What the heck is a menstrual cup?
*guys you can cover your ears*
Well, my friend, it’s a more cost effective, safer, and more convenient form of period protection than either tampons or pads. I’ve had a menstrual cup – The Diva Cup specifically – for about 6 or 7 years now. Do you know how much I’ve saved on tampons over the years?!
When I first got mine, they weren’t very common, but I think they are becoming more and more popular as times goes and new brands are coming out all the time (Keeper, Lunette, Femmecup, etc… all basically the same).
Have you heard of them or have one yourself? If not, have a watch of this video where I explain why I love mine and why you should consider picking one up:
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5MOv2vzbhc
Note that there are two models of the diva cup. One is for people under 30 who have never given birth. And one is for women over thirty or people who have given birth.
Do you use a menstrual cup? If not, are you interested in making the switch?
62 Responses
I heard about this before but never seriously considered trying this. It just looks a bit.. strange and big, haha. But after watching your video I’ll definitely go and try it!
Oh, and you look so radiant and happy 🙂
Hi Sophie!
Yeah it does take a little getting used to at first, but in general you can’t even feel it. If you look in the picture there, you’ll see that the tail part looks quite long, especially the black one (which is unnecessary in my opinion) … but you can actually just cut that down with some scissors… that’s what I did… it makes it feel less strange
Hey Tracy, very glad you put this video out as I think it sends an important message to women. I started using a Mooncup (same thing as the Divacup) 6 years ago and I wouldn’t want to go back to tampons. The waste I was producing made me feel guilty and I didnt like the idea of the chemically treated material being inside me.
Also, with a cup you dont have the blood that’s collected touching the walls of your vagina. Its stored in the cup. Unlike tampons, which allow the blood to be touching your vagina. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but it seems a bit icky to me!
So thanks for the video!
I haven’t made the switch yet… thinking about it and my friends have been trying to convince me for years… What a great ecofriendly way to be a woman!
Wow this sounds interesting! 🙂 I just googled a bit – what are the differences between divacup and ladycup? And what brand is yours Tracy? 🙂
Hi Evelyn!
I don’t know the exact differences between all the brands… as far as I know they’re all generally the same, but you’ll have to research yourself to figure out the minute differences. Mine is the Diva Cup (or Moon Cup apparently if you’re in England)
Tracy I think you are reading my mind! I was just going to send you an email to suggest you write a post about the Diva Cup!
I have been using the Diva Cup for about a year now and have been campaigning its use to my friends (who still laugh at me). I think it is a way more comfortable, eco-friendly, and way less messy way to deal with menstruation. I absolutely love it and if any of you out there are thinking about investing, you really should do it…it costs the same as buying three boxes of tampons, but gives you so much more use.
peace and love,
addenbrooke
I switched to the Diva Cup this year and realised that I totally should have done it sooner! I suppose the reason I didn’t before is because I didn’t understand how it worked and because 35$ seemed like a lot of money to invest…
Now, every time I use it I am still surprised at how comfortable it is as opposed to tampons that would wind up hurting me because of their shape and, probably, because of the chemicals in them. Also, the fact that I’m producing less waste AND saving a bunch of money is awesome.
I’ve suggested them to my friends, but doing so one of them made me reflect upon a particular aspect of the cup. Does it fit if one’s hymen is still unbroken? (Sorry for the graphic question.)
I purchased one of the other brands back when these were new to the market…. it was not as convenient as what the newer ones appear to be… the “stem” makes removal of the new ones much easier…. but I have a question… should we be re-sanitizing them between uses???
Hmm… maybe :/ Depends on your personal level of paranoia I guess! hah! I just wash it in hot water with some soap just before I use it
Hey Tracy
I´m following your blog for a few days now and I am so happy I´ve found it (via Pinterest). You´re just great.
Since I was considering using a diva cup for quite some time your video really helped me. The only question I have left: How about leaking? Will it leak during the night, when one is lying? Oh and how about sport and especially swimming?
Please excuse my English (it´s not my mother tongue)
I think it will only leak
1) if you place it in in the wrong position so that it isn’t making a “seal”. You may need to get used to the placing of it in the beginning but it’ll become second nature soon
2) If you generally have a really heavy period, there is a chance it could leak on your first or second day. Now that I have an IUD, my period is heavier than it was before (it used to never leak at all), and I’ve noticed it’s more prone to leaking on my first day, but it’s not a problem if I just empty it more often.
