Seriously, gentleman, I’m more than thrilled to have you on this journey with me [read: I hope you don’t go away after this post!], but this giveaway is for the Divas in my life. I’m giving you the heads up now, I am about to talk about that time of the month.
As women, we all have to deal with our menstrual cycles. If you’re like me, you probably hate it. I get cramps, a backache, headaches, stomach issues and nausea, not to mention irritable, crabby, emotional and sometimes downright mean [mostly to my husband who is actually pretty understanding; I’m sorry, honey]. As athletes, getting your period can pretty much ruin any training plans you might have had for that particular week – especially for me.
I literally dread working out and running on my period. Not just because I am already uncomfortable with things I can’t control, but because I can’t find a pliable solution to the issue to make it any less painful. Pads are messy, uncomfortable, bulky, leaky, feel like a diaper and cause massive chaffing if I even so much think about sweating. Tampons? I have never really had success with those. They don’t seem to fit well with my body and I can feel them when I am moving. Not to mention, my flow is usually heavy enough that I end up wearing a pad anyway. So, over the years, I went strictly to wearing pads, but I’m uncomfortable no matter what I do. Just getting up and going to work is a chore because I am afraid of leaking or having to change my pad every half hour. Exercise? Running in public? You can pretty much forget about it for one week out of the month. I go into hibernation mode and I will – sometimes even gladly – sacrifice my training plan to stay in bed where less horrible things are bound to happen. I have “period” pants, “period” underwear and “period” pajamas. P.S. Am I the only one who does that? Because if so, please don’t tell me!
Through all of this and as running became a regular part of my life I started to think, “There hasto be a better way.” After a new runner asked me what I did while training on my period, which nearly resulted in tears on my end, I started asking other girls in my group what they did.
Enter the DivaCup. What’s that, right? That’s what I said, at least. The DivaCup is a non-absorbent menstrual cup that simply collects menstrual flow. Clean. Convenient. Reusable. Perfect for the active woman. I’m never going back.
Now before you freak out on me with That’s gross or I could never do that or I don’t want that stuff inside of me! hear me out. I was surprised with what I found.
The idea of a menstrual cup is not new – it was actually developed in the 1930’s – but in 2003, the DivaCup Team developed a modern redesign, made from soft, top-quality silicone, to meet the needs of women today. The DivaCup is latex free and is made from top quality silicone, a material that has been used in healthcare applications for over 50 years. No chlorine, dyes, colorings or additives of any kind are used and it is BPA free. The soft, flexible material and design makes it so you can’t even feel it when you are wearing it. Not to mention, most pads and tampons are full of surfactants, adhesives and additives – do we really want that stuff inside of us?
The DivaCup comes in two sizes. Model 1 is for women under 30 years old who have never delivered vaginally or by caesarean section and Model 2 is for women over 30 years old and/or for women who have delivered vaginally or by caesarean section. You can find out the specifics here. I have a Model 1, and I trimmed down the stem so it fits my body better.The DivaCup can be worn for up to 12 hours before emptying, washing (with the DivaWash or a scent-free, all natural soap) and reinserting for use for another 12 hours. It can be used for light or moderate flows and is emptied more often to accommodate heavy flows. It is perfect for overnight use. I empty mine twice a day, and it has never been full, leaked, got on my fingers or spilled due to the cup-like design.
I’ve had my DivaCup for about four months now and I love it. However, after I first received it, I was not too sure it would work for me. It does take some practice learning how to insert it. Because it sits lowin the vaginal canal, it is not inserted like a tampon, yet, if you have ever worn a tampon, your natural tendency is to insert it that way. It should be inserted as if you are pushing it straight back towards your tail bone, not up like a tampon. If The DivaCup is uncomfortable or leaking, then it is not positioned properly. For the first month, I was thinking tampon and this just does not work – it is very uncomfortable. Once I figured it out, the DivaCup is super-easy to insert and take out and I don’t have any problems now, but it did take me a few months so if you try this product, don’t give up right away! The DivaCup Team was very helpful in personally answering my questions and I found a wealth of information on the FAQs Page. The customer service was second to none!
