Warning: This Diva Cup Review is a review of a reusable menstrual cup. If you are a guy, periods gross you out, or you don’t want to hear things that may be TMI, you may want to move along. 

I’ve been hearing about the Diva Cup for a couple years, but I had a lot of questions that kept me from purchasing one. I have been using my Diva Cup for a couple of months now, and I can’t believe I waited so long to purchase one! Now, I am going to answer your questions about the Diva Cup in my Diva Cup review. If you have any unanswered questions, feel free to ask it in the comments.

1) Is the Diva Cup easy to insert?

In order to insert the Diva Cup, you fold it in half and insert it directly into the vaginal canal. You push it in (keeping it folded) until it is completely inside. Exactly where it needs to sit in the vaginal canal varies from person to person, but it does not go very far in. Once you have inserted it, you rotate the Diva Cup at least 360 degrees. As you rotate the Diva Cup, it will unfold and create a complete seal. If the Diva Cup is fully unfolded (which you can feel with your finger), then it is sealed. I usually do a little extra rotation just to be sure.

Overall, the Diva Cup is not HARD to insert, but it takes a few times to figure out how it works best with your body. Until you are certain that you are inserting it correctly, you should use a backup pad just to make sure that you don’t have an accident.

2) Is the Diva Cup easy to remove?

If you don’t push the Diva Cup in further than you can reach, AND if you make sure it seals completely, then it is easy to remove. The first time I used it, I didn’t make sure it was sealed completely, and I pushed it in too far. Needless to say, I had a birthing session in the bathroom and it was miserable. It was such a stressful situation that I almost never tried the Diva Cup again. I am so glad that I took the chance and figured out how the Diva Cup works with my body. Now, I have no problems at all removing it.

It is important to remember that the Diva Cup will not get stuck inside of you. It may take some deep breaths and some pelvic floor pushing if it moves up further than you can reach because it wasn’t sealed. Just don’t panic like I did. If you find that you can’t get the Diva Cup out, bear down and push it out with your pelvic floor muscles until you can’t reach it. If you get tired before you can reach it, just leave it in and try again in an hour or so. Eventually, the Diva Cup will come out.

3) Is the Diva Cup uncomfortable?

If the Diva Cup is inserted correctly, it is very comfortable! I honestly can’t even feel it now that I am used to it. I do recommend cutting off part of the stem if it pokes into you. That was the only thing that caused me any discomfort. Because the Diva Cup doesn’t absorb natural lubrication, I find it much more comfortable than tampons.

4) Does the Diva Cup stay in place?

If you have inserted the Diva Cup correctly (noticing how important that is?), it will stay in place perfectly. I have never had a leak, regardless of whether I have been swimming, running around, or just acting crazy.

5) Does the Diva Cup smell bad?

Menstrual blood doesn’t start smelling bad until it hits air on the outside. Because you empty the contents of the Diva Cup into the toilet, the potential for a smelly bathroom gets flushed before it can even start smelling bad. The Diva Cup does not smell bad, and my bathroom smells much better now that I am using it. Plus, I don’t have to worry about going to the bathroom somewhere without a trash can.

6) Is the Diva Cup messy?

The Diva Cup is messier than using a tampon because there is no applicator. You have to be comfortable getting your hands dirty – literally. You will need to put your fingers into your vagina in order to insert and remove the Diva Cup. There is also a possibility that the menstrual blood could get on your fingers when you remove it. Plus, you have to rinse the Diva Cup every time that you empty it. So, yes. The Diva Cup is a little messy. BUT, you only have to deal with the Diva Cup twice a day for the duration of your period, and all of the evidence flushes down the toilet instead of stinking up your bathroom. Personally, I think it’s a fair trade-off.

7) How much will the Diva Cup hold? What is the Diva Cup’s capacity?

The Diva Cup holds an entire ounce, and has marks to indicate how full it is. These lines have helped me track my period more effectively. I have found that the Diva Cup starts to get pulled down by gravity (very little) when it reaches the 1/2 ounce mark. Still, the average woman has a total menstrual flow of 1 ounce FOR HER ENTIRE PERIOD! In other words, you will probably never overflow your diva cup.

8) How often do I have to empty the Diva Cup?

It is recommended that you empty your Diva Cup every 12 hours, but you may need to empty it every 8 hours if your periods are particularly heavy.

9) Can I pee with the Diva Cup in?

Yes. You can pee with the Diva Cup inserted.

10) I have sensitive skin. Will I have an allergic reaction to the Diva Cup?

I have incredibly sensitive skin, and have always had minor irritation from using tampons and major irritation from using disposable pads. Sensitive skin is one of the reasons I switched to Diva Cup. It is highly unlikely that you will have an allergic reaction to the Diva Cup. The Diva Cup is made of silicone. Diva Cup’s website says:

Synthetic latex rubber and natural latex or gum rubber contain a protein called “nitrosamine”. This is the chemical that produces the allergic reaction that many people have to latex. The DivaCup is made from durable top quality, healthcare grade silicone that is suitable for use by women with latex allergies, because it is nitrosamine and latex-free. You can learn more about the manufacturing process of The DivaCup here.

The DivaCup: One could have sensitivity to any substance, but it is extremely rare to have sensitivity to silicone. Studies indicate that silicone is biocompatible with the body. This is why silicone has been used in healthcare applications for over 50 years. If you do experience skin sensitivity, immediately discontinue use and contact your health care provider.

11) Are there dangers to using the Diva Cup?

The only danger in using the Diva Cup is that you will no longer hate/dread your period. There is a very small possibility that you could have an allergic reaction to the Diva Cup, but as mentioned above, this is incredibly rare.

12) How much does the Diva Cup cost? Is the Diva Cup worth the investment?

The Diva Cup costs $39.99, and www.drugstore.com is offering 20% off of all beauty and personal care items until 12/13/14 and offers free shipping on any purchases over $35. I am a bit of a cheapskate, so I hesitated for a long time to purchase my Diva Cup. Eventually, I made the plunge. The average woman spends $120+ per year on pads and tampons. The Diva Cup is reusable, and it is recommended that you use the same one for at least a year. Some women have used the same Diva Cup for many years with no negative outcomes. Over time, the Diva Cup gets discolored, but it does not deteriorate. I think it is absolutely worth the investment.

13) What size Diva Cup should I get? What size Diva Cup should I get if I am overweight?

There are two sizes of Diva Cup. Diva Cup Model 1 is for women who are under 30 or have never had child vaginally or by C-section. Diva Cup Model 2 is for women who are over 30 OR have had a child vaginally or by C-section. My flow is incredibly heavy, and I am definitely plus size, so I wondered if Diva Cup Model 1 would really fit and hold enough. I couldn’t find the question online, so I ended up asking Diva Cup directly. They sent back and said that weight has no effect on the size you need. I ended up going with the Diva Cup Model 1, and it fits perfectly.