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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder why mooncups aren't promoted more as affordable sanitary protection?

186 replies

malificent7 · 05/01/2018 18:36

Mine cost £1 from ebay. It was from China so a bit of a wait.

As it is reusable, it would be good for girls from poorer families.

In fact , why arent they promoted in general??

I guess there are a few drawbacks...can be a bit messy . I would never wash them in a public loo sink but they dont need to be washed everytime they are emptied.

Tmi sorry.

OP posts:
Whatslovegottodo · 05/01/2018 20:09

I have a diva cup. Mooncup is just a brand name for menstual cup that has taken over a bit like Hoover for vacuum cleaner. I've had mine 3 years and it is not exaggerating to say it had changed my life.

wherethevioletsgrow · 05/01/2018 20:10

Yep, and the vast majority can breastfeed - but they don’t

Doesn't stop the government pushing breastfeeding though, does it? Even if not everyone used them, they could still be promoted as the most eco-friendly way of dealing with your periods.

Anyway, bf is different. Using a cup instead of a tampon doesn't involve extra pain or inconvenience really. It needs to be emptied less often than a tampon needs to be changed for instance.

AManWalksIntoABarOuch · 05/01/2018 20:11

If the government think it's OK to charge tax on san pro then they are hardly going to actively promote it are they?

CraftyGin · 05/01/2018 20:12

BF is different - it has health benefits.

Gwenhwyfar · 05/01/2018 20:13

"They’re easy to insert, remove and keep clean."

For you.

Beansonapost · 05/01/2018 20:14

I can't imagine a teenager wanting to wash a menstrual cup at school.

StringandGlitter · 05/01/2018 20:15

I mentioned about mine at work and some women in my team hadn’t heard of them and reacted like I was disgusting!

NoughtTimesNought · 05/01/2018 20:15

hmm... not sure how inserting a mooncup into the vagina might translate across to women/girls in the third world. Something tells me there would be huge cultural resistance to the very idea of it, not saying its right but its the sort of thing that could prohibit its use?

wherethevioletsgrow · 05/01/2018 20:15

You're right. They most likely don't give a shit about it.
But if you think about the fact that there are probably around 15-20 million menstruating women in the country. Each of them must throw away around 15-20 tampons or pads each month, some more than this. That is a LOT of waste product that could be eliminated if people used cups. Plus all the idiots who flush tampons have led to huge blockages in sewers that are expensive to clear.

NoughtTimesNought · 05/01/2018 20:18

Is there any data on Tampax usage in poorer countries?

AManWalksIntoABarOuch · 05/01/2018 20:18

I have to say, I don't tend to empty mine when I'm out and about. If I needed to I'd just take a bottle of water in with me to rinse it. I would never rinse it in a public sink. You don't need to wash it every time anyway, a rinse is fine.

wherethevioletsgrow · 05/01/2018 20:18

BF is different - it has health benefits

Mooncups have environmental benefits which come to impact on public health. There is a public interest in reducing waste.

I can't imagine a teenager wanting to wash a menstrual cup at school

In most cases, there is no need because it holds the same as about three normal tampons so you can go longer without changing it. But otherwise, you can just wipe it off with loo roll or have a water bottle in your bag to rinse it. Anyway, I am not saying it should necessarily be aimed at teens as it might take some getting used to.

treaclesoda · 05/01/2018 20:19

I can't imagine a teenager wanting to wash a menstrual cup at school.

They wouldn't need to though. Most teenagers could probability get through the entire school day without even emptying it. They hold far more than tampons absorb.

And if they did need to empty it, there is no rustling paper wrapper and no need to rinse it so in that respect it's pretty much ideal for teenagers at school.

I can imagine they'd be reluctant to try it though.

TheEagle · 05/01/2018 20:19

How do the reusable pads work?

Do you have to keep the soiled one in a bag if you change it at work? Do they wash well?

I have extremely heavy flow post babies and I would feel nervous with a cup. Plus I just don’t want to put anything up there any more!

bubblesdrew · 05/01/2018 20:19

Just ordered one. I have horrible long period so hoping this is the answer x

NoughtTimesNought · 05/01/2018 20:20

also, where will they be emptying their mooncup ? its not like in the Western world where you have a private toilet with sinks and running water....methinks you've got more chance of catching an infection through Mooncup usage in poorer countries.

thelastredwinegum · 05/01/2018 20:22

@onemoreone I know I mentioned Mirena, I should've worded it better. I've never tried a mooncup as I don't have periods since having it fitted.
I will give it a try when it's removed though.

WhatALoadOfOldBollocks · 05/01/2018 20:22

I’m scared to use one in case I can’t get it out again

Provided you get one that has some way of grabbing it you should be fine. I almost got into trouble with my Mooncup when I cut the tail almost completely off (because it was digging in and rubbing me) and I found it really hard to grip it. After the 2nd time of almost being at the point of getting a HCP to remove it for me I thought sod it and bought a Meluna with a ring pull bottom and that's perfect. No rubbing and easy to grip to remove. I think they also do different length ones to take into account different length vaginas.

HidingFromTheWorld · 05/01/2018 20:22

shouldnthavesaid - I have bladder and bowel issues, but never have any difficulties using the Mooncup. It’s so much better now I don’t suffer with using towels or tampons.

It’s worth a try. It may not be suitable for you, but it could be hugely beneficial.

nevereverafter · 05/01/2018 20:25

Before you all get carried away, they’re not for everyone

I don't think anyone has suggested they are. 💁🏻

I think they should be promoted more. I hadn't heard of them until I read about them on Mumsnet about 3 years ago. I'm a huge fan.

NerrSnerr · 05/01/2018 20:26

Caster Semenya promotes usage of menstrual cups for teenagers in Africa. http://www.princessdmenstrualcup.com/PrincessD%20FlyerCaster%20Semenyaa_2017.pdf

I don’t have periods at the moment but prefer to use pads.

Youresovain · 05/01/2018 20:28

I would love to try one but I read some reviews on Amazon and some people ended up in A&E having it surgically removed by a nurse Shock I'm so paranoid it puts me off!

babyturtles · 05/01/2018 20:28

I bought a £30 moon cup a few years ago and didn't get on with it. and then lost it.

I bought a cheap £1 ish chinese knock off from amazon this year and LOVE it. I bought it at the same time as a new Mooncup one but needed one NOW with Prime, and I actually like the chinese cheapy one more. It's smaller and far more suitable for me than the "1 size fits all" Mooncup.

I like it that much, my new mooncup is still in its little bag from when I bought it.

Redrosebelle · 05/01/2018 20:30

Can I ask some questions about them??
sometimes when I have my period tampons feel heavy and almost like they are dropping out a bit. When I have a wee it feels even worse. Do moon cups fall out or slip too??
Do they ever get stuck?

wherethevioletsgrow · 05/01/2018 20:30

Thanks, NerrSnerr that is so good to hear. And for the person who talked about infections, that poster mentions some of the alternatives that women use- newspapers and rags for instance. They have no access to sanitary protection and they cannot afford it so they will use other means. I would think the mooncup would reduce infection. You can boil it to get rid of germs for instance.

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