Hi everyone!

Though I'm not entirely surprised by this, I am EXTREMELY excited that REI carries Diva Cups! Check this out for reviews:

http://www.rei.com/product/779113

I'm busy provisioning for a 5-month journey through New Zealand, and came across the Diva on their website! I'm so glad it's there for outdoorsy ladies to see, because I honestly cannot imagine camping (or anything else, really) without my cup...

LOVE!

I just got back from backpacking in Australia for 5 weeks and I'm happy to report my Lunette performed great! I brought my Lunette and Diva and decided on using my Lunette as lately it's been working better than my Diva (no idea why). I brought a few cloth pads as well as I always use cloth as backup during my period. :-)

Apologies if this was asked already (I couldn't find it in the camping tag), but I have a question about using a cup while backpacking in the wilderness. What exactly do you do with the blood? I was thinking about digging holes in the dirt and burying the blood in those, but was worried it could attract bears (we'll be in grizzly bear country). Does anyone know, or have any other ideas???

So I went ahead and ordered a Divacup since the small Mooncup US that I originally got has such a low capacity, and when it came in the mail the other day I did a dry run and it seemed to fit pretty well. Problem is, I just noticed there is a crack in it above one of the holes, and in fact none of the holes seem to have been punched out very well. From what I've read here, Diva customer service kind of sucks and it may take months for them to send me a replacement. Well, my husband and I are going on a camping trip in a couple weeks which happens to also coincide with my period, and I don't want to have to be emptying my Mooncup every few hours the whole time. So I'm not sure if I spend another $25 on a new Divacup (which who knows, could also turn out to be defective!) or just tough it out with my Mooncup (because hey, it would probably still be better than pads and tampons). But I can't make up my mind what I should do. What do you all think? Another issue is that I don't want to wake up in the morning having leaked all over the place because the Mooncup overflowed! Bringing disposable pads and tampons is out of the question, and the idea of buying some cloth pads for this one trip doesn't thrill me either.

I am really irritated with the Diva company for sending me a defective product. Argh!

EDIT: Okay, so I emailed iherb.com about the problem since I didn't expect a reply from the Diva company, and they said they would issue me a full refund. I don't even have to send the defective cup back to them. Also, they replied to my email in less than half an hour. Wow! Iherb officially rocks.

Hi everyone!
Well, I returned last Thursday from backpacking the Grand Canyon. I wasn't due to get my period until today, but I brought along my cup anyway, just in case. I was actually kind of hoping it would start while on the backpacking trip so I could get experience using the cup in the "wild," but that didn't really happen. What did happen is that my period started our last day hiking out, when we were just 1.5 miles from the South Rim. At that point, I didn't want to risk dropping my cup in the pit toilet so I just let it go until I reached the top and could use an actual bathroom (my periods start out light).

Anyways, I'm still totally in love with Anastasia (that's what I named my Diva, my Lunette is "Leslietta"). But, I wish my period had stayed on schedule or else come a few days earlier. I guess the physical exertion could have triggered it or it's possible that the girl I was backpacking with and sharing a tent with threw my cycle off - she said hers was about to start any day.

I guess I'll just have to plan another backpacking trip to coincide with one of my periods :).

LOL, never thought I'd say that!

PS I told one of my friends about menstrual cups at women's Bible study the other night and she was totally excited about it! It was so awesome! Afterwards, she and 2 others I had mentioned it to a few months ago stood outside and asked me more quetions about it. I'm so happy they were actually interested/excited!

Hi everyone,
I started looking into menstrual cups last fall and bought the small diva cup. I tried to use it on 2 different periods and then gave up. Well, I'm backpacking the Grand Canyon this May and unfortunately, I don't think our hike will be over until just after my period has started. I decided I better give the diva another go, but I wanted more info first and I found this community. My period just started this morning and I inserted the diva at around 7am and had no problems all day, but a few hours ago it started to leak.

What causes a cup to leak? I went ahead and emptied but ended up with a bloody mess all over my hand, so I don't know if it was full or not but I think it might have been, even though the first day is usually light for me...anyways, does being full cause the cup to leak? (that's probably a stupid question, but I really don't know!) Also, the cup seemed to be at a bit of an angle, could that have been the problem? But it was at an angle all day, so I don't know....

