Mooncup

[Chinchilla]

OK, so it took me a while to get over the squeemishness of thinking about this, but I am considering buying a mooncup. I am fed up with tampons and pads, and, after using millions of disposable nappies, have been thinking lately about being more eco-friendly.

So...what do users think? I have seen the site, and read the blurb, but I want real opinions, bad as well as good. £27 is a lot to invest if I only use it once. If it is as good as people seems to think, I'm surprised that I only heard about it lately.

Incidentally do people just rinse out their mooncups or wash in soapy water before reinserting as the instructions say? I always thought you had to be a bit wary of soapy things "down there" but also wary of any bacteria building. Thoughts?

I just rinse out with water before reinserting, but give it a good scrub with soap and an old toothbrush before putting it away.

I know they recommend sterilising by boiling, but I haven't done yet- can't see the point. The nether regions are hardly sterile. As long as its clean, it should be ok.

Just rinse Georgina partly for same reasons as you said. Also partly because what would I do with bleeding while washing it? Although might try alibubbles idea of taking it out while in the shower next month.

I've been debating whether to try a mooncup for a while now, can't quite make myself order one though. I suffer from really heavy periods and do seem to have frequent accidents. I'm a bit queasy at the thought of emptying them, sorting myself out when my period is at my heaviest makes me feel very sick. Do you think I'd get on with it ok?

Angiel - to my surprise I've found the mooncup (now I'm more used to it) is far less messy than a tampon. I get no leaks, and no drips on removing. I always had to use a panty liner as well as a tampon due to leaks before so it's been a big improvement. Best of all, no worries about whether the damn tampon will flush properly!

I'm a bit squeemish with blood at the best of times and I've really surprised myself with how well I've got on with it. As a result, I am so much more comfortable with my own body, have fewer cramps (more relaxed? tampons dry you out making more cramps? no idea - just feel so much better), and treat my period more like a natural event rather than a "curse".

Give it a go - as people have said, if you don't like it after 3 cycles you can get your money back so you have lost nothing.

Angiel, I received my mooncup when I was nearing the end of my period and, with hindsight, I think it was good that I was bleeding lightly when I first tried it as it helped build up confidence for when my next period really started.

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Well I've gone ahead and ordered one. I just wondered if any of you had ever dropped it when it was full or spilt it all over your clothes? This is my big fear that I'll go in the bathroom and leave looking like a massacre has taken place.

YES - I'm a learner too. I'd recommend emtying it at home until you've got the hang of it. My bathroom looked like there'd been a massacre. But I don't seem to be removing it correctly - see previous postiongs!

Good luck - let us know how you get on.

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No major bloodbaths but then I've always emptied at home so far (only 1 maybe 2 days need changing during the day - rest of the period I only change first thing in the morning and evening before bed). Then again the first few times I did arm myself with a big handful of toilet paper just in case!

Incidentally, I have no issues sterilizing it at the end of the month (back to the cleaning conversation). Just pop it (obviously rinsed out) in a saucepan and boil for 5 mins - easy! Do you like your mooncups hard or soft-boiled?!

How do you know if the mooncup needs changing?

You don't really - you just get used to how heavy your flow is. I'd say minimum would be twice daily (would feel a bit icky less than that though would probably be fine).

On the first day of my period I changed every 5 hours while awake (and that was probably a bit over-cautious to be honest, but I didn't want it too full in case I had a bloodbath ), second day I'd grown in confidence (and obviously was less heavy) and changed it 3 times (once in the morning when I woke, once around 3pm ish, and once before going to bed). Subsequent days just when I got up and before going to bed.

Was surprised how little blood their actually was - I know they say you don't lose much, but with tampons I always felt like I was gushing, lol.

The thing for me is I don't dread my period any more. Once you've got over your reservations you will love it!

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I'm using my mooncup for the first time and I wondered if anyone could give me a tip for rotating the cup, when you first insert it. I just can't seem to do it. TIA.

I make sure I grab the base (not the stem) firmly (pinch it a bit) before rotating. The better grip I get the easier it is. Takes practise though

I seem to find it easier to use my thumb and second finger to rotate rather than thumb and index finger - probably just me being weird...

I seem to be able to get it in and out ok, bit fiddly but I'm getting there.

It is leaking though, any idea why?

Angiel - I find when I haven't rotated it properly then I get leaks. As I'm getting more used to it I'm more aware of when it's fitted correctly.

The other possibility is that it's too small - which size one did you get? The leaflet recommends if still leaking with the larger size to practise pelvic floor exercises to help tighten up the muscles a bit more to solve the problem. Don't know if that works though!

Went frantic this morning, just off to London for the day, breakfast at Fortnum and Mason and then a private tour of the shop, all for free! But, period arrived 5 minutes before we left and couldn't find my mooncup, more to the point I have two and couldn't find either! Had to use tampons, haven't used them for 2.5 years, thank god DD had some in her bedroom.

Didn't feel 'safe' all day long and had to find a loo every 3 hours to change, the mooncup would have lasted me all day on the first day of a period. Tampons are soooo uncomfortable, happy now as found one of my mooncups.

For novices, it probably takes 3 cycles before you really get the hang of it, then you'll never look back. Probably why they say you can send it back after 3 if you don't like it.

If anyone doesn't want theirs I'll buy it, that way I'll have one in every loo!!

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This mooncup looks really interesting.It would save me a fortune.

Leaking is one of my biggest fears. Fortunately I never have as I have used tampons and ST's at the same time just as a precautionary measure.

The leaking is really bad actually. Not sure what I'm doing wrong but hopefully things will improve. Legs crossed.