Info for my girl friends (and boy friends interested in female stuff)

Hello girls!

So, I have a product to tell you about that may change how you experience your period. It's called the Diva Cup and I've been using it now for over a year. I heard about it from my cousin, who recommended it to all her gal pals.

So, go to www.divacup.com.

I've copied some of their info from the website below. I love mine as it's completely changed my viewpoint on my period. Before, I hated getting it because it was smelly and messy. With the cup, you don't have any of that, I can empty it in the shower, don't need to worry about leaks or stains on my undies and it's extremely comfy (especially for biking). I used to wear pads as I found tampons very uncomfortable. So, I'm sharing a bit more information than some of you are probably comfortable with but I think it's important to share news with our girl friends about female health issues.


The DivaCup Features

Have you ever…(?)

co-opted toilet paper from a public washroom as a temporary measure
planned a vacation around your period
avoided white pants for that one 'special' week of the month
done a supplies hand-off with a girlfriend while the dates weren't looking
cautiously tucked the telltale string into your bikini
accidentally pulled a mystery object from your purse in front of a curious male audience
scuttled to the washroom to survey the leak damage after a sudden 'surge'
clogged your toilet with "flushable" feminine products
left a party with a jacket tied around your waist...?

The DivaCup to the rescue!!!

The DivaCup is a non-absorbent menstrual cup that simply collects menstrual flow. It is inserted in the vagina and sits at the lower base of the vaginal canal. It is worn internally, yet because it is soft and smooth, it cannot be felt nor will it leak when inserted properly.

The DivaCup is the most clean and convenient method of feminine hygiene protection. No need to touch the flow. It is worn low in the vagina, not near the cervix, so it is easy to remove. No mess!

The DivaCup ends hassles with unreliable disposables in endless absorbencies, shapes and styles. It is perfect for all activities – giving women true freedom without the worry, guessing and unreliability that disposable feminine hygiene products pose.

The DivaCup can be worn for up to 12 hours before emptying, washing 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. Perfect for overnight use.

The DivaCup’s expert, proprietary, patent-pending features make it comfortable and assures ease of use and reliability. Perfect for traveling, running, biking, hiking, dancing, camping, swimming, diving, scuba, yoga, extreme sports and more...

Latex-free, plastic-free, hypoallergenic
No dyes, colors or additives
Comfortable, reliable
Clean, convenient, easy-to-use
Worn for up to 12 hours at a time

The DivaCup is available in two models:

Model 1: for women who are under 30 years old who have never had childbirth or c-section.

Model 2: for women who are 30 years old and over and/or for all women who have had vaginal childbirth or c-section.

Menstrual Cup History and Our Story

The menstrual cup was first developed in the 1930’s. It was made from rubber latex (an allergen for many). Millions were sold in those first years by multiple companies.

Because of management issues, the companies closed and menstrual cups were hard to find. Then over 15 years ago, Francine recognized the need for an alternative to unreliable disposable tampons and pads and found a company offering menstrual cups. She and her daughter, Carinne, singlehandedly resurrected the 75 year old menstrual cup concept by reintroducing this product to the world market when it was virtually unknown. They sold this rubber/latex version for 10 years.

In 2003, drawing on their experience and expert knowledge about the menstrual cup category, they developed a modern redesign, made from soft, top-quality silicone, to meet the needs of today’s woman. They launched their own company, Diva International. Their revolutionary concept, The DivaCup, is patent-pending and ISO certified. Today, The DivaCup is the preferred choice.

The DivaCup Team has over 38 years of combined experience in natural feminine hygiene alternatives. Their passion is to provide women an environmentally responsible, convenient and reliable alternative to tampons and pads.

“Not every woman can afford a hybrid car nor easily convert their home to solar power. Yet, by choosing to use a menstrual cup instead of disposable tampons and pads, any woman is able to make an environmentally responsible choice each month. This is no small matter. In the U.S. alone, billions of tampons and pads are dumped into landfills and the environment each year.” Carinne Chambers

“With all the state-of-the-art conveniences Western society has developed, it baffles us why outdated feminine products are still being used. We believe that reusable menstrual cups are the next generation of feminine hygiene because they are the most environmentally responsible choice. They are also the most convenient and reliable option available and are not linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome.” Francine Chambers.

