To wonder if menstrual cups really work?

[IAmMyOwnPerson]

Just that really.
The idea sounds great - no more forking out loads of money on tampons / pads etc but...
Do they actually work? No leaking?
It sounds really messy tbh even just to empty them! 🙈

I love mine. I've got an active job and often have to spend up to three hours in water, and tampons just weren't going to be enough. It's never leaked after the first month. I wish I'd known about them years ago, it's been life-changing for one week a month.

I'm 15 years in and would never go back.

Mine leaks at night on the first couple of heavy days but so do tampons so I have to double up with a night time towel.

I came on unexpectedly away from home a few months ago and had to buy a box of Tampax - they seemed way more messy and fiddly to me, and then having to dispose of them.

Mmm no nlood on tshirts no boiling. (You can use steritabs.) It aint that hard.

Took me a few months to get use to tbh but once I worked out how to make sure it was in right I’ve never looked back. It’s been about 4 years now and I have not used a single tampon since - I couldn’t bring myself to do it tbh. The thought of the feel of a tampon makes me shiver now!

I just use a cheap one from Amazon and it's great. Changing can be messy though and I try to avoid changing when out and about.

I prefer to empty it in the shower. Clean under the shower head and straight back in.

They are brilliant! You do have to get the right one for you, if it leaks it's not quite right.

I got a mooncup at first but I found it too firm (it was uncomfortable and put pressure on my bladder, plus I found it hard to remove). But now I have a meluna cup (classic) and it's perfect.

I've only ever had a small leak once or twice and that's when I haven't inserted it correctly.

It does take a bit of practice to insert and remove but it's most definitely worth persevering.

Yeah totally, using tampons or towels is so icky in comparison. The smell of sweaty dried blood on pads and tampons is minging . My mooncup feels so clean in comparison .

Love mine; have been using moon cups for 13 year plus (not the same one!) and have only had a couple of leaks with overnight menopausal flooding, where nothing would have coped! MUCH more comfortable once you are used to them & have them trimmed correctly (I didn't realise how conscious I was of tampons until I used a moon cup), much easier (no remembering to take tampons with you everywhere); much more environmentally friendly; and no shoving bleached products up your fanjo. Yes, it takes a while to get the knack, but once you have, only slightly messier than tampons. I do try and remember to put loo rolls down the toilet before emptying to avoid a pool of blood that's for some reason tricky to flush, but otherwise nothing to dislike. Try it OP!

Oh, and agree that it vastly improves cramps - I was first evangelised at by my mate who has endo and found they really helped her.

I used them at home,I had very heavy periods so one clot would fill it and then leak.
I didn't wear them at work as we have those cubicles that don't reach to the floor and no sinks inside all essential for me emptying one,a bottle of water would be useless.
My DD has been using one for over a year,she 16 and loves it.
So try it if it works for you it's great,if not then nothing lost.

I’m a total convert and wish I’d discovered them years ago. I use a Dutchess cup as it seemed like a good middle between too hard and too soft. Never any leaks. Can go ages without emptying which gets around the public toilet issue.

I do find it erm impedes pooing a bit but not wee.

I tried it a few times but unfortunately didn't work for me.

I've learned I have to insert it as soon as my period starts, or there's enough blood south of it to make a right mess. And to cut my fingernails, as there is no way to clean blood out from under them! But on the whole, better than any other solution.

Another vote for menstrual cups - I also find the mooncup a bit firm now (was fine for years but my body has obviously changed) and puts a bit of pressure on my bladder so need a softer cup.

There are LOTS of brands, and within brands, lots of sizes/options so there is likely to be a cup for you.

If you will be using public toilets you might want to carry a small sports top bottle of water with you to rinse out, but with a bit of practice its really not any more of a faff than towels or tampons with way more benefits.

You can also practice with it when you aren't on your period, which you can't do with tampons.