it was actually the result of putting a thick wallet in the same back pocket for many years (messed up a good number of my pelvic muscles!), and having a baby and extended breastfeeding actually exacerbated the issue (though I do not regret my decision to breastfeed that long, but that's a whole 'nother discussion for a different kind of post!)!

Anyway, after reading up on menstrual cups, I thought I'd finally try one out, especially when I saw high praise of them on a vulvadynia recovery forum. And, aside from a few hiccups on getting it to sit right at first (and I mean, I really only had an issue with positioning it correctly on the first day I tried it), it was a godsend! No more drying out and painful splits, no more changing pads or tampons and feeling that gross damp feeling, no smell, and I barely felt like I was having my period, aside from the painful cramping I usually get the first 2 days. Hell, I could even sleep without undies, and not have a single accident, and the first 2-3 days I have a pretty heavy flow!

But then I'd notice something weird happening on the first and last days of my period. I would get very dizzy, and nauseous, and my thinking would be fuzzy. Last month, that happened when I was trying to go to sleep while I was away on a trip. I started feeling SO sick though, that I thought maybe I washed the cup wrong, or thought maybe the tap water of the state I was in was bad or had minerals or something that my body wasn't used to, so just in case I took it out and put a pad on, and figured when I got home I would wash the cup more thoroughly. I promptly forgot about the incident, since it happened on the last day of my period.

Fast forward to today. Woke up and got my period, so I put my cup on. After a few hours, I started feeling VERY nauseous and dizzy, but this time also feverish and I was very very visibly flushed, to the point where my 4 year old began to get worried and asked me if I was ok. It got so bad, that while trying to play with her, I had to keep lying on the floor to keep from throwing up or the world from spinning. In the midst of my haze, I tried to think of what I did differently earlier in the day. After eliminating all of the possible things that could be making me feel so ill, I realized the one thing I had done differently today was put on the cup. So I quickly went to the bathroom and took it out. And sure enough, within minutes, my very severe symptoms suddenly vanished!

After I felt much better, I decided to Google my symptoms in relation to menstrual cups and see if anyone else had experienced similar things, and came across the above phrase in a Livejournal community for menstrual cups. The phenomenon itself though seems somewhat rare, and occurs in women with low or tilted cervices, or on the days of your cycle when your cervix is naturally low. It's very frightening, because I learned that had I not removed the cup, I may have fainted, and had I fainted in a way where my head was still upright, I may have had a seizure! I'm here alone all day with a 4 year old, so that would have been a very terrible thing to happen indeed!

The reason I am giving this product 4 stars in spite of my experience, is because it does work very well for it's intended uses, and if I had the average cervix, I believe I wouldn't have these issues at all. For some women, it also seems that simply taking it out and re-positioning it correctly is all that's needed to eliminate these symptoms, since what is happening is you are irritating the Vagus nerve in your cervix, and some women have this extreme response when that occurs (others just feel a little bit of cramping and that's it).

The solution, it seems, is to use a shorter menstrual cup, like the LadyCup or the Mini Classic Meluna cup, so it sits lower in the vaginal canal and can't reach the nerve to irritate it. I will try this next and hope for the best, since I really loved the benefits of a menstrual cup. However, if I experience the same symptoms again, I will throw in the towel and admit defeat! (and be very sad!)

I don't write many reviews, but I wanted to get this info out in case anyone else was experiencing the same issues! I don't wany anyone to go through what i had earlier today! So, I hope this is useful to those experiencing the same issues! Thanks for reading ^_^

102 people found this helpful

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Lisa Lang Blakeney

Amazing Product Which Has A Learning Curve...But Is Totally Worth It!

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2014

Color: ClearSize: Model 2 (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

It's taken me a few months to write a review on this product because I wanted to give it a fair chance, and I'm so glad I did. My reason for trying this product is because I ALWAYS leak with tampons and it's only getting worse the older I get. Another side benefit of course was not having to purchase tampons, pads, etc. Here is my experience ( a little graphic) and some tips if you're considering buying:

Month 1 - I almost threw the DivaCup out the window the first month. My cycle came on immediately after a "session" with my husband and I think because of swollen tissue, etc. it wasn't the best time to try it for the first time. I had a very difficult time with insertion and after several "painful" attempts, I just gave up. My advice is to NOT try this if you have any vaginal irritation. Just wait until next month.