Also, I have been unable to feel my cervix. Can anyone offer me any tips? Is it necessary for the cup to be all the way up against the cervix? I am so afraid it  will get lost in there and I won't be able to get it out! But I'm not sure that I'm putting it in far enough, right now the tab is poking out just a little bit so I can  feel it without putting my finger in there.

Thanks for all your help! This community has already been a lot of help to me and without the reading I did here, I don't think I would have had the courage to try again!

PS I'm also worried that I'll drop the cup in one of the pit toilets on the backpacking trip...should I buy another cup just in case or just bring pads? It's kind of expensive and I don't know if I would normally need 2 cups. Do you have 1 or 2 cups? What number of cups would you recommend having under normal circumstances?

Hi, I am teen that uses a cup. I'm going on school camping trip/canoe trip. I will be camping for 4 days three nights, and have access to 3 toilets. (There are about 30 girls, so theres generally a long line.) For one of the days, I will have to canoe 13 miles with no access to any facilities (besides the woods.) At home/school I just rinse my cup out in the sink. (Theres an individual BR in school..so it's really not an issue.) So I have a few questions:

1. What's the quickest/most effective way to clean your cup? (I don't think I'm coordinated enough to do the wate rbottle trick. I'd probably end up missing the cup and dropping it in the toilet.)

2. Any ideas on how to clean my cup riverside? Keep in mind that I'd have to probably have to keep it in my pocket because we might tip. (At least that's what happened last yr.)

3. Is there an easy way to wash the blood off your hands from using the cup? Handsanitzer doesn't do anything in my experience.

4. Any other general camping with cup or cleaning advice?

Thanks!

I've just started my second cycle with my DivaCup :]

Usually I'd be happy about this (I get to learn more and gain experience), but I'm spending all day with three guys and my best friend. I'm going swimming with these three guys (ugh!) and then going to a movie with the guys and my friend. And since this is my first day and my second cycle, there are going to be plenty of trips to the bathroom (I have fairly heavy flows) and the trips will most likely be long since I'm still getting used to things.

I'm stressing out, and actually pretty close to just wearing tampons for the day. Someone talk me out of it.

But on a more optimistic side, I really do love my cup and take the opportunity to discuss it with anyone who asks. I'm still baffled by girls who call it "gross." I don't think having a period is the most clean thing in the world, but it's a natural process and I wouldn't go so far as to call it "gross" or "disgusting." I think pulling out a bloody wad of cotton is worse than dumping out the blood.

Things that happen with tampons that don't happen with cups:

I was camping with one of my best friends. I was getting ready in front of the mirror and she was in one of the stalls. I suddenly heard this horrified gasp from the stall and asked what was wrong. The night before, she had put in a tampon while she already had one in. It really, really freaked her out.

The rest of that trip was pretty bad for her. Leaking, cramps and making me carry tampons in my backpack because she refused to carry a purse. Granted, a cup won't completely take away leaking and it certainly won't eliminate cramps. However, I've basically talked her into getting one but the price is scaring her away.

So, I just finished my first full cycle with my Diva Cup, and feel I've learned some valuable lessons, such as:

1)Riding a horse is fine with the Diva's long stem. Bareback, maybe not so much (although I trimmed the stem more after the first experience and it was fine the next time I decided to pull the saddle off, just a bit sore but not to the extent I was sore before and it didn't last 3 days!)

2)Plans for camping will always result in a late period, to start the day the camping trip is to start. 2 weeks late, starts the very morning of a 3-day camping trip. Thankfully it did start that morning though, or else I wouldn't have thought to bring my cup!

3)Couple this with moodswings and heavier bleeding than normal(I forgot to make a doctor's appointment till it was too late and had to take a break from the regulation of the pill for a month because I didn't have any, so glad that hormone rollercoaster is now over!). My cup leaked like crazy for the first 2 days unless I emptied it every 3 hours, and even then there would be a bit of leaking.
This will be re-evaluated once I get back to my normal bleeding.

