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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Are mooncups overrated or am I incompetent? (Bit gross)

97 replies

1wokeuplikethis · 03/07/2017 10:29

I bought a mooncup on Friday for my period that started that day. Have heard great reviews and seen many mn-ers raving about them & love the concept entirely. But holy hell have I had a bloody (pun intended) nightmare with it.

Bought big fanjo size because I'm over 30 & had 2 vaginal births. Put it in and couldn't feel it; great! 30mins later I was suffering horrendous cramps radiating through my lower back akin to labour pains. Took pain relief, took the cup out & reinserted in case I had done it wrong, followed the origami of folding the thing and heard the seal...squelching (soz). Pain was so bad I felt sick. Couldn't sleep, eventually at 2am I took it out & shoved a tampon in.
Saturday morning, I was still in agony, so carried on with tampons & the pain had worn off by the evening so I put the mooncup back in. Had a coughing fit a few minutes later and felt it practically shoot out. Ran to toilet with fingers trying to hold it back in and the frigging stem scratching my innards to shreds.
Emptied, chopped off entire stem & reinserted. Ran my finger round and it was definitely in and sealed but I could still feel it and only felt comfortable lying on the sofa BUT then it leaked.

Basically, since Friday I have spent my period switching between the cup & tampons because the pain was unbearable, it was uncomfortable to have in and the times that it felt comfortable, it leaked!

I am a stubborn sod and not prepared to throw the (sanitary) towel in yet. Also ignored manufacturers advice to use it for the last 2 day and of my period for the first try because I know my vagina/insides/workings/flow etc and thought I'd just jump straight in.

Mooncup users and lovers... I summon you! What is going wrong here? I really want this to work. But with the pain and the leaking, I'm getting disheartened. Any advice?

OP posts:

amusedbush · 04/07/2017 16:13

The Mooncup wasn't for me at all - too long, wide and uncomfortably firm. Felt like I was trying to shove a dinner plate up there and it clamped everything closed so I couldn't even pee with it in.

I switched to a softer Meluna cup, in their "shorty" version. It's tiny and much more pliable than the Mooncup and I get on so much better with it. It took some practice to "pop" it open as it's so soft but I got there.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 04/07/2017 16:15

On the odd occasion I can feel the 'pop' as the it unfolds so I'm careful to run my finger round the edge why do you run your finger round it?

Wickedstepmum67 · 04/07/2017 18:19

Been using a mooncup for over a decade now and never had any major problems with it. That said, I also know women who simply cannot get on with them at all. I'm wondering if your cramps were coincidental to using the cup rather than caused by it? It does also seem you could be positioning it a bit too low if it pops out - your muscles should hold it in place. I do get a bit of leakage at times, especially at night, so that can be a bit annoying. As to keeping it clean, I find washing it thoroughly and then soaking in a mix of warm water and ordinary vinegar does the trick. As I say, they are not for everyone and whilst I'd say give it another go, if it is really not for you there are other 'green' products out there.

FaintlyBaffled · 04/07/2017 18:39

I hate mine
I bought one because MN raved about them and I only ever wear tampons so it seemed a no brainer.
However it's dirty, unpleasant, messy, not overly comfortable, leaks on occasion and is generally such a pain that I would have binned it long ago if I wasn't raging at the amount it cost

PenguinDi · 04/07/2017 18:44

I don't use the 'C' fold in the leaflet, if you are having trouble inserting it try the Punch down fold that one works better for me and I can get it into position better.

Are mooncups overrated or am I incompetent? (Bit gross)

Mycarsmellsoflavender · 04/07/2017 19:43

I do try to turn it, damediazepam, after reading about it on here. I just can't seem to consistently get it in right. Sometimes I think I've got it right and then it falls out half an hour later. Sometimes it works fine but I can't tell what the difference is. I'll keep trying anyway...

Aquamarine1029 · 04/07/2017 19:43

My god, the pain you suffered sounds fucking awful! I think I would have given up and binned the damn thing.

Tazerface · 05/07/2017 11:08

Dame - only because mine is 'soft' and it's not easy to rotate once in - it's easier to run my finger round to check it's opened fully.

FairfaxAikman · 05/07/2017 11:22

Diva cup with the stem cut off here.
It's never leaked.
TBH I'm not sure how I would manage my job (male dominated industry) without it as there are times I am in the middle of a project, which means I may be miles from a loo and unable to nip away anyway.
Being able to go 12 hours is a godsend.
As PP have said here's less cramping too.

I use the punch down fold and insert it practically horizontally, rather than at the angle a tampon would be at.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 05/07/2017 11:34

Tazerface ah right, that makes sense, I thought it was a thing I should be doing but wasn't

dollydaydream114 · 05/07/2017 16:37

I had cramps with a mooncup too - tried two different types over four months, both gave me cramping. I have had very occasional similar cramps with tampons, but only briefly when I'm taking them out.

I also found them messy and, for me personally, inconvenient.

I know loads of women love them and that's great but it's such a personal thing - we're all different.