Month 2 - The first day of my period I used a tampon. I was pretty sure I wasn't going back to the DivaCup. I'd been too traumatized:) But something about it kept calling me. I'm not a quitter, so I tried again on the second day of my period. I think this was KEY for me at that time, because the second day is usually the more heavier day for most women. I was more lubricated. This helped, but insertion was still difficult because I wasn't sure how to fold the damn thing and insert it without it popping back open. (This comes with practice) I visited the DivaCup website and browsed through Amazon reviews and learned from others the two techniques that most women were using. I use the "lotus" fold technique which makes the entry of the cup as small as possible. Then the cup pops into place once it is inside you.

Month 3 - I had some success in the previous month, but not total success. I was scared to take the thing out because there wasn't a guarantee that I could get it back in. I was still having trouble with the cup unfolding before I was able to insert it all the way in. I was able to solve the issue by only inserting the cup while I was sitting on the toilet (that position makes insertion easier for me) instead of in the shower or standing up at the sink, etc. I was also able to solve this by drying the cup (after rinsing) with a little toilet tissue before insertion so that there was no chance of slippage. In fact, you can hold the base with the tissue while you insert just to get a better grip. This helped a lot. Also when they tell you to push the cup "Down" while pushing it in your vagina they are right. This is what helps it slide into the proper place. Inserting it "up" like a tampon will result in leaks. Don't worry this will take some time to get use to.

Final Tips:

TAKING THE CUP OUT
This is a breeze if you've ever had a baby. Just bare down like you're pushing the baby out and your kegel muscles do all the work. Feel for the little rubber tip of the cup, grip it with your fingertips and pull. If it keeps slipping, grab a square of toilet tissue and use that to help you "grip" the tip of the cup and pull.

DON'T CUT THE TIP
In some reviews they suggest that the cup may feel more comfortable if you cut the tip off or turn the cup inside out. I recommend not doing this, because I can't imagine how you would get the thing out if you didn't have that little rubberized tip at the end. If you feel the tip of the cup rubbing against your vagina or labia, then you don't have the cup far enough in. Don't be scared to insert it until it's all the way in. You WILL be able to get it out. You should NOT be able to feel the cup once it's in. If you do, then you don't have it inserted correctly.

PREVENT LEAKS
I bought the DivaCup for this very benefit, but there's definitely an art to it. When you first try the cup you probably aren't going to insert it correctly for a while. Everyone goes through this. The only way to get the water tight "suction" like fit that the cup provides is by proper insertion. Pushing it in far enough, pushing "down" when you insert it, turning it while it's inside to make sure it properly fits. Until you master this or if you have HEAVY periods, then I recommend wearing a pantyliner. But once you master this, you will find that you do not even have to wear a pantyliner. It's amazing!!! The third day of my period, I have to remind myself that it's in there.

RINSING CUP
I'm in my mid-40's, so I'm starting to get a heavier period on the second day. Like really heavy. So I end up rinsing the cup at least 3 or 5 times a day, but on my first, third and fourth day, I don't have to empty it nearly as much. On fourth day I may end up popping it in the morning and have it in all day. No leakage. (Cup can safely stay in 12 hours before having to rinse and reinsert). How often you will have to empty the cup and reinsert will depend upon your period. You will figure it all out after about two periods. Again, wear pantyliners until you figure it all out.

Finally - I love the freedom of this cup. I love how clean I feel with this cup. I love that I don't use a lot of tampons and pads any longer. It's definitely been a learning curve but it's been an amazing journey and I will continue to use this until I don't have to. I wish I had known about it sooner.

Side Note: I have 3 girls who all have their periods and I'm not sure that I would recommend that they use the cup, even though DivaCup has a smaller size for women under a certain age who have never had a baby. I'm not sure if a young teen is comfortable enough with her body to give this whole thing a whirl. I suppose it depends on the personality of your child.

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Sean Maguire

Best Period Companion

Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2017

Color: ClearSize: Model 2 (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

Do you bleed on a monthly basis? Tired of wasting your money on tampons and pads? Don't want to harm the environment by disposing of feminine products? Then have I got the perfect product for you! Please, take a trip down memory lane with me as I recount my year-long journey to find the perfect apparatus to catch my body's monthly tears because I have, yet again, disappointed it for not becoming pregnant.

