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?

I finally got one. I couldn't get it in at first but then a friend referred me to pistachioproject.com/2015/01/6-folding-methods-for-menstrual-cups.html and folding it into a sort of rosebud shape worked.

I like that after 4 periods it should save me money, and it reduces landfill. I don't like the appalling squelching noises it makes going in or out, and the way it sproings up inside me of its own accord feels rather alarming, and I have to admit I felt a bit faint on seeing the volume of blood and gunk and how gloopy it was. But did manage to get it disposed of down the toilet without a Carrie incident, though I wouldn't want to be getting blood out of my cuticles and fingernails at work.
Also didn't use it the whole cycle as I got a fever and feared TSS, but probably wasn't related.

However compared to towels which have their own disadvantages, I will stick with it. I probably won't need to empty it at work much but 10 min in the ungendered single loo with basin should be feasible.

I do think an applicator would be helpful, like most women do for tampons. I googled and apparently they exist!

It’s not a legal requirement to use a mooncup. If you don’t won’t to then that’s ok. Personally I think they are flipping amazing and I wish they were around when I was younger. They get a bit of getting used to but once you do then you can use them anywhere.

Yy to looking at different folding techniques to insert. The typical 'u fold' isn't the easiest for me but found the '7 fold' made it much easier

SherlocksDeerstalker Yes i did too.

I'm fine with smear tests ect. Can relax down there on demand, but this was just awful. I wanted to like it - but couldn't get it comfy. I can't remember the brand now (this was about 6 years ago) but the one i bought was recommended as the softest on the market and I bought the small size.

I'm quite sure i got it high enough, but it still felt like i had shoved some random thing up there! Hard to describe: I couldn't feel it like you feel a tampon if it's too low, IYKWIM, but i felt general achyness and a dragging sensation and just knew there was something in me. Then tummy pain and yes, headachy and a bit sick. It hurt coming out.

I tried 3 times and it was the same each time. And what with the general misery of periods anyway i felt i didn't want to add to it any more.

Also, the only way i found i could get it up there was by lying on my back on the bed. Felt like way too much of a mountain to climb to ever get to putting it in on the loo!

I understand the love (lots of my friends think it's splendid). I, however, do not share the love, because I own two cups of different designs, neither of which I can get into my vagina no matter how hard I try. It's very annoying.

I never could do a mooon cup, but it turned out my uterus was not in the position it is expected to be in, which affected how my cervix descended, so it could never fit and I always felt this "ring" sitting somewhere.

You can only know if it works for you if you try it!

I work but I have a toilet to myself with a sink in it, if that makes a difference. I have only need to empty it once at work in the last year so it wouldn't usually matter.

I don't really understand the scariness. When I first looked at it I was a bit concerned then put it in and don't think anything of it anymore. Ultimately it's a lot smaller than a penis

Can you sleep with it in- I'd be concerned about it leaking when laying down

My flow must be too heavy for a mooncup. I have the larger size & had to wear a sanitary towel as well because it leaks so rather defeats the purpose of using it. I've stopped and have gone back to tampons.
Do others wear towels too at the same time? Also unless you have guaranteed access to a sink next to the loo, it's too messy.

I don't understand how flow can be too heavy for a mooncup but not too heavy for tampons. Most menstrual cups hold far more than super plus tampons.

I have a heavy flow and have to change my mooncup several times during the day on the first couple of days, if I was using tampons I'd have to go to the toilet every hour or more.

piove Is it full when you remove it? It should sit nice and snug around your cervix and catch everything but there have been times I've inserted if and found it sitting under my cervix with the rim unable to expand to fit round. Could he heavy flow but could be just missing the mark. TMI but I usually insert, stand up and do a strange jig type dance until it 'pops' open and then feel to make sure it's in the right place (you can feel the difference between a still folded cup and one that's opened and comfortable)

Yes, I know am an exception rather than the rule. I can feel my cervix and after years of fertility treatment and gynea issues don't feel squeamish doing so. I totally understand that's not the same for all!

Mummyrabbit yes you can and they hold more than tampons.

Piove are you making sure it opens up properly? You should be able to run a finger round it or rotate it and feel that it's regained its round shape. Some do this more easily than others.

stinky i remember the first time i found mine. I wanted to learn find it for checking for ovulation. When i found it i was ridiculously chuffed Not the sort of thing you can shout from the rooftops about though ...

Mine's so high i have to virtually go in up to the elbow to feel it, even when it's descended. TMI.

cervix i'm on about.