4)Porta-potties are not fun while using a leaking cup. Especially when 1/2 of them are unable to be cleaned because they are on a hill that has mud so thick the trucks can't get up it... and therefore there were only 10 for 3000 people. They kept servicing them, but it was still disgusting. I was using pads as well for the leaking, and the " 'Always' clean wipes" they attach to their pads now are WONDERFUL for cleaning a cup in a porta-potty!

5) Despite the leaking, the cup is SO worth it! I didn't have to make "I can't go swimming because..." excuses for the first time EVER!(I hate tampons with a passion). Which was awesome since the swimming hole was a waterfall you could safely climb:). I was thankful that we had to go get ice every morning because it meant a real bathroom I could use to give the cup a good clean.

All I've been reading lately is "down on the Diva" because it leaks so much, but I really don't feel like getting a new cup- I like that it's made in Canada, I like the material it's made out of, I do like it's size(I have a VERY long canal, you could probably sail a toy boat down there), the Diva sits very far up for me. Is there any techniques to maybe get it to not leak so much? I don't know if it was overflowing(wouldn't the overflow just come out when you remove the cup, up like a turned upside down bottle when you unscrew the cap?) or just leaking. Because my canal is so long and I have very short fingers there is no way I can find my cervix, so placement is iffy! I've tried and it's just wasted time. I have perfected the origami fold though, no more umbrella cup for me!
Happy Days!

So I'm normally pretty low-maintenance when it comes to cleaning my diva cup. My usual regime is rinsing it in hot water after emptying it, then boiling it when I'm done with my period. I'll be working at a summer camp soon, where I won't be able to boil my diva cup after my periods. Do people find that this is absolutely necessary, or is there another solution to this?

I know a bunch of people have had lovely experiences with their cup while traveling or doing any sort of activity that might be a little uncomfortable if you were wearing a pad. So I just thought ya'll might find it neat that the DivaCup has a banner on JourneyWoman.com, a travel website aimed at the solo traveling woman. I gotta say, as someone who's planning to go backpacking in Europe over spring break, I am SO HAPPY I have my cup because I would not want to be messing disposable icky products while traveling.

Know of any other places where the Diva or other menstrual cup is being advertised? Ever spread the word while traveling/camping with other women?

I went into one of the bathrooms on my campus (I'm studying in Scotland for the spring semester) and I was so freaking delighted to see someone had a MoonCup sticker pasted on the inside of the stall -- and people had even added their own praises for the cup by writing "best thing ever!" and "it's saved my life!" on the sticker itself. I added a big smiley face to the sticker.

cup love! <3

if your daughter or you (as a teen or young adult) were going to an all girls outdoor adventure camp, how would you feel if the company suggested that if she will possibly be on her period during the trip that she use a menstrual cup, and suggest brands for younger girls?
EDIT
I am an outdoor recreation major. I am developing four comprehensive outdoor adventure programs for girls and women. (one for girls + their moms, one for women 35-50), one for young adult women who want more in depth knowledge/skills of outdoor activities and one for girls who are having trouble managing their weight) Because the entire program is designed specifically for women, there would be a page in the program info packet (what you recieve to help you pick what program you want to participate in) with information on being a woman living in the outdoors. Dealing with menstruation is obviously a big part of that. they would be given the info right off the bat and wouldn't be pressured into opting for a cup.

I've read the camping/backpacking archives, but need help deciding how to clean my Lunette when in the wild.  I know to dispose of the blood like my solid waste and toilet paper--away from water, camp sites and trails, in a hole six inches deep and covered with soil.  My concern is washing it.  The best I have come up with so far is carrying a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol.  Can anyone think of anything better?  Thanks.

I just had my first cycle with my Diva Cup and it was AMAZING! I've never enjoyed a period that much! I couldn't get over how clean I felt. At times I forgot that I was even having my period. I got my period while I was at my cabin in the middle of a remote area, and it was wonderful not having to worry about discreetly disposing of pads 3-4 times a day. I could go swimming without having to make an excuse! And I didn't have one leak. Is this just beginner's luck?

I was surprised at how light my period was. And, this may be TMI, but the blood wasn't how I expected it to be. It was kind of...sticky, if that makes sense. Also, amazingly, my period only lasted for 3 days, where usually it lasts for 5-6. AMAZING, I TELL YA.

