Intrigued? Read on.

By Emily Steves, @SeeEmilyPlay

I haven’t used a menstrual pad or tampon since last March.

No, I’m not pregnant.

No, I haven’t lost enough body fat to stop my menstrual flow altogether. It’s still very much alive. Trust me.

I’ve chosen instead to free myself of common, womanly struggles by opting for The DivaCup^®.

I lost you, didn’t I?

Let me explain, but stop reading this if you’re not mature enough to see the V word without feeling uncomfortable. ’Cause it’s definitely coming.

Picture a shot glass. The DivaCup is a silicone, bell-shaped cup of a similar size that a woman inserts into her vagina, much like she would a tampon. Only –– get this –– it’s reusable.

Take it out. Dump the blood. Wash it out. Fold it and insert it again.

I can hear your cries of “Ewwwww!” and “That’s disgusting!” I’ve heard it all before. Believe me. But just think about it before you issue a dismissal.

Having to see someone else’s period waste sucks.

Every woman has entered a public restroom and seen sanitary products that have not been disposed of properly.

It’s not pretty.

Women who use The DivaCup help eliminate that waste. Less waste means fewer unpleasant public restroom visits and fewer items to dump into landfills.

Then, there’s the smell.

Pads and tampons come in scented versions. Because periods smell. Bad. But a woman’s menstrual flow only begins to reek after exposure to air. Pads collect the blood; there it sits. Because The DivaCup is worn internally, a woman can feel fresh, clean and free of odor-related worries.

Remember the times you forgot to tuck a tampon into your pocket before using the restroom? You removed your used one, disposed of it and then realized you’d forgotten a replacement. The awkward rush back to your purse, grab a tampon and return to the bathroom bit gets old. The DivaCup helps you avoid that entirely.

Speaking of tampons, they sometimes leak. The DivaCup doesn’t.

Tampons scratch the vaginal wall and leave behind fibers that can gather infection-prone bacteria. They effectively absorb the flow but also absorb essential fluids the vagina needs to stay healthy.

The best part? To prevent an overflow, you only have to empty the cup every 12 hours. You can finally urinate during your period week without worrying the tampon string will interfere. Freedom.

Finally, the feel.

You won’t feel like you’re waddling around in a diaper.

You won’t be in pain from the tampon not going in all the way.

You’ll forget that you’re even on your period.

Freedom.  

With 12 periods a year, the $8 boxes of tampons and pads add up; my $25 DivaCup paid for itself after four cycles. Your boyfriend will never have to pick up a box of tampons ever again.

Every man deserves this freedom.

Your lady parts will be healthier, smell better and, ultimately, you’ll feel better while saving money.

Get up in your own business and try it. I promise Aunt Flow’s visits don’t suck as much with The DivaCup.

Originally written for my opinion writing course at St. Bonaventure University.