Yep, I use it and work. I use mine because it is environmentally friendly, cheap, requires less changing, and became my periods are irregular due to contraceptive use, so I can go months without them, and this means I don't need to worry about if I have tampons at home. Because of the increased capacity compared to tampons, I actually never have to change it during the day, so it's not a problem. Properly fitted, they don't leak and you can't feel them (sometimes the mooncup brand doesn't fit everyone, I have an unbranded one which is softer silicone and a bit more comfortable. I also don't understand why they even have stems, I immediately totally cut mine off). It took me a couple of days to get the hang of it, and I think you have to be quite well acquainted with your own anatomy to fit one correctly (and relaxed, it's impossible to do while tense).

laiste I would have shared your excitement:D

I literally can't put it in. I managed to get it halfway in and then when it started unfolding it felt like my vagina was going to rip in half. I just don't see how I'd ever get it in unless I had a wizard's sleeve.

Ugh, horrible!

Tampons for life....

You hadnt shoved it in far enough. Put it under the tap, fold in half then shove it up. They won't work if you super squeamish, use applicator tampons etc. A certain degree of earthiness is required.

Lets be honest no san pro is perfect for everyone but personally have found mooncup a life changer. LOVE the lack of grim damp sanitary waste used to generate every month. Have used mine for 11 years now think of all the tampons not used and money not spent! Don't get why they are not used by those that cannot afford sanitary protection?

The thought of a moon cup used to make me queasy but the thought of the bleaching process used on tampons and all my used tampons and towels going into landfill made me queasier so I decided to give it a try.
I will never go back! Its wonderful.
It took me a few periods to fully switch over and be 100% comfortable with insertion etc. But now I can put it in on a morning then i actually forget I'm on my period and have to try and remember to empty it before bed!
I used to get swollen lady bits from having a towel on and tampons were too drying. Since using this I've got less cramps and I'm just so much more comfortable when I'm on.
I love it so much i try to recommend it when I can cos its just awesome.

I did have to practice putting it in tho as i got some leakage. My problem was making sure it was over my cervix and fully opened at the top.
A good tip I found is to put the cup in part way then use your fingers to push the vaginal wall back, this lets air in so the cup can open properly over the cervix.
Its a faff at first but once you've found the best way for you its very freeing.

Also, is vagina size snobbery a thing?! Talk of wizards sleeves and the insinuation that a bigger vagina is "bad" is ridiculous and extremely insulting to all women!

Yep, it feels like it's in properly but just fills up really quickly. Is it meant to be held in place with 'suction' so to speak? Should it not leak at all then?

I do use plastic applicator tampons, but only because when I tried a non-applicator one, it just squashed into a ball and never made it into the entrance.

I didn't mean it in an insulting way, I just don't see how it will go in unless my downstairs was bigger. I would love to use mooncups and not waste £3 every month, but even if I did get it in...surely you can't fold it up to take out, and it has to be "full size"? I might try again at some point.

Has anyone used one with a tilted uterus/cervix? I've tried and tried to use the cup but I think because I'm all tilted in there it just doesn't fit right? I've also found inserting tampons difficult for the same reasons.. I'd be interested if anyone else has the same issue and did they overcome it?

Piove yes you get a decent seal, no leaks unless it totally fills up. There is some sort of seal that you might have to release slightly, like with swimming goggles.

I thought they were meant to sit quite low though, in contrast to all this talk of cervixes (cervices?)

it felt like my vagina was going to rip in half. I just don't see how I'd ever get it in unless I had a wizard's sleeve

Nice. You do know that a vagina can accommodate a baby's head? It's pretty stretchy. If you're saying you're too small for a mooncup, have you ever had sex with a man or had a smear? Unless of course you suffer from vaginismus?

Anyway, I've used one for about ten years (not the same one), and I really like it. The eco friendly aspect of it makes me particularly happy, but it does take a bit of practice to get used to. Well worth the effort, and I do feel sorry for women who it doesn't work for for whatever reason.

I wish I’d known about them ages ago. Maybe practice if you’re worried about doing it in public toilets. I’ve never had an issue. Takes a few tries of getting it right in my experience but once it’s in you don’t feel it and weirdly enough takes away my period pains completely.
I always have a very heavy flow for the first two days and the cup handles it fine, I can change often or I can go out and forget about it and it’s never overfilled. It’s weird because i have a heavy flow and tampons and pads I struggled with yet actually seeing the blood makes it look a lot less than I thought. Sorry, TMI.

Anyways, I wouldn’t go back (unless an emergency)