To get a bit personal and ask about your mooncup experiences?

[QueenofmyPrinces]

I will be honest and say that previously I have always considered the thought of using these to be a bit icky.

I remember having heavy periods in my 20’s but over the course of the last ten years (between pregnancies) I have had Mirena coils which made my periods incredibly light and short.

When TTC baby number two it took about 10 months and each period was really heavy but manageable with regular sanitary protection changes.

After the birth of baby number 2 my periods came back when my son was 14 months and I’m now on period number 4 since their return.

My periods are now horrendous!!! They are so heavy and I can literally feel the blood dripping out of me as I’m getting on with my day. I’m paranoid all the time about leaking and it has happened on more than one occasion because sanitary towels and tampons just aren’t containing the flow.

Anyway - after 4 months of this crap I have started to consider whether actually a mooncup wouldn’t be icky but actually my saviour!

I saw an advert for one yesterday where it has a valve on the spout so you don’t even have to take the mooncup out to empty it, you just squeeze the valve and the contents just pour out into the toilet as you’re sitting on it. It sounded pretty amazing.

I still have some reservations....like how uncomfortable it must be to put in, but I can’t carry on with having to deal with heavy periods in the way I’m currently having to.

Have they worked for others? I’ve seen them talked about on here but I’ve never read any posts in detail because I never thought it would something I would ever consider.

Are they as good as people say they are?

I loved mine, yes. It took a little while to get the hang of it but once I did there was no looking back. And for the ickiness factor: find tampons/pads worse as blood soaks in and somehow is more rank than fresh blood in a cup. Don’t know the valve one though! Have coil now and hardly any periods to speak of anymore but would go back to mooncup if needed.

Hated mine.....the awful suction noise it made taking it out, didn't see to hold much either. I had it about 2 or 3 cycles, the day I took it out then accidentally tipped the contents over myself was the day I chucked the bloody thing (see what I did there lol) in the bin.

I use a sponge now, best thing ever. Much easier than the mooncup although still a fair bit of fishing about up there but overall, a million times better IMO

Loved mine to death, and I had very heavy periods (currently pregnant but used it for years). Took a couple of goes to get it comfy the first time but it holds a lot (mine is a standard mooncup), you can’t feel it when it’s in right, easy to wash, saves you a fortune on pads, better for the planet, and after using it for a while the thought of shoving a cottony tampon up in there instead is gross.

Love mine! I don't have one with a valve though, that sounds like it might be great for you if you have a really heavy flow (disclaimer: I don't). I don't find it icky at all, it's just a foof, one touches it for all sorts of other purposes after all! ;)

I've got a lunette and I love it. My periods are light enough (thanks to the minipill) for me to not worry about it for 12 hours, but before that, on my heaviest days I could go a couple of hours instead of the half an hour I had with the most absorbent tampon. They take a bit of getting used to but after that it's a breeze.
Not sure about that valve cup. I pass clots so dunno if it'd be very effective for that.

Love mine! Total game changer, my periods were horrific and no tampon or pad (or combination of both!) could contain it. I leaked a lot so tried mooncup and haven't looked back!

Took a few goes to get the technique right putting it in and on really heavy I have to change every 4/5 hours, the rest of the time I can do 8-10 hours with no issue. My periods are also more manageable since using it, are shorter and less cramping.

Never seen the valve one though, I'm off to google it!

Once mine was in I couldn't get it out. Spent an hour in a panic sticking my hand up there and thinking I'd have to go to hospital to have it removed. My husband came in and was going to give it a go getting it out when I finally managed it.
Never had the guts to try again.

I’ve had one for about 20 years and would never use anything else. No dryness or discomfort, no problems popping it in and out, and no need to buy protection every month. I have the occasional leak on a heavy day so I use a washable pad as well. My only criticism is it’s a bit messy to change in a public loo.

I absolutely love mine. Tampons are too drying and pads are stingy and uncomfortable. Nevermind the environmental impact of them both. Once you get the hang of it it's fine. I usually empty it in the morning and evening which is often enough. It's almost a shame I have a mirena and barely have periods anymore so I haven't used it for years but Im so glad I do have it for when I need it.

I switched to a moon cup a few years ago for exactly the reasons you describe; after having kids my periods have been really heavy (I’ve been able to measure flow since using the moon cup and it’s about 100-120ml a cycle, it is heavy). I could easily be changing pads and tampons hourly or more, and leaked all the time. My periods were really prohibitive. Honestly, I found the moon cup such a relief and it changed my life during my period. I think over 3 or 4 years I’ve leaked maybe once or twice? I do have to emoty it more frequently than every 8 hours on my first day, and I’ve learned that from experience.

I found it very easy to get to grips with. Pretty easy to insert, not much different to a tampon. I can’t feel it when it’s in. I sometimes find it uncomfortable to get out, but nothing unbearable. There’s no smell, you don’t see it until you come to empty it.

