DivaCup - BPA-Free Reusable Menstrual Cup - Leak-Free Feminine Hygiene - Tampon and Pad Alternative - Up To 12 Hours Of Protection - Model 2

I love my cup so much!!!!BASIC WONDERSI was a diehard disposable pad girl until I started enjoying camping and the great outdoors four years ago. Tampons dried me up too much/hurt/smelled and I didn't know anything else existed. The cup eliminates the need to carry pads into the wilderness (yay, weight savings!!!) but most amazingly, it eliminated the smell that pads get after you've been using them for a few hours. Why didn't I know about this sooner!!???!! Diva cup has also been amazing for traveling around the world. No more worrying if I brought enough pads/am carrying enough with me during the day! Just go pee, dump it out, continue on your way. Four years of owning my cup and it is still going strong.INSERTION TIPSInsertion was a small learning curve - at the beginning, I did mess up and get uncomfortable poking of the cup stem into my vaginal walls/outer labia. At first, I put the cup super low in my vagina and it hurt (my cervix descends during most periods making the entire vagina short). Turning the cup inside out to make it shorter makes it too wide to be comfortable for me. Over time, my vag canal has become longer on my period - between that and trimming the cup's stem, I no longer get poked. The stem is easily trimmed with regular scissors (only do a little at a time so you don't take too much away!!!). Note there is a way that you can "walk" a low sitting cup up deeper into the vagina to prevent poking. Insert, pop the cup open (run finger around outside rim to be sure it opened correctly and that you cannot feel your cervix [cervix is a bump in the vagina which feels like the tip of your nose. you may feel a small 'hole' which is the entrance to your uterus] - note blood comes out of your cervix so if the cervix is outside the cup, it does you no good), hold stem/cup base with thumb and index finger, push up slowly & gently and while rocking the cup side to side.I used to be more 'tight' (virgin) and could only do the punch-down fold (any other fold was too big - there are so many folds, please google them to find one good for you!). Since then, I have worked my way up to the C-fold for insertion. Water based lube is your friend if you're worried! Avoid silicone because silicone lubes can change silicone materials like the divacup. The punch-down fold was great when I didn't have an IUD, but since getting one, the C fold is an easier way for me to guarantee not catching the IUD string between the cup and the vag wall. The moment I really "got it" as far as insertion was watching a youtube video where a lady uses a cylindrical vase to represent the vagina (definitely look for that one; author "the cup guru"'s "How To Use A Menstrual Cup").IUD BIRTH CONTROLFor me, it's been four periods with both the IUD and Diva cup. I left my IUD strings long but you can have them trimmed super short. The first 2 periods, I used the punch down fold. The next two I switched to C-fold. Before insertion, reach up and push the ends of the IUD strings up as high as you can get them, preferably wrapping around cervix; then insert cup low in vagina. Gently and slowly "walk" the cup up into the vagina using steps described above. During removal, go slow. Feel around the rim to make sure the string didn't migrate down to hang outside the cup - that happened to me once when I had the cup low and subconsciously squeezed my pc muscles really hard while squirming around (if that happens, push inwards on the rim at the spot where the string is, push string up into the cup so you don't pull on it during cup removal). Squeeze stem and cup gently to break suction, "walk" cup down the vagina; tilt stem up slightly to make for easier removal (your vaginal canal runs more perpendicular to the length of your body, not straight up and down) I've had no problems with IUD expulsion (*knock on wood*).REMOVALThe first time you try a cup removal, try doing it at home with no pants on (and on tile floor/in the tub if you can) to avoid messes. If not on your period, you can practice by filling the cup with a *little* plain water, inserting cup, and removing. It took about 2 periods until I got comfortable with the angle at which to pull. I stand with feet shoulder width apart/wider, knees bent. In public bathrooms, I still usually put a ~1 square foot paper towel/toilet paper on my underpants crotch because I'm clumsy and have dumped an entire ounce of blood on my pants before. As my period goes on, the vag walls become more slick with mucus so both insertion and removal become easier. If it remains difficult for you, try smearing the cup outside with a water-based lubricant first.CLEANINGI