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?

*more fool me

Also worth saying I've never given birth. But part of using them has also been about realising that it's quite good to be ok with 'sticking your fingers up your vagina'. I used to think anything biological was really icky but it's amazing how much more comfortable I am with all of it now that I've just relaxed and got on with it. It's good to know how your body works.

I have NEVER seen one in a shop.

Try wholefoods supermarkets, or the sort of places that carry organic bulk-bin stuff, or specialist health stores. The supermarkets would be mad to sell them. Imagine if all their female customers bought one and got off the tampon/pad train forever.

Bananafish, as someone else said, while you may have to (shock horror) touch the inside of your own vagina in order to remove a mooncup, the blood is inside the cup. That's kind of the whole point.

At risk of being flamed, I'd never even try one. I'm on the pill, so I have my withdrawal bleed which is quite light luckily, lasts about 3-4 days. I only ever use tampons as I have never had any problems with them (except after giving birth when I had to use pads, worst time ever. I preferred my long labour to having to use towels after giving birth).
I'll stick to tampons.

flexfits.com/pages/menstrual-cups-vs-discs?gclid=CjwKCAiA24PVBRBvEiwAyBxf-a4reOHXqv2fT56HXkh2PzeUdCCZ4rQIJSEawmRbB1BzKlYmekvJRBoCw4kQAvD_BwE

Has anyone tried the menstrual disc?...it's supposed to be the next invention on from menstrual cups, like how menstrual cups were the next thing on from sponges and tampons.

What you don't seem to realise is that the vast majority of the time it is possible to empty a cup without getting any blood on your fingers. The blood is all contained inside the cup, you only touch the outside of the cup and empty it down the toilet. The only times I have ever got blood on my fingers is when it has overflowed, and that is rare. If you don't have heavy periods, you would never have that problem. Just empty it morning and night and there will be no blood under your fingernails. Wash your hands as normal.

I guess it must be my horrible periods, I don't have much bleeding but do get brown / black slimey gunk on the outside of the cup, which gets under my nails. Silly question, but how long can you leave a cup in for? I could happily leave mine in for a good couple of days without needing to empty it, because it wouldn't fill up - the directions said to change it every 12h, is that for hygiene and safety reasons? Would be much more convenient not to have to take it out morning and night if I don't need to -but am assuming that it's not advisable to leave it in for too long though?

Cheap, environmentally friendly, comfortable and no need to cart around sanitary supplies.

Why would you 'cart' sanitary supplies around?

Surely you'd just pop them in your pocket or bag, the same as you would your purse/phone?

I wonder if it's leaking very slightly, banana? Maybe it's not quite positioning itself right?

I've used mooncups for over 15 years. It's a shame some people find them difficult or painful because the thought of having to go back to pads or tampons makes me feel panicky. I've used them very occasionally when I've come on unexpectedly away from home and they make me quite miserable.

I found the mooncup straightforward to use pretty much from the start, but I'm very relaxed about my body, touching it and where bits are etc., and menstrual fluid doesn't bother me in the slightest. Oh, and I have a big old wizard's sleeve of course.

I've never ever washed my mooncup in a sink. I remove it, empty it and reinsert it. Occasionally it's a bit overfull and then things go slightly Texas Chainsaw in the cubicle but I just wipe it up. I'm capable of creating similar mess with traditional sanpro too though.

I would say around half my friends use menstrual cups, most of them for ten years or more. So my real life is very much that this is an option. I got a prolapse after my children and really should explore other cups as occasionally my mooncup now leaks very slightly, and I'm interested to see cups suitable for weaker pelvic floors.

I know two women who have turned to menstrual cups when entering perimenopause, and getting heavier periods. They have both gone from double protection night and day to just the cup, and are thrilled.

I'm sad I don't need mine any more - due to menopause - but I loved it. I didn't get on with the mooncup and used a different brand - meluna- because they do a soft one. I cut the stem off. I never managed to get it totally watertight but used washable panty liners, much softer thing disposable ones. I only needed to empty it at work on day one. If I couldn't rinse it I just wiped out with toilet paper. I didn't find it unbearable to insert or remove but I did find it uncomfortable with the stem so cut it off entirely. I've discussed them with both dds and they don't feel ready yet but at least they are aware they exist.

elderflower I have used a menstrual disc few years ago but didn't realise it was classed as that until I followed your link.

