Does anyone with REALLY heavy periods, use a mooncup?

[Sparrowlegs248]

Tmi.....Ongoing issue with very heavy bleeding and large clots. Had settled a bit once I was on thyroxine but currently on week 2 of another heavy period. I was at work today and t to the toilets approx 3 times an hour, changing pads every time or every other time.

I do have a mooncup which I've used on lighter days. I wondered today about using it tomorrow when at work but have sone worries. Again, tmi. The frequent visits to the loo were because I could feel large clots passing. Often bigger than the mooncup. So I worry about the 'flow ' being held back, as it were. Also, the mess of emptying it in a tiny cubicle and having to exit the cubicle to wash hands. I just can't see how it would be feasible.

I don’t use the mooncup but another cup, would use with a pad obviously but it should be fine as you’re emptying over the toilet, I’ve not found it any worse on a super heavy period than an average heavy one, I just sit there any extra minute and wee to see if anything else wants to come out. Much prefer it to a tampon for heavy flow

I would also take wet wipes for your hands

I have in the past (now on the pill so not heavy any more), paired it with super thick ST and changed the ST and emptied moon cup regularly. I used toilet paper to wipe my fingers in the stall then washed hands in the sink. I found it better than anything else to be honest if you have really heavy flow

I have moderately heavy periods and it's so much better with a mooncup. It's not ideal if you don't have washbasins in the cubicle (we have individual toilets, which makes it much easier), but it's still so much better than tampons.

Thank you. I can't use Tampons (TSS, twice) I have used the mooncup for going swimming on more normal flow days, so for a morning at a time really. Thank you @DaisyDreaming I had somehow not thought of using wipes, (despite having 2 small children!)

I think I'll give it a go. I'm a bit wary due to the previous TSs with tampons but both were an almost immediate reaction, and I haven't had that yet with the mooncup.

I've just posted on another thread, but I've just filled mine twice in half an hour with two large clots. On my really heavy days I wear a pad because of this. Mooncups still work better for me than anything else though.

How did you know @Temporaryanonimity? That's one of my concerns and that actually I'd be no better off if having to empty it, clean up etc the same amount of times. It's easier to change a pad although I have the leakage fear.

Look into changing cup. Super Jennie is a bit more expensive but has a capacity up to 40 ml. I think the large mooncup is around 30. I am not quite as heavy as you (once an hour for the first 2 days) but I always wear a pad with my cup on heavy days so I know I've got something in place just in case I can't get to the bathroom on time.

Mine are maybe not as heavy as yours but I change it every hour or more the first day. It's slightly better than tampons and I usually wear a big pad as well, especially as I'm a teacher and can't always get to the loo as soon as I need to. If my periods were heavier I'm not sure what I'd do, as it is I can leave the cup in for longer and longer as time goes on. On my first day I'd be changing tampons just as often and also used to find they'd slip down which the mooncup never has.

I don't know how I know, it's just a feeling. Tampons actually used to slip out....

Ok, I think I'm try it tomorrow and just empty hourly or if i get the feeling sooner!

Good luck. By the end of my period I can go all day...

Was a lifesaver for me, good luck. I would fill within an hour to start. But because my work involves walking around desk to desk at times, means not having to carry anything around with you or going back to bag.
Would also experiencing sliding out when full and heavy/wet. Also helps with painful periods as doesn't aggravate the cervix like tampons can. On lighter days can go hours without needing to empty, what a godsend the moon cup is!

I have a mooncup but my periods are far too heavy and painful to use it at the moment. I'm resorting to Incontinence pads just to function day to day. I'm currently on day 45 of flooding, so I reckon that I have about 30 days left this time. The last period I had went on for 75 days!

Do NHS have a grip on how very much blood loss some.women suffer? Last time I checked it seemed that expected 'normal' loss over 'normal' 5-day period length is about 1.5 mooncups worth (

I have just had an ablation to try to rid myself of this nonsense, but I loved my cup for dealing with heavy periods. It gave me much longer than other types of protection would have. I have a RubyCup, which when I bought it was the biggest capacity I could find--37.5 ml, so slightly bigger than a mooncup.

@Shriekingbanshee I agree. I keep reading stupid "facts" like you only lose something like 3 teaspoons of blood during a period which is ABSOLUTE BOLLOCKS. I wipe away that amount in the first hour of the first day!
It's so frustratingly inaccurate. I've just googled and found this interesting article;
rubycup.com/blog/how-much-blood-during-period-scientific-research/

I found a moon cup to be completely inadequate when dealing with very heavy periods/flooding, since large clots would fill it quickly. I also felt that the top of the moon cup would hold me open, if that makes sense, making flooding uncontrollable.

You also have to take your bathroom facilities into consideration - changing a full-to-the-brim moon cup in a small space can be a challenge. I dropped it a few times - it was messy, to say the least!

No advice on the moon up but I had periods similar to yours and was referred to a gynae. Changed my life. An ablation was suitable, so she prescribed Ponstan and another drug, I think it's Cyklokapron (I'm on holiday at the moment, PM me if you want and I'll let you know). You have to take them together x3 per day from the very first signs of spotting. Flow is significantly reduced. My GP didn't know about this so I'd recommend a referral. Also, I'm not sure if it makes a difference but I'm not in the UK.

Duh, that should read *an ablation was unsuitable

I find a cup better than tampons for flooding as it holds up and doesn’t slip down.

My heavy periods have now been resolved by having a coil fitted and if I can’t recommend it enough. I was so worried about having it done and had put it off for years but it has been a miracle cure. I had one period after having it fitted and now get a tiny bit of spotting once a month. It might be worth a try.

I'd go mooncup every time. If nothing else, it's another layer of protection.

As an aside, if you have clots that big, it's really time to get yourself to the gp.

I made the mistake of thinking going through private healthcare would be quicker to get the ablation done. I was seen in January and the gynae consultant said that they'd do it in February. That got postponed for whatever reason they gave, then it was booked for March, then April and after that they completely ignored me. So I'm going through hell once again!

@Smashingnicey my dh told me his experience of walking in when the loos not flushed well when I’m on
is that my period should be described less ‘three teaspoonfuls of blood loss’ to actual cow been massacred in the bathroom.

Mooncup fan here! Wish I'd known about them twenty years ago as I had heavy periods for years. They've only got lighter since using a mooncup and whilst I use a pad as well on the heaviest days I found it no problem to empty every hour or so. If you are going in public loos, take a small bottle of water with you, or some baby wipes as I find modern day toilet paper can't wipe the blood off hands without disintegrating!!!

Now I have a coil, periods are much much much lighter and some months I dont even need my mooncup. When I do, I dont need a pad!

@carpetrunner sounds like me in the old days . three teaspoonsful ?? yeah right. Worked out that I lost over 100mls in the first three days once I had a Mooncup