Quality and Standards

We Adhere to the Highest Quality Standards in the World!
FDA, Health Canada, ISO certification

The DivaCup is latex free and is made from hypoallergenic, top quality silicone, a material that has been used in healthcare applications for over 50 years. This silicone is not the same type of material used in breast implants. No chlorine, dyes, colorings or additives of any kind.The DivaCup holds market approval by the U.S. FDA and is the only menstrual cup that holds market approval by Health Canada; consequently, it is the only menstrual cup that can be sold in Canada.The DivaCup is the only menstrual cup that holds international ISO manufacturing certification. (The rigorous ISO 13485:2003 international standard provides a tried and tested framework and a systematic approach to consistently produce product that satisfies customers' expectations, www.iso.org).

Be a "Green" Diva

Environmentally Responsible

The DivaCup is reusable. This makes it an important, environmentally responsible feminine hygiene choice!

Women around the world are increasingly aware of how they can make a significant, positive environmental impact by switching from disposable tampons and pads to The DivaCup. This simple change is as significant as switching from plastic to canvas bags!

Women, on average, experience a lifetime menstruation span of 41 years (11-52). From use of disposable feminine hygiene, an estimated 12 billion sanitary pads and 7 billion tampons are dropped into the U.S. environment (U.S. 1998) each year. Our revolutionary, reusable product is a modern, viable alternative to disposable tampons and pads.

Additionally, tampons and pads contain surfactants, adhesives, additives and dioxin. Dioxin, a known carcinogen, is a by-product of the bleaching process of rayon tampons. In landfills, these substances can leach into the environment (groundwater, streams and lakes) causing serious pollution and health concerns.

Although not all women can afford to purchase an energy-efficient hybrid car or convert their home to solar energy, they can reduce dangerous landfill waste by choosing to use a reusable menstrual cup. Use of The DivaCup creates a positive eco-footprint every month.

Save $$$

The DivaCup is Economical!

Because many women have become accustom to purchasing disposable feminine hygiene products, they consider the expenditure “necessary”. Most women spend $150-200 U.S. a year on disposable tampons and pads. The purchase of The DivaCup results in significant savings. The cost of The DivaCup is equivalent to a moderately-priced blouse or dinner out, yet saves you money!

Calculate your own personal care savings:

Estimate your monthly total in disposable feminine hygiene products.
Multiply by 12 months.
Minus the cost of The DivaCup.
This total is what you will save each year by using The DivaCup.
Consider donating a small portion of your savings!Visit:www.vitaminangels.comwww.goods4girls.org

Menstrual Health Worldwide

We are all aware of the difficult plight of women in developing countries. Most of these women face challenges in dealing with their monthly cycle, and they do not have adequate feminine hygiene protection options. Many people want to help, yet unfortunately menstrual cups are not necessarily an easy or viable solution for many reasons:Unlike feminine hygiene products made from fiber (reusable cloth pads or disposable sanitary pads and tampons), menstrual cups are made from silicone and are considerably more costly to manufacture. Making disposable feminine hygiene available to women in developing countries poses a serious environmental problem as there is rarely an appropriate infrastructure to handle this type of waste. This type of waste manifests additional health concerns.

Disposables are rarely an option, and when they are available, they are exorbitantly expensive in relation to the local economy.

The washing of a menstrual cup requires potable water and a mild soap. Many communities do not have this luxury; consequently, a menstrual cup is not always a viable solution for these women. A menstrual cup should not be cleaned with non-potable water. A variety of serious gynecological infections may be contracted with the use of unclean water. Please refer to our FAQs about this important topic. We have learned that some women in difficult economic situations may “share” their cup with other women. This practice is very dangerous when considering STDs, HIV, and gynecological infections. Few of these communities have health care professionals who can address this topic. Religious and social mores can be complex. Many cultures prohibit the use of internal feminine hygiene protection.
Most importantly, use of a menstrual cup requires some instruction. Many questions arise, even for women who can read and understand the User Guide. Some of those issues are medical in nature, so reliable answers need to be accessible.

Long ago we realized that we could not address all feminine hygiene needs for all women. Each story is more compelling than the next and we are not able to meet the needs of all who ask. We make a bi-annual donation to a charity that reaches families worldwide in a unique way, Vitamin Angels.

In the last three years, Vitamin Angels has distributed over 300 million vitamins and other supplements in over 80 countries worldwide. Last year, Vitamin Angels distributed vitamins and other supplements to reach over 7 million children, lactating mothers and babies in 40 countries worldwide. To learn more about Vitamin Angels and "Operation 20/20” visit www.VitaminAngels.org. We encourage you to visit their site and learn of the amazing impact they are making around the world..

Another program offers women and girls reusable cloth pads. This feminine hygiene option is the most realistic option for women in these communities. Please review an enlightening article concerning the problem of feminine hygiene in developing countries. We believe you’ll find it thought-provoking and informative. If you would like to participate, please go to www.goods4girls.org. For $30 U.S. you can change the life of a young girl or woman in a way that is best for her and her community!

