Every year North American women throw out over 14 billion menstrual pads, tampons, and applicators, causing huge additions to our already overfilled landfills. We recycle paper and plastics to prevent them filling up landfills, but we still use disposable menstrual products. This is why, starting later this summer, the Emma Goldman Clinic is going to start selling the Diva Cup. Previously in the Iowa City area the Diva Cup was only available at Ruby’s Pearl.

            EGC already sells unbleached, organic cotton pads and tampons to give women a more natural option for their menstrual products, but even though these don’t expose women to  pesticides and  chemicals from bleaching, they still end up in the same landfills as the non-organic versions.

                        The Diva Cup is a small, medical-grade silicone container that is placed in the vagina to catch the menstrual flow. Most women will need to empty their cup two to three times over the course of 24 hours. They just remove the cup, dump the fluids in the toilet or sink, rinse the cup off, and then re-insert. At the end of the cycle they should wash it with soap, and then they can let it sit until they need it again. When it is inserted in the vagina most women don’t feel it, even during exercise; it feels much like having a tampon in. It can be worn up to 12 hours at a time, and it is fine to use overnight. Unlike tampons, the Diva Cup does not impede the natural balance of the vagina. The vagina still retains its moisture and lubrication, so you don’t get dried out like with cotton tampons. The Diva, and similar products, have never been associated with Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). The Diva Cup comes in two sizes, one for women who have never had a vaginal birth, and the other for women who have.

            The Diva Cup is designed to last for many years, so even though it has a somewhat high upfront cost (the makers recommend that it be sold for $32), divided over a 5 year period, and it is expected to last longer than that, that equals only 53¢ per month!

            The Diva Cup is very similar to another product that has been out for a while longer, the Keeper. They are virtually identical in shape, sizes, and cost. We chose to carry the Diva Cup instead of the Keeper, because the Diva is made of silicone, and is thus hypoallergenic, and the Keeper is made of natural rubber, which some people are allergic to.

            Keep checking back to the Emma Goldman Clinic website, to find out when we will have these available. You will be able to buy one either at the clinic or via our website. If you would like to read more about the Diva Cup, you can visit the company’s website at www.divacup.com. ~Elaina, Staff