Caution: This post and its comments contain details about menstruation. Queasy folk beware … but if you stay, you’ll learn a lot.

Last May, I took Crunchy Chicken’s Diva Cup Challenge and switched over to using the Diva Cup to manage my menstrual period. I blogged about my experience using the Diva Cup for the first couple of months (click on the bold text to read all about it). The post has been read more than 4,000 times and garnered dozens of comments, many with helpful advice of their own.

Now, one year later, it seems like an excellent time to review my progress since then.

The basics

If you are unfamiliar with menstrual cups, they are an insertible, flexible cup that collects menstrual fluid within the vagina — like a tampon, but a cup instead of an absorbent item. The cup forms a seal within the vaginal walls and collects the blood/fluid in the cup. After a period of time (with heavy flow, perhaps a few hours; with light flow, 12 hours), the woman will carefully pull the cup down and out, dump the contents in the toilet, wipe out or wash the cup, and reinsert it.

Menstrual cups are made of medically safe ingredients (silicone for the Diva Cup and Mooncup; natural rubber, which might bother people who have a latex allergy, for the Keeper). In the past, manufacturers touted that they could be reused for 10 years; now, due to FDA requirements, they say they must be replaced regularly (usually one year is the lifespan given). The cups can be washed with soap and water and sanitized before storing them until the next period. The Luna Pads Web site has a nice Q&A here.

The advantages

In my twelve months with the Diva Cup, I’ve found the cup has many, many advantages:

1. Convenience. I can carry it in its little pouch in my purse. The long usage time means I’m not likely to have to dash to the restroom in a restaurant or other public place to deal with conditions down south.
2. Perfect for “light showers.” If I suspect Aunt Flo is on her way, I can pop in the cup to be prepared.There is no exasperation of discarding a mostly-unused pad or worry about the abrasion a tampon can cause.
3. Less leaking. Because the cup forms a seal, or a vacuum, it seldom leaks. Tampons can fill and then leak like crazy, or just decide to leak for no apparent reason. With experience, the cup doesn’t do that.
4. Sanitary. Because fluids are contained in an air-free environment within the body, there is no odor or other sanitary issues. Yes, you have to take a little care when emptying and cleaning the cup — a quick wipe with toilet paper prevents any “splashback” when washing it out.
5. Cost savings. You can purchase one cup, and a small supply of disposable or reusable liners if you wish, to last at least a year. At a cost of around $30 per cup, you’ll save hundreds of dollars.
6. Environmental savings. Imagine not throwing anything away from your menstrual cycle. Wow.
7. Flexible and sporty. You can wear a menstrual cup while doing yoga, hiking, swimming, running, etc., without worries about leaks or embarrassing bulges. It’s sanitary out in public, too, because it keeps your period contained.
8. Awareness of body. For women with medical concerns, a gynecologist or naturopath might wish to know the amount of flow or its pace. The Diva Cup (which has been referred to as “the period shot glass”) has markings for an ounce or half-ounce, so you can track flow if need be.
9. Female health. The cup sits better if your pelvic muscles are in good shape, so it offers a monthly reminder to keep doing those Kegel exercises your doctor recommends.
10. Fewer cramps? Some users report having milder menstrual cramps.
11. No weird contents. Items (such as tampons) that are bleached are suspected of containing dioxin, which causes an array of health problems, including a possible link to endometriosis. No such issues with the cup.
12. Ignorance is bliss. With the Diva Cup, I can actually forget I am even having my period. Priceless! Now, if only it cured PMS …

Tips to Get the Most From a Cup

Now, all those advantages are not to say the cup doesn’t have its challenges. A great place to find more information is the Live Journal community about Menstrual Cups. Search there for your issue, and you’re likely to find a solution. And my original post has some great suggestions in the comments.

That said, here are some tips I’ve come across — through my own experience or through hearsay — to make life with a cup a little easier:

