AIBU to ask about your period cup experiences?

[WildWildHorses]

Sorry for posting here, this might be TMI…

Could anyone who uses or has tried a period cups offer some advice.

I’m perimenopausal, and after two children tampons just don’t seem to be working for me anymore, I’ve tried different brands and absorbency but they feel uncomfortable now when they didn’t ever before. They also leak more than ever, even with frequent changing.
I think I must of changed shape down there 😂

I keep seeing adverts for Moon cups and all
kinds of other brands (discs etc) but I have questions.

Do they really hold what they advertise?
Are they comfortable?
I have a very physical job, I don’t sit down from 7am until gone 4, except when I go to the loo.
If the ‘seal’ breaks, would it just flood?

Also the toilets at work are cubicles with sinks outside? How do you wash the cup etc in that scenario and not come out with blood on your hands?

Is there a good brand you would recommend over others, and if so, why?

I need try something but unsure what, I have tried period underwear but I don’t trust it to hold enough on a heavy day.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

My experience with a moon cup was short and unsuccessful. I was filling it within 10 minutes, so pretty pointless. If you pass clots, they take up most of the capacity.

At work, I’ve seen women empty them in the loo then rinse at the sink. Then back to the loo to put it in. Another palaver.

Yes they are great. The seal doesn't break but if the cup gets full you'll get spotting coming through.

I do have lighter periods so can't speak for the heavy stuff. I can't feel mine when it's in but I can feel a sort of slight heaviness when it's full.

I started out with a mooncup and then swapped it for a meluna and whatever the one is you can buy in Waitrose. I found the mooncup was a bit too big and stiff so it used to give me UTIs.

No to the Mooncup. Sits too low and in my 40s I find that my pelvic floor doesn’t hold it in that well. The Nixit however is brilliant. It’s one of the cups that sits much higher up at the cervix. I never feel it and I don’t get leakage even on heavy days.

you don’t need to rinse in a sink every time.
if you don’t have access to a sink you can dump the blood, give it a wipe if you want and reinsert. Wipe your hands with tissue or keep a bottle of water with you.
I have never left a cubicle to clean my cup and then gone back in, and haven’t seen anyone else do it either. 15 years of cup wearing.

Many women do use some backup in the first heavy days, period pants or a pad/liner.

I've used a Mooncup for about ten years now and it's been revolutionary. Very few leaks, and it has got rid of the cramps that I used to get when using tampons.

I’ve found the mooncup quite life changing being peri. I could flood and I was scared in long meetings or when going out. The capacity is far greater and I seem to have less cramping / irritation with a cup as they don’t cause dryness by wicking away moisture.
Anecdotally I hear different types of cup suit different people, some need to try a few. 5 kids and I find the robust mooncup is my friend.
For work etc I sometimes use period pants or a pad if flooding, you can get spotting if it’s very heavy. It’s more reassurance though after many accidents in the past!
I don’t empty and use the sink outdoors, you don’t have to rinse if your in shared toilets each and every time- just empty it in the loo and re-use.

The other thing, learn to insert it high. Easy once you know. Remove always by gently breaking the seal with a finger or squeezing it a bit out of shape. Cut off the bit on the bottom, no one needs to yank it out that way or have a bit to poke them internally!

Love a menstrual cup, last about 3 times longer than a tampon. putacupinit.com is only one brand though and they vary a lot in size/shape etc and it’s not one size fits all.
The quiz here can help as a starting point for finding the right one and fitting them.
https://putacupinit.com

You don’t need to rinse, if I was taking mine out in a toilet with no sink I’d just do a quick toilet paper wipe before putting it back in.

I do need the stem, helps me to pull it down a bit before breaking the seal and it doesn’t poke me. If it’s doing that you might just need a shorter cup.

I’ve used one for almost 6 years now and I can’t image going back.

Not all cups are created equal and you may need to try a couple before you find the right one…… I have a tilted cervix so need one that has an angled top edge - lillycup is perfect.

Agree with another poster, if I don’t have access to a toilet where the sink is in the cubicle I just wipe the cups with toilet paper and wipe my hands with a wet wipe before coming out and using the sink to wash them properly.

The biggest bonus for me was not having to think about carrying sanpro in my work bag or worrying whether I have enough for trips away (we do a LOT of camping!)

