Living
The Benefits Of Using A Menstrual Cup, Especially Postpartum
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Maria Del Rio
Dec 21, 2020
If you haven’t jumped on the menstrual cup bandwagon yet, the new year is an ideal time to do so. With so many great benefits for menstruating folks and Mother Earth, it’s a win-win situation that’s hard to deny. To help explain the advantages of cups and address common misconceptions, we tapped the folks at DivaCup—a pioneering, mother-daughter owned company—to shed a little light on it all. This includes info on a DivaCup that’s specifically designed for postpartum and how the innovative device is changing the lives of girls worldwide.
Click through our slideshow to see what we learned—plus, peep DivaCup’s latest offerings to make cleaning your cup super simple.
This article is brought to you by Mother x DivaCup.
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Let's start with the Earth! According to a recent Stanford study, nearly 50 billion tampons and pads—plus their packaging—end up in U.S. landfills or sewer systems each year. One menstrual cup, on the other hand, can last anywhere from 1 to 10 years before it is disposed of.
The folks at DivaCup explain that although the medical-grade silicone they use for their cups is not necessarily recyclable (check with your local waste program before you throw it in the recycling bin), it did start out as sand and does degrade over time depending on the temperature, anaerobic activity, and moisture in the landfill. They say this is a much better outcome compared to tampon applicators and wrappers, which do not break down but merely break into tiny pieces, polluting coastlines and waterways.
The reusable, chemical-free DivaCup is made with no dyes and it's BPA- and toxin-free, making it safe for your body, as well.
Plus, there are 50 other benefits of using DivaCup—from handling heavy flows to getting folks more in tune with their bodies—reported by users themselves!
DivaCup Model 2, $39.99, DivaCup.
DivaWash, $11.99, DivaCup.
DivaWipes, $11.99, DivaCup.
ShakerCup, $5.99, DivaCup.
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Think using a cup is too messy? Or hard to clean discreetly? The folks at DivaCup have developed a new line of products that help bust these myths.
First off, there's the 100% plant-based DivaWash, which is naturally formulated to protect the silicone of your cup and the pH balance of your vagina.
For times when you can't rinse your cup at the sink, just drop it into the new ShakerCup, described as "a portable dishwasher for your DivaCup, but way cuter." Just add water, DivaWash, and shake your cup clean. Also ideal for quick, on-the-go cleaning are DivaWipes, which are made of 100% compostable cotton.
Users can remove and clean the DivaCup discreetly, starting with a simple removal while sitting on the toilet (learn more about removal here), and store the cup in their DivaPouch between uses.
If you take care of your menstrual cup properly, it should last you years!
DivaPouch, $4.99, DivaCup.
DivaCup Model 2, $39.99, DivaCup.
DivaWash, $11.99, DivaCup.
DivaWipes, $11.99, DivaCup.
ShakerCup, $5.99, DivaCup.
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The cervix is oftentimes a little fuller and more relaxed after childbirth, which means a larger menstrual cup might be needed moving forward.
This is one of the reasons DivaCup created cups in a variety of sizes: Model 0 (for ages 18 and under), Model 1 (for ages 19-30 with a medium flow), and Model 2 (for ages 30+, postpartum, and/or those with a heavy flow).
The Model 2 cup specifically supports those whose pelvic floor muscles have been weakened and it's designed with post-pregnancy bodies in mind.
Since it was created for those who have given birth or regularly have heavy flows, it can hold over a full ounce of menstrual fluids and is ideal for anyone over 35 years old. There’s no need to worry about your cup overflowing with this model, which can be worn for up to 12 hours at a time.
DivaPouch, $4.99, DivaCup.
DivaCup Model 2, $39.99, DivaCup.
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If you haven't learned about the very real issues of period poverty and menstrual inequity, it's time you do!
Over 800 million people menstruate daily. However, too many do so without adequate support in the form of sufficient menstrual products, sanitization, and free from ostracism. In fact, millions of girls around the world miss an average of 3-5 days of school per month due to lack of menstrual products, combined with bias against menstruation.
In 2019, DivaCup launched its social impact program DivaCares and has donated over $600,000 in product and financial contributions to organizations that work towards alleviating the effects of period poverty around the world. In addition to supporting menstruating people with free cups that could be reused for years, DivaCares' work diverted over 3.6 billion disposables from landfills.
DivaWash, $11.99, DivaCup.
ShakerCup, $5.99, DivaCup.
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"People who menstruate have been shunned and silenced for millennia, and it’s about bloody time to talk about it." This is a statement from the makers behind Diva International's first documentary and award-winning film, Pandora's Box, which goes in-depth on the topic of period poverty and the fight for menstrual equity. (Watch the touching trailer here.)
From Maasai villages, to Mumbai, to London, and inside the U.S. prison system, the film introduces us to women of all ages who have struggled to menstruate safely and with dignity. The 75-minute film asks a variety of innovators, activists, and thought leaders what we can all do to fight this enduring injustice.
The movie will be available to watch in 2021. Until then, follow @pandorasboxfilm on Instagram to stay up to date on the issue and laws that are being proposed around the world to help.
DivaWash, $11.99, DivaCup.
DivaPouch, $4.99, DivaCup.
DivaWipes, $11.99, DivaCup.
ShakerCup, $5.99, DivaCup.
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“My mother Francine always believed that just because something has been done the same way, doesn’t mean it’s the best way," says Carinne Chambers-Saini, who created the DivaCup brand with her mom Francine Chambers in 2003.
As a teen in the 1960s, Francine was frustrated with the clumsy menstrual products available, and knew there must be a better solution to handling her period that would allow her to continue with her active lifestyle and eliminate waste.
A pivotal moment occurred years later when Francine, who always opted for eco-friendly natural products and holistic approaches, discovered the reusable menstrual cup, an alternative to disposables.
"It became our life mission and after developing the DivaCup to solve the problems at hand, we had our work cut out for us," says Carinne. "More importantly, we wanted our consumers to think critically about the taboos surrounding periods and the traditional ways of managing periods. We knew this would not be an easy task—almost impossible!"
DivaWipes, $11.99, DivaCup.
ShakerCup, $5.99, DivaCup.
DivaWash, $11.99, DivaCup.
DivaCup Model 2, $39.99, DivaCup.
DivaPouch, $4.99, DivaCup.
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"We knew the first step to accomplishing this was to focus on building our distribution and ensure DivaCup was on the shelf next to the tampons and pads that have dominated the space for decades," says Carinne. "We were determined and focused on mainstreaming the concept, something no other company in their 80+ year history was able to accomplish."
Through modest advertising, educational outreach, and trade show appearances, DivaCup eventually became renowned as industry disruptors, pioneers with a revolutionary product that was easy to use, comfortable, hygienic, and eco-friendly. No longer would women have to spend hundreds of dollars annually buying non-biodegradable disposables that polluted the oceans and landfills.
"Against all odds, with two steps forward and one step back, we built an extensive distribution network and gained consumer acceptance," says Carinne. "Our crusade to commercialize the miracle cup would ultimately change the way millions of women around the world handled their periods.”
DivaWipes, $11.99, DivaCup.
ShakerCup, $5.99, DivaCup.
DivaPouch, $4.99, DivaCup.
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Want to try out DivaCup yourself? Head over to DivaCup.com to learn more!
DivaPouch, $4.99, DivaCup.
ShakerCup, $5.99, DivaCup.
DivaWipes, $11.99, DivaCup.
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