Last month I did something I’ve never done before…. I quit using pads and tampons. Oh yeah-if you’re a guy, it’s not too late-GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This post is going to be graphic, contain a lot of TMI and might just change your life for the better. Big claims, I know….
The Diva Cup as you can tell from the pictures, is just that, a cup. I probably don’t need to spell it out for you but I’m going to anyway. You literally insert the cup, allow the cup to fill with blood, take it out, dump it and re-insert. It’s pretty straight forward.
Many of you might wonder why this is so much better then using tampons. I can give you 2 big reasons. Number 1-there is no odor. Like none. TMI-alert-I used to feel like I needed a shower several times a day when wearing pads and tampons. With the cup, there was never an odor. EVER. Reason number 2, tampons and pads are toxic. Like HARD CORE toxic.
Tampons are TOXIC!
First off, let’s review about the skin. It’s the largest organ and very absorbent. This is why we work so hard to rid our skin care routine of toxic ingredients. Our skin absorbs everything we put on it and what we put on it goes straight to the blood stream. What is in a tampon and pad will be absorbed into your body.
Get ready to get angry-When I started my research for this post, I knew tampons and pads were not ideal, but I had no idea they were this bad. Just another reason we have to take our health into our own hands. I’m afraid there’s no one you can trust to keep your body safe but yourself.
First off, feminine hygiene companies don’t have to disclose what’s in their products because they claim tampons and pads are “medical devices”. Seriously?
What’s in a Tampon?
- Plastic like BPA and BPS disrupt embryonic development and are linked to heart disease and cancer.
- Phthalates
- DEHP may lead to multiple organ damage
- Odor neutralizers and fragrances including polypropylene, and propylene glycol
- Chlorine/Bleach
- GMO cotton
One pad is the equivalent of 4 plastic bags! How crazy is that? Synthetics and plastic also restrict air flow, trapping heat and moisture, which gives yeast a perfect environment to grow. Another risk with tampons is toxic shock syndrome. This occurs when micro tears in your vagina collect bacteria and toxic substances.
My experience:
The Diva Cup transition was a smooth one. The first time I used it I could feel it once I put it in. After about 30 minutes I totally forgot I had it in. I have a very heavy period that lasts about 5 days. I was apprehensive that this little cup was going to handle what I got going on. Well, I’m glad to say it did. On my heaviest day I emptied the cup every 3 hours. Only once was the cup full. My next period, I won’t remove it as often. A couple of times after re-inserting it I would feel a tiny bit uncomfortable but after moving around, my body moved it where it needed to be (hope that makes sense). My period lasted only 3 days. I’m not sure if the Diva Cup had anything to do with that, but eliminating all those toxins had to have had some effect. My cramps were less as well. The cup was somewhat easy to insert and easy to remove. I will say this at the risk of sounding ridiculous-I panicked the first time I needed to remove it because my body had moved it up further then I could get a good grip on the tab. I had to push and then was able to grab the tab. The push is something you need to keep in your back pocket.
The Diva Cup is made of medical grade silicone and lasts 1-2 years. It costs $30 and comes with a cute pouch for storage. Talk about saving money! It’s easy to clean and the instructions show you exactly how to insert it with ease. There are 2 sizes-Model 1 is for ladies that have not had children or are 30 or younger. Model 2 is for 30 and up and/or ladies that have had children-c-sections included.
You can do any activity you want while wearing the Diva Cup and you can wear it for up to 12 hours. The Diva Cup on Amazon has about 2,500 reviews and receives 4.5 stars out of 5. There are also almost 100 women asking questions and getting answers about it if you need more reassurance!
I won’t go back to tampons. In fact, I think this method will catch on and tampons will be no more. It’s that good. I urge you to try it. Seriously, organic tampons and pads will break the bank. They are sadly, really expensive. My period with the Diva Cup was much less dramatic. I can’t prove it was because I ditched toxic feminine products but I just feel the cup had something to do with it.
I did most of my research HERE if you’d like to read more.
Find your Diva Cup HERE.
If you have questions, feel free to ask them in the comments-I’ll totally answer them and probably tell you more then you ever wanted to know. You can also email me if you’d like to be [email protected] 🙂
xx, Jenni
