Mooncups - how many people use them and how practical are they

[cba]

i have seen the term mooncup mentioned several times so i have just searched for them. Ok, are they easy to use, what about the long pipe bit at the bottom that you trim? How far up do they go?

Sorry if this seems a bit ignorant but I had never heard of them till joining mumsnet and I am seriously thinking of giving them a go.

[zubb]

very easy to use - just search using 'mooncup' and you will see lots of threads on them.

[lemonaid]

It varies from individual to individual. Personally mine is most comfortable and least likely to leak sitting quite high, so I haven't had to trim anything off the stem. They take a couple of cycles to get used to and to get the knack of inserting and removing but once you do they are sooooo practical and easy to use. On the one occasion since I've used them that I've had to go back to tampons (we were away on holiday and I had a wacko short cycle) I spent the whole time thinking "I can't believe I used to do this every month" -- it was so much messier and more uncomfortable than my Mooncup.

[tribpot]

Well worth a go, obviously they don't go that far up due to the physical constraints of the human body!

[IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo]

[whispers] I assasinated mine ... I hated it with a passion.

[cba]

thanks ladies, think i will order one or two? and give it a go

[expatinscotland]

I do!

Love mine.

Took a few cycles to get used to, but well worth sticking it out.

[expatinscotland]

On in .

[BBBee]

i love mine- done two cycles and have the hang of it now and loads of support on here about any questions.

You only need one though - why would you order two?

F&Z oreders them so best to buy through her but there is an offer on somewhere too.

Much more natural - feel more at one with body than ever before.

[BBBee]

lol expat!

[ThomCat]

Never ever thought I'd find myself on a bloody mooncup thread but they are talked about on MN so much I've started to wonder if it's something I need to get into when my periods start again.

Can anyone explain, once it's in, how many times you have to go in and get it out, on average per day.

If you are work and have to empty it, (does that happen?) what do you do?

Why does it take 2 cycles to have to get used to it?

[Tatties]

Definitely give it a go cba. I love mine - as the others have said, it can take a month or two to get used to but it is well worth it. I've never looked back!

[hesta]

only need one, get on fine with it, without wishing to sound 'mother earthish' or totally loopy, helps me to know how much i'm bleeding as I have v heavy periods

[yaddayah]

Only buy one
But make sure you buy one
They're brilliant
On 2nd cycle of using one and had no problems whatsoever

(Having problems with my grammar this morning .. they're would indicate two but there's only one mooncup so why doesn't it look right?)

[Tatties]

TC for hygiene you are supposed to empty and clean at least 4 times a day I think. Depending on how heavy your period is you may need to do it more often. It's not much different to using tampons in that respect.

I can generally avoid emptying it when I'm out, but if you have to, you can take a bottle of water into the loo to rinse or just wipe it with a bit of loo roll. The odd time I have had to empty it without access to a sink, I have just emptied it and reinserted without wiping it - it wasn't 'dirty' and I cleaned it properly at the next opportunity.

[purpleduck]

are they dishwasher safe?

[fennel]

Mine goes through the dishwasher.

I agree it can take a bit of time to get used to them but they're wonderful when you are used to them. very convenient.

[moljam]

i chickened out of ordering mooncup and now use fairy hammocks instead

[ThomCat]

Hmmm, so why do they take time to get used to, what is it that you are having to get used to excatly???

I don't have very heavy periods at all but who knows what'll happen after DC no 3.

I have a feeling if I tried it I'll wonder how I ever used anything as UNsanitary as a sanitary towel or tampax, both of which are pretty bloody gross.

[Tatties]

In my case it was getting used to inserting it properly, and it took a little while to know that it was in the right place and be confident it was doing its job. Removal takes a bit of practice as there's a technique to it. Also getting to know how often you need to empty it. But I didn't find it any harder to learn than using tampons. It's true, though, you do wonder how you could bear tampons before...

[lemonaid]

Agree -- there's a knack to getting it in and out, and while you can get advice on here it's one of those things that you just need practice in doing yourself for it to click. The first few times you're likely to spend some time thinking "Why can't I get this $%@& thing in properly?" or (in a slightly more panicked tone of thought) "Why can't I get this $%@& thing OUT?". And it may take a few goes to work out how far in is comfortable for you.

[MatNanPlus]

Love it.

Have 2 just in case i misplace one as travel alot and cycle never predictable.

Cut all of stem off and placed reasonably high up.

Saved a fortune in oads, knockers and mental worrying.

[ThomCat]

The thought of it and the fiddlying around etc is pretty unplesant but have to say I can see me giving it a go once the damn things start again.

Do you sleep with them in and everything?

[bozza]

Yes thomcat. You don't need to empty them four times a day. Assuming your flow is sufficiently light you can empty them just morning and night which is what I do on the lighter days. You are supposed to rinse it each time but I often don't bother. You are also supposed to wash it with soap and water once a day. I find that doing this in the shower works well.