use [clean] toothpicks to clean out the little holes at the top. If you pull the cup really hard (don't break it though), you can stretch the holes a little in the shower and let the spray of water clean out clotted blood from the holes too. During my period, I'll wash the cup with a few drops of divawash once a day. I sterilize mine once a month in a 2.5 Quart Aluminum Cook Pot with Lid Stansport 2.5 Quart Aluminum Cook Pot with Lid: chosen because I didn't want handle(s) sticking out of the side. I'd much prefer enamel (avoid potential chemical leaching), but at the time, there was no enamelware with no protruding handles (now there is: Blue Speckled Enamelware Convex Kettle w/Lid-2 Quart, 4.5H x 6.5D). The pot can double as a place to soak cloth liners (although I just let the blood air dry on mine; no dark staining on cotton flannel!) or place to hand wash bras. To sterilize, drop cup into pot of boiling water for 10 minutes, drain water, pick cup up carefully with clean paper towel, dry cup off, shove into cloth bag until the next use (don't forget about it as silicone can melt if the pot boils dry).LEAKSI always use the cup with a cloth pantyliner because I've been known to forget the cup is in (yes, it is that comfortable) and it overflows. I used to empty it every 8-12 hours. Since getting the paragard copper IUD, I need to empty it every 2-3 hours. Sometimes a public bathroom isn't available and I've leaked through my pants (it's situations like that where a heavy [cloth] pad would have been handy). My cup only leaks when the cup gets too full (this cup is the wrong shape for some womens' bodies so they need another cup brand to avoid leakage - and that's okay!).STAINS AND ODORMy cup stains a little towards the middle of the period, but amazingly, the stains disappear after its monthly boiling. An unpleasant odor tends to develops inside the cup (not on the outer sides) half way through my period. That also goes away with boiling. My body chemicals may just make me lucky - no residual effects on the silicone....but if your cup staining and smell doesn't go away, try hydrogen peroxide (lingering odor and staining from healthy individuals can be very normal). I've been thoroughly checked for vaginal diseases by my gynecologist because I freaked out when the cup&midperiod-blood started smelling bad/not metallic (everyone says when the cup is inserted, the blood isn't exposed to air; they said the internal blood would only smell bad if there was some sort of bacterial infection! I'm here to say that is not always true. With the plethora of reviews online today [not as prominent when I started using the cup], you can see that a bit of odor is not unusual, but if you suspect something, keep calm and see a doctor. they can give you peace of mind/treat you for anything). Smell not noticeable from full cup while fully inserted.ADVICE ON BACK-UP PANTYLINERS/PADS (recommendations)Sometimes I forget to insert the cup until I see faint pink on toilet paper after urinating (problem recently fixed with reminders from the android app "period calendar/tracker" from abishkking - recommended free app). That means for at least the first period day, there is a little blood on the lower vaginal walls which continues to flow downwards outside of the cup. To keep underpants clean, disposables are fine but wasteful&polluting. Reusable cloth options are way better and cheaper in the long run. See the big cloth pad companies' websites for a sample cloth liner for the price of shipping (party in my pants, lunapads, gladrags). Lots of etsy sellers sell liners & pads cheap with fabulous cute prints, many fabrics (I love cotton flannel; some come with a bottom layer or PUL [a medical grade plastic to prevent leaks]), and professional stitch quality. Combinations of flannel, quilters cotton, minky, silk, fleece, corduroy, denim, nylon, interiors (bamboo terrycloth, zorb) and more!SHOPS: google caroline's creations 09 [my personal favorite], pinklemonadeshop [silk liners! comfy and supposed to be good for ladies with yeast infections, non etsy], sew sweet creations, sweet sydney bean, mother moon pad, or fuzzibunz mama cloth [non etsy] as my recommended sellers. Thong liners available in some shops. Amazon also seems to carry a nice reusable selection these days.Liners & pads ***don't*** have to be soaked in water after use!!!!!!!!!! The only time my cloth developed a smell was during soaking when I forgot to change the water daily. That smell was ****awful**** (and I *know* bad smells after having cleaned men's restrooms)! Get any smell out with multiple applications of Bac out Biokleen Bac-Out Stain and Odor Eliminator-32 fl oz.; but following these steps below, you won't need to do anything for smells: if liner/pad