1. Persistence pays. My first month was awful. My second was pretty OK. Then things got better and better, although one month I had a relapse. The cup is definitely an acquired skill — but think back: you probably didn’t master anything else about your period right off the bat, either.
2. Find the right fold. The cups flip and fold quite a bit to make insertion easier, but certain folds will work for certain body types. Everybody is different. Experiment to find the one that is most comfortable for you. The right fold will also make it easier for the cup to pop open and find its proper position. The Live Journal community mentioned above has excellent information.
3. Find the right circumstance. Some people find it easiest to insert the cup in the shower (I’ve found this helps it to open properly, especially in the morning, for some reason.) Some people claim it works better after being rinsed with cold, rather than warm, water.
4. Don’t be afraid to cut off the stem. Most of the manufacturers say you shouldn’t need to cut off the stem. Many bloggers and other anecdotal users suggest trimming it. If it pokes you, feel free to cut it off. (Mine is completely gone.) At least with the Diva Cup, the ridges at the base of the cup provide plenty of “traction” for grabbing the cup to remove it. And don’t worry about the gross-out factor — I can pinch mine at the base to remove it; I don’t need to pull the rim to break the suction. If you need the stem removed because it is poking you, odds are good that you’ll be able to grab the base to remove the cup.
5. Master the insertion. The cup has some play. Use the best fold for you. Once the cup is inserted, you can pull it down and Kegel if necessary until it pops open, turn it around and then move it back up to get the right “seating” so it can work properly.
6. Master removal. You should be able to pull the stem and/or pinch the base of the cup to break the seal, then pull it gently down and out to remove it without spilling.
7. Make clean-up easy. In a public restroom, you can wipe the cup out with toilet paper and then reinsert it immediately. (That’s if you need to take it out in a public restroom — you usually won’t have to.) Wash it with soap and water when you have a chance. After each cycle, boil it for 5 minutes to sanitize. This is not recommended by the manufacturer, but you can soak the cup in a 50-50 water-hydrogen peroxide solution for a few hours to get rid of the grimy look.
8. Be prepared. You might want a back-up in case of leaks. The cup makes it much easier to use reusable pads for backup (as opposed to using them solo) because leakage is minimal, so there’s very little cleanup. If you are conscious of your body, it’s easy to feel a leak or overflow the moment it occurs so you can go handle it then and there.
9. Know your body. Weird little things can happen with a cup. It might be unable to open because both sides of the rim are caught behind the cervix, for instance. Surprisingly, you might not be able to feel that that’s the case. If you know what’s going on, you can solve the problem. If you aren’t quite sure how your female systems are structured or work, a wonderful resource is the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. The book is aimed at helping women become pregnant or avoid pregnancy, but it also provides an amazing overview of the female reproductive system’s function. I read it and loaned it to several friends, and we all had the same refrain: “Why didn’t anyone tell me THIS when I was 13?!”

Getting started

If you’re interested in procuring a menstrual cup of your own, here’s the most popular lineup. Remember, the Diva Cup is made from silicone; the Keeper is made from natural rubber. The Keeper’s sister, the Moon Cup, is also made of silicone:

Browse Timeline

• « Why our grandparents didn’t have an Earth Day
• » How do you manage your menstruation?

Comments ( 21 )

wow, thanks for posting this info. I’ve been thinking about switching for a long time now and i think i will definitely give it a try now! my eyes have been truly opened by all of the reusable options available now and i’m excited to try them. elaine.

kimchi added these pithy words on Apr 29 09 at 2:08 am

Thanks for posting an update! I had been wondering how the cup held up over time, and what kind of learning curve there was. You just answered both!

Kara added these pithy words on Apr 29 09 at 8:38 am

I’ve been wanting to get one of these forever, but then I was pregnant, and then I was nursing so I didn’t have a period, and now that I’ve weaned my son, I realize that the IUD I got after I had my son makes it so I don’t really have a period anymore.
When I get the IUD out, and have a period again, I will be making the switch.

Jessica added these pithy words on Apr 29 09 at 9:50 am

@Jessica – Lucky you! And you can’t use a cup with an IUD in case you accidentally pulled it out (ewwww!).

Cheap Like Me added these pithy words on Apr 29 09 at 10:41 am

Seriously–it’s been a year already?! I agree on all counts. And, as a two-year veteran of cup usage, I can heartily affirm that cups *rock*. As for longevity… I’m still using the same one I had, so the FDA requirements on advised-length-of-use notwithstanding, know that there’s a very good chance yours will last more than a year.

L'an added these pithy words on Apr 29 09 at 10:44 am

I’m peri-menopausal and keep hoping each period is the last but it keeps coming along. It is so unpredictable in cycle length, heaviness of flow, length of each period that I carry overnight pads [when I have a heavy period, I have a really heavy period that can soak through even an extra-plus tampon in a short time], pantiliners, and tampons wherever I go. I’ve wanted to purchase a Diva cup but thought it would be a waste. This post is very timely as I’ve just about run out of tampons and still am having periods. It sounds like the cup would be easy to carry at all times and no more tampon purchases. I’m going to do it. Thanks for the update — wish I’d got one a year ago.

Harper added these pithy words on Apr 29 09 at 12:35 pm

I can’t say enough good things about menstrual cups. I’ve had my Diva Cup about a year now and I absolutely love it. The difference is amazing. I can’t believe these products aren’t in mainstream stores yet! Thank you for sharing your experience and helping to spread the word on this wonderful option!

kc added these pithy words on Apr 29 09 at 6:19 pm

I bought a Keeper about 15 years ago (I think) and used it often. Unfortunately, I had frequent leakage problems with it so I wasn’t consistent about using it. When Crunchy ran her first Diva challenge, I decided to try the Diva cup. It took a while to get used to, but I do better with it than the Keeper. It is not, for me, ever guaranteed leak-proof so I use Lunapads as backup.

