Tell me about the Diva Cup or simlar products

BlackDiamond3201

I have seen some posts about it on various boards. I'll admit that I am a bit hesitant to use it but I'd like to give it a try.

Where do you purchase yours?

juno

I got my first cup at REI because I wanted to check it out in person.  Then my dog chewed it   I got my second one at drugstore.com I think.  It took me about three months to get the hang of it, but now I love love love it.  There is definitely a learning curve, but once I got through that, it's so much better than the alternative.

grahamsm3

I got mine at a local health food store. The diva cup website has a place to look up places near you.

CDMay2006

I bought one at the co-op, and when i lost that one i bought another one at a natural foods store.

CDMay2006

Oh, and there are lots of posts about menstrual cups recently on this board, so if you want to find some tips and opinions on cups (mostly DC, but a few bits about others), be sure to scroll through the pages.

GRKaters

Got mine on Amazon.

Love it.

Never thought I'd even try it. Thought it was gross. Turns out, the gross part was pads/tampons by far.

blueshirt2003

I got mine from Amazon.com but they are also sold at HEB (a grocery chain) in their healthy living section. It's also sold at other "health food" style grocery chains.

MrsOjoButtons

http://www.lunette.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=57

Half off at that site!  I have the Diva and the Lunette and prefer the Lunette by far.

SuperGreen

I got mine at Whole Foods. I use the Diva cup (at least i did before I got PG), and I LOVE IT.  Some reasons why it's better than tampons.

1. Tampons are made from heavily bleached cotton, and cotton is already one of the most sprayed crops on earth.  Even before I knew about the Diva, I was getting uncomfortable with the idea of putting something so toxic inside my body.  Plus there's the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) with tampons.  Ever read the TSS warning pamphlet in a box of tampons?  It's scary.
2. It's green.  Tampons generate a TON of waste.  There's the box, plus the plastic wrap and tube for every.single.tampon.  Tampons also clog sewers nationwide, you're not supposed to flush them, but everybody does.
3. You only have to check the cup 2-3 times per day, like PP said.  I checked mine when I woke up, and when I went to bed.  No more worrying about "OMG has it been 8 hours?!?! I need to change my tampon!"
4. Once I got the hang of insertion and removal, I had zero leaks.  Zero.  I went swimming, gardening, did yoga, and no leaks.  After the first month I didn't even use panty liners anymore.
5. It's more comfortable that tampons, at least for me anyway.  I could usually feel tampons in me.  They would turn sideways and poke me, and I always dreaded that super-dry, rasping, terrible first insert and last removal.  Once I cut the Diva's stem off (a lot of women do that), I never felt it.

Let me know if you have any other questions about menstrual cups, I'd be happy to answer them.  Beyond being greener, the cups just work better.

MrsOjoButtons

SuperGreen:

  It's green.  Tampons generate a TON of waste.  There's the box, plus the plastic wrap and tube for every.single.tampon.  Tampons also clog sewers nationwide, you're not supposed to flush them, but everybody does.

To go along with that, since you're not disposing of anything, you don't have to worry about running out of tampons or carrying a stash of them in your purse or when you travel.

Also, the chemicals in tampons affect your Ph and the bacteria balance, so it's a good way to prevent yeast infections and dryness.

After staying away from disposable products for a long time, I opened a box for my deployment bag (mandatory) and those things smell so weird, like straight chemicals.

KeyKey10

I'm new to this board, but I thought I would chime in. I bought mine from Amazon and have been using it for about a year. I had never heard of it until my sister-in-law mentioned she used one.  I absolutely love it.  It frees you up with always feeling like you are unprepared!  You never have to bring different absorbancies of tampons with you every where you go. I have a pretty heavy and long period and I have never had any leakage problems. I found the learning/trial period to be relatively short and got the hang of it after the first month. Highly recommend it.  I bought the special diva wash to go with it from Amazon because it was a deal and since I wasn't sure how to best clean it.  And suggestions from others about cleaning it?

MrsOjoButtons

KeyKey10:

  And suggestions from others about cleaning it?

I just use soap and water during my cycle, then boil or soak overnight in hydrogen peroxide after the cycle. 

KeyKey10

I had read (I think when I bought it on Amamzon) that you aren't supposed to use any soaps that are scented or with antibacterial components, so I figured it was safe to go with the stuff they make.  What kind of soap is it? Hand soap?  I do alcohol after my cycle to disinfect, but it's the soap I'm more concerned about.  Thanks for your response.

happymommy123

I have NEVER heard of this product or anything like it. I am a HUGE tampon user because I hate pads. I am very interested in this now! I know this is weird but can you keep it if for sex? I don't bleed much but am wondering how great this thing must be.

 

never mind I just read up on it... haha 

doglove

GRKaters:

Got mine on Amazon.

Love it.

Never thought I'd even try it. Thought it was gross. Turns out, the gross part was pads/tampons by far.

I got mine off amazon as well. I love it and can't believe I hadn't been using it sooner.

anelms

KeyKey10:

I had read (I think when I bought it on Amamzon) that you aren't supposed to use any soaps that are scented or with antibacterial components, so I figured it was safe to go with the stuff they make.  What kind of soap is it? Hand soap?  I do alcohol after my cycle to disinfect, but it's the soap I'm more concerned about.  Thanks for your response.

I use an unscented Dr. Bronners