I started looking into organic tampons and maxi-pads a few months back because I was worried about the bleaching process used in the manufacture of conventional tampons and the dioxin in tampons (a known carcinogen) that's a by-product of that process. (The FDA says there may only be trace amounts of dioxin in tampons, but it still concerns me.) The environmental aspects -- adding however many tampons and pads to landfills each month, as well as all of the manufacturing associated with making, packaging, and shipping tampons -- was also a concern. I was astounded by the cost of organic tampons -- $7.69 for a box of 16 on Drugstore.com. Then I considered buying reusable cloth menstrual pads (there are lots of funky ones available on my beloved Etsy.com), but I can't deal with more laundry and the idea of hand-washing them grossed me out.
I decided to try the DivaCup. Inserting it takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it's simple. I love that I only have to worry about it twice a day, and I've had virtually no leaks once I figured out how to insert it correctly (a sure sign that it's not inserted correctly is if it's leaking or it's uncomfortable -- you shouldn't feel it at all). I've used it for two cycles now, so I feel confident in recommending it and can say with equal confidence that I will not go back to using tampons or maxi-pads. I bought my DivaCup on Amazon.com, but Drugstore.com (and I'm sure other vendors) also sells them. If you have more questions, the message boards on MenstrualCups.org are fantastic.
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P.S.: Check out the article Flow and Tell on Grist.org for reviews of the Diva Cup and other eco-friendly menstrual products. I was happy to see that the cup is the most eco-friendly menstrual product of all since it requires very little water to clean. [added November 21]
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