If you’re worried about it, you can always use some light protection like a panty liner just to ease your mind until you trust it. I’ve never had it leak at night (I always wear it overnight), or because of sports or swimming or anything like that. You can do anything with the cup that you want to do in your regular non-menstruating life no problems!
Thanks for your advice! It´s good to actually have a real person talk about their experience with the cup instead of just reading the companies websites.
So far I´ve heard of 11 companies that sell cups. Makes me wonder why they aren´t more popular.
I´m probably going to buy the German product MeLuna, which would reduce the transport costs, too (in my case).
Thanks again for bringing up this topic! It really got the ball rolling for me 🙂
perfect! I just got the diva cup two months ago and tried it for the second cycle..but honestly I’m still having a hard time with placing it right. although I follow all the instructions and it seems to be placed the same every time it happens that one time out of three it would start leaking. and when I’m bleeding a lot, like on the 1st and 2nd day, changing the cup is a bloody mess. I even tried to talk to a gynaecologist about it, but she was only looking at me startled coz she had never heard of it (I guess in Germany it isn’t very popular) and then told me to use tampons, as they are more hygienic..which we all know isn’t true. so I’m still trying, but everytime I wear it I’m walking around paranoid that it might start leaking. really don’t know what I’m doing wrong, since I hear from everywhere else that it’s supposed to work so great..
Hi Eva!
I’m not sure what you’re doing wrong either… are you trying to shove it up as far as it can go? It’s supposed to sit close to the entrance. Or maybe inserting it so that it’s straight up and down, as opposed to on an angle like the vagina?
Those are all the suggestions I have haha…. all I can say is that I do remember the whole procedure and placing it being a lot more awkward in the beginning and thinking “this thing is a little weird…..”. But then I think you gain some intuition about how it should be placed and things become second nature.
If you’re worried about leaking, I would suggest using a light panty liner or something while you get used to it!
yeah..I can’t stand panty liners.. it’s strange because sometimes it sits perfect and I can wear it for several hours and other times it just doesn’t. but I also agree that it might just be a procedure of getting comfortable until I develope the right intuition for it. also my cervix is a little bit tilted, so it’s a bit more tricky than it might be for other women.
my friend who is a chinese herbalist already recommanded the divacup years ago, because she is convinced that tampons are really not good for you apart from not being good for the evironment. I really hope this thing is going to become more popular in Germany, no one knows it here so far and I get always strange looks when I try to talk about it. I think it’s a really great invention actually.
I’m surprised they aren’t big in Germany!
Something surprising that I found out was that apparently every lady in Africa rocks Diva Cups – I had a friend who worked in Ghana for years, and she said the locals were like “You don’t have a cup?? Seriously… you gotta get a cup”
OKay I replied before I saw this… I’m having the exact same problem. It’s so impossible to get it up there in a way that it doesn’t leak! Agh!
Just a note on washing a Divacup, my sister who uses one washes hers with Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap with the teatree oil in it. She said it helped remove some of the staining and since teatree oil is anti-bacterial, it’s more sanitary. She also said that in some cases regular soap can breakdown the material of the cup (probably depends on the brand). Just make sure you rinse it really well afterwards (teatree doesn’t feel very good up there, lol)
In my diva cup user guide it says purple on white:
“..use a mild, unscented soap and warm water. Do not use vinegar, tea trea oil, scented soap, castile/peppermint soap, oil based soap, rubbing alcohol, antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer…as these may damage the silicon and cause irritation.”
I’d rather not wash the cup with Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soap even though I’d like to..
Hey Tracy,
This does not apply to the post but I was wondering your thoughts. What do you think about herbal tea for medicinal purposes? Have you had any experience?
Hi Stacey.. yes I think they can be helpful depending on what your goal is with taking them and what they are supposed to do… taking tea is like taking a supplement of the herbs it’s made from, so research the effects of the particular tea carefully!
i’ve been using my LadyCup for about 6months now. I really like it and I don’t consider getting back to tampons!