Y’all. We're talking about periods, pushing a silicone product into your body, and later dumping and washing blood out of said product (the horror!). You definitely need to be open to discussing, reading, and doing these things if you are going to get a menstrual cup to work for you.

I bought the Model 1 (pre-birth) Diva Cup over a year ago and I think it's a great one to start with. It isn't too soft or too firm, or too big for that matter. You may want to watch some YouTube videos about cups to find the right size and length for you. (One good way to determine this is to measure where your cervix is). You will also want to take into consideration if you've had children, how heavy your flow is, and how small you are. While it took me a few months to get the right fold, I never had an issue with the cup being uncomfortable once opened because of my small size. I tried the C-fold and the 7-fold, but the one that works best for me (regardless of the type of cup) is the punch-down fold. Word of advice? Use lube. This makes insertion so much easier. I like the ones by Aloe Cadabra and Sliquid. This is my process for insertion: Fold the cup using the punch-down fold and hold in one hand, apply a small amount of lube with the other and spread on the cup, take a wide stance, insert the cup fully, perform a few Kegel exercises to move the cup and make sure it's inserted fully, bear down again and use 1-2 fingers to ensure the cup is opened and is in the proper spot.

Emptying: The first two days my flow is medium, sometimes medium-heavy, and I change it once in the middle of the day and once at night before bed. The final 2-3 days are light to light-medium and I only change once per day! To remove, simply perform a few Kegels to get the cup lower, grasp the cup with one hand, fold it into the C-shape with the other (this makes it easier to remove), and dump the contents into the toilet. This should definitely be done while sitting on the toilet because this does cause spillage. If you're in public, you can simply rinse with water from a bottle over the toilet and reinsert. At home, I use a simple soap (I think it's the 365 brand from Whole Foods that has maybe 2-3 ingredients) and not the premade ones offered by Cup brands.

Other Cleaning Advice: Some people boil their cups, and if you want to do that, I'd look to other reviews. I don't want to ruin mine and I think cleaning my cup after each use with a basic soap (that doesn't have ingredients they specifically say shouldn't be used) is sufficient for me.

Brands: Like I said, the Model 1 Diva Cup is what I started out with. This has more of a V shape. I bought the Lena Cup in the small size maybe 4-5 months after purchasing my Diva; this one is a bell shape. The Lena Cup is a bit more firm and might work better if you're having trouble getting the Diva Cup to pop open. Lena also has great customer service and when I thought the larger size might work better for me, they sent me one free of charge. The larger Lena was the first large size I tried and it was slightly uncomfortable the first 5-6 times I wore it. I just don't think the bell shape worked best for my body. I just recently bought the Model 2 Diva cup, even though I haven't had children and I'm under whatever age they specify, but it works better for me on my first two days because of my slightly heavier flow. Unfortunately, find the right cup for you is a bit of trail and error. However, like I noted above, Lena's customer service is awesome so if you feel like you got the wrong size, you should be able to try the other without having to purchase.

Leaking: I have tried the two sizes by Diva Cup and Lena Cup and all three of the aforementioned folds. I know my cups are open and in the proper spot. I however can't stop slight leakage (basically spotting quantities) from happening. I bought period panties from THINX (second best period companion ever!) and that allows me to (a) not ruin my underwear and (b) not purchase disposable and uncomfortable liners. I noticed I had the most leakage with the larger Lena Cup. Again, I think this simply because the bell shape isn't what is best for my body.

Stems: On both cups, I feel like the stems are useless. I don't have a high cervix, so they aren't helpful to pull out the cup and they are just plain annoying to be honest. I read other reviews and took their advice: snip with scissors and then use a nail filer to make the edges smooth. Problem solved.

Overall: While I do primarily use my Diva Cup because the shape is better for my body, I still wouldn't hesitate to recommend Lena. It's much easier to open (so you're less likely to have leakage issues) and I did appreciate the wonderful customer service. All in all, I just want to get people to try menstrual cups, period!

If you made it this far, congratulations! Cups have a learning curve but once you master them they are amazing. No waste. Not uncomfortable. No TSS. No nasty chemicals. Less changing. Way more affordable! Please leave comments if you have any questions at all.

16 people found this helpful

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