To think a menstrual cup has changed my life, just an incy bit.

[fluffypacman]

I'm late to trying one always having thought that it would be a bit yucky. I've finally tried one and after a few attempts at different brands I've now found one that works for me......its revolutionary! Today on holiday I've barely had to think about my period. It's my heaviest day and we've been to the beach. I haven't needed to empty it once. With a tampon I would have needed to bring extras with me and would have worried about them leaking. I feel liberated (couldn't find a suitable forum to talk about this so dumped in aibu, sorry)!

Just wanted to say to anyone who either didn't know about them or thinking of trying, do it!

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Hello. This thread is a little old now. Take a look at our round-up of Mumsnetters’ favourite menstrual cups - with a handy guide to finding and using the right cup for you - for more up-to-date advice. MNHQ.

[Orwellschild]

Diverting again but decidual casts. Just googled. Oh my fuck.

[dontpokethebear]

Can we stop talking about decidual casts?!

[SharingMichelle]

They are so much more civilised than disposable stuff. For environmental reasons alone i would be in Team Menstrual Cup. But they also seem so much more natural and convenient to me. I go camping (proper wild camping - no toilet block) without a thought. I travelled for 6 weeks over the summer, two periods were a total non-issue. No planning, no waste, no wondering if I'm prepared, no expense, no wishing people had bins in their bathroom. I feel like my menstrual cup has let me reclaim my period.

The only downside is that they can take a bit of practice to get the hang of. I gave up twice before finally persevering and getting it.

[Emus]

I didn't get on with a Mooncup, it gives me terrible cramps like trapped wind and is so painful.

I love my Femmecup however. It's slightly smaller than the Mooncup but works so much better for me. I'm surprised how many women still don't know about menstrual cups.

[BikeGeek]

Many report that they're ok for teenagers but I personally found I couldn't use one until I was regularly sexually active (sorry if tmi)

These days there's a lot more variety though so might be easier to find one suitable.

[Halfpastthelegofmyshirt]

I had a Keeper a long time ago before having children and found removing it very uncomfortable. I had another go with a cheapo £10 cup from Amazon and it's been great. It is much better turned inside out tho, no poking sensations - a pp was having stem issues, perhaps try turning it inside out? I just bear down a bit to remove it and have never had any issues.

[Onedaftmonkey]

I have said in hear before but I'm a recent convert to mooncups. I love them. After ds i couldn't use tampons anymore. So I reverted to pads. And was miserable. So on a whim and a mn discussion I bought one and never looked back. Yes they are tricky to first use and once you get over the ick factor it's simple and environmentally sound. I've gone another step and bought reusable pads for when I'm working as I can't always use the loo it's just a precaution and it's never stained but I feel totally secure. I can't recommend it enough. Whatever brand you use. It's all good..

[BertieBotts]

"Surely if you have to try get couple fingers up there to try re fold it its just going squirt blood all over hand and Sleve so can't see how you all get them out without looking like a masacure!"

No it doesn't. It doesn't get that full that it squirts out when you squeeze it, even if it did, the blood would be going up inside you, not down your arm. Plus, you don't fold it quite as tight on the way out either, remember, when you're putting it in you're going big side first so need to make it smaller and pointy. When it's coming out, it's coming pointy side first already. What I tend to do is manoeuvre the pointy end out, then wriggle it side-to-side until I can grab, squash, and then I pop one side of the squished rim out and then it just comes out easily.

You do sometimes get a bit of blood on your fingers during the first couple of days when it's heaviest, but nothing you can't wipe on a bit of loo roll (I normally get a bit ready just in case and balance it on my knee so I don't have to grab the roll with bloody fingers).

Remember the vagina is elastic and it's designed to accommodate much bigger things going in and out. Even a fully open mooncup is smaller than a penis. When you're relaxed and in control of the muscles, insertion and removal doesn't hurt at all.

[noshthis]

Reading this entire thread has inspired me!

Half - What's the amazon cheapo model called??

[RunningLulu]

How does it go in? I got the smallest mooncup (size a i think) but can't seem to get it inside without hurting. Any tips?

[Natsku]

Bearing down like you're doing a poo first helps bring it lower down too so its easier to grab. And trim down the sticky out bit at the bottom as that can be uncomfortable plus I find its not even needed, I don't pull on it, just bear down until I can reach half way up.

And sticking it under the tap to get it all wet before first insertion makes it easier.

And if you do need to empty it in a public toilet you can get special wipes for cleaning it out (I got ones the same brand as my cup - Lunette wipes). And clean it properly every 12 hours with some liquid soap that's suitable for vaginas (so something from the intimate care section in the pharmacy) and after your period is finished its a good idea to boil it for ten minutes to sterilise it (though check the instructions for your cup as not all brands can be boiled)

[Natsku]

And now I just googled decidual casts - if one of those came out of me I'd have been rushing straight to the doctor thinking I'd given birth to an alien baby

[Felascloak]

Punch down fold. Push it right in folded, let it pop open (you can squeeze the base to help) then twist it round to make a seal. The punch down fold makes a narrow point to insert first. When it's folded I hold the base and the fold while inserting until it's in place to pop open.