However I still get this problem with leaking, no idea why. So I always need to wear a light panty liner which a bit sucks but well, I have no better option 😉
I’ve been using a menstrual cup for years and i’m totally a convert. But i wanted to address the issue of rinsing them in public restrooms … grab a bottle of water to rinse the cup over the toilet bowl, and then you are on your way 🙂
Thanks for the tip! I think I have done that a few times… actually yes… now that I think about it, I had my period once when I was at a dusty music festival and had to deal with changing it in a construction outhouse toilet the whole weekend… so I couldn’t wash it properly the entire time, but the bottle of water got me through. That was probably the least fun I’ve had with my menstrual cup! ahha
I’ve been using the “softcups” for quite a while now and LOVE them. But I have been worried about the environmental impact of anything disposable. The one great advantage of the softcups is that you can still have “intimate” time without worrying about leakage or even really telling the other person that its “that time of the month” (like they don’t notice from the tea & chocolate anyway). But, my question is – is this possible with a diva cup? My guess is no…..?
Hi Jessica,
I’ve never heard of the softcups until now…. very interesting you can still get it on with them in.. I guess it fits kinda like a diaphragm? I would say that no, the diva cup is not designed for that, it’s supposed to sit closer to the entrance and I had never even considered having sex with it in a possibility…. however, it’s funny you mention that because I actually accidentally had sex with it in the other day…. I took it out in preparation but put it back in on autopilot so I didn’t even realize it was in there…… then we had sex and neither of us actually noticed at all that it was there until I went to the bathroom afterward and I was like ….. ‘wtf… did we just have sex with the cup in and neither of us noticed this!? hahah’. Yeah. So, I guess it is possible! lol
Great to know! I’ll have to try that sometime soon. Softcups or “vag cups” in my house are kind of like a diaphragm and are really quite nice. 12 hours, no worries, no cramping. Might be worth picking a box up for days spent in public or road trips.
To clean it I wonder if i can rub coconut oil on it and then rinse it. I’ve seen posts on other forums that say that using one thing or another caused yeast infections, and I have been prone to yeast infections in the recent past.
I know coconut oil is antibacterial antifungal etc and recommended on crunchy forums for natural treatment of yeast infections.
What do you think Tracy? and what do you wash yours with, if anything? -no judgement if you dont use anything other than water, as I’m tempted to do just that. If i have issues i’ll just boil it when needed.
Hi Jennifer,
I just wash it with hand soap or whatever is available… coconut oil (yes it’s antifungal) definitely sounds like a better option, especially if you’re prone to yeast infections. I really should use something that won’t leave scent residues and other stuff on it.
I don’t use a diva cup but use cloth pads and love them 🙂
Tracy,
I got a copper coil (IUD) inserted last week.
I use a Mooncup. The doctor advised me not to use it now I have a coil. She thought the suction of the cup being removed could catch the threads in the coil and dislodge it.
She also said that its not advisable to use things like tampons for the first few months of having a coil fitted.
What do you think?
Thanks, Ida
Hi Ida,
I remember when I got mine put in, they asked me if I used a menstrual cup and said something about there being incidents of the suction pulling the IUD out.
However, they didn’t say I couldn’t use it, just that while it’s still in there, you need to grab the bottom of the cup and just kind of fold it over a little so that it breaks the suction before you yank it out. That’s how I always took mine out anyway, so it wasn’t anything different.
Either way, I’ve never had a problem, and I think she was probably just being overly cautious. I wouldn’t worry about it… just don’t pull the cup out when it’s still fully suctioned and there shouldn’t be an issue.
Thanks Tracy. That’s makes sense to me what you are saying.
Also, if I am in doubt I can always check if I can feel the threads. The doctor said it’s very difficult to feel the threads when everywhere is in place.
Really don’t want to not to be able to use my Mooncup as it’s so handy!
ive used one before didnt really care about useing it much BUT it does work. but i only get “time of the months” once a year for 5 days so i save alot money useing tampons and pads. but for the ones have them alot yeah them cups do work and is good have when ur at work and cant get to the bathroom to change it like tampons u got to
I have one and I prefer it to tampons, but it always leaks. I can’t at all get it in there right. It’s like none of them fit me. They say it’s supposed to “pop open” inside of you but I’m such a petite girl it’s like it’s squished half flat and blood leaks out the sides… kinda sucks. But I just deal, because tampons are toxic.
i’ve been using the Diva Cup for a long time now and would NEVER give it up! you save so much money, because i was using organic pads, and you don’t even feel it !! so amazing..i love it!
Oh I never knew you’d addressed this! I LOVE my menstrual cup! I was pretty grossed out when I first heard about it, but finally tried it because the convenience and environmental aspects appealed to me. It’s awesome. A little awkward to insert at first (I’m one of those very petite girls so maybe that’s why), but you def get the hang of it with practice. I adore only having to deal with it first thing in the morning and at night. And it’s safe and natural!
