Where after 10 years I finally decide to just do it—and buy a cup for my vagina. 

So after at least 10 years I am finally buckling down and buying myself a diva cup— whoo hoo! My roommate had a keeper 10 years ago and I have been meaning to buy one ever since. And ever since I quit birth control pills a few months ago I have been wanting to stop using tampons. (My bleeding lessened a lot as well after I quit so I didn’t need tampons as much and used pads at times. Though I hate them.) Just the act of quitting the Pill got me thinking about how I can be more and more thoughtful about my body. And stop doing things that before I just couldn’t seem to wrap my mind around to consider other options.

However, lately I have been having spotting for more than a week now. (Is that still called spotting?) Which I suspect may be related to exercising a lot and losing a little weight. (Though I feel stronger and am eating healthier than ever.) I have a feeling it’s anovulatory period. I think. Not sure. I have also started charting my cycle now using the spiffy online chart provided by Toni Weschler’s site: www.tcoyf.com which stands for Taking Charge of Your Fertility— the title of her book. Very excited to fill in my basal waking temperatures (which I have been keeping track of but not in a formal chart) and see what I can figure out. It’s a whole online community and you can then share your online cycle chart with others and ask questions and share info! Can you tell I’m stoked?

Because I’m over 30 I’ll be getting the Model 2 Diva Cup (from Whole Foods). They provide a ‘Diva Wash’ product as well, but any mild, unscented, water based (oil-free) soap will do too to use to clean it every 12 hours.

Also learned this very interesting fact from their website:

“The vagina is self-cleansing and continually produces fluid that ‘flushes’ the vagina. When a tampon is inserted, its composition of rayon and cotton absorbs your vagina’s protective fluid, drying out and disrupting its normal pH levels.”

So— if you are using tampons, try to discontinue use as soon as you can figure out. And consider switching to a cup of some sort— luna, diva, keeper, etc. Here is an amazing blog focused entirely on this very topic to get you started!