[whywonthedgehogssharethehedge]

I've a meluna and I love it. I take wipes with me and if I need to change it when out I just tip it into loo then straight reinsert then wipe my hands with the wipes. I then rinse it properly when I get home.

It's made periods easier and far less painful

[BertieBotts]

I would be wary of cheap, unbranded models. I am not normally precious about chemicals and stuff but one of my friends is a petrochemical engineer and she said something sitting inside your body in such a place where there are thin mucous membranes and particularly somewhere that has hormones etc for 24 hours several days in a row is unlikely to be a good idea, and menstrual cups are such a niche product that there is no mandatory testing they need to go through.

I would stick with established, European (possibly North American) brands which use medical grade materials and have been trading for a few years. It's the best indication that we have that it's likely to be safe. Do be aware that many products sold via amazon/ebay/etc come from Asia where standards are not as high as in the EU, and harmful stuff can be present. There's a loophole legally as well where sellers based outside the EU often make claims on their products (such as saying something is "medical grade" or "EU regulation compliant" when it is not).

You can get a Fleurcup for £10 on this site: luxurymoon.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=58_259&products_id=1728

They have Meluna and another brand for £11 as well.

I would stay away from products like this one:
www.amazon.co.uk/Buytra-Silicone-Menstrual-Period-Medium/dp/B0157KCLP4/?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

The only situation I'd be OK with using something like that is if you want to do a very short trial to see if a cup is right for you and you plan to throw it away after a couple of days of use whether you get on with it or not, either to replace with a proper one, or just to skip it. In reality I know I'd likely be too lazy to replace it, and/or feel bad about throwing out something perfectly usable, so I just wouldn't recommend using one in the first place.

[LauraAshleyDuvetCover]

I'm not sexually active and use one, and it can burn a bit when I insert it - I run warm water over mine first, which helps. When it's heavier days it's fine.

A softer/smaller one might be better, but I've used this one for a bit now and know it works well for me.

[PurpleThursday]

Felas I think some makes - maybe Mooncup? Cal that a tulip. Also on YouTube. I have found with trial and error that is the best for me too. I actually think these should be distributed at schools when they talk about condoms etc. Our kids need to be educated. They are just brilliant in every way! Wish I had been brave enough/informed enough to try when I was younger and not over 40! I will never go back

[MaudlinNamechange]

I agree, more people should know about them. For lots of us, it;s not just cheaper and more convenient, but a health issue - trad san pro always left me dealing with thrush, cystitis, or various forms of dermatitis. It is so great not to be using things once a month that are going to harm me.

[UnderslungBowlingBall]

BertieBots
I might be late to the party here but I did read about a lady why managed to control her cervix like her bladder, so she could hold back the blood until she was on the toilet.

[ChoccyJules]

Have tried my new Lunette for two periods now and am still worried it is going in too far. When I look at the diagrams they seem to be much nearer the vag. opening but if I put it there I'd feel it, and people say they can't feel them.

Mine seems to naturally sit quite far in and I do need to bear down and feel around for the stem to get it out; having read on MN not to pull it out by the stem I try to get hold of the bottom and squeeze to release the suction but it's really not easy.

I also can't decide if it's causing cramps or if I would have had them anyway. I have noticed occasional pain, nausea and a funny feeling in my throat, all of which I had after a certain badly-performed smear years ago. Which also makes me wonder if it's too near the cervix.

[BertieBotts]

Underslung That's interesting! I wonder if that's what it is.

Choccy Is your cervix especially low perhaps? You might get on better with an extra short cup, though it's more shelling out.

[Felascloak]

Lunette is quite long so possibly touching your cervix, although if you have to feel about to take it out its obviously not too long for you! Maybe try cutting the stem off then putting it in a bit lower?

[conscientioussuicidee]

Anyone else have a smell issue? After first use in a period ? (Moon cup)

I wash it out every time with hot water antibacterial hand wash and boil it after every period.

I've got a copper coil and it seems the blood- especially early on in period- reeks and it make the cup smell like a dead animal.



I'm clear of infections etc so it's not that or a left over tampon!

[Booboomoogooboo]

I bought a mooncup size A earlier this year and I love it. I have ridiculously heavy periods and this is the only thing that can deal with them. Wish I'd tried one years ago. Only thing is it does leak, so I still have to use a towel at all times just to be safe. Am I doing something wrong, or perhaps should I try a different cup? I seem to be getting a decent seal every time, so I don't understand why it leaks sometimes even when not full. Any advice gratefully received!

[Natsku]

Don't know, I don't tend to sniff it

My lunette goes quite far up at times but hasn't caused any problems when it does so I don't worry about it. Comes down easily enough if I just bear down on the loo.