I used softcups for a while when trying to conceive (years of IF, soft cup after sex kept sperm in place) and since I had them did use them for periods. Very comfortable, I think a bit trickier to insert and look a but scarier but worked a treat. They feel more plasticy than menstrual cups but they can be used during sex too as they lie slightly differently.

Not sure how those disposable discs would be a step on from cups. They look like soft cups which have been around for years.

I've given up on mine. Too much fiddling around in my innards! And too messy and leaky

Yes you don't want to leave it in for too long. When I've accidentally forgotten about mine at the end of my period and take it out after 24+ hours the smell is awful - remember it's just dead tissue, and in the nice warm damp environment of body temperature, it's perfect to start decomposing. Defo wouldn't leave it for 2 days on purpose - it's grim and I think you'd be at risk of developing a nasty infection.

I can't see now who asked about buying them online, but I've seen them in Boots stores and I bought my first one in a cloth nappy/hippy baby type shop which was in my town. I got a deal with some reusable pads which have been useful.

When I needed to replace that one I bought a Meluna online.

Our local Tesco sell them.

I've heard that there are better cups out there, Luna (?) was one mentioned.

Personally I prefer pads but I never got on with tampons either, and have used washables pads for almost 9 years without issue and my originals are still going strong :)

Love mine, changed my life. Only have to empty it once a day, never at work. I normally do it in the shower first thing - empty down plughole.
Warm water makes it easy to fold up and insert. Took quite a few goes to get the hang of it but easy peasy now.

If it stops you weeing, it is too low down. Easy to remove, bear down using your pelvic floor and grab the bottom bit/stalk.

You should not feel it once it is in at all. The mooncup is definitely more rigid than some others though, pops open better.

I put in as high as possible and run my finger around the top to make sure it is fully popped open/circular. Otherwise it would leak. Normally bear down a bit if not popped open and that fixes it.

Same as so many of you I wish I’d known about them sooner. Been brilliant through peri menopause with erratic periods.

It’s brilliant for travelling and work as no need to empty so often .

If your periods are really light then pads might work but they never worked for me, had to change them every half hour. Tampons were better but scratchy feeling.

Moo cup, once the stem was cut off, fantastic for me.

Oh, they are so much cheaper in the long run.

I love mine, had a moon cup initally now have a Luna Cup. I use the small despite having had 4 kids cos the others were too big and leaked.
I have totally de stemmed mine and also wear in inside out. I empty it at home after work and also have sex with it in although its not recommended by Luna Cup.

They are great I really want to use mine but it gave me recurrent thrush, which I had never had before or since, despite following all advice from the manufacturer, cutting off stem etc.

Cheap, environmentally friendly, comfortable and no need to cart around sanitary supplies

*Why would you 'cart' sanitary supplies around?

Surely you'd just pop them in your pocket or bag, the same as you would your purse/phone?*

A) i need to remember to “pop” them in my pocket or bag. I used to constantly forget tampons when going out, which is an utter pita. I’d end up spending £££ on the machines, or carrying round a full box.

B) i don’t need to faff with taking my bag to the toilet at work, or doing the pads/tampons-up-the-sleeve thing. I don’t take my purse or phone to the toilet either.

So yes, for me it does mean i’m not “carting” sanitary supplies around.

I am envious of all of you able to leave the cup in for hours. If I didn't change mine every hour it would leak hideously, and getting it out was an absolute nightmare, blood absolutely everywhere. Ugh.
Back when I had lighter periods I did like the convenience of it though.
Maybe I will try a different brand - if it was easier to get out then changing it every hour might not be such a hassle (have to change tampons every hour too).

Practise using it when you're not on your period - this is fine because there's no risk of TSS - so you get used to inserting and taking it out without the mess.
I also put mine in while I'm in the shower in the morning - just the right amount of dampness (sorry) to help it slip in, without it being too wet to slip out of your fingers!

Trying it when you've ovulating is easier than when you have your period as there's more natural lubrication.

I've had some success with mine, but find it fiddly. When I can get it comfortably in the right place it's great and I love it but sometimes it just doesn't work out.

Mainly I think I need more practise and not just try and do it in the morning before I go to work.

Do they spill when you empty them?