The only thing I can’t do is swim…… they seem to fill up with water then leak back out when I stand up 🥴 so I just use a tampon for that time while I’m in the pool.

I've always used a mooncup but had similar experiences since being peri. I now wear it with period pants in case of any leaks, or just don't bother on the lighter days and just wear the pants.

I used a mooncup from 40 to 50. Much more comfortable than tampons and wished I had had it sooner.
On my heavy day/night I had to be careful but otherwise capacity was great.
For comparison I used super+ tampons in heavy days and had to change more often (every couple of hours) than the cup.
I just used to empty mine and give it a wipe with tissue if there wasn't water available.
More convenient than anything else for me, to travel I just needed to carry it and a couple of pads. Period pants weren't common then, but now I would use a combination of mooncup and period pants I think (post meno so don't need to think about it now).

Thank you all for sharing!

I will certain do the quiz recommended.

How long do you keep one before replacing? Do they wear out?

They hold so much that for me it was very very rare that I needed to change anywhere but at home. Only if I was out the house for 12 hours or more on the heaviest day. If I did need to, I just tipped it, stuck it back in, then wiped fingers with toilet roll.

The seal never once broke in fifteen years of use. Just wear a towel as well until you get confident your cup is a good fit. Look for companies who offer you money back if it doesn't work for you, and that way you can try them for free until you find one that works for you. Look for ones which suit people of your age/childbirth history. You don't want one designed for a 19 year old 🤣

I found them so freeing. I could suddenly do anything I wanted on my period days. Wild camping for a week without a toilet? Easy.

They don't wear out but start to look a bit stained eventually. Maybe a couple of years iirc?

I think I've had two in ten years. Clean them after each period with Milton and they're still looking brand new.

Used mine for around 20 years (mooncup). Way before they were mainstream. But sadly peri and a prolapse mean that it didn’t fit and would feel low and pully- same for tampons. So it maybe depends why tampons are not suiting you? If it’s physical then maybe a cup wouldn’t be any better- but worth a go as if it does work for you theyre fab!!

I discovered the moon cup in my early forties and used it for 8 years until my periods stopped.
it took a while for me to get inserting right, and I had to trim the bit at the bottom, but once I’d sorted that, it was revolutionary.

I don’t use one anymore as the coil has stopped my periods but I loved mine. Periods were getting increasingly heavy and clotty and I never had a leak. Removing them can take a bit of getting used to, it was a bloodbath the first time I tried as I spilled it! Once you get the knack you’ll be grand.

I've used the same moon cup (moon cup brand) for about 18 years. I'm 45 and I reckon it will see me out 😁 they say to replace after 10 years but I don't know why.

I have a copper coil which causes heavy periods so I use a cloth pad as back up at night for the first few days. I've saved a lot of plastic and cardboard waste, a fair bit of money, but more importantly I just find it more comfortable and convenient than any other menstrual product

I've tried Mooncups, Saalt cups & a Boots own brand and got on ok with all of them. As my flow can change between light & heavier quite quickly I find that cups are more comfortable than tampons. When at work, I empty them into the loo & wipe with a bit of tissue. There is a bit of a learning curve at getting used to inserting & removal but once you get the hang of it they are just as easy as tampons. I've had 3 over the last 10 years but only as I misplaced 2 of them!

I've used a mooncup since university (pushing 40 now) and I couldn't go back to anything else.

I have very heavy periods but I find i can usually work it so I don't have to change it when out and about. If I do get stuck I'll empty it in the toilet and dab it a bit with loo roll so I don't have to clean it in the sink.

I generally use a sanitary towel during my heavier days but tbh the leaks are more a result of not putting it in correctly.

I've recommended it to some friends ans they're all big fans now.

One of the biggest pros for me was that I could pop it in when my periods were irregular or I knew I would be due on in the coming days. Put it in at night, or just out and about (you just have to remember it's in there and don't leave it for days!).

Also, I still use it now despite being 2 years post menopause as it helps with pelvic floor let downs when I'm doing sport, though getting the fucker out is rather uncomfortable these days.

Thank you all, this has been very helpful!

I have ordered a Shordy, has good reviews and at a decent price, so will see how next month goes!! 😵‍💫

I tried one. I couldn't get it in whatever I did. I was annoyed at the waste of money.