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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

For me to not trim the stem on my moon cup?

109 replies

Elephant17 · 10/01/2018 23:10

Never used one before, thought I'd give it a dry run (so to speak) to get the hang of it a bit before period actually starts...

I can feel the stem but it's not painful, I think I would get used to the sensation of it being there. I find it difficult to take out even with the stem intact, I don't know how I'd do it without?? I don't like the thought of squatting down in a public toilet.... but will leaving it make the cup dislodge and more prone to leaking?

Does anyone know if there's a reason, other than for comfort, that the stem mustn't extend out of the vagina??

OP posts:

GetShitDone · 11/01/2018 07:49

Ferrier, I know your question has been answered but I just wanted to say that I have no idea how or why, but I have gone from having a day and a half of real discomfort, to a couple of hours of being aware. I guess there's a possibility that it might be a coincidence, but so many women have a similar experience that I feel its unlikely.

RavenLG · 11/01/2018 07:59

I trimmed the stem on mine but not all the way. I know it generally says Mooncups sot lower than tampons but mine seems to get lodged right up in there throughout the day. My DP jokes I must have a powerful vagina

I don’t understand how people who are crying over it being “gross” exist on a daily basis. Your period is a natural bodily function, and personally I find the thought of shoving a wad of cotton and chemicals up my fanjo or having a bit of crinkly plastic and chemicals sellotaped to my pants, taking it out, wrapping it up and keeping it in the bin festering for a week (and it then goes on to fester in the landfill for hundreds of years) much more gross.

Original poster

Elephant17 · 11/01/2018 08:20

To the person who asked about emptying it out in the school sink- like others have said, for many people it only needs to be changed before and after work (or school), and if she has a heavier flow, all she needs to do is empty, wipe and reinsert, but if she prefers the idea of being 'cleaner' she could bring a bottle of water with her to rinse it with in the cuticle, or even a flushable baby wipe etc.

I think the misconception about needing to clean it in the sink each time is also a reason why people think it's impractical and gross but it's not the case.

I can't really work out why anyone wouldn't want to try them, once it's cleared up they won't be needing to publicly clean them! Apart from perhaps the initial getting used to/understanding how to insert and pull out (which is hardly the end of the world) I can't understand why people would say 'it's still not for me' as many of my friends have. Maybe just fear of change??

OP posts:

CourtneyLoveIsMySpiritAnimal · 11/01/2018 08:31

How do you go about changing and washing your mooncup out in the school bogs at breaktime without making a mess/everyone knowing that's exactly what you're doing at the sinks?

At my son's school, which was only built in the last 6 years or so, all the toilets are individual cubicles with the sink inside the cubicle, so it's completely private. I would imagine quite a few schools are like this now.

sinceyouask · 11/01/2018 08:36

I really want to get a cup, at the age of 36 I seem to have developed a sensitivity to tampons and pads and spend my period being itchy and sore. But I really don't k ow what kind and size to get!

Lules · 11/01/2018 09:00

Well elephant because the advantages you’ve listed aren’t important to me. I get hardly any period pain, a big box of tampons costs £3ish, I don’t get through a whole box each time and I’m not short of money anyway.

I do however have a very heightened sense of smell when I get my period so the smell of blood makes me feel sick so I want to do everything I can to minimise the time I have to smell it. For the same reason I hate pads.

Solo · 11/01/2018 09:19

Ditto everything that has been said about 'school bogs' and thanks for answering. It's about educating your child, surely? I'd love to start Dd off with reusable pads but, the thought of her having to carry around (possibly) several used pads in her school bag each period day, and then someone throwing her bag around or going through it and the crap that would likely follow that, fills me with dread for her so, a Mooncup or similar seems the best way to me.

sinceyouask size guide there are 2 sizes of 'Mooncup' and it's properly advised on the link.

WhooooAmI24601 · 11/01/2018 09:23

I teach Reception so can't go skipping out of the classroom every 45 minutes to change my tampon, so the moon cup is an absolute godsend. It sees me through a minimum of 3 hours which when you have endometriosis and periods which can leave you flooded inside an hour is a miracle.

Pain-wise it's definitely less painful than tampons and my periods aren't quite so awful.

Original poster

Elephant17 · 11/01/2018 09:40

But Lules if you're sensitive to smells, the mooncup would surely be far better than a tampon as it gets flushed immediately down the toilet rather than being taken out, wrapped up and stuck in a bin. And the public bins ARE gross!

