To not really understand why some people find mooncups so disgusting...

[katykuns]

Particularly after reading the 'fitting in' thread in AIBU... I just don't really understand, it's just blood, and you still have to deal with it when you use other sanitary products.

If anything, I think it's less yucky, because it collects it and you aren't wiping it off yourself? If it's about things going up there, that doesn't really make sense if you use tampons...

Question - I'd never heard of these before, and they sound fab. I have RIDICULOUSLY heavy periods post children. Anyone know if they'd be suitable for me? Thanks.

whocan they certainly seem to have a positive effect in heavy flows for some women - something to do with maintaining the natural balance of fluid in the vagina and of course, tampons have a wicking effect and draw out blood faster than it flows naturally.

If you can invest the £20 to try it I think it's probably worth it if the other aspects of the Mooncup (emptying etc) don't put you off. The alternative is probably medication which has its own costs and disadvantages.

Thanks Nota. I'm currently using 2 / 3 sanitary towels at a time at peak flow, so it couldn't possibly be more disgusting! Tampons are of no use whatsoever. I'll give it a go.

There's Femmecup too which is slightly cheaper. Any idea if it's as good?

I've used a Mooncup for a decade now and I actually feel sorry for women who are icky about them - you're missing out. You're also fouling our beaches, but that's another thread.

I never need to change it in a public loo so these debates don't arise. I sometimes go 24 hours between changes, but I may be a gross, unreasonable person.

I used to argue with my ex DP about whether it was acceptable to boil it in a normal saucepan. We eventually settled on an out of sight, out of mind rule.

Question for people who are squeemish about the cleaniness etc. Do you make your DPs sanitise their hands prior to foreplay?

the thought of womb linning and suction noises just put me off ,I wil stick with what I know

LilBlondePessimist is depends how heavy your flow is and how often you are prepared to change it.

Melunas do some pretty smal sizes, I have a medium which isn't very big and the small is tiny, but obviously with a smaller cup they have a smaller capacity.

I have a tilted uterus and find larger more rigid cups press on my bladder somewhat and make it a little hard to wee properly, though this my not be the position of my wom it may just be how I am made.

So I use a bigger Lunette for my heaviest day but have to take it our to wee which is a bit of a faff, but then have a medium soft Meluna for the rest of the the time which is perfect and glittery too

When I was still having periods I switched to the mooncup and thought it was really good. I also liked the fact that it makes travelling to places that don't have tampons easier. I tried to get my DDs to think about using one but they both said "Yuck" and that was that.

I never got covering blood, I found it easy to remove and empty in the toilet. I used toilet paper round my finger to grab the pointy end so it was pretty hygienic. If no sink was available to wash and rinse it I would just wipe out with toilet roll and reinsert.

And Minon I always wash my hands with soap and water after toilet visits!

Thanks Akiss and NotADisneyMum, that's good to know because I think after ds4 I'd like to try one, but I was worried that I just wouldn't get one to fit me. I am a bit squeamish about the fingers in the fanjo thing, but I detest pads and tampons (thrush, terrible allergy to the adhesive on pads etc), that it'd have to be worth a try.

Between the marina coil and being pg and breastfeeding for about nine years now, and intending to get sterilized and go au naturale, periods are going to be a bit of a shock to my system, so anything that will make it easier will be welcome!

LilBlondePessimist I have a funny tilt to my cervix too but I had no problem with the mooncup.

Gobblers, I actually have no idea how heavy I'll be after this baby, but I used to be pretty heavy and was used to having to change tampons and pads fairly regularly so that wouldn't bother me I think, once I got the knack.

Glittery sounds good though! [bgrin]

I have had mine for three years. Apart from the odd bad period it has eliminated very bad periods, every period. I have gone from 6 days of tampoms to 3/4 with a mooncup. I don't know how that works. I actually got mine for free as a product trial so haven't spent money on any sanitary care for the longest time. I am about to treat myself to a meluna cup.

The only problem I have is sometimes when I reinsert, it doesn't always get suction right away, which can sometimes mean me doing a lot of odd squaring type positions. In three years I have changed it only a handful of times in a public loo. Best thing ever. Period.

lilblond I had 10 years period-free as well because of the Mirina coil and when I finally had it removed when I split with my ex, I really struggled with the concept of towels/tampons.

I couldn't quite believe that in the 10 years since I had last has periods, sanitary protection had not changed a bit - particularly considering the advances made in technology, baby care etc. Then I saw threads about Mooncups on MN - and decided to give it a go - and I still rave about it to DP each time I have period!

