AIBU to ask you for mooncup advice

[QueenBeex]

I want to try one, I basically just want tips / advice. Only reason I haven't got one already is because I'm so paranoid about it randomly falling out or getting lost some how. Did you use one? What brand? Any things I need to know before buying one?

[Drum2018]

Following.
I have the mooncup brand from boots and hate it. It's quite hard around the rim and I can feel it when it's in. It has leaked and I can, occasionally, hear it squelching (sorry tmi) when I walk so dare not use it when out and about. Just can't seem to get it sitting right at all even though it seems to have created a seal.

[QueenBeex]

That's what I'm scared of, it leaking! Or it falling out somewhere or me not being able to even get it out! I've not got one, I've had a look on Google but there's so many different brands, and then there's different sizes etc it's all so confusing. Ive heard such bad things about them but I've heard amazing things too so really wanted to try it out for myself, but have no idea where to start!! Apparently it can take 3 cycles to get used to it??

[OnMyWhistle]

I love mine - wouldn’t be without it now. There’s only 2 sizes I think - depends on your age and whether you had a vaginal birth - it tells you on the box which to get. It doesn’t leak and I can’t feel it at all (I’ve trimmed the stem right off as suggested).

[OnMyWhistle]

Mine is a Mooncup by the way

[QueenBeex]

How long did it take for you to get used to it? Is it really messy? How often do you empty it?

[Sharpcattlegridheavyhat]

I tried the actual mooncup brand and it leaked, I then switched to saalt and it’s great. I think a lot of people have brands they get on better with so you might go through a couple. Best thing is to try using a sanitary towel on heaviest days initially to see if it’s fitting ok. It is messy, i have a sink right next to me in my bathroom and try to avoid public bathrooms! Saying that, it’s great, I feel better I’m not using so much plastic every month. I empty mine every three hours or so on heavier days and a little linger after that.

[Sharpcattlegridheavyhat]

Longer!

[QueenBeex]

Sounds so silly but how do I know if it fits? Yeah I think I'll avoid public toilets too! My bathroom lay out has the bath tub between the toilet and the sink, hopefully wont make too much mess

[WeeDangerousSpike]

Following. I have really light periods, to the point that panty liners are enough most of the time. I'd guess a couple of tsps per period, if that. I'm inclined to use a cup because I'm barely using the pads but obviously changing them for hygiene reasons.

I spend so little on pads I'm worried about making an expensive mistake with buying the wrong make for me. Wish there was somewhere I could go to look at the real things and give them a bit of a squish...

Saw some extra cheap ones on amazon etc, but I'd be worried about what they are actually made of.

Sorry, no help at all.

[Sharpcattlegridheavyhat]

You can buy a saalt ‘pack’ of two, larger size for heavier and smaller for lighter days, that might be one to try out.

[Sharpcattlegridheavyhat]

You know if it fits if it doesn’t leak and you barely feel it

[problem1234567]

I tried it (Mooncup) for about 6 months and don't use it now as it put pressure on my bladder.
But it can't fall out. You have to use your fingers to release the suction before removing it.
I never had any leaks like I would with tampons - I find they could leak even though the tampon was only 50% full - I used to get a few random drops, probably just as a result of having changed it so always used it (as with tampons) with a liner as a back up. Never had it go everywhere by mistake which was an initial worry. Just release the suction, then slowly pull it out. You're likely to make a mess if you try and yank it out quickly. It is messy when you remove if you're on a heavy day and if you're not in a loo which has a sink in with in it, it's not the easiest.

[SarahR91]

I use the OrganiCup and love mine !! Haven't had any leaks but I do change mine more often than they recommend. I have never had one 'fall out' or move about once in. It definatly took a month or two to get use to it but would be lost without mine now !!

[SmileEachDay]

I get on well with Mooncup. If you can feel it it isn’t in properly- in the same way a tampon isn’t if you can feel it.