The. DivaCup. Is. Amazing. I save time, money, hassle and stress when I wear it. I boil it for ten minutes after my cycle and store it in the little cotton bag until next time. I don’t think about it any more than that. I don’t feel it at all when I am running, which is what originally attracted me to it. I can run for miles and not even notice where a pad would become extremely uncomfortable. I have worn Khakis, skirts, and shorts without worrying since I got the DivaCup – no more “period” days! Plus, for $32 – $40 (you can purchase it here) it saves what I personally would spend on menstrual products and creates less waste for the environment. It’s reusable for about a year so you don’t have to continually buy pads and/or tampons. Multiply that over a lifetime and the cost covers itself in money saved.
Would you like to win your own DivaCup to try? The DivaCup Team has graciously offered a DivaCup of their size to one lucky follower! Here’s how to enter:
- To win, you must be a follower of my blog. Leave me a comment telling me that you are and also what about the DivaCup appeals to you.
Extra entries:
- Tweet about this giveaway and leave me a comment telling me that you did. Make sure to tweet to @wordstorunby and @DivaCup so I know you did it!
- Share this giveaway on your Blog or Facebook and let me know in a comment that you did.
- Follow me @wordstorunby on Twitter and leave me a comment telling me that you do.
- Follow @DivaCup on Twitter and leave me a comment that you do.
- Like DivaCup on Facebook to stay up to date on specials, coupons and other giveaways!
Good luck! You have until next Sunday, October 30th, 2011 to enter and I will randomly choose a winner shortly after.
Until the next mile marker, 
Please note, the DivaCup was given to me by the DivaCup Team to review after I contacted them inquiring about their product. I was not paid to review this product nor was my opinion solicited by them. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
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i would give it a shot! I like how ‘earth’ friendly this type product is and that I could uh. ‘set it and forget it’ for most of the day!
I follow you!
I follow you on Twitter. It is always something I wanted try…I leak a lot with tampons! TMI
I am a follower (duh) and since I’m the one who told you to try a DivaCup, I think you know why I’m interested. I just need a new size once the baby comes!
I retweeted your tweet, does that count? I guess I’ll tweet it again later just in case.
I follow you on Twitter.
I follow DivaCup on Twitter.
Blog follower. It would be nice to try. I have friends that use the diva cup and love it.
I am a twitter follower.
I retweeted your tweet.
I follow you via GFC as Olivia L, and I like that the DivaCup saves waste and that it doesn’t put chlorine and additives into my body.
I tweeted the giveaway
http://twitter.com/#!/OliviaLasting/status/128315732390985728
I follow you on twitter as @OliviaLasting
I follow @DivaCup on twitter as @OliviaLasting
I like DivaCup on FB as Olivia Lambert Lasting
I’m a GFC follower [as Katie] and it appeals in several ways…first, the lack of leaking…with heavy flow I sometimes have to change my tampon every half hour, and I know this would get me more time, with no leaks. I also like the environmentally-friendly and healthy aspects. Really would love to try it!
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/Skaketgirl/status/128479441734205442
I follow you on Twitter.
@skaketgirl
I follow DivaCup on Twitter.
@skaketgirl
I Like DivaCup on Facebook.
Katie E.
I tweeted about the giveaway http://twitter.com/#!/tall_person13/status/128588054477799424
I shared this giveaway on facebook. FB name Rachel Leann (Ramey)
I’m following u on twitter. twitter name tall_person13
I’m following divacup on twitter. twitter name tall_person13
I like divacup on facebook. FB name Rachel Leann (Ramey)
I am following you on Twitter
I am following Diva Cup on Twitter.
I liked Diva Cup on Facebook.
I am a new follower.
I’m a follower and am intersted in the DivaCup for longer distance events like long bike rides and triathlons when 1 tampon would not last the whole race.
I’m a blog follower and am interested in the Diva Cup because it reduces trash generated.
I also follow you on Twitter.
I now follow you GFC – Jessica ( frellathon )
Tweet https://twitter.com/#!/frellathon/status/130486965345861632
I follow you on twitter I’m @frellathon
I already follow Diva Cup on twitter. I’m @frellathon
Liked Diva Cup on FB
Love the Diva Cup! So much better for my health and the environment as well.