It’s official: I am done with tampons and disposable menstrual pads. Since October of 2010 I have been using cloth menstrual pads (related blog entry: Why I switched to cloth menstrual pads), and since May of 2011 (related blog entry: DivaCup: first impressions) I have been using my DivaCup with every period.
The DivaCup, for those of you who are not at least familiar with the product, the DivaCup is a non-absorbent, soft, pliable cup that is made out of “healthcare-grade” silicone. It’s designed to be inserted into the vagina and worn during your period. While a tampon absorbs menstrual blood, the DivaCup collects it.
To insert the DivaCup, you simply fold the top portion of the cup in half, then use your thumb to push in the “middle” of the fold, if that makes sense, so the entire top portion of the cup is folded into a “U”. Hold that position with your thumb, and insert the cup into your vagina, with the solid curved portion of the cup pointed downwards, and the two folds upwards (more instructions can be found here). During insertion the DivaCup should be aimed towards the tailbone, and not upwards, and then rotated halfway, in order to get it seated properly and to create a proper seal/prevent leakage (I won’t lie – even after several periods I still have issues with this, which is evident by the fact that I do have some leakage!).
To remove the DivaCup, you grasp the bottom “tip” of the cup, push in a bit to help break the seal, then pull out (I wiggle it a little as I do, as it puts up more resistance if I tug straight down). I’ve gotten very adept at doing this without making a mess on my hands, and I generally take care of the emptying while I’m using the bathroom. I prefer to rinse, wash with soap, then rinse again, before putting the DivaCup back in, but of course this isn’t always possible in public restrooms, in which case I’ll use toilet paper to, er, dry things off, which makes re-insertion easier.
I think I like using my DivaCup best during the very beginning and tail end of my periods, when my flow isn’t nearly as heavy as it is after things pick up after the first few hours, and during the middle of my period. As I mentioned earlier in this blog entry, I do have some issues with leakage, but it’s minor — though I like to be clean and keep my underwear in good condition, so I’ll use a cloth pantyliner in conjunction with the DivaCup.
The DivaCup is so much more comfortable than tampons, especially during the insertion and removal process. I like knowing that I’ve greatly reduced the risk for Toxic Shock Syndrome, and I won’t lie, it’s interesting to see just how much I “produce” during a period (there are measurement markings on the inside of the cup). While I’m wearing it, so long as I have it angled properly, the DivaCup is extremely comfortable – I don’t notice it at all! I’ve worn it to the movies, while grocery shopping, and even to an amusement park (twice). Here’s just how comfortable it is: I recently forgot it was in while Dan and I were getting frisky. It wasn’t until the last minute (I won’t go into more detail, but let’s just say Dan almost risked a urethra stabbing from the tip of the DivaCup!) that I remembered it was there and put things on hold while I removed it.
You can purchase the DivaCup online, and many pharmacies and retailers are also carrying it in store, so you may not have to be patient enough to wait for an online order to arrive. 
Glad to see a blogger posting about this! I’ve used menstrual cups for 5-6 years now. I had problems with the diva leaking too but then I bought the mooncup uk and haven’t had a problem since! After using reusable cloth pads and menstrual cups I don’t understand how anyone could use disposable products!
I have a divacup as well and don’t use it as often as I should. I think the biggest reason is I’ve had a problem with leakage as well, and even though I use a pantyliner it’s just not fun having to literally run to the bathroom. I get leakage from a tampon too, so I think I just need to suck it up and use the Divacup again.