Your First Questions!

Q. Does The DivaCup leak?

According to consumer research, 60% of women experience leakage every month when using tampons and pads! The DivaCup is reliable. The majority of women feel secure without the hassle of worrying about leakage.

If leaking occurs, the cup has not been inserted properly; it has not been rotated; it is not inserted at the right angle; or the muscle tone needs to be strengthened with kegel exercises (usually necessary after multiple vaginal childbirths).Success with The DivaCup increases when the instructions are followed precisely. Sometimes it takes women one or two cycles to master insertion and removal. Most women find that once they find the right position, it is not necessary to use a backup pad or liner and that they would not be without it!

Many women can’t believe that it is possible for a feminine hygiene product to actually do its job and not “leak”. Believe it, ladies!!! This product actually works. Our testimonial pages are just a small sample of the many thousands of satisfied users worldwide who agree that The DivaCup is the best feminine hygiene product they have ever tried!

Q. Is The DivaCup messy?

Almost every woman's initial reaction to The DivaCup is, "Ewww! That's gross!” When tampons were first introduced it took quite a while before the concept caught on. Once you take the time to learn about The DivaCup, and actually try it for yourself, you will be pleasantly surprised about how clean and NOT messy it really is.

The cup sits low in the vaginal canal and you can avoid reaching inside the vagina by pushing the cup out slightly. Simply bear down on the muscles for removal. Most women find that once they start using The DivaCup that every other method is messy and gross! Just imagine a product that actually lives up to its expectations: no leaking, no odor, convenient, comfortable, clean AND helps to save the planet! It's hard to believe that all this could be a reality, but try it for yourself and you will see that it is true.

Q. Is there odor with The DivaCup?

No, there is no odor when using The DivaCup. Menstrual flow only begins to develop an odor when it begins to oxidize and break down from being exposed to air. Menstrual fluid on pads is exposed to air, so it does create an after odor. Tampons are not as bad since they are worn internally, but they can still create odor. With The DivaCup, odor is not created at all; consequently, it allows women to feel clean and secure. No more worrying about embarrassing odor or leakage!

Q. Can young girls and virgins use The DivaCup?

Physically, The DivaCup is suitable for women of all ages as the vagina is made up of very flexible tissue and muscles. Women's bodies are designed this way to be able to stretch to deliver a baby. The tissue returns back to its normal size after expansion with intercourse or childbirth. It is the muscles that usually need to be strengthened after childbirth. Many of our customers are as young as 11 or 12 years old. It is ideal for young girls who are very active (such as swimmers or gymnasts) who are looking for a more reliable method other than tampons or pads. Everyone is unique and there are many variables. Many young women use The DivaCup. Please read and understand all of the FAQs. This will help you make an informed decision! As for all gynecological concerns, we suggest you consult your physician.

Q. Can you feel The DivaCup when you are wearing it?

If you can “feel” the cup, it has not been inserted properly. Please see our inserting and removing FAQ. Because The DivaCup is made of soft silicone that actually softens with body heat, you cannot feel the cup at all. The DivaCup is totally different than the sensation of tampons. The DivaCup does not dry out the vagina, so it is extremely comfortable. You won’t even know it's there!

Q. Can The DivaCup be used for light and heavy flows?

The DivaCup works very well for women with light or heavy flows. The DivaCup holds one full once and the average women only flows about three to four ounces in her entire cycle. For most women, the cup is not even half full after 12 hours. We always recommend you empty the cup, wash, rinse it, and reinsert it at least every 12 hours (2 times a day) even if your flow is light.Women with heavy flows will simply need to empty the cup more often. The convenient ounces and milliliters measurement feature allows women to actually keep track of flow and accurately report flow details to their health professional.

Q. Can I sleep while wearing The DivaCup?

Yes! You will feel fresh, secure, and liberated. No worries about staying close to a bathroom. No restrictions on physical activity. You can wear The DivaCup for 12 hours at a time, so you have the convenience of not having to think about your period all night long!

Q. What do I do in a public restroom?

Most women find that they do not have to remove The DivaCup more often than every 12 hours, and that taking it out in a public restroom does not occur very often. However, for women with heavier flows, or on the occasion you need to empty it in a public restroom, simply remove the cup, empty the contents and use a dry or damp tissue to clean the cup and reinsert. Make sure your hands are clean before going into the stall. Wash your DivaCup well with warm, soapy water at the next convenient time.