is blood soaked, rinse with water and let air dry (you don't even technically need to rinse if you get it to dry fast enough). If there are only small to medium spots of blood, just let it air dry. Place dried pads in laundry bag. Toss in with regular clothing in the washing machine [weeks later is okay] (no special soaps, water temperatures, pre-treating, nor fabric color sorting needed. no fabric softener.) - just do what you normally do. The dried blood completely washes out (trust me, my cotton flannel pad tops look like new even though they get blood on them every month from small leaks/my accidents. Your experience with staining may vary of course, but letting the blod just dry doesn't preclude sanitary pads after you send them through a washing machine. [caveat: there are very light, hard to see tiny stains on my white silk pads and white fleece pads using this method - whatevs right? no one else looks at my pads but me and washing machines take care of any blood related ickyness people talk about]. On dark pads, I do have minor bleaching from acidic vaginal secretions so buying dark cloth pads won't necessarily save you from *all* discolorations....)TAKING LINERS WITH ME ON THE GOJust in case I need a new liner in the middle of the day (accidental spill/leak), I carry liners around in a planetwise wet/dry bag Planet Wise Travel Wet/Dry Bag, Owl (plus a plastic produce bag or those non-crinkly small plastic bags giftstore purchases come in, to prevent leaks when carrying soiled pads). A ziplock or a Blue Q coin purse (plasticized recycled grain fabric ) Blue Q Peacock Zipper Pouch or a Logan+Lenora Wet/Dry Logan + Lenora Wet + Dry Diaper Clutch - Small Cloth Diaper Wet Bag with Dry Pocket - Carry Wipes, Diapers, Creams, Cloth Pads, Breast Pads, or Toiletries - Made in USA - Waterproof (Downtown Athenian) are other options I alternate between. Items labeled wet-dry bags (like the ones I listed) usually have a water resistant zipper. Keep new liners in the dry pocket, used liners in the wet pocket. Wet bags are sold in many etsy stores in delightful patterns and sizes.WASHING CUP IN PUBLIC BATHROOMSSometimes handicapped stalls include a sink - that's perfect for washing a cup after dumping the contents out. I went as far as to buy a perineal irrigation squeeze bottle DYND70125H - Perineal Irrigation Bottle with my new divacup (for situations when one has no running water); effective but totally unnecessary. I almost always forgot the bottle at home anyways. A wad of toilet paper will get all visible traces of blood off your cup (and almost everything off fingers). I always feel a little self conscious walking out of a stall with bloody fingers after insertion, but then I think: "eh, you'll probably never see the other ladies again/they're probably too embarrassed to say anything to you. Menstrual blood is NATURAL - you're not dying; just move on with your day, wash your hands. The menstrual blood was just inside your uterus, if it had encountered gross bacteria/viruses up in there, here's a hint, those buggers would already all over your body/bloodstream. Probably in your mouth too; what are you going to do, never floss again?" You can wet a paper towel to carry into a stall for a hand wipe too.EXERCISEI love that I can swim with a cup in and not have to get the weird water gush feeling one has with tampons (tampon absorbs water and when you squeeze your pc muscles a little, it's like wringing a sponge).During ski season, my butt doesn't get cold when the blood in a traditional pad would cool off.OTHER MENSTRUAL OPTIONSIf you're looking for a travel menstrual cup, look at the Intimina lily cup compact which folds down like those silicone camping cups. It packs away slightly smaller than the diva cup (but isn't as stiff, so removal requires more concentration to avoid spills).Look into menstrual sponges for period sex (I have a review for them) or the Instead softcup Instead 12 Hour Feminine Protection Cup 24 ea. Natural sea sponges (Premium Ultra Soft Sea Pearls Reusable Sea Sponges - Multi Size 3 Pack) or synthetic (gynotex or beppy) - note sponges not FDA approved but that doesn't mean it can't be 'safe enough' for you (see my sponge review for my opinion).TSSCups don't seem to carry the same level of TSS risks as tampons do because they don't absorb the fluid and hold it next to a lot of your internal tissue (however I have heard of two cup-TSS cases where they believed blood in the little holes incubated bacteria and the specific chemistry of the female let the germs bloom. The literature doesn't say how long the cups were in but it could have been longer than 12 hours. That being said, I've left mine in for 24 hours with no ill affects (as have many others posting in online forums); YMMV.