So, enough of me gushing over my cup. I do have two questions.

1.) I find that it sits a bit low. I cut the entire stem off, and I have the smaller cup. I think my vagina is just small. It doesn't bother me too much, but it gets so low that I can feel it sometimes. Do I need a different cup? I don't plan on getting a new one right now, but for future reference.

2.) I was wondering what the best way to clean it is after a cycle. I don't really want to go out and buy any special soaps, and I've read that boiling it doesn't achieve much. If anyone can share a simple way to clean it I'd be extremely grateful.
Thanks in advance!

Okay, so I've used my brand-new Divacup for... a period and a half now. The first time was pretty much problem free after I worked out the kinks of insertion, etc. Three days ago I got another period [*grumbles* Not supposed to start for another week and a half] just before I was to go to a friend's cabin for a few nights. They have one tap in the kitchen, and otherwise no running water. The fairly small, two bedroom cabin had about ten people sleeping there so there were sleeping bags everywhere and no privacy.
I brought a handful of leftover pads, but was hoping of course to just be using the Diva. It worked fine all morning, but [and I didn't have a waterbottle to be bringing with me into the outhouse... which was poor planning] after being cleaned with nothing but toilet paper a few times, it started leaking badly. I was going doubled up with the cup and a regular pad. The cup slowed my flow a little but when I took it out, it was pretty much empty and coated in gunk on the outside. After three days of that, I got home, boiled it and cleaned it properly, and reinserted it. So far it's been working fine all by itself.
Any ideas for why that would be? I'd kind of like to avoid having it happen again. Would having a waterbottle to rince it with have helped? Or is it just not something to be bringing camping?

I was expecting the red tide while on a canoeing trip last week, so I learned all about camping with the Diva from our Wild Woman guide.  I thought I'd share:

The real key is to empty the cup into the water so that the blood flows away from the camp.  Wash with drinking water.  Use hand sanitizer to wash your hands, but be sure to rinse well.

After the camping experience, I have a few more suggestions to add:  Bring a nail brush and bio soap so you can clean your hands well before removing the cup.  I couldnt' BELIEVE how long it took me to get my nails clean after that trip!  I'd even suggest bringing gloves or finger cots to combat the dirt or hang-nail factor. 

The cup is FAR superior to tampons and pads when camping.  Tampons you have to stop and change too often, and you have to carry then with you until you can burn them in the campfire.  Pads you have to triple baggie and pack out with you.  

If you're camping with Aunt flo, bring your cup!

 Okay, so I had the backcountry tampon/pad routine pretty well dialed in, but now I have a cup.

Next week I'm leaving to go backpacking for 12 days out west.  Of course, I'll have my period right in the middle of it.  I've had a keeper for a couple of months now, but after my last run with it I got a yeast infection, although I think it was soap related.  Anyway, I freaked and got a divacup just in case it had anything to do with the rubber.  I've done a couple of dry runs with the diva and like it just fine.  I'm a little concerned about reoccurring yeast infections as they've been an ongoing problem for me for several years.  I picked up some acidophilus today to take with me as a precaution.  I've also got a little bottle of Dr.B's peppermint for cleaning the cup (I've learned my lesson about washing it too frequently and the ugly on deoderant soap).  So I think I've got all of my bases covered.

My real question pertains to clean water.  It seems that has been discussed here previously and the upshot was always to use some sort of "treated" water.  I'll be using iodine on this trip to treat my water.  How's iodine (obviously extremely diluted) on/in female parts?  I'm using it to treat water that I suspect would most likely carry Giardia or Cyptosporidium which both mostly cause digestive problems.  If water contaminated with those was entering your body in other ways (like via a cup) are you going to get sick from it?  It's a pretty small amount anyway, probably less than most people drink while swimming in water that may or may not be contaminated.  If you swam in that water too, wouldn't it get up inside as well?  Or, at least have the potential to?  Could we assume that any water you would swim in would be safe to rinse your cup with? (away from the source of course).

What have others done on extended backcountry trips?  This is a wilderness trip and there will be no access to running water, outhouses or pit toilets for 12 days.

