I started menstruating when I was 11. My mom got me the pads with wings, and no matter how often I tried to change them, I would always get a rash. I figured this is just the way it was and what I had to deal with. I was raised in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and in those days, people didn’t talk about periods as freely as they do now, and I was embarrassed to ask anyone else if this happened to them.
I tried everything I could think of — baby powder, Vaseline, lotion. I’d slather that stuff on every month hoping a rash wouldn’t come, but every month it would.
It wasn’t till I was 18 that I tried a tampon. For me, they were excruciatingly hard to get in and I felt like they were either never secure, or in all the way.
I don’t know about you, but pads or tampons never absorbed enough for me. Especially during those first few days. I remember doubling up, wearing a pad and tampon at the same time, just dealing with the discomfort so I wouldn’t leak.
However, I still struggled with leaking.
Every month I would have some type of accident, whether it was at night or in the cafeteria in high school
After having kids, my flow just got worse.
I’d had enough about six years ago, when I took my kids to Boston for a vacation. We were walking around and I had started my period two weeks early. I had no idea until my son told me I had leaked through my jeans.
Our whole day had to come to a halt because I had to go somewhere to buy new pants since we were quite a ways from our hotel room. Then, I had to buy supplies and get myself cleaned up. You know the humiliation and the hassle of this if you’ve ever leaked while being away from home. It’s so frustrating.
My three kids just wanted to spend the day in Boston and see the sights and have fun, and it added to my stress to try to calm them down so I could get out of my bloody period clothes.
My sister had told me many times about her diva cup
She said she never leaked, and she absolutely loved it.
I held back, because the thought of having to reach in my vagina and take something in and out of me every couple of hours and wash it out in the sink was a huge turn off.
I didn’t wwant to stick my fingers up there, I was worried I would put it in wrong, and if a tampon was uncomfortable for me, I couldn’t imagine how uncomfortable it would be to walk around with a cup in there.
Even her lectures on how much money she saved by not buying sanitary products every month, and how much better it was for your body and the planet to use a diva cup, didn’t persuade me.
It took me having bloody drawers during a vacation to realize I couldn’t go through this every month, so what did I have to lose?
I took the plunge and got one for myself
I cannot lie to you, it was a bit of a shaky start. However, once you get to know the diva cup and how it will fit into your body, it will change your world. You must fold it into a taco, then insert it. A dive cup is designed to cup your uterus and collect all the blood. I have not had a leak since.
I also love how you never have to worry about running out of anything, and removing it and washing it in the sink isn’t half as bad as I thought it would be.
The most important piece of advice I can give to anyone wanting to try a diva cup is to make sure you squeeze the cup to break the suction before you gently remove it. I didn’t do this and it wasn’t fun.
The diva cup holds so much more liquid than pads or tampons. Another thing I loved about it was the fact that my rashes are gone, because I’m not putting anything with bleach or chemicals near my lady parts.
If you have been thinking about getting a diva cup, you should definitely go for it.
I’m telling you it will change your world
Make sure you give it about a two month grace period. Once you fold it just right and insert it in just the right place, you’ll be on your way.
If you’ve been wanting to try something different during your period because pads and tampons do not work for you, consider this your sign and go get your favorite diva cup.
They are available at a lot of different drugstores, and the upfront cost is worth it because it will save you so much money in the long run. Trust me, you won’t be sorry.
