To not understand the moon cup love

[Kangar00]

So, if you use a moon cup, do you work? I just can't imagine wearing one at work.

It's scary to put in. I have the smallest size and I've had a child but I still find it scary and it reminds me of childbirth!

I just don't get it. I don really want to as it's more environmentally friendly. Did it take you a while to get used and adjust to using one?

It's bigger and exerts more pressure on the vaginal wall than a tampon so if it did get lost, you can push it out.

I agree taking it out was the bigger learning curve for me.

They are higher capacity than tampons so you can leave it in longer.

I defo use mine at work - even with shared toilets/sinks it's no big deal. If I get some blood on my fingers I wipe it with toilet paper and then make my hand into a fist until I get to the sink, nobody notices.

It's fine just to use it at weekends while you get used to it - you can use a combination of that and other methods.

It's easier for me to use a mooncup at work over anything else as it means half as many toilet breaks required.

gingergenius, I would find it easier to change a mooncup every 45 minutes than a tampon. The problem with tampon is that they absorb all liquid and dry out the walls of your vagina. When I used them, it was always like inserting cotton wool into a vagina made of sandpaper towards the end of my period (and I bought the smallest diameter ones). If I had to change tampons every 45 minutes, I would cry. The mooncup is rubber and does not dry anything out at all. Plus it does hold more than an average tampon.

No need for bottles of water, it's not necessary to rinse every time. Wipe with loo roll is enough

I can't think of anything worse.

I love mine! No monthly expense, no landfill, no mess like with pads and no dryness like with tampons. On my lighter days I didn't have to empty it at work. On my heavier days I'd empty it 1-2 times by taking a bottle of water into the loo to rinse it. It takes a while to get the hang of it but you're essentially putting three fingers in yourself which is smaller than a penis!

I definitely don’t love any form of san pro but I like my moon cup better than any other option. I use it at work and just empty it into the loo during work and rinse it outside of work.

@dixiebell I had that problem with my first one but solved it by changing to a softer material, different shaped one. I found an article about all the different types that I found on the Internet and it really helped as it compared them all. You can buy cheaper ones that only last a year if you're worried about spending a fortune experimenting with different types.

@gingergenius Ive just purchased a new one and I'm premenopausal. Ive been using it for 3 months now and I've found it to be brilliant. It takes some getting used to but I think I've got it now. Its finding the right brand and fold to suit you.

I bought an athena cup purely because I liked the colour. The stalk was fine for me in length and once in place I cant feel it at all. I can leave it most of the day. I empty it every 6-8 hours. Initially I was surprised at the contents but I've got used to it now.

I think the key with menstrual cups is to ignore the advice that it is supposed to sit quite low. I push mine in as far as I can.

I haven't been able to use mine since the birth of child 6 years ago (delightful internal scarring from episiotomy, yum) and i am GUTTED every month.

I have to use pads and i just feel rancid and smelly all day, sliding around in my own ming.

Sorry tmi

Loved my Mooncup. Took 2 periods to get used to and never had a problem with it.

Ive tried a few but they always leak. I wish i could get on with them as there is no sanitary bin at work and on my heaviest days im having to change my pad and tampon really often. Sadly im just going to have to stick to my handbag full of used sp in nappy bags and hope i never get a bag search.

Dixiebell , I do vaguely remember some sort of slow wee related issue when I first started using mine. But it definitely sorted itself out pronto with a few uses. Perhaps just try repositioning it - e.g. pushing up higher up the vagina.

It's smashing to see that so many women are mooncup fans.

Great for the environment, cheaper, apparently needs changing less than tampons and STs etc etc etc..

But you couldn't PAY me to use one/wear one.

Sorry. No way.

dontticklethetoad - totally agree. The higher the better for me too.

I had one and it was really uncomfortable and triggered my cystitis. I should have known really, the cap gave me terrible cystitis for YEARS!

So I'm not very in love with them at all!

Have you a very heavy flow? On average you just have to change them every twelve hours. So once when you get up in the morning and then twelve hours later when you'd be at home. I used them for years and loved them. Obviously I don't enjoy taking it out and cleaning it but tbh, I don't enjoy towel or tampons either so their are the lesser evil as I can forget about it and definitely experience less pain.

However, I don't use mine too much any more as years of celibacy has clearly made my vaginal canal tighten up and I now find it more uncomfortable to remove. So I've switched to reusable pads which are less hassle than you'd imagine.

I wear one when I am at home but tampons when I go out.

I have to use pads and i just feel rancid and smelly all day, sliding around in my own ming.

@elquinto you must have frightful periods. I never experience this.

elQuintoConyo, I am so sorry. :(

Okay, thanks @Seryan and @AutumnMadness for the weeing tips, I will investigate and maybe try again with the mooncup!

I’ve used one since 2007 (not the same one!) and it’s great.

I thought they sounded gross and then I had my first baby and my period pains were so so painful. I would have tried anything for relief so I bought a mooncup. Right away my periods were lighter and shorter. I don’t know why but it’s true.

As for the size without being crude if you’ve had sex or a smear you’ve had something at least that size inside already. I warm it under the tap and fold it to put it in.

I’ve never needed to change it at work. I actually love not having to go to the loo with either my handbag or smuggling a tampon up my sleeve.

YANBU if you don’t fancy it but YABU if you’re knocking it without trying

I used one for a while a few years ago but found that it often leaked

BakedBeans47, I've used the same one for at least six years.

I tried it and hated it. Read so many posts raving about a menstrual cup and how once you try one you'll never go back etc. Clearly there are exceptions to every rule!

First off tried a Mooncup, ignored the advice that said I needed a large size due to being over 30, despite never having had a vaginal birth, and went for a smaller one. Still shredded my poor vulva though.

Tried a Meluna which comes in a wider range of sizes so could buy a smaller size. Less painful to get in and out, but I still really don't like it as a form of sanpro.

I have to use a cup to monitor my flow (or lack thereof) due to gynaecological problems, otherwise I'd never choose it voluntarily. Find it really grim rummaging around in there to insert / remove it.

Others love them though, so clearly I am in the minority! I hardly bleed though (if it wasn't for TSS I wouldn't need to empty the cup for days, as I only get a few ml overall. I appreciate it's very different if you experience very heavy periods