Edit: Thanks everyone for some helpful and encouraging replies! I'm now much more inclined to use diva while away, which is great! I'm gonna bring some tampons with me just in case, and give them to a friend if I don't use them all. Of course, if anyone has anything different to add, then I'd still love to hear it!

Hey everyone!

Anyone here been to China with their cup before? Any advice? I''m gonna have to deal with polluted  water and squat toilets!

I'm going in September for a class trip for 5 weeks. I will bring along my diva if I have any chances of using it, but unfortunately I don't think I will be able to due to the water quality over there. Of course there are things I could do to get around this. For example carry a water bottle around everywhere which sounds simple, but I think is a real inconvenience, especially when I'm just trying to enjoy myself in a foreign country (btw I'm Aussie).

I also have a bit of trouble with leaking sometimes (I'm slowing getting better) so I'll wear backup lunaliners, and as I say later on washable products may not be suitable.

Because I've been using the diva since feb 06 I know I can't go back to normal pads, and reusable would be an option if I wasn't traveling around everywhere, having to use public washing machines etc. So I would be using tampons. I was 16 when I got my diva and previous to that I had only used pads, so there was really no point in using tampons, but I tried one a month or two ago just to see what they were like, and anticipating China.

So for my circumstances I think using tampons is the best option. It's only one period anyway (maybe two, or maybe even none cauce I'm a little effed up sometimes!)

So yeah.. just wondering if anyone had any advice and or suggestions. Another thing I'm thinking is.. The water is unsuitable to drink, but would it be suitable for washing my diva? I must admit I don't know exactly what is the problem with China's water..

Looking forward to your thoughts!

ps. sorry bout the lack of tags, have no idea where this would fit. cup use and.. travel?? cleaning?

(First post!)
This July I am going on a group canoeing and hiking trip in Ontario's Quetico Park. I was quite relaxed about the possibility of getting my period on the trip--"I'll just use my DivaCup," I thought. I've used it for about nine months now with no issues, so I'm not worried about it acting up in the woods. But the park has very strict rules about leaving waste behind: you bury everything in a latrine, which you dig yourself, except toilet paper, which has to be carried out of the park after it's used. I believe you have to carry out or burn pads and tampons when you use them. And I spoke to a friend who used to backpack a lot, and she told me that bears tend to come more often to campsites with menstruating women.
So my problem is, can I just empty my blood into the ground in the woods and bury it? Will it attract bears? Quetico is one of the least polluted places in the world--you can drink the water right from the rivers--so I don't think emptying my cup into the water is an option. There are absolutely no bathrooms in the park besides at the ranger station, which I'll be away from for eight days. My group is all-female, but I doubt anyone's got a menstrual cup and I don't know most of them too well.
Any ideas? Has anyone ever gone camping in a place like this? I've done the math: if my period stays regular for the next few months, it will be in full swing for most of the trip.

I know there are frequently questions about taking the cup backpacking. I haven't had the opportunity to use it on a camping trip yet, but today I ended up emptying the cup in the woods.

I chose my location as if I were urinating: a secluded spot away from a water source. I didn't take any measures to hide or cover my mess. Should I have done so in the ecology of the Pacific Northwest forest lowlands?

( messy, bloody and still, well-received. )

We're going backpacking this summer. It will be nice to not have to worry about scheduling around my period or packing (out) supplies!

But next time, I'm bringing wet-naps at the very least.

As I was preparing to head to a camp event for the week, my moontime started.

I thought, well this will be an interesting experience!

Mind you, this camp has cabins and showers and toilets, but not much privacy. I took soap with me to be sure I could wash my cup properly.

It was great!

I was working 6 hour shifts on check-in for the event, and it was SO nice not to have to worry about my moontime when things got crazy!

And when I did change it, nobody noticed I was washing the cup along with my hands.

I'm definitely sticking with the cup!

hey this is my first post! so i am going camping in the next week or so, and of course the period is a comin'!!!!! i have just started using the diva cup, and so far easy as pie.  i just wanted to know what kind of tips you ladies have for camping with the diva cup. also how to dispose of the contents of the cups while out in the middle of no where. is it kosher to dump menstruation in the woods? (i don't think it is, but i would like to know for sure).  also i will be camping with all boys. although i am comfortable telling everyone about my bleeding every month,  the guys on the other hand are a bit grossed out. being guys i just don't think they would understand the complications that go along with period and camping. so any tricks that are fairly uncomplicated would be great. thanks so much.

