Complete Diva Cup Review – What Is It and How It Does It Work?
If you are looking for information about the Diva cup or Diva cup reviews, this Diva cup review will tell you the truth about this popular menstrual cup.
History of the Diva Cup – “Why Have I Never Heard of These Before?!?”
Menstrual cups may seem like new technology, but the first version of the menstrual cup has been around since the 1930s.
In the late 1980s in the USA the Keeper brand, became a commercial success, but because it was made of rubber, not silicone, like most modern cups are made of, it can break down, not lasting as long as the silicone cups. Rubber also contains latex, which some people are allergic to.
The Diva cup, a silicone menstrual cup came about in 2001, by a mother daughter team looking for a better way to manage periods. While menstrual cups are hugely popular, it is likely you have never heard of them. But why?!?
The reason most ladies do not know about menstrual cups has to do with the market and the cost of the cup itself. On average menstrual cups cost anywhere from 30 to 45 dollars, but lasts, on average around 5 years.
But this also means the menstrual cup companies do not make huge profits and do not have the advertising budgets of the Giants in the pad and tampon industry. Most women hear about menstrual cups from friends, family and internet resources.
So, Just What is the Diva Cup?
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The Diva cup is a soft silicone cup that is inserted into the vagina. The rim of the cup creates a gentle suction around your cervix, which keeps it in place and collects your menstrual fluid.
It can be left in for 12 hours, longer than any tampon. If inserted properly, wearing a cup is the closest you can get to not being on your period. Many ladies like to insert the cup during their morning shower, go about their daily activities, and return home in the evening and remove the cup.
Benefits of using Menstrual Cups – Why are Menstrual Cups so Popular?
- Cost Savings. Think of how much you can save buying one cup once every 5 years, and how much you spend buying pads or tampons every month for five years?
- Health benefits. Menstrual cups are made from medical grade silicone. A simple medical grade product that does not introduce harmful chemicals or drying cotton into your vagina.
- Eco Friendly. Diva cups don’t create as much waste as using disposable pads and tampons. They don’t create the manufacturing waste either. The process of bleaching and manufacturing the plastics that go into tampons and pads creates environmental pollution.
- Diva cups, and other silicone menstrual cups, have little risk of TSS (Toxic shock Syndrome) unlike tampons. This is because menstrual cups do not absorb fluid, instead they hold the fluid. They do not change the environment of your vagina like tampons do. They do not cause dryness and abrasions like tampons do.
Downsides to using Menstrual Cups
- Menstrual cups have a learning curve for successful use. You must learn to fold, position and insert the cup properly. You must also learn how to clean the cup before re-insertion, and how to sanitize it at the end of each cycle.
How Does the Diva Cup Work?
How to Insert – The Best Way to Insert Diva Cup
- Fold the cup – There are several folds available. Check the package inserts or internet resources for ideas. Basically you fold the rim of the cup so it is narrow enough for easy insertion.
- Hold the cup- with the stem facing your palm, and the rim facing your vagina.
- Relax and insert – open labia and insert the cup, rim first, into your vagina, until the stem is all the way inside you, and the rim is touching your cervix.
- Get a seal. Grip the tip of the cup and turn it for a full 360 degree turn. The fold should pop open and cover the tip of your cervix.
Run your finger around the rim of the cup to insure it is fully open and covering the cervix. This is the most challenging part of the whole process, but once you surmount this challenge, you will have a secure and worry free way to manage your period.
- Removing the cup. When it is time to remove the cup, no longer than 12 hours after insertion, the cup at this point may have made a good seal with your cervix. You must first release this seal.
Do not simply pull down!
To break the suction, gently squeeze the cup, then pull down. Empty the contents of the cup into the toilet and rinse the cup with cold water, or rinse and use a soap made for the cup before re-inserting it.
How to Care For and Clean Your Diva Cup
You should clean your diva cup by rinsing it with cold water and once the blood is removed, rinse with warm water and soap. Clean the vent holes with a toothpick or special brush made for cleaning these holes.
Sanitizing
You should sanitize your diva cup in between your monthly cycles. To do this, simply boil in water for 5 to 10 minutes. We recommend getting a pot of water boiling on the stove.
Then take the cup and place it between the slots of a metal spatula or between the wires of a wire whisk, then place in the boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes.
Do not allow the cup to touch the bottom or the pot for long periods of time or let the water run dry, this can harm the silicone.
How are Diva Cups Different from Other Menstrual Cups?
Diva cups are unique in a few different ways. There is a huge variety when it comes to menstrual cups and you need to find one that works for you.
Specifically, Diva cup is slightly longer than many other cups on the market. This is a benefit because it helps you get the cup positioned properly. But if you have a low cervix it may be uncomfortable.
The diva cup is also firmer than other cups, which helps to create a stronger seal. This helps it stay in place. For this reason many athletes like the Diva cup over other cups.
Some ladies feel the Diva cup is too firm, which can be uncomfortable for those with heavy cramps or a sensitive bladder.
Diva Cups Hacks, Tips and Extra Info
- If the stem is too long, you can trim it or cut it off. Some ladies feel it is more comfortable without the stem. But wait to do this until you have tried the cup through a few cycles to be sure you don’t need the stem.
- Menstrual cups usually come in two sizes, one for women that have given birth vaginally or are over 30 years old, and one for those who have not given birth vaginally or are under 30. Women’s cervixes change as they age, and after they give birth, the larger circumference is necessary.
- Menstrual cups are the best protection you can use when swimming or in the water. They are completely discreet, and once you get the hang of positioning them, they don’t leak. Plus no string to hide, like you have with a tampon.
- If you can not avoid using a public restroom to empty your cup, bring bottled water with you, and a few baby wipes or personal wipes also. After you empty the fluid into the toilet, rinse with the bottled water and reinsert.
But always wash your hands FIRST before removing the cup. Use the wipes to clean up after you re-insert, so you don’t leave the stall with soiled hands. - If you find leaking a problem after you have learned to insert the cup properly and you are sure it is popping open and covering you completely, the biggest culprits are:
- The size – A cup that is too big will not unfold to pop out and cover the cervix because there is not enough room for it to do so. A cup that is too small will not get enough pressure on the outer walls of the vagina to stay in place. If leaking is persistent, try a different size.
- The firmness- Firmness can be a factor as well. Softer cups are more prone to leaking than harder ones. If leaking is a problem, try a firmer cup. If you have a firm cup and it leaks, it could also be you need to try a different shape.
Our Diva Cup Review
Pros
- Firmer cup, great for sports, less likely to leak.
- 100% medical grade Silicone.
- FDA approved, certified as a medical device.
- Latex free.
- Clear, not made with dyes or tints.
- Eco-friendly.
- Economical.
- Health conscious.
Cons
- Larger size and longer than many cups on the market, this is a con for some and a plus for others, so your mileage may vary.
- There is nothing really ‘wrong’ with this brand of cup, its just that it will not be compatible with every single body, no cup can accomplish that.
Conclusion
Our Diva cup review showed us this is a great cup, one of the best out there and a favorite of many. However, cups are a very individual thing and what works for one may not work for another. Its no ones fault, it just means you should try a different cup.
This cup is firmer and a bit longer than other cups. If you are active, or have a high cervix, this is great. If you have a sensitive bladder, or have bad cramps, a firm cup may be uncomfortable. The Diva cup has a great reputation and safely track record, so you are in good hands using this cup.
Rating: We rate this 9 out of 10.
We hope you have found our Diva Cup review informative and that it has made choosing the right cup for you a bit easier.