1) you must be comfortable touching yourself2) you must be comfortable getting a bit messy3) have a sink nearby4) relax!If you are dry it can be a bit of a pain to get situated. There are a few ways to fold the cup to get it in and have it pop open but not all will work every time. I have had to insert and reinsert this a few times because the cup wouldn't open.I will push my vaginal walls out with my fingers in hopes to open space up enough for the cup to pop open - this works about 50% of the time.I will spin the cup to make sure nothing is pinched in still - this will cause leakage, and spinning helps prevent a vacuum seal which will make removal difficult.I insert and remove at home - where I have a squatty potty. This, I have found, helps everything immensely! I have tired to insert in the tub while squatting, sitting on a regular toilet in a public bathroom, and while standing with a foot up. Using the squatty potty is the easiest, followed by the tub.Public bathroom is the worst due to fear of germs, dropping it, getting to a sink etc. This should not discourage anyone tho! I have had years and years of practice with tampons and have been using this for not even a year! Learning curve is there, but once you know how to get it in and get that down it just becomes practice.Tips: you should NOT leak, if you are leaking it is not in right or you have the wrong size in. I am 32 with no children and use Cup 1 - I have purchased cup 2 to see what the difference should be. There are also different brands - if Diva doesn't work another style may help based on the depth of your cervix.These cups wont be too big - the vagina is like an umbrella and will open to accommodate the 'girth'. You should not feel this at all (unless you kegel). Tampons you can sometimes feel - they are long, or are poking something in an odd angle, and they dry you out - this, you should not feel at all as the vagina itself has no nerve endings. However, if you are uncomfortable the stem could be to long, you could have a shallow cervix, or it is in at an odd angle and poking at the wrong angle. If so, take it out and re-insert.You must fold this to insert it!Tip 2: Before you insert clean yourself up, insert it, and clean yourself up again. This will help you figure out if you are leaking truely or it is just blood caught around the cup after insertion.Tip 3: know your flow! I have overflowed this cup once - I noticed leaking and removed the cup; it was full!If you have mucousy flow it will 'fall out' as you remove the cup. Be prepared!Sanitize in boiling water after your cycle. This should last you YEARS!COMPARISON:I purchased DivaCup Size 1 as my first menstrual cup. My cat has a rubber and now silicone fetish and proceeded to run off with it after I rinsed and put it on the sink before insertion.Figured I would buy some of the 'generic' or less expensive options, try them out and compare since DivaCup is on the pricer side.DivaCup $28 ishAnigan EvaCup 2/$35 dual packAthena $20Blossom $18I chose the LARGE or Size 2 for each cup except my original DivaTo start all cups are the same in height - about 2.5" high - you can see in the image with the yard stickI used each cup for a few days of my cycle, both light and heavier/mucusy flow. All worked perfectly, there were zero leaksDivaCup Size 1 is for prebirth/under 30. Size 2 is postbirth/over 30. The difference is the overall width through the entire cup, the difference is slight.DivaCup is by far my favorite except that the stem is open - that collects blood/fluid and it is difficult to clean. The wider stem does help it with removal but not all the time. It also only comes in clear, it will eventually discolor since blood stains.DivaCup has a moderate firmness and a thin edge. It is easy to fold and insert and opening is not an issue most of the time (suction is to blame the times it is difficult)Blossom Cup is my second favorite. It is visually similar to Diva, comes in funky colors which is a bonus for the staining. I got Red which is really a salmon color, should have chosen lime green. It has a thin edge just like Diva and is moderate in firmness. Easy to fold and insert, opening is not an issue. The body is slightly softer than Diva which may make removal difficult. I tend to grab the base just above the stem to remove.My least favorites are a tie between EvaCup and Athena Cup for different reasons.Athena Cup is SOFT - very flimsy, the edge and body squeeze too easily and they just feel inadequate. The softness of the cup makes it hard to have the edges pop open inside you. These cups were the ones I had the most difficulty with.I just could not get these to open without a lot of internal manipulation (pushing the vaginal walls out to give the cup room to expand). I also had a tough time removing the cups - because they are so soft when you grab the body of the cup it squishes, I couldn't get a good grip. They do come in funky colors and I love the black and teal.EvaCup has the exact opposite problem, they are FIRM. The edge of Eva is thicker than Diva and the rest, not in width but in length down the cup. This edge is very firm, much firmer than the body which is firmer than Diva by far. This makes folding the cup much more difficult and insertion harder. It does help with popping the cup open but I found if I didn't have a really good firm grip on the cup it opened before I had it high enough. I could feel the cup and had to remove and reinsert a few times before it was high enough and in the right spot to do its job. Eva also comes in some funky colors - the two that came in the dual pack were pink and purple.OVERALL:Any of these will work, the best is to pick one and figure out what you like/dislike. Too firm, not firm enough, hard to remove?Firmer go with Eva, softer go with Athena, somewhere in the middle Diva or BlossomColors - go with anything but Diva