OP posts:

Original poster

Elephant17 · 11/01/2018 09:51

(Incidentally, that's one of the major things that appeals to me about it)

OP posts:

sinceyouask · 11/01/2018 10:13

@Solo thank you :)

thebumblebearbee · 11/01/2018 10:26

I LOVE my Mooncup! Been using mine for about 6 months, started after reading about them here on MN. [i]Why?[/i] aren't these more publicised. Makes me despair to think about the money I've wasted and amount of bloody cotton sent to landfill after years of periods.

thebumblebearbee · 11/01/2018 10:26

Oh and I cut off half the stem on mine which means I don't feel it, but can still take it out with ease.

Solo · 11/01/2018 10:33

Can you imagine the amount of tax the government would lose on cotton wool san pro if cups were advertised and women used them instead? I can't think of any proper reason why they aren't made more 'noticeable' to menstruating women, personally.

Bluelonerose · 11/01/2018 10:37

It's defiantly on my list to get one but I've got a couple of questions if anyone can help.

Might sound stupid but there's no issues using it with the coil is there?
Also is it good for light periods?
Since I've hate coil they are so light and tampons aren't great for how light they are.

RinonaWyder · 11/01/2018 10:41

I've had nine for a couple of months and haven't trimmed the stem. I try to put it in quite low but I think it somehow works its way up and I'm a bit worried about getting it out without the stem! Maybe I just need more practice with it

Original poster

Elephant17 · 11/01/2018 10:45

It says on the packet it suitable for light all the way up to heavy flow, and I'd imagine it would create a lot less friction than a cottony tampon, which has to be shoved much further up and then dragged all the way out again (which I agree is painful with a light flow- mine only is at the end of a period). It's designed to sit as low in the vagina as possible so would probably be more comfortable for you in that sense.

OP posts:

HamishBamish · 11/01/2018 10:53

I trimmed the stem on mine because it was uncomfortable, but it does make it harder to remove. It took me a while to get used to using it, but I find it works much better than tampons overnight. I feel more confident and can leave it in longer than a tampon. I can totally see why some people don't fancy it though.

Bluelonerose · 11/01/2018 10:55

Thanks op.
Ordering one now.

creaturefeatures · 11/01/2018 11:02

I'd like to use a mooncup, can someone help me out with a few practicalities?

I tried using one before, the smallest size but I found it very difficult and uncomfortable trying to fold it and get it into place (I also find tampons quite uncomfortable during putting them in/getting them out)

I've seen people saying it should sit quite low. How low/high should it go?

When emptying in public loos, I'm guessing I'll need to take in hand wipes?

Do you just empty and put back in? Someone mentioned wiping it first? I'm just wondering what to wipe it with - doesn't loo roll leave fibres on it? And wipes leave chemicals?

I saw that you do a 'proper' clean at the end of your period by boiling in a saucepan...obvs I would have a saucepan for this specific use but where do you keep it to stop DH/DP boiling rice in it inadvertently?

I'm being rather stupid and/or overthinking it probably but help would be appreciated!

Excited101 · 11/01/2018 11:05

You do know you can't flush tampons op...?

PocketCoffeeEspresso · 11/01/2018 11:07

I've not trimmed the stem on mine, can't feel it, but it does sit high - I use it in preference to tampons/towels because I'm lazy about emptying bins, and I did find that I was getting somehow annoyed by tampons (this is weird, they weren't exactly uncomfortable, but felt odd and it made me irritable) - and I can't get them here really anyway (certainly not the applicator ones I prefer), and I've had it with towels sticking to my pubic hair, or slipping to one side.

I'm not very good at putting it in properly though, so I fold it up, put it in, and then do a few exaggerated movements until I feel it pop open

PocketCoffeeEspresso · 11/01/2018 11:10

I saw that you do a 'proper' clean at the end of your period by boiling in a saucepan...obvs I would have a saucepan for this specific use but where do you keep it to stop DH/DP boiling rice in it inadvertently? shock

I just use a normal saucepan. There's nothing in my vagina that's not going to be killed by boiling water! It's going to be a darn sight cleaner than most people's hands are after leaving the toilet, unless you're very diligent about sterilising taps, toilet flushes, doorhandles after use etc.

BattleCuntGalactica · 11/01/2018 11:11

I didn't trim mine and you don't have to.

ateacupofgin · 11/01/2018 11:16

I really really want to try this. But I flood for 2-4 days and often lose a complete nights sleep in the early days of my period.

Have had some v embarrassing sanpro fails...could I use it on the days when i can go through 12-16 SP tampons in 4-5 hours or only on the lighter days?

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