I have very heavy periods for about 2 of the days and I can put Mooncup in when I get up and forget about it until I get home after a day of teaching. No leaks.

Emptying it is fine - empty into toilet then rinse in sink and put back on. If you’re in a public toilet you can empty and just wipe with toilet paper before re inserting.

It took a couple of cycles to get used to inserting - trimmed the stem right off.

They’re a game changer for me.

[YouBumder]

I got my first mooncup in 2007. It honestly changed my life and that’s no exaggeration. I had my first baby in 2006 and when my periods came back they were horrific and tampons hurt so badly because of the scarring I had inside. After a few months of this horrificness I was desperate and despite not fancying the idea I got a mooncup. Best move I ever made. It didn’t take me long at all to get used to it. I did have to trim the stem however and then once my periods came back after I had my second baby I had to cut it off completely. If tampons don’t fall out then there’s no reason one of these will fall out, similarly getting it lost/stuck, if it ever happens just grab it, put your finger round to break the seal, bear down and pull it out. It’s in a finite space so isn’t going to get lost!

It sits lower in the vagina so you don’t insert it as high as a tampon. I run mine under the hot tap to soften it, fold it and then it’s no different really to putting in a tampon. Once it’s in pull gently to check it’s opened and the seal is formed and Bob’s yer uncle.

My periods were instantly less painful and shorter, it was amazing. I’ve never had leaking. If I ever get caught short and have to go back to tampons for any reason I hate it. The applicators always get stuck or come off before the tampon is in. Yuk.

[wheresmyhairytoe]

I had a mooncup and would leak slightly, I now use a meluna cup and it's miles nicer. No pressure on my bladder and no leaks.

I empty it when I get up then before bed.

[Thatsnotmyotter]

I’ve used a mooncup for years (since I was about 15 so over a decade!) but plan to try something different as have always had a bit of bladder pressure with it. If you have a look at the Put A Cup In It website they have a cup selector survey/quiz type thing to help you picket the right one.

[lau888]

I've got an Athena cup. I have heavy periods and it works fine; I'm really pleased to have switched away from tampons - no more flooding. On the heaviest days, I empty it 1-2 times more than the lighter days. I would suggest you google the "7 fold" because it makes it easy to insert. When it's inside, you rotate it a few times until you can feel it has returned to its normal cup shape. The first time I used my cup, it did leak because I didn't think about checking it was "in shape" - I'm so used to tampons, I just checked it was "in place".

[Slimmer2018]

Both me and my daughter use organi cups and they are amazing - I would never go back to tampons (which I could always feel slipping out and I constantly leaked as I have really heavy periods) no problems with organi cup, I empty ever time I go to the loo on the first day and after that just in the morning and before bed

[QueenBeex]

I have heavy periods, use super plus tampons at the moment and change every 3 - 4 hours. I'm definitely going to look at a few different ones that have been mentioned!

[LWTW]

I have fairly light periods and bought a Saalt cup. I was having issues with using tampons after my second child. I bought the smaller one because I was finding it difficult to insert small/regular tampons but find I can "push" it out by bearing down in my pelvis. Is it worth trying the large?

[Creepycaterpillar]

I have an organicup, csection late thirties, smaller size but very heavy periods so empty every couple of hours first day. I love it so much, could never use tampons again. Wish I had found out about them years ago. Do not get period pain since using these. You can put in when you know you’re going to start soon which is peace of mind.

[Keeg]

I have a mooncup, it feels like it’s described above if I place it too low. If I insert it higher I can’t feel it and it never leaks. After years of flooding clothes and bed sheets I feel a huge release going out the house and sleeping all night. I feel much better, and less crampy- I’m not as dry as I can get with tampons and maybe that’s a link?

[YesQueen]

I have a si bell, much softer and no rim

[WeeDangerousSpike]

Does anyone use them for swimming? Since having DD I've found tampons soak up water when I swim (gross) but I think I'd be a little concerned about accidentally emptying a cup into the pool when doing breast stroke...