My mom tried to get me to use “soft cups” but I didn’t because I was a little iffy about them. A few months ago I was using a tampon like I always do and every one I put in hurt so bad. I hate using pads though because they are so uncomfortable. I think I’m going to give the “Diva” or “Soft” cups a try. Before this post I knew very little about them. Thank you!
haha people are always more likely to listen if a recommendation doesn’t come from their mom! I hope the diva cup works out for you Rachel 🙂
Tracy, Do you recommend using it if you have excessive discharge? Thanks!
Hi Alicia,
Do you mean using it FOR excessive discharge? Or can you use it despite excessive discharge? I imagine using it for it would definitely help keep it in control. You can use the diva cup any time of the month, not just when you’re menstruating. Using it despite of it shouldn’t be a problem!
I am so frustrated! I have been using my Divacup for about 7 months now, and I love it, but for the past 3 months I’ve been having major trouble getting it in right. When I put it in, it suctions flat and leaks out the sides! I’ve tried everything- running my finger around the edges to get it to pop open, pulling it out to fill with air and then pushing it back in, it just gets pushed flat again! It’s almost like my vagina is shaped that way, but I know it’s not because I never had this problem until a few moths ago. Any suggestions on what I’m doing wrong, if anything?
Hi Bronwyn,
That’s strange! I don’t know what the problem is. That happens to me occasionally and it’s super annoying, but I have no idea why it would suddenly happen to you all the time. I wonder if it’s a problem with the cup itself
Anyone have any idea if I can keep using mine after I get a copper IUD? My gyno wasn’t sure. I really need a form of birth control but I don’t want to be on hormones anymore…but this cup is the most convenient thing ever and I’d hate to give it up!
Hey Kit, I have a copper IUD, and it’s totally fine… you just have to break the suction by kind of folding it a little bit before you take it out. If you just yanked it out without breaking the suction, then I could see how it could potentially suck the IUD out with it… but yeah. It has been a total non-issue, so don’t worry about it 🙂
Ok, that’s a relief. Thanks! I’m just shocked my gyno didn’t know more about the cup. They’ve been around for awhile now, I believe.
I’ve been considering getting a DivaCup for a while now…I don’t have any problem with pads, but the eco-friendly, all natural thing is very appealing! I noticed that there seem to be two sizes of DivaCup (large and small, obviously…) How the heck am I supposed to know what size to get?!
Hey love, if you have had a baby, you get the bigger one, and if you haven’t had a baby, you get the smaller one!
Hey Tracy,
My friend had the Diva Cup about 7 years ago and I thought she was insane!!! When she showed it to me I was like there is no way in hell I’m sticking that in me. haha. Well about 4 months ago I gave in and I absolutely love it!! Tampons don’t even make sense to me anymore. The first month was pretty tricky and I was a little concerned it wouldn’t work out for me but now it works like a charm every single time! Love it!! Thanks for the post!
I’m glad you finally saw the light and gave it a try! haha 🙂 It’s awesome
I had always thought of using one since I spend so much money on pads, but I’m not sure it’d be a good option for me since I have a clotting disorder, so my periods run extremely heavy (I usually wear 5-6 pads at the same time during most of my period and still have leaks). I go through lots and lots of pads since tampons just skip out most of the time.
Maybe one day it’ll slow down and I can use them, haha.
Yes, I did notice that after I got my copper IUD put in and my flow got a bit heavier, I do have more leaks with it now, but it’s not so bad… I just have to change it more on my heaviest day. Although mine’s really old now, I wonder if I need to get a new one and it would work better. Either way – yes it might not totally work for you, but then again, if you combined it with the use of pads, you might have to use so many pads! 5-6, that’s nuts! I hope you get better, friend, and that slows down for you!
I love my menstrual cup! When I first got my period I was using tampons with plastic applicators (I shudder now at how environmentally horrible that was…) as I became interested in environmental issues I kept looking for a better way. First I switched to cardboard tampons, then to OB tampons (which have no applicator). Finally I saw DivaCups at Whole Foods, and I thought why not? Yes, they are hard to put in at first (I had some leakage issues before I figured out how to do it right) but you can leave them in for so long, which is great for me because I have a very heavy flow. I just hate that these have such a bad rap – my friends think I’m crazy and gross, but women have been using reusable period methods forever! I think its gross to waste plastic on applicators…
Yay! Cups are the best! Sorry to hear your friends think it’s gross, maybe they’ll come round eventually! 🙂
I’ve read about these over the past couple of years and have been considering the switch for health and environmental reasons. I appreciate your post and think I will try this to start the new year off on a healthy foot! I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks, Tracy, for passing on your experiences!
