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?

TOok a bit of getting used to but I wouldn’t go back now. I’ve used mine for 7 or 8 years. Have to change it every 2/3 hours on my first two days but I find it so much more reliable than pads or tampons which needed changing about every half hour!! And yes, I work.

I'm quite sure that if mooncups had already been around, no-one would ever have thought of inventing tampons.

It’s going to be different for everyone isn’t it?

I thought mooncup was great pre-children but doesn’t work for me post kids (leaks and is sore).

Also can’t use tampons (they leak and hurt), so stuck with pads but I use reusable ones now which are so much less gross-feeling and stinky than disposable ones, so that’s something.

Ive used one for about 5 years. Unfortunately it hasn't made periods lighter or less painful. But I do find it much more convenient than any other method. It took at least 3 months to get used to, and still sometimes leaks (although never very much). I use a washable pad sometimes, if I want extra security. I'd never go back to disposables now

At work, I use the disabled loo when I can so I can give it a rinse and also can wash my hands in there. But where necessary, a quick wipe round with a bit of loo roll doesthe job.

I love mine! I had my first for 5 years then lost it (long story) so I have a new one now. I couldn’t go back to tampons.

Its only love on mn op. In real life i know no one who uses them.

I would love to use the moon cup but I don't have cubicles with toilet and basin at work so I can't see how this would work for me? Xx

beaches you just empty it in the cubicle, give it a wipe with loo roll and put it back in. Wipe your hands with loo roll if needed. Wash your hands as normal once you exit the cubicle.

Oh, and by the way, londonrach - all the people "on mumsnet" do actually live "in real life". Just like you.

Thanks for all your insights ladies! I’ve just ordered one from amazon. I went for the small-I’m 29 and have two children (both sections) but have always been ‘small’ down there so hopefully the small is the right size for me.

I did stuggle using a mooncup for the first few months but now Its much easier, sometimes its inconvienent having to empty it but pads feel like I'm wearing a nappy and covers your skin in blood and tampons absorb everything and not everything is not meant to be absorbs which makes me painfully dry.
The lesser of three evils imo.

Its only love on mn op. In real life i know no one who uses them.

How many people have you asked?
I know two other women who use them but to be fair I’ve never asked most of my friends.

They're disgusting.

Mine kept leaking at work even though it was in correctly and I bought the right size. Emptying it was a blood bath and you can't do it at work unless there is a basin in the stall.

beaches. I tend to get a couple of bits of toilet roll ready in advance. One to wipe the cup and one to wipe my fingers. Then you can give it a rinse under the hot tap when you get home.

All you lady's using the sink at work etc... do you not find it makes a mess? Like at my work the sink is tiny and it's a push button tap that sprays like crazy. I'm just thinking it must be quite unhygienic for other users of the sink...

@Jackanorystory that's my issue with it.

Emptying menstrual blood in a communal sink at work where people wash their hands!

It would need bleaching afterwards.

They seem gross and unhygienic for others who have to use the sink that they have just been rinsed out in. Also not very discreet emptying it in front of others. I don't want to see someone rinsing out their blood.
And how do you get from the sink and back into the cubicle without leaking blood all over yourself? So much easier to use a pad or tampon.

Absolute game changer. Love'em. Tampons are like wet warm sponges sitting about growing bacteria; mooncups feel much cleaner to me and everything flushes.

However all menstrual cups are not the same. I'm a Mooncup girl. This may be TMI... they are relatively stiff so not the gentlest to use but they "ping" open well, which I really like as they are reliable and quick to use. Whereas some other brands look the same but are much softer. I'm sure that will suit some people better, but it means they don't ping open very well. I find them really annoying and I have to spend ages getting them in place.

I'm not convinced I'm saving much money with mine as I've bought 2 of the wrong sort now and I'll need to get a new actual Mooncup. But with the right one they are excellent.

I've been using them for 18 years (that makes me feel old!) I used to have an orange coloured one called a Keeper, then a Mooncup and now I use a Femmecup. They do take a bit of getting used to, I used to get leakages and have difficulty inserting it etc. but now I wouldn't use anything else.

I'd recommend trying different brands. I find the Femmecup more comfortable than a Mooncup. It's a bit softer and the 'tail' is shorter and not as rigid.

They're not for everyone I'll admit that, you have to not mind sticking your fingers up there and getting a bit bloody

I don't know what your fear is, but I've experienced scarier times with tampons than with a mooncup (leaking with no warning, that horrific thing where it somehow flicks up in an arc on the end of its string and sprays blood as it goes. Or is that just me?).

The mooncup is really clean, simple, not gross, and fuss free. I adore mine, and yes, I work, travel, get on with normal life while using mine.

I have one and couldn't get on with it at all. Can't imagine even attempting to empty it anywhere other than home as it always got extremely messy.
That's aside I found it really hard to use, uncomfortable and occasionally impossible to remove.

You don’t empty it in a work sink!!!!
You just empty down the toilet, wipe it and then pop it back in.
No need to let anyone else see it or use communal sinks.

Why would a sink need bleaching afterwards?

Jeezuz, ladies, what is is with blood all over sinks? I only use a sink if there is one actually in the cubicle with the toilet. Rinse the mooncup under slow water flow so it does not spray everywhere, then rinse the sink if necessary. I fail to see the hygiene problem for other sink users - do you grope the sink or lick it when you wash your hands? Surely the most you touch is the taps (and people who just wiped poo off their bums touched them too!).

If there is no sink - I just use a water bottle or simply wipe the mooncup with toilet paper.

I have never emptied it in a public sink either, you empty it down the toilet, then rinse it when you get home. I can go the whole day without needing to do that anyway but if you have a heavy flow you will have to.