With the Keeper, rinsing it in hot water before insertion was critical. It softened the rubber so that it went in easier. Using cold water was a guaranteed way to get cramps once it was in. With the silicone Diva cup, I still use the hot water but it is not as effective because of the different material. The biggest key for me for proper insertion is to remember to stay relaxed while inserting it.

Even with purchasing the Diva when I may not have all that many years of menstruation left, it is still a real money-saver!

Chile added these pithy words on Apr 30 09 at 7:15 am

@Jessica: you can use a cup with an IUD. Talk to your gyno first about cutting strings short and look for the IUD safe cups like lunette, femmecup, etc. Although I am sure you can use it with other cups but those are the ones that say IUD safe

I love cups! I started with a diva but it didn’t fit right. I now have a lunette cup and it’s perfect for me.

Shannon added these pithy words on May 02 09 at 7:46 pm

I found your old post and it was super helpful. I prefer Lunette. Diva cup was too long and stuck out always. Lunette is shorter and better for me. My periods are so much more convenient now.

Jayden added these pithy words on May 03 09 at 12:27 am

I love the DivaCup! I’ve only used it for one cycle, and I’m hooked.
The first day was terrible. Once I found the right insertion angle, I was good to go. I HIGHLY recommend it!

Emily added these pithy words on Jul 23 09 at 3:36 pm

I’ve been using the Diva Cup and/or Lunapads for about 2 years now, and I am completely done with disposable products.
I’m actually kind of disgusted by disposable products now…thinking about how my DNA could end up in a landfill…YUCK! I love the Divacup and the Lunapad alternative!

The only thing I would say is – because I am over 35, it was recommended that I use a size 2 Divacup, so I believed it/bought it. It was painful! I had to buy the size 1 and spend that $$ twice, so it wasn’t a very good deal. :/ Obviously, I can’t return the size 2 (ew), so I guess I just have to keep it.

Slick added these pithy words on Jul 24 09 at 10:49 am

Thank you sooo much for creating this blog. I just purchased my Diva cup yesterday and was ready to use it today for the very first time. Had no problems with insertion but that stem was awful. Then I came across your old post. I was nervous about cutting the stem, but you convinced me I would be more comfortable without it. WOW! What a difference! This is still Day 1 for me, but I wanted to write right away and let you know how much you helped.

I have a retroverted uterus and have a unusually heavy flow so I’ll let you know how this first cycle goes. So far, so good!

Ande added these pithy words on Aug 13 09 at 7:08 pm

Thanks for writing in, and good luck!

Cheap Like Me added these pithy words on Aug 13 09 at 9:44 pm

Hi there. Thanks for an interesting article! I’ve been using my LadyCup (a Czech brand) for the first time and I can clearly see all the benefits. I’ve had no trouble inserting and getting it to open up, but I have some difficulty removing it because I can’t reach it!! It just sort of gets ’sucked’ up. I really have to use my vag muscles to push it down enough so I can grab the stem (unfortunately I cut about 5mm off my stem before I had even used it). I’m just wondering where the cup is supposed to sit. Tampon boxes always have a diagram to show where they should be in the vagina but I can’t seem to find an equivalent diagram for the cup. Do you know of any online diagrams? Thanks.

Emma added these pithy words on Aug 17 09 at 2:56 am

Check out the “How to use the cup” in the FAQs on the Diva Cup site: http://www.divacup.com/en/home/faqs/

It has a small diagram, and says the cup should sit lower. However, I think it just sits where it sits — if nothing else you are keeping your muscles in shape, I guess. Good luck.

Cheap Like Me added these pithy words on Aug 17 09 at 10:01 am

This is my second day with the Divacup, and boy! have I had troubles! I’m a virgin, so I find insertion and removal quite painful. I’m getting used to it though. Once it’s in, I barely feel it–just like a tampon.
I have a really heavy flow, and can’t seem to get the seal right. I can feel that it’s fully popped open, shaped like an O and I can twirl it just fine(finally!), so I don’t know what the problem is! It’s never full when I take it out, but boy is it messy (TMI: Since it’s been leaking, it’s bloody reaching up to get it out, and wrestling with it to get it out, i get blood all over my hand.. ick) Thing is: when trying to take it out, it does feel like there’s suction, so WHY am I leaking??

Gussy added these pithy words on Nov 04 09 at 2:36 pm

I have been using my Diva Cup for more than two years and don’t really feel like replacing it just yet (ummm, can we say money grabber??).

In any case, the BEST tip I ever got was running warm-hot water over the dive cup pre-insertion to help opening. I was seriously tired of having it “pop” open randomly while I was walking around- awkward!. The warm water solved that problem!

As for leakage… i think it really has to do with flow- if you have a heavy flow you might have to change the cup every 3-4 hours instead of twice a day. Everyone and every day is different.

The diva cup has been teh BEST for yoga, compared to ALL other menstrual products. Beats tampons 100%.

EcoYogini added these pithy words on Feb 05 10 at 12:44 pm

Add a Comment