I confess the first time I heard about the DivaCup from a co-worker, I was dubious and a little uncomfortable. I was curious about this feminine hygiene product I had never heard of, one that touted no leaks, longer wear time and lifespan at a lower cost. Still, I couldn’t wrap my head around the concept. I used tampons for many years and an internal hygiene device did not bother me, but the idea of menstrual fluid collected in a cup I would have to empty, wash, and reinsert was far from appealing. I dismissed the menstrual cup as some new-fangled invention, and decided to wait until I saw it being advertised to take it seriously.

So it was back to the traditional tampon/pad arsenal, and the old problems of messy leaks and discomfort. Not a period would go by that I did not curse the inconveniences of being female. Luckily, the DivaCup lingered in my mind and I thought if there was even a chance it worked, I had to give it a try.

I researched menstrual cups and discovered they have been around as long as tampons, but they could not generate enough profit to get a fair share of the market. The DivaCup is the only menstrual cup approved for sale by Health Canada, and to me, this made it a reputable product. It is made of health grade silicone that is biocompatible, and it does not absorb natural secretions and cannot cause Toxic Shock Syndrome. One $30 cup can last up to 10 years, which means great savings. As an added bonus, it benefits the environment by reducing waste and pollution from disposable tampons and pads.

I was hesitant to purchase a DivaCup online when the company offered no guarantees, so I opted to find a local distributor (Capers), and bought my first DivaCup. This was almost a year ago, and since than I have not looked back. For those of you who switched from pads to tampons and were amazed at the improved comfort and cleanliness, the DivaCup is of a whole other league.

The one catch is the learning curve for proper insertion and removal of the cup. Depending on each woman’s anatomy and comfort level with her body, her learning period will differ. After the first two cycles I could use the cup with ease and enjoy all its advantages. In fact, I have gone swimming, biking, and running with my cup, and even taken it on a weeklong trip to Cuba.

Now I have no reason to dread that time of the month, and I never run out of period supplies. In my opinion, menstrual cups are the most clean, discrete, and comfortable female hygiene product available. It is fantastic to know I am using a safe product that is better for my body and the environment.

 
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