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?

I kind of break the suction on mine then wiggle it side to side to get it out rather than front to back
Easier to do if sat on toilet and (god I hate this phrase) bearing down a little

Yuk.this thead has convinced me even more never to try a moon cup.
Gross beyond words

I went on holiday to a remote country with a lot of rank hole inthe floor toilets and I managed just fine with my Mooncup despite having extremely heavy (pre menopause ) periods. I carried a bottle of water and wet wipes in ziplock bags plus some Tampax/towels as standbys. It was messy at times but very doable.

Soaking in weak washing powder solution then a quick boil in water makes them look new again (same one for 4 yrs).

Did I mention that I think mooncups are marvellous.

may I ask what you boil them in??
just a pan of water?
chuck in the kettle?

have been contemplating one too..

Matersmate I've seen suggested that people take a bottle of water to rinse the mooncup in e.g. work loos. Might you get away with that in front of the kids?
I'd also have some wet wipes available for the first couple of changes while you get used to it.

Personally, I've found I smell less when using a menstrual cup (I've got a meluna, not a mooncup). Whenever using tampons or towels, I could smell I was on. All gone with my lovely cup.

Sockreturningpixie Sorry it took a while to come back but RL intervened (Cubs night). My main question is how can you tell what size you need for a mooncup/equivalent? Judging by some of the comments here,a Meluna might work as it appears softer (I seem to have pelvic floor issues lately. I also have a copper coil, don't know if that would affect anything.

Load o balls - I don't boil. I've finally found a use for the top and tail bowl it was insisted we needed when DS1 arrived. I fill with water, and a slosh of milton (well, own brand equivalent) for a couple of hours, rinse well, air dry and then store til required. It removes the slight tinge it picks up when in use, and means I don't need to bring it into the kitchen!

And I meant to add thanks for your help. I hit return too soon as I was typing in the dark.

Excuse my ignorance - how do you remove a rubber blood filled cup from your fuff without spillage and general.bloody unpleasantness? surely if at work for example, you empty and reinsert without washing, you are going to exit the cubicle with bloody hands?

Removing it is one, because all the blood is on the inside of the cup- you're gripping the outside. Tip it out like you would anything else- ie don't throw it all over your fingers

There may be a bit of blood on your fingers when reinserting, but if you've been quick with the emptying then its not much. Certainly a wipe with some loo roll would suffice until you get out to the sink- honestly, no one would know.

IME I found using tampons to be FAR messier- I found that clots would loiter behind the tampon, and would flood out when it was removed. The mooncup catches these.

Sorry for the TMI, I'm a 'sharer'.

Removing it is fine that should say ^

oh :/ I've had mine years and wear it constantly. The only time I've ever had a smell from it was when I forgot to remove it at the end of my period - the damned thing was in there for 3 days. Woah, that was RIPE man.

I've not read the whole thing but just wanted to say I love my mooncup! Had it 5 years, no fuss, no smell and it does not make me dry down there. I also wear it when out doing fieldwork, I tend to wear a towel as well as I'm often away from the loo all day.

Now for the grim TMI part, if I'm out all day and I can't empty it. It just seems to dribble over the top unlike tampons when you can have that flood, it also does not weigh down when full like tampons and leave you with a dodgy John Wayne walk. Also as the MC sits so high I can have a wilderness wee without removing it. You can't do that with tampons unless you like having wee soaked cotton wool up you chuff all day and out in a remote beautiful part of the world I can hardly dispose of the tampon. Just be vary careful when removing a full to the brim mooncup.

I take mine out while showering and wash in a mix of gentle wash and tea tree oil. Tea tree is antibacterial anti fungal and also treats infections like thrush. It gets sterilised at the end of my period and does not smell at all.

Don't abandon your mooncup!

I hated the mooncup - felt like a sink plunger up my hoo-ha and i could feel the stem even though i cut it right down.

I switched to a Meluna Soft and haven't looked back. I found it much easier to insert and comfortable to wear than the mooncup.

Fry, you chose the size based on weight and if you have had children or ever been pregnant.

Mooncup and most brands only do 2 sizes but meluna have (in the uk) 4 available sizes but I believe they are soon to make a extra small teen cup available.

If you have a decent pelvic floor have never had children and are a size 12 ish or under then a small should be fine, same size but previous pregnancy and a medium should do it.

If you have had a few kids or pregnancies you may be better with a large.or extra large the ex large is also perfect for woman who are very heavey and have children.

As to the Squidgey aspect the sport is best for seriously fit women with very good pelvic floors the classic is good for those of us who get out of breath when running for a bus and the soft is great for those who are quite sensitive or have pelvic floors like mine( shocking no running or sneezing for me)

You can choose 3 different grab bits at the base a stem ideal for new users as you can trim to your own comfort length lots even cut the stem right off, a ring ideal for those who struggle with ick factor as you just hook it with your finger and wobble to break suction or a ball not quite sure why I like that one but its the one I picked.

They are also a lot cheaper than most other brands off the top of my head they are about £11 at normal price but lots of places often have offers on them.

Luxurymoon often have a cup and pad offer( usually its a mooncup but of you message them they are very helpful and may agree to do a offer with a meluna cup)

Feminine wear bung sweets in your delivery packet and a little notepad.

Does anyone know why it says on the boots website that its suitable for women aged 30+? Am I too young to use it?

Sockreturningpixie Thanks for all the info. Looks like I'll need a classic large or Ex (fat but can run a little ).

I assume that different flow rates can be accommodated by one cup? IE empty more often when heavy, etc?

Through I think that's referring to the size A - everyone over 30 (and anyone who has had a vaginal birth) should be using that one according to the makers. Size B is for the under 30/ non vag birth gang.

Yes there's a 'gang'

Because boots are not exactly known for great advice about sanpro.

Mooncup themselves state the product is perfectly ok for young teens even those who have just started having periods.

That's correct fry but also the larger sizes do hold more as well.

Through are you looking at the larger size? That is recommended if you have had a baby or are over 30 (did my foof magically expand on my 30th birthday)? There is a smaller size as well.

But laughed out loud at Paris with "I can't face thought of mooncup in my philip starck style WHITE loos at work - "Hi Jane, dont mind the blood, just washing my mooncup" "

I love mine! Despite a few little niggles occasionally, it is still much less hassle than anything else, much less stinky than pads, much better for the environment, and I love not having to spend money on all that stuff any more!

Mater (I think?) who was asking about separate bathroom and toilet - once you have got the hang of it, you may find it's easiest just to change it in the bathroom, separately from going to the toilet, and empty it down the sink plughole instead. I often do this anyway at home - well, it gets washed in the sink anyway, and that way you don't have to worry about the red pool that sometimes gets left in the bottom of the toilet if you don't have a strong flush (which is one of the few things I don't like about using them).