A Guide to The DivaCup®

If you're looking for a comfortable, safe, and very reliable way to deal with your menstrual flow, look no further! The DivaCup® is a soft cup made of medical grade silicone that you wear internally. Unlike tampons which absorb your menstrual blood, The DivaCup® simply collects it. Since The DivaCup® is not associated with Toxic Shock Syndrome and doesn’t cut or chafe you, it is a great choice for protection. The DivaCup® is very comfortable - most people find they can't feel it at all. You save lots of money since they are reusable. On your heavier days you may need to empty your cup as much as you changed a tampon or pad although it is often less frequent. It is safe to leave The DivaCup® in for up to 12 hours so if you are not going to fill it up it only needs to be changed twice a day. In addition to all of this they don't create the huge amounts of garbage that disposable pads and tampons do. The DivaCup® holds F.D.A. and Health Canada market approval.

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Choosing your size of The DivaCup®

Model one is for people under 30 who have not had any type of childbirth. Model two is for people over thirty and/or those who have had any type of childbirth. Model two is slightly larger than Model one (+ 4.6 cm / 1/8 inch). People often want to know why someone over thirty who has not had any type of childbirth needs a larger size. The reason is that as we age our vaginal muscles become looser, resulting in the need for a larger sized cup. In accordance with government regulations all sales of the DivaCup® are final. Please choose your size carefully.

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Inserting The DivaCup®

Cup use diagram

Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Get comfy – either squatting or sitting with legs spread. Relax. Squeeze the cup together, and then fold in half so it's quartered holding it between your thumb and forefinger. An alternate method of folding that works better for some is to push one side of the rim down into the cup, hold it in this position at the base, and insert the open end curved side down. Using your other hand spread your labia and use a finger to pull slightly at the vaginal opening.

Cup use diagram

Take the folded cup and insert it so the open part of the cup will be highest up. Push the cup upwards with your fingers until the tab is about even with the vaginal opening. If the tab is uncomfortable you may need to trim it. Remove the cup (see Removing the Diva Cup), take a scissors and cut straight across at the lowest line. Then cut the edges at a 45° angle to round them and make it most comfortable. The cup will probably not be fully open when you first put it in. You can check this with your finger. You will need to either grab the base and rotate it or tug on it or do both to get it to open up. With practice you will know when it is open without having to check.

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Removing The DivaCup®

Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Again get comfy and relax!! Tensing up will make it harder to get the cup out. Spread your legs and reach down with both hands. Use one hand to spread your labia and with the other reach for the base of the cup. You can use the tab to pull it down or press with your stomach muscles to get it close enough to grab the base of it. You can not remove it by just pulling on the tab! You must squeeze the base – this lets air in through the tiny holes in the rim and releases the suction. Pull the cup out keeping it upright and empty it. If it is convenient wash it with water – if you are in a public restroom you can wipe it with tissue or a paper towel and wash it at the next convenient time.

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Cleaning The DivaCup®

Wash your DivaCup® with a natural soap and hot water at the beginning and end of your cycle. During your cycle rinsing is usually adequate. You can boil the Diva Cup to sterilize it if you like. If your cup develops an odor you can wipe it with rubbing alcohol and boil it. Do not use chlorine or any other type of bleach or harsh chemicals on your cup. It may discolor slightly over time – this is normal. To remove the discoloration wipe with rubbing alcohol and boil completely submerged for five minutes.

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What is the difference between The DivaCup® and The Keeper®?

The main difference between The DivaCup® and The Keeper® is the material of which they are made. The Keeper® is made from pure gum rubber while The DivaCup® is made from medical grade silicone. I do not recommend using a rubber menstrual cup. I used one for ten years and developed a mild allergy to it. Rubber is very similar to latex (they are both sap from tropical trees) and it is possible to either be allergic to it or develop an allergy to it. Medical grade silicone is 100% hypoallergenic, does not promote bacterial growth, and is latex free and odorless. It has been used safely in medical applications for over 50 years in products such as heart valves and joint replacements.

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Other miscellaneous tips

Choose a place where you will keep your cup when it is not in your body such as a zippered pocket in a purse or backpack. Then you will be more likely to have it with you and less likely to lose it. Or maybe it works better to keep it in your bathroom. Choose a place and stick with it. Do not leave it here and there - in your friend's shower etc.

Store your cup in the cloth bag it comes with or some other air permeable container. It will get moldy if you store it in a plastic bag or container.

Keep your cup well away from dogs (and reportedly some cats!). They will chew it up and make you sad.

Wear a pad the first time you sleep with your cup at night. Some people will fill it up and leak at night while others won't.

The Diva Cup