..to ask about mooncups...

[NightDreaming]

Full AIBU...to ask about mooncup advice on the AIBU thread because A) I can’t work out where else to ask and B) let’s face it, good traffic.

Right. Here comes the gory details bits...

I have a Boot’s mooncup in size A (the bigger one). I also have 2 children (c-sections), a heavy blood a flow and a need for a bigger cup. I overflow at night. And for most of my period I have to empty every couple hrs and can still overflow. Therefore do use the odd pad.

Does anyone else use a bigger cup that they highly recommend? We’re talking more bowl then cup 😳😊. If there’s nothing out there I will still use this one. I like the environmental size of cups, and I’d have to use a hell of a lot more tampons/pads without it.

Thanks.

When you say 'boots mooncup' do you mean a boots own brand menstrual cup or an actual mooncup?

Have a look at this site, they do a comparison so you can check out capacity etc. putacupinit.com

MrsShelby- sorry, I mean an Actual mooncup, just happened to get it from Boots. I’m not very knowledgeable on various types, so thought by saying boots people could look up what I’d bought.

Playingforkittens- thanks. Will have a nosey through after school run.

Jesus I’d be seeing a doctor. I’ve overflowed once on mine and that was first day after 12 hours! Either you’re not inserting properly so it’s leaking rather than overflowing, or you are draining yourself of blood every month! I used to flood pads and tampons when a teen but not anymore thank god.

Sorry I can’t help with sizing but see a doctor!

There are so many - Luna cup is good, but it's very much a personal fit down there! I tried a few before I found the right size for flow & comfort for fit.

It was getting sore constantly whipping it in & out to empty and clean with my heavy flow (bigger cup less comfy, but smaller cup more frequent emptying) so I'm back on cotton pads for a break now.

Forgot to link - femininewear.co.uk lots of sizes/strength/capacity choice to look at. Customer service is amazing, used to get sweets with every order!

Can I jump on and ask a few questions? 😳
I prefer tampons with applicators as they are sooo much easier to insert. But about to have my second child and DH is getting the snip so I'll be having no more hormonal contraception and I'm thinking a moon cup would be the best way to go both for my bank balance and the environment, but I'm so worried about how early they are to insert and remove.
Am I being daft?

They are really easy to use @MsHopey I’ve got a normal mooncup I bought from Boots and a soft me Luna which I actually got from the site linked above. Neither have a stem to get them out, there is a bit of ferreting about to remove them but if you’re ok with that then it should be fine.

Medium Ruby cup might work.

Oh, to add, I never need to remove mine when I’m out - I insert in the morning and empty in the evenings. Even with a heavy first day flow it’s ok. Full, but doable. You just have to be careful!

If you’re like OP though you might need to get into the habit of carrying a little bottle or water to rinse. I don’t bother though.

I found the actual mooncup leaked a bit for me, so I use a cheaper one from amazon and it really never leaks.

You do seem to have an extremely heavy flow - so maybe check this out with your GP (although if you feel well with it it may be just one of those things - we're all different).

I switched to a cup and cloth pads four years ago and haven't used a disposable sanitary product since - so I love them. I would always say give them a go, expect teething errors.

There was a great youtuber - precious stars pads - who has some really good instructional videos about them all, different types, how to insert, reviews etc. That's where I got all my information.

MsHopy Insertion and removal are a doddle once you get the hang of it. If a baby has come down the way, a menstrual cup up the way isnt really a big deal!! Just fold and up it goes. Twist a few times so that it pops open and forms a seal. Sometimes you can feel that it hasnt popped open into a round shape (it feels sort of oblong) so it might need pulling out and trying again. To remove, pinch the end to break the suction and gently pull out.

I use a larger size diva cup (2 children and moon cup leaked like billy-o)

I have to disagree with Diana - on my second day, I have to empty roughly on the hour to avoid leakages. Thereafter it all tails off quite quickly though. Just different flows innit?

I gave up with mine, I also used a MeLuna sports cup and both leaked terribly. Despite trying every trick in the book, they leaked.

I have a very heavy flow but when I do the online tests to see what size I need it always comes out that I need smaller, I think due to having had 2 sections rather than natural births.
I have a titled cervix so, despite getting it right when inserting, it never seems to cover my cervix properly because when they leak, they are never full.

I think menstrual cups are trial and error and far too expensive and wasteful to keep trying them all, so I've reluctantly given up
I now have two cups I can't use but don't want to chuck in landfill either

I also use a MoonCup size A which I fill every 1-2 hours during the first two days of my period, so I double-up on protection with big re-usable sanitary pads.

I could do with a MoonBowl so am watching with interest for recommendations for bigger cups

@Frazzlerock that’s my concern, that I’ll waste £20-£30 if I don’t get on with one. I’m desperate to try one but don’t want to waste the money

www.amazon.co.uk/CAREVIX-Menstrual-Reusable-Medical-Silicone/dp/B07NQSKN3J/ref=sr_1_20?s=gateway&keywords=menstrual+cup&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1553851914&sr=8-20

for those worried about cost why not have a go with something like these? There is no magical ingredient to the branded ones, it's just plastic/silicone in a cup shape.

I don't think you need to see a gp, but you do need a bigger cup. The Boots mooncup is actually rather small capacity.

Here is a capacity chart:

putacupinit.com/chart/
And also:

putacupinit.com/high-capacity-menstrual-cups/

There are plenty with far more capacity than a UK Mooncup. Having said that, people are different in what they find comfortable and you may have to try a couple to get the dimensions/squishiness that suit your particular insides. This has no real relationship to size. I used a Lunette which had a little more capacity than a Mooncup but for some reason didn't overflow anything as quickly as the Mooncup, and also found it infinitely more comfortable.

The average woman loses something on the order of 30ml of blood during her period. I did see an explanation that with the other fluid that we lose this comes up to about 100 ml...however what you are losing is a LOT more than that. Might be worth a chat with your GP, especially if you have a hard time maintaining either your iron or b12

Thanks you all for your helpful & honest replies. I’ve only just had 5 minutes to sit down and properly read them.

MsHopey I’m delighted that you’ve joined in the thread. The more mooncup/bowl chats the better!!

Sadly it’s definitely not just a case of not being inserted incorrectly. The cups are always full when I pull them out. At 2 hrs they tend not to overflow, by 3hrs they do. Something about lying down at night means it doesn’t come out as much but I do have to peg it to the loo as soon as I wake up 😳.

Thankds for the medical concerns and GP suggestions. I’ve always had periods like this. Super heavy for 4 days and bleeding doesn’t completely stop for 8/9 days. I’m all well on it though, excluding all the chocolate consumption 😆. If anything chanhe’s I will of course go to GP to get checked out. Some people are lucky with their flows, some people are, well, swimming through the flood 😣.

Haven’t yet worked out which actual cup to get, but I’m definitely going to try another brand. Fingers crossed it makes all the difference.

Again. Thanks for your replies& time. MN can be amazing sometimes. x