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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To give up on the Mooncup?

47 replies

Grilledkippers · 12/07/2013 14:56

So I had never heard of the 'Mooncup' until browsing on here so I thought I'd give it a go. Great idea in theory - makes perfect sense! Getting the thing is great - removing is just a nightmare. At least 5 minutes of delving and then plunging in with both hands to release the vacuum and remove. Quite messy and a little stressful. Have popped it away in a cupboard - does this get easier - is there a knack to the fanjo delving? Also what do you do when out in public loos/work - how does the cleaning work?

OP posts:

Levvylife · 12/07/2013 14:58

Persevere - totally worth it. I can literally forget I'm on. You shouldn't have to be rummaging around for it, are you putting it too far up?

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 12/07/2013 14:58

You need to give it a few months to get used to it so no, don't give up...in the long run they are much more convenient!

To remove just squeeze the base and it will lose the vacuum seal, easy!!

At work our loo and sink is in the same room so it's fine but if I am anywhere where the sink is outside the cubicle I just give it a wipe with loo roll or sometimes I have wipes with me.

I just give mine a good clean after every cycle, rinsing in the middle....been using for almost a year now and have it all down to a fine art.

theodorakisses · 12/07/2013 16:17

You may as well have posted on mn saying breast feeding is messy and uncomfortable. Prepare to be slaughtered.

jammiedonut · 12/07/2013 16:21

Is it too far up? Cleaning wise you could always rinse with bottled water straight into the loo if you don't want to use a public sink and give your hands a good wash before and after. Fingers crossed it gets easier, practice definitely makes perfect with mooncups, I managed to tip mine straight into my pants first time I emptied it, luckily I was at home!

YoniBottsBumgina · 12/07/2013 16:23

It is scary at first but it definitely gets easier. Don't use it if you're likely to need to change out and about until you feel confident with it.

The secret is to "push" like childbirth (or a poo!) lots of little pushes rather than one big one. It inches it lower, then you should be able to grab with one finger and thumb, squeeze to break the seal, and wriggle it out.

YoniBottsBumgina · 12/07/2013 16:25

Breastfeeding IS messy and uncomfortable when you first start! Maybe there's a parallel there... :o

AutumnMadness · 12/07/2013 16:40

My method of removing is such: While sitting on the loo, slowly inch one finger upwards towards the rim of the cup, then press on the rim until the squelchy sound indicates that the vacuum seal has been broken. Then quickly pinch the base with two fingers, quite firmly, and gently and slowly pull it out, one side first, then the other like they show in the instruction video. Seems to work.

Mia4 · 12/07/2013 17:17

Squeeze and twist tends to work with mine, but YANBU to do what you want. I often only wear at night due to the irritation, and i'm being graphically honest here, of having to faff about so much when taking a shit at work and wearing one-bloody impossible when you're a 3-4 a dayer like me!

QueenStromba · 12/07/2013 17:44

TMI alert. I found at the start that if I really couldn't get it out then having a poo would push it down to where it was more easily reached. It's perfectly safe to leave it in until you do need a poo - you'll just need a towel if it starts to overflow. Squatting and bearing down down also helps.

It takes a few periods to get the hang of it but once you do it's the next best thing to not having a period. After a couple of periods I realised that for some reason I could get it out easier with my left hand than my right even though I'm right handed. I must have a slightly wonky vagina or something - maybe you do too.

badguider · 12/07/2013 17:48

squeeze and twist works for me :)

brilliantwhite · 12/07/2013 17:49

i wouldnt of even started with the mooncup tbh it sounds dreadful.

Calamitykate · 12/07/2013 17:54

YANBU.

I tried it. It went in fine. It stayed in place. It didn't leak. It formed a really strong seal/vacuum but I got it out fine. I was thrilled.

Once.

Once, this happened.

For the rest of that period and for every period after, it leaked an was generally a PITA. I really tried to get on with it but I was SO happy to go back to tampons.

CHJR · 12/07/2013 18:58

Do you have a "tipped uterus" ie cervix points back vs forward? Makes it not impossible but harder.

Kithulu · 12/07/2013 19:07

Took me a good few months to get used to it. But I wouldn't use anything else now.

Scrubber · 12/07/2013 19:33

When you are removing it, it helps to push it down with your fanjo muscles and push the side in to break the seal. Keep trying, I hated it at first but now it's easy.

Scrubber · 12/07/2013 19:35

Push the side in with a finger I mean, not your fanjo!

NeverQuiteSure · 12/07/2013 19:36

You may as well have posted on mn saying breast feeding is messy and uncomfortable. Prepare to be slaughtered.

^ ha ha ha ha ha ha

BegoniaBampot · 12/07/2013 20:23

Agree, I'm three months in and it is hard and very messy to remove. Blood can get everywhere, all over your fingers etc. even had blood spatter in a blouse when I was out - nice.

valiumredhead · 12/07/2013 20:34

Are you bearing down and pinching the bottom to break the seal?

valiumredhead · 12/07/2013 20:35

I never get any on my fingers at all, what on earth are you doing to get it everywhere?

Original poster

Grilledkippers · 12/07/2013 20:42

Thanks for your advice will try & persevere with it. It takes a while to get a good grip & my fingers can't really get a good hold - slipping & sliding all over. Sorry tmi! Perhaps I have pushed it too far up. The pushing does move it down but it seems like hard work! Onwards...

OP posts:

TotallyBursar · 12/07/2013 20:43

Blimey some of you have had some trials...not to mention the suction that seems to be going on.

I love my mooncup and will not go back to other sanpro but if it's not working for you (& if advice upthread is no help) and you're not happy then absolutely change to whatever method suits you the best. Yes practice makes perfect but you just may not like it (both hands up there you say?) Why would you be BU? I mean, you can stick whatever you fancy up there.

I would only think you were being U if you said mooncups were bollocks because you personally couldn't use them - but my feelings on that aren't limited to mooncups, and you said nothing of the sort obviously.

BegoniaBampot · 12/07/2013 20:44

Find it too painful to just pull out (though haven't tried pinching the bottom to break the seal). Have to stick fingers up, pushe side in and twist, by this time the blood is everywhere. How can you not get blood on your hands or fingers, or on the floor, or on your blouse unless you have an exceptionally big and tough foo foo!

TotallyBursar · 12/07/2013 20:45

Another fucking x post.

Sorry I have ISP rage issues - connection problems make you look a right knob on forums.

CreatureRetorts · 12/07/2013 20:48

I'm not brave enough to try one. One day.... However tampons and pads make my fanjo "throb" I think it's all the chemicals.

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