Who uses a moon cup..

Thanks QuentinSummers - short but sweet

I've had mine since after DD was born so 13 years.

I cut the whole stem off and never have trouble getting it in and out, except once when I was drunk and I'd folded it to put it back in and it sprung out of my hands.

I bleed really heavily due to Endo - lots of clots too (sorry for tmi) so st times would empty hourly. No way a tampon or towel would cope with that. When I used public loos I would just empty and put it back in without washing then give it a good clean when I was next home.

I found it helped my pelvic floor muscles a lot. I bled for the first six months on and off after having mirena fitted and was using it daily and my PF was really strong. Since I've stopped bleeding I've stopped using it and my PF is noticeably weaker.

spaghetti meluna make a short cup for people with a low cervix/short vagina which might work. Meluna are also pretty cheap

TBH I'm confused about what on earth I have after reading all this! I have to push down quite hard to get mine out (the stem on mine is about 1cm) - but it's completely comfortable, stays in (sometimes doesn't want to pop open and I have to furtle a bit, but generally it's fine!

I'm most perplexed by the idea that it's muscles holding it in though - I definitely have a kind of bone shelf/lip at the front that it pops behind!

I use one with heavy periods and have never leaked. Even when full it seems to stay put and the suction stops it from leaking. I've never found it a problem to remove and I have cut the little stub off and just grab it by the end.

I also use it when out and about and wiping it out with loo roll is fine occasionally, really doesn't bother me at all.

It's good to hear of a young teen using it as I am going to introduce my dd to one when the time comes, so much more practical, cleaner and safer.

spaghetti meluna make a short cup for people with a low cervix/short vagina which might work. Meluna are also pretty cheap
www.femininewear.co.uk/me-luna-classic-shorty-menstrual-cup---clear---ball-style-4236-p.asp

I boil mine by sticking it in a mug of cold water and putting it in the microwave for 3 and half minutes - no risk of boiling dry. I use a diva cup as mooncup was too rigid and I got thrush the 2 months I tried using it.

I love mine! I sort of squat as near the floor as possible (in shower), then fold it in half vertically and insert. That almost always gets it in the right place for me. I have also trimmed the stem v.short as it was scratchy! I've had to scrabble for it a few times admittedly but it has always come out if I squat down.

I have been keeping track of how much blood I lose each month but holding it up and guessing volume it's quite interesting to see how much comes out!

coffee maybe try a wider brand?

This quiz might help
putacupinit.com/quiz/

OK, from reading all these other women, I think I am a little unusual - because I wouldn't be able to choose to position mine lower - there's only one place it sits, and I have no trouble with the stem poking out..

I've not had any trouble with it slipping - but mine kinda pops behind a bit of pelvic bone - it's not held in by my pelvic floor I don't think! Am I unusual - might explain the lack of descent/2 emcses, although you'd have thought someone might have mentioned it when rummaging up in there! I have one in at the moment, I'm going to have to have a rummage myself to double check that what I think I'm feeling is what I'm actually feeling.

Don't they do different sizes depending on whether you've had kids or not? Perhaps try a bigger one?

and duracellred - yes, you kinda fold it lengthwise so it'll go in, then it pops open inside you (slightly disconcerting feeling sometimes) and kinda vacuums itself over your cervix.

I used one Pre dcs and got on really well with it. However, after dc1 it just slipped down constantly. Their advice was to do my pelvic floor exercises but I just got so stressed about it that I gave up. 3 dcs later, I'd love to use it again but I expect it'd be the same. Does no one else find they slip down, post dcs? This thread is making me consider trying again though I'd have to buy one as I chucked it out years ago. Hate tampons.

A really stupid question but how does a 'moon cup' work? Is it inserted internally or what?

I've used one for about 14 years. Replaced it once because I lost it, then bought the bigger size after giving birth. That one is now 7 years old and doesn't look much different to when I bought it so I guess they last for a long time.

I'd recommend cutting the stem as short as possible otherwise it's very irritating. It does mean that you have to push your fingers quite far in to get it out, but it's easy with a bit of practice.

I also love my mooncup, and the best tip I had was to take it out when you are in the shower. I find this loads easier, and no worries about blood going everywhere. Even on my heaviest days I find morning and night is often enough to empty it - you don't need to empty it every time you go to the loo, unless you have really heavy flow.
I also use Milton and a denture box to clean mine.

If you are having trouble getting your mooncup out. Stand and put one leg up on the toilet seat and bear down. Next time place the mooncup lower.

I use a dentures soaking box and store my clean mooncup in that. I sterling the mooncup with Milton in the case a couple of days before I need it and again fir a day after my period. So I can store it clean/dry.

Much prefer Milton to the boiling in a pan method...I would burn it ! Plus Milton keeps it spotless.

I bought one 4 years back tried it out and it was a v tricky to get in but getting it out was a nightmare and thought I'd have to go to A&E in the end. Never touched it after that

This happened to me, tried it once and couldn't get it out, my DH had to extract it in the end . I really like the idea of it though and I'm debating giving it another try.

I use a microwave steriliser box for mine, that I bought to do nipple shields when I was breastfeeding.

I tried one as tampons always leak and turned out it leaks too. I was so disappointed. I emailed them and they said that as I have a tilted womb that it won't work

Been using one for 5-6 yrs. After second baby was born tampons just didn't stay in anymore

Now I'm used to it it's so much better than the alternatives

Best thing ever. I keep tampons in case I know I won't be able to clean it properly when I'm out and period is very heavy. But I hate them.

Mooncup is cleaner, means less pain, doesn't leak, doesn't give you that grim dry feeling, free after buying it and better for the planet.

Couldn't be without it.

In terms of replacing them, I've found that if you sterilise them by boiling, you have to replace it every time you let it boil dry.
I don't bother anymore, it gets a good scrub and that's good enough.

Love my mooncup! After having a baby I found tampons really uncomfortable (I had a section so I am unsure why this would be). Anyway... bought a mooncup & love it. I've been using it for about 6 months. So comfortable that I forget it's there. My tip to new mooncup users is to practice at the end of your period when flow is lighter and have a few tries of getting it in & out.

If it's in properly you can't even feel it. I did trim the stem slightly on mine though. I never use tampons now. Moon cup all the way!

No they don't at all.