First of all you need to know that I am a bit of a sissy when it comes to all things health and body related. I tend to shy away from doing the icky stuff, always looking for the easiest solution, even if there are potential costs and risks. I had unfound fears about menstruation, awkwardness about talking with my kids about health subjects, and all sorts of other issues.
That is how I have been for my entire life, skirting the issues when I can.
But as my girls are approaching “tweenhood” I am becoming more and more uncomfortable with the way I am dealing with these subjects. The awkward conversations just aren’t good enough. I need to do better.
Ever since I had children part of my purpose in life was to create something better for THEM. To live a better life for them, move to a better community for them, have more free family time, for THEM. I have been looking for better ways to improve everything that I touch that will one day become theirs. I work on my own health, so I am here longer to enjoy life with them. They have become an underlying purpose to many of the things I do.
And I have done well. We are an uber recycling family, doing our part. We compost EVERYTHING, grow our own food, and live a pretty much idyllic life on a hobby homestead on a west coast island. We have heat, and healthy food, and happy days together.
But it really is just a start. As they age, more and more decisions are coming to light that we need to help them make. Decisions about their bodies, their finances, and their relationships. I am a true believer that we need to demonstrate healthy choices to our children in order for them to learn and believe in the option. For example, if we spend our days at a job we hate, or in a relationship that is unhealthy, we can hardly expect our kids to do any different.
So, this had a lot to do with our decisions in the past; wanting to DEMONSTRATE to our kids how to be happy.
They say families who (fill in the blank) together, stay together right? Be it exercise, or nutrition, or healthy habits… we need to not just say it, but do it too.
And with two girls quickly approaching puberty, a whole other can of worms has just been opened. For 30 years I have been using the same products, and as much as I have changed and evolved over time, they don’t seem to have done the same. A tampon is still a tampon, and a sanitary pad… well, it is still what it always was.
So, I am suddenly in this position where I am starting to talk about these things with my girls, and I want to teach them the BEST way, right from the start.
As uncomfortable as it makes me feel.
As nervous as I am about it.
And as squeamish as it makes me.
My personal relationship with my monthly cycle has always been negative. It is a burden I bear, or at least it feels that way. I want my girls to have a more positive experience when they start this “journey” as a woman. I don’t want to teach them a negative approach before they even have a chance to experience it for themselves.
So, over the next few months I will be facing MY fears about menstruation, with thanks to The DivaCup, and I am going to share the journey with YOU in the hopes that we can overcome some of the squeamishness TOGETHER.
Learn more about WHY I am doing this on the video below, and how I am tackling my fears about menstruation and then enter to WIN a DivaCup prize back (open to Can and USA, over 18) consisting of The DivaCup (the winners desired model size) and a DivaWash, to help you get started on your personal journey of health.
And come back soon. Not only will I share a review of The DivaCup product, but also my personal experiences as I test it out. I am nervous, scared, and pretty uncomfortable with this whole thing… but I also know I am running out of time to try it, to combat my fears about menstruation and learn to appreciate it so I can share that feeling with my daughters.
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32 Comments
So, I just bought one last month and I love the idea, but I never got the placement quite right. It wasn’t leaking, just felt like it was falling out! I’m hoping that I can get that sorted, because I love the idea of it – but it took me two full years to actually buy one! I’d love to have another – one to stash at work, one at home – just in case!
My greatest fear is that it will overflow! I have two days which are really heavy! And I am worried that I will have a mess on those days. Also the placement! I have tried smaller disposable cups and I do not think I got the placement right, also they overfilled!
You know when it’s full. It’s a feeling you get, not dissimilar to how you know your tampon is full. That being the case, unless you have a heavy flow, you will probably empty it without it filling up. You actually bleed less than you think. Most people go 12 hours, empty and clean it, then put it back in.
I have never bought a Diva cup because of different fears of it.. I get severe cramps and have had to go to the hospital because of it. I have passed out while in the shower and I get so annoyed having to change a tampon or pad.. the thought of a Diva Cup “up there” seems scary. But I would LOVE to give it a try! 🙂
It should feel better than a tampon. Tampons feel horrible due to all the added chemicals and can make your cramps worse. It’s so much nicer with a cup.
I’m so afraid of overflow, especially at night!
They hold more than a tampon or pad, but if you are worried about it, you can also wear a pad.
I have very heavy flows, I bought one I believe back in January, and you can tell when you need to empty it, when mine needs to be emptied, I get a small pressure and I go empty,and clean then reinsert it… I also wear a pad in case.
I have a Diva Cup and to make it more comfortable I had to cut most of the stem off. I have gotten out of the habit of using it, but my daughter loves hers. What a great, wonderful, environmentally friendly product that I should start using again.
How do you keep them from leaking? Isn’t that an accident waiting to happen?
i’d love to try these. heard so much about them!
Sometimes, probably due to flow/placement, I find tampons uncomfortable. Do you find the DivaCup comfortable or about the same as a tampon?
I have tried a similar product and love it! Would love to try the Diva cup, as it seems to hold more and not be changed as often.
I’ve heard of products like these before but I would like to know if they are easy to place and if they can be placed wrong and have them leak?
I have always considered getting one of these. I heard they are difficult to get used to at first. That is my biggest fear about getting one
No questions here, love using menstrual cups!
I’ve been interested in trying Diva Cup but I am afraid that it would not be inserted properly and have leakage issues when I’m at work or in the community.
My biggest question is silly but I’m afraid of what happens if it gets stuck…same fear as tampons
how long do they last?? When do you need a new one?
I have been using a Diva Cup for over year and I can honestly say it makes for better period experience. Sometimes I even forget I am having my period. I, like you, use to see my period as a burden but no longer!
I have been looking at these for quite a while now….I really would like to try one!
Biggest fear is cleaning it out at work in a shared work bathroom. How the heck is that going to work? How messy will it be to empty it out? Gah. The horror! I just eye-balled it last week in the drug store as I was restocking my tampon collection and immediately rejected the thought based on my fear or cleaning it at work and making the bathroom look like an operating room. I hope you find it a good experience. I’m very curious!
Forgetting about it concerns me the most, otherwise it sounds wonderful!
I just worry about having something inside me for long periods of time, which is also why I don’t use tampons. I have recently started using thinx period underwear and they are amazing. But I’d like to face my fear and try the diva cup.
What if it overflow!
I am scared it will leak an will hurt or be uncomfortable 🙁
Use it and love it! Make sure you really watch videos on how to insert and remove first!
I am afraid of how messy it’ll be
My biggest concern would be that it would be messy removing it!
[…] as you read last week, I am not really doing this for ME, I am doing it for my daughters. I want to introduce them to a better way, when it is […]
My biggest concern – leakage
Question: Why did it take so long to come up with such a good solution?
how do you deal with this when you are not at home?