The biggest drawback for me is emptying it in public toilets, where you haven’t got a sink in the cubicle. I have emptied it in public toilets and used toilet paper to wipe it, but I don’t like it and I avoid that situation if possible. Really don’t want to give tmi but when you’ve reinserted, and wiped your hands, I’ve found it difficult to then do up my jeans or pull up tights without minuscule stains. I could carry a little pack of wipes around for that though, I suppose. Just as easy as carrying a pack of tampons.

The drawbacks are far outweighed by the advantages for me. Cost, environment, practicality, security. I can swim, run, exercise confidently, when I couldn’t before. Also, I noticed my periods shortened in length - Ive read that some other women find this too and it’s mentioned that the suction of the cup might draw out the blood faster!? No idea if that’s true. But my periods went from 5 days to 3.

I'm in a minority but I really didn't get on with mine. I've tried two types (moon cup and sckoon) and persevered with lots of different techniques for inserting it. I can get it in, but it leaks slightly and is uncomfortable to get out, I also have a dull achy feeling when it's in.
I don't want to put people off trying them though, as I said I am definitely in the minority and I think it must be that my anatomy just doesn't suit it, which is really annoying as I would love to use one.
I use washable pads instead and find them much more effective and nicer to use than the disposable ones, even on really heavy days.

Mine is a life changer!
My periods have been so heavy since having my last child that I was having to take the first day, sometimes two days of each period off work. Within half an hour of heavy tampon + back up night time pad I would be leaking through my clothes. My bed was always covered in the mornings despite me getting up to change through the night.
Now I pop my moon cup in and don't think about it for 5 hours, much longer on lighter days.
Surely it's no more ick than removing a tampon or pad?

What is it you find “icky”? If it’s having to remove it and possibly get blood on your fingers, I find that happens relatively infrequently once I got used to the knack of gripping and pulling it a certain way.

Mine has been great, I’ll never go back to tampons, occasionally I have to use one if my period arrives early and I haven’t got my cup and they just feel horrible. I have pretty heavy periods and can go over three hours in my heaviest day without emptying my cup, whereas I’d get through a super plus ultra tampon in a little over an hour.

I had one for years. I loved it. You just have to find the best way to insert it properly. I think it was supposed to be folded like a tulip for insertion. I just folded mine in half and released when inserted. Then it would just spring open and create a good seal, so no leakage. Far easier to insert and remove than a dry tampon. Easy to clean, good for the environment and saves you money. What's not to like.

I love mine, have used it for 7 years minus a pregnancy/aftermath.

It’s not without it’s messy aspects, I’m glad I the use of the whole bathroom rather than a cubicle- obviously at home but at work too. I generally avoid using public toilets at all when it’s in use.
Any issues could be overcome though by just carrying a bottle of water and some wipes with you.

Can you use it with a prolapse? I've got both a bowel and bladder prolapse.

I loved mine! I had a Fleur cup. It took a while to get used to putting it in (a bit of silicone origami is needed), but it was so much better than tampons or pads.

Never used the one with the valve - I've heard good things though.

I've tried several different types of mooncups. They just don't like me.

I Fi d them uncomfortable and they cause lots of irritation. I had an absolute disaster with one whilst swimming in holiday. I can't use tampons either for similar reasons. I now use reusable pads.

I need to be thinking about something for DD one of these days and I like the idea of a cup. What age would you recommend starting? Would you think waiting until 15 or 16 wiser? I've been wondering.

Love mine! Took a while to get the hang of getting it in though, and if it's not positioned right it gives me cramps from HELL. But it's worth it, saved so much money on products! Once it's in properly I don't feel it and I'm lucky enough to only need to empty it once a day. Valve sounds super snazzy!

That said, I cut my thumb nails last week while on my period and then had the devil of a time getting the cup out :p Don't do this! :grin:

It's not gross to use, although the blood in the cup can be a bit.. special, particularly if you're prone to clots.

I still love it though, wouldn't use anything else.

@TheSandgroper I remember being unable to get a tampon in there until I started having sex, so that might be something to consider.

@thesandgroper I’ve absolutely no medical expertise but I understand the mooncups to be totally unobtrusive and chemical free - a lot healthier than standard tampons. There is a smaller cup for younger females, and those who haven’t given birth. I can’t see why they wouldn’t be unsuitable for menstruating teens. Check the website? And maybe offer it as an option to DD, who should probably decide for herself.

Tried two or three brands. All leaked so it's a no from me.

Hated the rim on the mooncup, loved the idea. Bought a si bell cup instead and adore it!

I like mine but it does leak on heavy days. I find it very difficult to change in public toilets, so I usually use a pad as well and just leave the mooncup in until I get home, by which time it's usually leaking a bit - however, that's only one pad not multiple in a day.