Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PeriodConfidence #CollectiveBias #TryTheDivaCup
For a large portion of our lives, periods are a big part of the story.
Period.
There’s not much we can do about mother nature’s gift comings and goings, but there is one thing we can control: how we manage it.
The first time I was introduced to The DivaCup, I was a freshman in college. I specifically remember Aly, one the seniors on my floor, raving about The DivaCup and trying to persuade us freshmen girls to make the switch.
“It’s better for the environment! And like, way easy to use. You just wash it out and put it back in. I’m never going back!”
Embarrassed by her open discussion of such a – to me – delicate topic, I blushed and didn’t even consider the idea. A little cup? That you stick where? And do what? Not that The DivaCup was all that different from tampons, except that it had specific benefits that tampons and pads did not, like the fact that it is:
• Washable and reusable
• Affordable! It’s only $40 for the cup (which lasts at least 1 year), whereas tampons and pads typically ran me about $12 – $15/period in Boston. So The DivaCup cost about 5x less per year.
• Better for the environment – no waste due to strings, wrappers, applicators or sticky pads.
• Better for your body – no surfactants, chemicals, or other additives that could disrupt pH balance or build up in your body
• Leak-free – a quality that tampons actually don’t fulfill for me.
• Can we worn longer than tampons – up to 12 hours! Forget setting 8 hour alarms for your tampon removal on your phone (I can’t be the only one, right?)
Despite all of these obvious advantages, I still laughed the idea off. Looking back, I feel really silly for not giving is a second thought.
It all came down to my level of comfort with the idea of changing up my femcare routine. Femcare is something I never wanted to think about. To me, periods were an inevitable and unfortunate reality of being born a woman.
Now that I’m a little older – and traveling to foreign countries for business quite often – femcare is not something I can choose to ignore anymore. In China, tampons and pads are quite often laced with scents, “cooling” agents, and other irritating chemicals. On top of that, the drastic change in diet from sandwiches and salads to noodles and rice has meant a lot of excess sugar, yeast, and wacky pH levels. My doctor advised me to limit all scents and fragrances in all products and “take it easy” down there.
China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea, Japan – things weren’t getting any better. Every new country I went to seemed to have their own way of handling femcare, and it certainly wasn’t what I was used to.
Something had to change – and fast.
Quick Tutorial: How to Acquire + Use The DivaCup
Luckily for me, The DivaCup team reached out at the perfect time. We’re about to kick up our #PeriodConfidence a notch.
Step 1: Acquire The DivaCup
The DivaCup is just $39.99 and – guess what! – you can pick it up at your local Walmart (or use their store locator to find one near you!). For me, that was on good ole John Williams Boulevard in Bedford. You can find it in the femcare aisle, next to more traditional products. I picked up the DivaCup Model 1, made from those under 30 who have not delivered children. There’s also a model 2, for those 30+ or who have delivered.
And in case you’re worried – The DivaCup is regulated as a medical device with the FDA. It’s legit.
Step 2: Use with Confidence
All you have to do is insert The DivaCup and sit back and relax! If you keep track of your cycle, you can insert it on the day your period is supposed to begin. The DivaCup is made from 100% clear silicone – no latex, plastic, BPA or dyes – making it flexible and comfortable, free from the chafing or “dry” feeling of inserting a tampon (thank god! That feeling gives me the heebie jeebies).
Step 3: Wash + Reuse
Insert for up to 12 hours, then empty and wash – either with warm water or DivaWash, a botanically-based all natural cleanser, made from 100% plant-based ingredients (plus, it’s cruelty-free!). The DivaWash is also pH balanced and made without any “dirty” ingredients – like parabens, petrochemicals, sulfates or fragrances – so it’s totally safe to use on your DivaCup.
Use for the duration of your period, washing at least every 12 hours. When your period is over, give it a good washing and store until the next period. I’m notoriously bad at remembering to keep track of my period date, so I always carry The DivaCup with me, in my makeup brush bag – protected by it’s own little travel bag, of course.
Other Cool Features:
Another cool feature that the inner nerd in me just LOVEs are the measuring marks, which help you keep track of your flow. Normally you’d have to go off of the “feeling” or a period, but with The DivaCup, you can actually report this information – and any abnormalities – back to your doctor.
Finally, beyond the 12-hour wear benefit, The DivaCup is also suitable for all activities – whether you’re rock climbing, dancing the night away, watching a movie with your snuggly S.O. or if you have your tooshie parked on a long-haul flight! The DivaCup goes everywhere you go and does everything you do: the perfect travel companion!
Takeaways: The DivaCup
DivaCup takes a serious, scientific and responsible approach to femcare, which I love. Despite my initial reservations, I’m totally on board with The DivaCup – and I hope all of you will consider trying it out, too. 91% of women never go back – count me in that statistic!
As with anything health-related, it’s important to read the User Guide of the product thoroughly before trying the cup and to consult with your healthcare provider if you have any questions with regards to your vaginal or gynecological health.
Finally, The DivaCup’s Consumer Care Team is available to answer questions and concerns. They can be reached at [email protected], 1-866-44-3482 or via their social media networks. This team is really the best team to contact and are super helpful to customers. If the user guide doesn’t cover all your question, they are on the phone with women, for insertion, removal etc.- basically anything you need!
As for me, The DivaCup is perfect for me because I’m always on the road. Today I’m actually on my way to Thailand and you know what? I cleaned my DivaCup and packed it in my makeup brush bag. It’s a tool that deserves to be on the road with me – and will certainly save me a LOT of headaches!
So ladies, what are you waiting for? Kick your #PeriodConfidnce up a notch. Don’t ignore this topic because it’s inconvenient. It’s your health! Get out and #TryTheDivaCup today ☺ Looking for a location that has The DivaCup near you? Use their easy store locator to find one near you!
Interested in trying DivaCup? Hover over the photo to click through to Walmart.com and buy them!
