First off, as a warning, the target audience for
this article is women, as men will have little use for it and will probably
grow uncomfortable as they read on. I'm all for making information available to
all, but let's face it, most men will probably never have conversations about
periods with their significant other, their friends, their sister or their
mother. This being said, there are some case where you might want to read on,
let's say if you foresee having to brave the subject of periods with your daughter.
Well there you go, I'm done with my disclaimer.
The majority of women must face them every month,
most with dread. They know when it's due to start, if they are regular, and
they carry pads, tampons, midol, tylenol or advil in their purse to be prepared.
Not surprisingly, traveling does not make periods go away. They make them even
more inconvenient. Nobody likes to be in an unknown city and have to wander
around in a panic looking for tampons or pads.
Diva Cups really had a huge impact on my everyday
life and my travelling. I discovered this ingenious item in my early 20s'. I
was sitting in a shop, enjoying a cup of earl grey and a scone with a good
friend, when she very seriously declared: "The question I am about to ask
you will define the status of our friendship. Do you wear tampons or
pads?"
Now of course, when she mentioned the status of
our friendship, she was referring to whether or not we were close enough to
breach the subject. For some this is a very awkward topic, almost taboo. Truth
is, she didn't really care whether I used tampons or pads. She wanted to share
with me her newest discovery, a product that not many woman know about. So this
is how I first heard of the Diva Cup.
Now let's review the options out there between
girls, you will then see what has me so excited about this product.
Pads
They are not the most comfortable option, and
they certainly are not the most compact one. They are bulky, take a lot of
space in your purse and can get messy. Another main problem with pads is that
you can't use them for sports and can't really wear them with any form fitting
clothes. My biggest issues though are the impression of wearing a diaper and
the amount of garbage created.
Tampons
This was my preferred option before the Diva Cup.
You can wear them to do sports and they won't cause a problem with form fitting
clothes. While they are more convenient, compact and comfortable, they do come
with some risks. There has been a link established between the rare Toxic Shock
Syndrome, a blood intoxication which can prove fatal, and the usage of tampons.
Finally, it is also an expansive option. At 10 $ a box for 36 units,
considering you need about 4 a day for about 4 days, it comes to a total of
about 53 $.
Diva Cup
It is a little silicon cup shape recipients that
can contain up to 2 oz of blood. It is comfortable, safe and reusable. Like
tampons you can use it for sports and it doesn't leave you feeling like you are
wearing a diaper. As opposed to tampons and pads, Diva Cups don't really
produce much garbage. It also doesn't pose a risk for blood poisoning. You
basically install it in the morning, empty it at lunch, after work and before
bed. It won’t leak if you installed it properly. You wash it with soft soap,
non-perfumed. It's a single item you can carry in your bag, instead of the
bundle of pads or tampons most of us carry just in case. I always carry one
with me when I travel.
They are also very cost-effective, it's
relatively small initial investment of about $40 for something that lasts for a
year.
This is one of these things I'm not sure how I
ever managed without; one of those rare items that leaves you with a feeling of
revelation. When you think about it, it is so simple, yet so smart and
efficient in its design. I'm surprised that not many women know about this. But
now you know.
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