Top tip for getting the suction is to turn it when it's in.

I don't find them disgusting, but don't think I could use one because, apparently, I'm a 'funny shape'. I can't use non-applicator tampons or a contraceptive cap either.

Mignonette:
To quote a post-

"I haven't had any need to change it in public, only at work which has a sink in the toilet. People do just wipe them out with loo roll, or if you are resourceful, a baby wipe etc from your handbag"

I don't think that person was saying she emptied it down the basin, Mignonette. She was saying it is better to have a sink in the toilet so you can wash your hands before you go out.

I don't pour it down the sink, why would you do that? I pull it out while on the toilet and tip it down the toilet. I do however rinse it in the sink... I don't really understand why that is so disgusting. It's made of a slidey material so the blood doesn't really cling to it anyway.

I also started this thread to get an idea of why people find them disgusting, because I really don't get it. Especially as many of the people I am asking on here are Parents, so figured there wouldn't be any weirdness about vagina touching. I do get that people wouldn't want to get covered in blood, but I don't find my menstrual blood disgusting, and the whole germ phobic stuff is just a little OTT, but each to their own!
I didn't start the thread to judge people, that would be a little sad really :/

I wouldn't use a normal pan for boiling mine. I just got a cheaply one from the supermarket and keep it wrapped in a bag in the back of the cupboard so DH doesn't use it accidentally!

YABU as it's really none of your business what other people feel about sanitary protection.

personally I get fed up with all the mooncup evangelism on MN.

personally I get fed up with all the mooncup evangelism on MN.

me too I can't stand it either periods and whatever women use is personal thing and women should not be made to feel guilty if they use a bodyform or a tampax

other good sanitary products are available

YABU as it's really none of your business what other people feel about sanitary protection.

Isn't that equally applicable to most AIBU threads - or any other boards, tbh? This is a discussion forum - if you don't want to participate in a discussion about a particular subject, then MN has provided a handy little hide tool. No subject is off limits AFAIK - and I would actively seek out a forum designed for women in order to participate in a discussion about sanitary protection; rather than discuss it on the Land Rover forum I'm also a member of

To say someone IBU because of the subject she has chosen to discuss on a discussion forum is somewhat ironic

women should not be made to feel guilty if they use a bodyform or a tampax

The same could be said about wearing fur, driving a fume-producing car, not recycling, littering and so forth.

The reality is that using towels and tampons does has a detrimental effect on the environment - and a reusable mooncup, or pads, are a more envoronmentally friendly alternative.

Of course, no one can make you feel guilty anyway - if you choose to feel guilty about the choices you make when the implications are highlighted, then that is up to you!

Never used a mooncup and never will. And not one iota of guilt about it.

I'm another one with a cervix in a strange place (it's off at an angle!) and have no problems using the MC. As another poster said, it sits lower in the vagina than a cap does.

I LOVE my MC and will never go back to the alternatives. The first time I heard of them was when I saw a mooncup advert on a loo door in a University building in Brighton (where else?) and that was years ago- probably 10 years or so. I remember finding the idea revolting and something that was definitely only for hippies. Am very glad to say I've been proved wrong; I think they're amazing. Most women I know who use them are equally enthusiastic about them.

I rarely have to empty in a public loo as I can usually go for many hours between empties. I never empty it down a sink. I agree that it totally eliminates any period smells that you get with pads and towels.

And I agree with the poster who said that the blood is really beautiful- it sparkles! I honestly never thought I would say something like that and will obviously sound like a loon but it has brought be more in touch with my body and cycle.

I bought my mooncup 6 months ago and love it, I wish I'd purchased it sooner, it's amazing and has made my periods so much easier.
It's also so much less messy than using tampons. However, early on, I did have a few accidents with when I was removing it but they just made me howl with laughter.
I can't say I've ever heard any squelching noises either!

To those who are wondering how it's removed, I can't speak for everyone else but I hold the stem with one hand and with a finger on my other hand, break the seal, then use that finger to press the side of the cup inwards as it makes it more comfortable for me to remove. The blood is then poured down the toilet and I rinse it out and re-insert. However, if I'm at home and my period is light I often soak it in a cup of hot water for a bit. And yes, I have a cup just for this purpose.

And with regards to those who fed up with all the evangelism on here about Mooncups, I guess it's something you won't understand unless you've tried it. But those who have tried them and love them, will always want to spread the word about them!