to ditch my mooncup because it stinks of rotting dead bodies?

[fanjolina]

I've tried, I really have tried to get in with the mooncup.

I've got over the ickiness of blood on my hand (and all over the bathroom when it once 'pinged' whilst full).

But my god, by day 5 - the smell!! It seriously stinks like rotting dead bodies. And it's the mooncup itself (I did a sniff test).

Others can smell it too. I was getting weird looks on the bus this morning and at work today people have been commenting on a foul smell.

I swear that apart from the rubber mooncup my vagina is as fresh as a daisy. It's not rotten - but the mooncup is.

So AIBU to ditch it and return to tampons?

All women are different and periods are different in volume, colour and smell. I am quite sure there is nothing wrong with OP and personally I envy those who appears to have periods without any smell and whose moon cups don't smell. The description of "rotten meat smell" is unfortunately quite familiar to me.

ImTooHecsy, I disagree, I think sticking bleached, compressed wads of cotton up yourself is disgusting. A silicone cup is much safer, it doesn't dry out the sensitive balance and it doesn't leech chemicals.

fanjolina, how often do you empty it? Perhaps you could try emptying it more often. I empty mine 1-2 times per day depending on flow (and if I remember!).

(I would not advise using tampons at night, but I am very anti-tampon! When I was a teenager the health nurse at my school always warned against tampons at night to avoid the dreaded TSS or Tampon-ilness. Though that might a warning for those who wear tampons all day)

And have your tried moon cup support? They might have some good ideas for your issue - do report back if you get anywhere.

fanjo, wash the damn thing really well, preferably with a good anti-bac soap. Make sure you clean up by the little holes around the rim. Once its clean, chuck it in some milton or some weak bleach solution. Then rinse thoroughly to remove all residue.

In future, change every 4-6 hours, just as you would with other sanpro. Give it a good wash when you are about to shower in the morning (or in the bath at night) using soap. While you are in the shower/bath, chuck it in some milton for 5/10 minutes.

I have no idea what a mooncup is but the thought of one creeps me out. Any kind of 'cup' moon shaped or not shouldn't nest in a fanjo.

I have an horrible imagine of them. I get very paranoid when I'm on that people can smell me, know its me and that I'm on.

I sterilise mine with Milton. According to google (don't ask what I was searching for) if it still smells a bit it's best to sit in somewhere in the sun

My mooncups get a good soaping in the shower in the morning, and in the bath at night. I know it isn't recommended to use any perfumed products etc, but thankfully I am Teflon Fanny and have had no ill effects.

I know you've already realised how often you should have been emptying it - but I also wash mine most times I empty it, with warm water and soap (and rinse well). I only don't do this if i'm in a public loo without water and soap in the cubicle.

I empty and wash it morning, after work, bedtime... and I think i'm pretty relaxed to be honest... should probably add in a lunchtime empty.

I'm going to get one!!

Like I said, I'm worried about coming out of the toilet with an over flowing cup, as it's in separate room to bathroom.

So...if I just emptied it down toilet, then washed hands, except morning and night when I can wash it, then sterilise after every period, would that be alright?

am finding tampons so uncomfortable these days.

Noel your mooncups? how many fannies do you have?

Heh just the one fanny

I do have two mooncups though, an A and a B which I chop and change between. I only wear them one at a time though, promise

Wow, things move fast here! When I started writing my last post, this thread was 2 pages, when I clicked submit, it was 4 pages!

Anyways, pleased you have found the root of your problem, OP, and well done for not taking offence with any of the posts in this thread ;)

Maters - they are quite non-stick, I do rinse mine each change but if you are washing it thoroughly twice daily should be plenty. I might be tempted to give it a quick swish with loo roll to remove any old blood but tbh what difference 0.1ml of residue would make is probably negligable, as long as you empty it frequently that should be fine.

You wouldn't need to leave the toilet with a full cup though! Still chuck it down the loo.But the rest of that manoeuver would be a royal pita.

I think my mooncup smell is way more offensive than anything written in response to my OP!!

I'm just very pleased to have an explanation. Thank you oh wondrous women of MN.

I love my moon cup. It's taken a while to get the knack of using it especially removal but they are fantastic.

Op wowzers, glad you've got sorted. Make sure you rinse all the little holes round the top edge as they tend to get bunged up with tissue/mucus which won't help the pong factor.

I bleached mine after it discoloured a bit, it's never smelt funny though.

That is the problem! I just once left it for 12 hours and it reeked!!! I thought I never get rid of the smell . You need to change it every 8 hours then.

iam so sorry but this post has just confirmed for me that iam right not to give a moon cup a try.even the name makes me feel un-well! (So sorry ladies)

That's alright diamond! Your fanjo, your choice

Tbh I don't wash mine all of the time. Just empty and wipe mostly, then rinse when I remember, and boil occasionally. It still doesn't honk though. It doesn't smell at all!

And I would never EVER clean it with a weak bleach solution!!!

sweet jesus

OP, maybe trim it. I use 2 super tampons at a go, new technique

like you i cant face thought of mooncup in my philip starck style WHITE loos at work

"Hi Jane, dont mind the blood, just washing my mooncup"

Really glad your problem has been solved OP! Can't believe you didn't read the instructions first though!!! Anyway, I have v light periods too and mooncup never gets full, but I wash it thoroughly with soap and hot water every time I change it (as long as it's convenient). TMI but I find that the little holes round the top get 'bunged up' and a bit of frothy soap is the only thing that will get them clean. I also boil it for 5 mins between each period.

Should add, I change it at least every 8 hours, usually about every 5.

And it has never, ever smelt bad.

Reads thread. Passes out.