I've travelled with my period before, and with the addition of my awesome DivaCup, it's been pretty easy. However, next month I'm heading to Japan, and if by some miracle my period comes when it's supposed to (it's always been really irregular), I'll have it while I'm there. With my cup, it probably won't be too much of a problem, but I've heard bad things about the bathrooms in Japan-- either there's just a hole in the ground, or the toilets are bizarre and complicated, plus the fact that some bathrooms don't have sinks or even toilet paper. I've never been to Japan so I have no idea if any of this is true, but if it is, well, it's going to make my life kind of difficult. Does anyone have any experience with this? Also, what about the 14-hour plane ride? I really, really don't want to risk cleaning my cup while we're in flight. All advice appreciated!

Hi everyone. :)

I've been checking out this community for a little while now and reading a bunch of the posts. I finally joined, so here I am (in the US).

So... I was convinced to order a divacup (smaller size - I'm 30 & never had kids) and give it a shot since I despise pads, tampons, and that "smell".

I'll probably have more questions at a later date, but here's my first one.

The thing that concerns me is how I keep hearing that the holes are small and hard to clean. I'm also afraid of the super suction I've read about (especially since I'm considering an IUD).

So my question is... Is there a way to make the holes bigger? (For example, I own a dremel with very small jewelry making size drill bits). I ask because I go camping/gaming on some weekends and cleaning my cup properly could be problematic. (The sinks are on the outside of the building in full public view even though the toilet stalls are inside, and I may not have a chance to grab a bottle of water to take in with me either). So I'm concerned with the holes getting clogged and not being able to clean them efficiently/quickly and thus leading to leaks/seal/suction problems while out in the middle of the woods. I'd also like to not kill my insides trying to remove the cup and suction since I tend to be on the small side.

I'm also now wondering if I should have gotten a Mooncup (UK) instead? I ultimately chose the Diva because of the 1 year guarantee though I was leaning towards the Mooncup. I've never even heard of anything like this before several weeks ago.

Thoughts?

p.s. This community is wonderful with the amount of information here! :) Thanks much!

Hi ! I had few problems washing the holes and letters, and mesuring lines inside the cups (with all my cups, except Lunette). Lately, I bought lingettes of intimate toilet (for skins sensitive, without soap, neutral Ph), of the brand Rogés Cavaillès. You know, we do not need to rinse after their use. They are useful when you're on your periods, before having sex, or I guess maybe when camping...

I though : why not try to do a better cleaning of the residues (that stays despite the sterilisation in the boiling water or that with some water + vinegar) upon my Divacup and my Mooncup UK ? So, I covered my index with a lingette, and I used my nail so covered to scratch with accuracy the tracks of blood. The lingette is rather wet not to be afraid of damaging the cup, and it allows exactly to clean. For the holes, first, I returned the thick part of the cup towards the outside (then, towards the inside) to push aside holes in order to remove the remaining blood. I also tangled up very finely a corner of the lingette to cross it boorishly in every hole. That works well, it's even very effective. Then, I rinced carefully the cups, (I don't remember any more if I washed them with some soap before rincing).


I'd like to ask you something. Well, I never had to empty a cup outside, but I think I will have to for my next period and that makes me nervous. I'll take some antibacterian gel without rincage for hands. I said to myself that I would use it in case there is no soap in toilet, and for which I would wait that the gel is very dry before manipulating my cup.
I think I can simply wipe it or rince it with water from a bottle, but it does not allow to wash the holes where some blood or..well other thicker things are blocked. Now holes are important for the suction of the cup, especially on heavy days..
So, I think I could empty the cup, then maybe wipe it (better with damped tissue ?), then use a lingette. But do you think I should still rince after with water from my bottle, or even rince before and after using lingette) ? These lingettes are suited to respect the vaginal balance. But I guess they're rather reserved for a use external, that is for the vulva.. In this case, rince the cup with water would be more careful ? In advance, thanks for your advises !