menstrualhut

I also paid $45 for mine. Did you by any chance buy it at the Nutrition Centre in Brampton? (I can't see where you are by your userinfo).
I was talking to someone at divacup a few days ago about returning mine, and they said that I should bring it back to the store and they'll return it to divacup. I asked at the store before I bought it, and they said that if I haven't opened it, I can return it within one week with the receipt, but if I have opened it or used it, I would have to return it to the company. The person I spoke to at divacup said she probably just didn't understand how the return policy worked.

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chococat322.livejournal.com

No, I bought it at Planet Organic in Edmonton.

Good news, I took it back to the store and just straight exchanged it for the other size. No questions, no worries.

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"According to the Diva Cup website, the size is a minimal difference. I'm sure it would still work for you if they won't take it back."

There's not much difference in size, but it can make a huge difference as far as leakage. Check out

menstrual_cups for some stories. There are a lot of people who got one size of cup and it leaked like crazy. They switched to the other size cup, and it worked perfectly. That's why there are two different sizes. If the difference in size didn't matter, they would only make one size.
Myself, I bought a size 2, because I'm 30, but it leaks like crazy. I've had it for 7 months now, and I can't get it to not leak, no matter what I do, so I'm returning it for a size 1.

To the OP: they say on the divacup website that some retailers don't offer the money back guarantee, so ask before you buy it. I talked to someone from divacup a few days ago about returning mine, and apparently how it works is you return it to the store and the store will return it to divacup to get a refund. If you buy it through the Divacup website (http://www.divacup.com), you automatically get the one year money back guarantee.

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neaira.livejournal.com

I believe Diva Cup has a guarantee and if the store itself won't take it back you can send it to the company and get a different one.

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chococat322.livejournal.com

Sweet! Thank you! I might have to take them up on that!

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What are Diva Cups for, exactly? Are they considered a form of birth control, or are they for facilitating sex while menstruating?

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lady-amorika.livejournal.com

Neither, they are a menstrual product, like a pad or tampon, for collecting fluid. They con't absorb it however, they just hold it until you take it out and dump the fluid out. They sit far too low for penetrative sex.

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I know it's all very based on personal choice, but what makes menstrual cups preferable to tampons/pads? Is it the reusability?

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I'll jump in here and give my 2¢. I prefer the reusability (so much less waste) and the fact that it's less messy and more reliable. I feel confident it won't leak, and any pads or anything is just back-up for the times I might not be able to empty it as often as I'd like (I have a heavy flow). It's easy to take care of, discreet, and hasn't been linked to infections or anything. I like that :]

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Maybe I don't fully understand what they are... I'm picturing something sort of like a diaphragm, but curved inward to leave a place to collect blood. So couldn't that be more messy in the long run? I mean, do you ever have problems with spillage or anything? And "empty it as often as I like"... just how much blood can they hold? Do you have to, like... rinse it out between insertions? (Sorry if that's a squicky question! This cup thingie is something I've never heard of before!)

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http://divacup.com/ This website should help solve most of your questions. There's also an lj community devoted to menstrual cups (there are a few different brands) that's very helpful.

Once you get the hang of it, it's a breeze. I never had a problem emptying it.. as you can see from the pictures on the site, it's quite "deep" and menstrual blood is quite mucusy so it doesn't splash as you might think (at least not for me). The only mess is what gets on your fingers, which is easily wiped off until you wash your hands. It holds about an ounce, if I remember correctly.

Don't worry, I jumped in willing to answer questions :D

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Woah... the website says that the cup can be worn for up to 12 hours at a time!! That blows me away. I guess it wouldn't be a breeding ground for bacteria like tampons can be, but I still don't know if I'd feel comfortable with the 12 hours dealio...

I know you said you have a heavy flow, and so do I. Have often do you have to empty your cup?

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"I guess it wouldn't be a breeding ground for bacteria like tampons can be, but I still don't know if I'd feel comfortable with the 12 hours dealio..."

You're right, it's not a breeding ground for bacteria like tampons. The divacup is actually made of medical grade silicone, and doesn't absorb bacteria.
Not having to empty it for 12 hours comes in really handy for when you're sleeping, or if you're busy all day and just don't get a chance to empty it. It's nice for when you're at work. No having to run to the bathroom every 2 or 3 hours to change a tampon. And there's no smell like you sometimes get with pads.
I can't go 12 hours without emptying it on my heavy days, so I have some cloth pads that I made, and I wear those for backup protection.

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I'm still not sure about the bacteria issue. Even if the cup itself isn't a breeding ground for bacteria, the pool of blood that fills it is. But either way, tampons or cup, there's gonna be bacteria so I suppose it's a trade off.

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gemfyre.livejournal.com

I sometimes leave my cup in for over 12 hours on light days and the cup gets pretty stinky because of it. I'm guessing the smell is due to bacteria multiplying in the pool of blood, but there are a few things to consider.

- The vagina has it's own bacterial flora anyway, it's not meant to be a sterile environment.
- The silicon itself is inert so bacteria cannot grow on it, unlike a tampon that provides millions of warm, blood filled nooks and crannies to multiply on. I imagine any bacteria multiplying in the blood in the cup stays there and doesn't move back out into the vagina - I could be wrong there however.

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*snicker* Also, I was reading some of the testimonials from the site and still thinking about my heavy flow question, and got this:

First off, I am not a gusher; it’s just not an aspect of my personality.

Bwahahaha, no pun intended, I guess!

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Mmhm! Because there're no fibers for bacteria to attach to, and things like that... It's safe and sound tucked inside :] I don't wear mine for that long, but as far as I know it's pretty safe. On the community, some women were discussing wearing theres for 24 hours oo;; I wouldn't really recommend that...

The second day when it's the heaviest, mine fills up in 'round 4 hours. If I wear a pad, though, then I don't have to empty it right then, obviously. I don't know how heavy heavy is for you, but that's my deal. I still absolutely prefer my menstrual cup :P I save so much money, and.. security.. it's just good.

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BTW, do you have the name of the community on-hand?

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http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/profile

I thought you might've looked it up yourself, sorry ;]

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"I mean, do you ever have problems with spillage or anything?"

I use a cup, and I just empty it over the toilet. If you're careful and take it out slowly, it doesn't spill. I don't even get any blood on my fingers. Then, just dump the blood into the toilet.
After you take it out, you can either rinse it or wash it with soap and water, then put it back in.

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Another slightly squicky question--

My flow is usually really think and kind of goopy. Do any of you who use the cup have a similar flow, and how does that all work out with the removal and emptying of the cup?

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http://users.livejournal.com/_last_serenade_/

A really good place to ask would be

menstrual_cups. There's also a lot of information like this in the memories there.

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they don't dry you out like tampons and they don't smell/itch/feel like a diaper like pads.

plus you only have to buy one. and it lasts for ~10 years. :)

i love mine.

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lady-amorika.livejournal.com

What everyone else said, and they are just super super comfortable. Women who use their menstrual flow for creative and/or spiritual purposes really enjoy the cup because it saves the fluid, too.

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