test lab: the divacup

Do you ever see trendy foods, beauty techniques or odd products and think, “Now that I have to try?” This month in the Test Lab, I’m rocking The DivaCup, the latest and strangest tampon alternative.

› By Katie McPherson

The Claims

According to divacup.com, “The DivaCup is a reusable, bellshaped menstrual cup worn internally in the vaginal canal, collecting rather than absorbing menstrual flow.” It’s about $25 on Amazon and promises 12-hour, leak-free protection, made with health care-grade silicone and no chemicals whatsoever, unlike tampons. With stats like that I’m hopeful, in a hesitant way befitting someone who might eject a silicone dome out of her privates if she sneezes. And there’s only one way to start an experiment like this.

The Experiment

I decide to try the product overnight at home before taking it on the road. You have to carefully fold over the top of the DivaCup, and to put it delicately, insert in whatever way is most comfortable. It’s painless because of the silicone’s fl exibility. Once in place, I completely forgot it was there for an entire night. So comfortable! So liberating! I was pleasantly surprised, and ready for the workday. The following morning, I didn’t miss shoving a tampon in my pocket or up my sleeve lest my co-workers see it and discover I’m menstruating . The DivaCup freed me from the periods-are-gross stigma. (That is, until the time it didn’t, but more on that in a moment.) Unfortunately, on fi rst check,

The Results

I noticed some spotting. I added a pantyliner, but things didn’t improve. At home, I, ahem, emptied its contents and gave it a bath, and planned to try again tomorrow. On day two, my DivaCup still wasn’t catching everything I’d like it to. By lunchtime I quit, stuck a tampon in my cardigan sleeve and headed for the bathroom. Here’s where things got interesting, because although I might not subscribe to the idea that periods are icky, many people do. And after emptying the DivaCup, I had to wash it. In the sink. Where people are. I waited until the bathroom was a ghost town, quickly washed and made a decision: no more public exits for this Diva.

The Results

Can I swear by the DivaCup? Not yet, but I want to. Our first night together was pure bliss, and afterward, I’m fairly certain user error had me inserting the device at a slight angle that led to leaks. I plan to keep trying the DivaCup at home, and maybe we’ll venture out together again once my DivaTechnique is perfected.