I got one and was so excited I told my sister and niece abou it–only to find out they both already use them! I’ve since converted two friends.
Best thing ever. Don’t have to worry about forgetting to buy supplies (yes, I was that girl), camping is easier, and I feel I’ve made a better environmental choice. I now find disposables to be kind of disgusting, in all honesty.
Also, a note on the Softcups someone mentioned–I used those for a month before switching to the cup. While they fit differently than the silicone cup, they function enough differently than tampons/pads, I thought they would be a good thing to try first in an effort to make the shift to the silicone cup more gradually.
Lovely post, lovely video!
Hi Tracy!
Thank you so much for this post!! I’ve been considering getting a diva cup for a while now, but the one thing holding me back is one question! Is there a specific age that you can start using it? I’m 17 right now and am definitely tired of pads and tampons.
Hi Rebecca,
Tracy is traveling India right now, so you’ll have to deal with me in the meantime 😉
Personally, I don’t think that 17 is too young to start using a menstrual cup, but you’ll have to try it to see how you’ll get along with it…
Hi Rebecca,
I know this comment is coming a little late, but since I’m in a similar situation, I thought I’d share my experience with you. 🙂
I’ll tell you a little about myself, first. I’m 16 right now, and will be 17 in a few months. I’m about 5’3″ and 105 pounds. I’m a virgin. Before switching to the cup, I used OB tampons (the kind with no applicator) and pads at night. But recently, I’ve been thinking about how much waste all those products produce, so I took a chance and bought the Diva Cup on Amazon for about $30. This is currently my third cycle using it, and while I can’t say that I absolutely love it yet, I think I’m getting there. 🙂
Now, if you do ever get a cup, here are some tips that I have found helpful. The first few times you use it, it WILL probably be messy. Like I said, this is my third cycle with the cup, and removing it is still a bloody endeavor lol. However, I believe that this will improve with practice, and a little menstrual blood never hurt anyone. 😉 As for the first insertion, it definitely took a few tries to even get the cup inside me. It took the right fold (google “Diva Cup origami fold”) and complete relaxation to insert the cup. This might be a little TMI, but I found that a little “self love” session before insertion helped me to relax and made the cup go in MUCH easier.
As far as comfort goes, the cup can’t be beat. I honestly can’t feel it, as the silicone warms up with your body heat, allowing it to move with your body. I also haven’t experienced any leaks, but you may want to use a panty liner if you’re unsure.
All in all, I am a younger girl like you, fairly petite, a complete virgin, averagely active, and I would definitely recommend the Diva Cup to someone in a similar position. Best of luck! 🙂
Hi Rebecca,
I know this comment is coming a little late, but since I’m in a similar situation, I thought I’d share my experience with you. 🙂
I’ll tell you a little about myself, first. I’m 16 right now, and will be 17 in a few months. I’m about 5’3″ and 105 pounds. I’m a virgin. Before switching to the cup, I used OB tampons (the kind with no applicator) and pads at night. But recently, I’ve been thinking about how much waste all those products produce, so I took a chance and bought the Diva Cup on Amazon for about $30. This is currently my third cycle using it, and while I can’t say that I absolutely love it yet, I think I’m getting there. 🙂
Now, if you do ever get a cup, here are some tips that I have found helpful. The first few times you use it, it WILL probably be messy. Like I said, this is my third cycle with the cup, and removing it is still a bloody endeavor lol. However, I believe that this will improve with practice, and a little menstrual blood never hurt anyone. 😉 As for the first insertion, it definitely took a few tries to even get the cup inside me. It took the right fold (google “Diva Cup origami fold”) and complete relaxation to insert the cup. This might be a little TMI, but I found that a little “self love” session before insertion helped me to relax and made the cup go in MUCH easier.
As far as comfort goes, the cup can’t be beat. I honestly can’t feel it, as the silicone warms up with your body heat, allowing it to move with your body, unlike a tampon. I also haven’t experienced any leaks, but you may want to use a panty liner if you’re unsure.
All in all, I am a younger girl like you with a moderate flow, am fairly petite, a complete virgin, averagely active, and I would definitely recommend the Diva Cup to someone in a similar position. Best of luck! 🙂