TicketyBoo83 · 05/07/2017 17:23

I tried a few different cups last year and managed to get them in/out ok. I binned them all cos no matter what I did I just couldn't wee with one in! I'm a teacher so need to be able to pop to the loo quickly between classes, I don't have time to remove and reinsert every time I need to go (especially with the amount of coffee I drink! )

I bought a bundle of cloth and bamboo washable sanitary towels online and have switched to them instead. I bloody love them and my cramp seems to be better too. They are a bit bulkier than disposable ones so I need to watch what I wear - no tight trousers for me!

IonaNE · 05/07/2017 17:32

Didn't work for me, leaked all the time. Then I realised that due to its conical shape this is inevitable whenever stool arrives at your rectum - so it might work if you produce stool only in the morning, at the same time, before you insert the mooncup. Plus what do you do on trains, shopping centres, even at work - I don't want to use the disabled toilet all the time, nor do I want to dig up into myself after having touched a door handle of dubious hygiene. Oh, and, btw, you can't leave any feedback other than positive on the mooncup website - they won't publish it.

ISaySteadyOn · 05/07/2017 17:50

Well, they definitely aren't for dyspraxic women. I tried and I can't spend a half hour just trying to insert it while crying tears of frustration.

SoMuchWaiting · 05/07/2017 20:29

I do think it can be the cup rather than how it's in place.

My Mooncup gave me cramps which I initially thought was just a coincidence, I was on my period after all. After having cramps so bad that I thought i was going to be sick with the pain I bought an Organicup as I read that it's much softer. For me the Organicup was too soft and no matter how hard I tried I only managed to get it to fully pop open once. I then tried the Ruby cup which has been perfect for me. I was at a wedding the first day I used it and wearing a light coloured dress I was so nervous but thankfully didn't have a single leak or any pain. I just wish I'd have trusted it more as worrying about it put a dampener on the day for me.

I'm pregnant at the moment and hoping that I'll still have as much luck with the Ruby cup after I give birth.

Rhayader · 05/07/2017 20:39

There is definitely an art to it. Had mine 4/5 months now and I perfected it after 3 periods.

You dont want to put it in too deep and then i rotate it a few times to make sure its fully popped open then slightly pull down to ensure a good seal.

My cramps which were debilitating before, have completely gone. flow is much less as well. I'm such a convert, i could never go back to tampons. Just the thought of pulling one out send shivers up my spine.

cupcake007 · 05/07/2017 21:38

Ok this is a bit gross but mine leaks unless I squeeze the air out! I put it in, quite high, then push down like you're doing a poo whilst holding it in place with a finger. Usually I hear the air come out (oh the shame!!) and then it's ok.

I occasionally get cramps with mine and I just take it out and try again the next day.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 06/07/2017 00:53

WTAF?

Plus what do you do on trains, shopping centres, even at work

Empty it,wipe with some loo roll and re insert.

revolution909 · 06/07/2017 01:12

Bought one at boots last month. It was fine! No leaking, no pain and didn't have to cut the stem (I'm very "deep"). I'm not using it this time as supposedly can cause my IUD to dislodge, now that would be a pain!

bananafish81 · 06/07/2017 01:19

Nearly shredded my vulva with a mooncup

Ignored the packaging which said as I was over 30 I should get the larger size (regardless of not having had a delivery of any kind, vaginal or no), because apparently at the age of 30 your vag magically expands?!

Anyway I ignored this and bought the smaller one

Fucking hell. Trying to get the bastard in was agony, then getting it out ended up with a teeny tear in my fourchette

First wee immediately after changing the cup was like pissing battery acid. Every time.

I would never have used a cup in the first place if I hadn't had to use one to monitor my flow for by gynaecologist as part of my fertility treatment.

I persisted and bought a Meluna cup because that came in smaller sizes. Vulva less shredded but still a vile experience

I have no problem with sex or tampons, but menstrual cups were hideous for me. I got absolutely no benefit from them whatsoever. Except for period gunk under my nails. I got the technique better, but I failed to derive any benefits whatsoever from using them over the course of several months. There was no redeeming feature for me

Messy, inconvenient and although fine once in, desperately uncomfortable to insert and remove

Tampons and pantliners do the job perfectly. And didn't leave me in tears (in both senses of the word)

Great that they work for many women, but there wasn't one good thing I could say about my experience of menstrual cups

SoMuchWaiting · 06/07/2017 08:14

Revolution909 The Dr who was discussing fitting me with a copper coil suggested using a Mooncup and said that she recommends them to every lady she fits coils into. She said that as long as you release the seal before pulling it out it'll be fine. I admit that I never used the two alongside each other but lots of women must do it.

Wawawaa · 06/07/2017 08:30

I've been using the large Lunette cup for a couple of days now. I did have some leaking. After taking it out last night I just felt so sore I couldn't bare to put it back in so used a pad. Maybe the taking out needs practice. I guess you're supposed to scrunch it up But it's easier said than done and tends to come out leaving me quite sore.

Yes bananafish, why do they assume that people over 30 need the big and stiff cup?? I think I am quite small in that department but wanted to follow the advice. I do think I should have gone for the smaller soft Lunette cup or will maybe try the Meluna. I would have been less sore today!

Tough to trial and error them though as they are so expensive!

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