Moon cups

[nancybotwinbloom]

Never heard of them until Mumsnet.

Can someone give me the basics on these please?

Do they leak?
Do you need more than one?
Can you use them in the night?

Are they easy to insert etc?

Any recommendations?

No one I know has used one.

I picked one up in Boots, can't remember the brand name.

Life changing.

Doesn't leak. Most comfortable thing I've ever used on my period, I sometimes forget I'm using one. Took a very small amount of getting used to / learning how to insert. Occasionally have to fish around to get it out but nothing major. Better for the environment. Pays for itself very quickly etc.

As long as you're not squeamish about your own body (& why would you be, it's your body!) it's the best thing ever. I really really wish they'd been a thing when I was younger. Go for it!

Oh, sorry: you only need one, you wear it all night. You rinse / wipe during your period and once that's over you sterilise it for the next month. So, so easy.

I love mine. Have used one for over ten years now, mooncup brand. It has a ‘stem’ (to help with removing it) which you can trim to size and I found it more comfortable to completely cut that off.

The first night of my period is always very heavy and it’s not enough for that, I need a pad too. But with a pad alone, or tampon + pad, I have always leaked that night.

The instructions suggest a few different ways of folding the cup to insert it, and it’s defo worth trying them out and seeing what suits you.

I really like it - feels very clean and convenient, and I’m convinced it helped with my cramps too.

Thank you.

I'm heavy to light at the minute with no rhyme or reason as I think I'm peri menopausal and sometimes I find tampons uncomfortable like I'm sitting on an egg. They are properly inserted and the right ones for my flow ie the lightest flow ones but I just don't get on with tampons anymore it seems.

I'm going to look in boot's tomorrow.

I agree with the above posters, not much to add except glad to see you are trying it! I tried it about 4 years ago and I’m really glad I did. So much easier. No more pulling out of scratchy tampons! (Sorry if tmi!)
I wear mine with a pad as well as I have quite heavy flows at the beginning especially. I find I have to empty it often to start with but I had to do that with tampons anyway.
Took a bit to get used to putting it in to start with but found the best way that works for me and now it is quick and easy.

I wear a liner with mine. It generally only leaks if it gets too full (only on day 1 or 2), and I can feel that happening, but can't always get out of meetings to deal with it.
You only need one (rinse when you empty it, clean properly after your period).
Yes, you can wear it at night.
They can take a bit of getting used to, but I'm fine with it all now.

I have a Me Luna after doing a quiz like this: putacupinit.com/quiz/

This is going to sound vile but I'm going to say it anyway.

I'm also interested to see what is actually coming out as my periods have changed a lot in the last two years.

I'd never had a clot or a heavier period (again sorry tmi) until about two years ago.

What I think as a heavy period probably isn't for a lot of women either.

Also I think as I older it's more important to see what's normal for me and what isn't.

I got a mooncup and hated it. I tried for three months but I felt it all the time no matter how many videos I followed and folding techniques I did. I can use tampons fine but just felt the cup like it was a huge block of concrete inside me. I don't think I could ever get it up far enough?? I gave up and much prefer tampons+period pants combo

I came upon mine at age 30 and it was an absolute game changer, oh how I wish I had discovered them years ago!! No more sitting in gross pads or worried you would flood a tampon and changing through the day. I have a relatively heavy flow but I can wear my cup from when I wake to when I go to bed. NEVER had a leak. Inserting it correctly takes a bit of practise but you soon get the hang of it and then you just know when you put it in if it’s right! Taking it out and cleaning it can really only be done in private quarters though, and is not for the squeamish!! I only own the one. Mine is just a cheap one from Amazon. I haven’t ever tried to wear it overnight though to be honest, I would worry it would leave, cuz you know, gravity?!

Worried it would leak! That should say, not leave…

I would recommend buying online, the in store ones are very expensive! (£20ish?) Where as you can get two branded ones for a tenner online

Carbiesdreamhouse I have had the same issue with my Mooncup. I really wanted to love it like others do but found it so uncomfortable, the material feels so solid/ridged. I wonder if all cups are like this or if there are softer, more pliable ones or if it’s me? I have a tilted uterus so wonder if that may be the issue? I can’t really afford to keep experimenting with them as they aren’t cheap if they don’t suit.

To the OP:

I bought a fleurcup.
Doesn't leak.
Only have one.
Can use at night.

Easy to insert, yes, but I use it inside out.

Bought because it was described as less tricky to use than some - it pops open easily after being folded. This makes it less likely to leak.

Not terribly expensive, especially considering how long they last.

I love mine, I have 3 now (recently decided to try some other brands) but still find my original Mooncup the best, but they are quite variable so if you don't get on with the first one you try, depending on the reasons it may still be worth trying other brands - some are much smaller/bigger/softer/springier etc than others. One that I got always leaks for me, another is sometimes fine but the mooncup is the most dependable for me personally.

Some tips, do see what suits you regarding the stems - I cut mine right off otherwise I could always feel it. You can use them at night and for pretty much anything you're doing, though if you use one in the bath, you may find it gets some water in but it's not really a problem! Also you can try different ways of folding them for insertion. Make sure it fully opens up once in, or it will leak.

Occasionally - and usually on the later days of my period for some reason - I find I have more trouble getting it in comfortably, sometimes it feels like it wants to pop out, other times it feels uncomfortable - a sort of dragging, slightly painful feeling; but usually, taking it out and reinserting it (a couple of times if necessary) sorts it out, or sometimes I switch to one of my others then, which seems better for those days.

Mostly I love it though, it must have saved me a fortune in tampons etc over the years and been sooo much more environmentally-friendly. I hated the feeling and smell of pads, and having to change pads or tampons so regularly, so would never go back to those!

@ArcOfTheCello

Why do you use it inside out?

How do you know it's inserted properly? Does it just feel right?

@nancybotwinbloom

How do you know it's inserted properly? Does it just feel right?

It’s obvious when it’s in, to be honest - it is hard to explain but when he’s in yiu can basically have a feel around with your finger and check the rim has expanded so it is cup shaped and not squashed. It is easier done than explained!

I really like the moon cup. To me, it feels more sanitary than sanitary towels which I didn’t like because it felt like the blood was hanging around my vulva and pubes. I never liked or could get on with tampons - I found them very uncomfortable.

Personally I would really recommend one with a stem. I have one with a ring stem so you can easily grip that and pull it out. I found the one I tried without a stem really quite difficult to remove!

Recommend doing an online quiz to work out which one is right for you - there’s a lot of choice!

*it’s in not he’s in

I bought a moon cup - Lunette brand - from a health and vitality exhibition in 2007 and have used it ever since. Very cost effective and no environmental impact every month.

As pps have said, there are variations including size. I think if you've never worn a tampon they might be more of a challenge but they are no more difficult than using a tampon. I normally only empty mine twice day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, at home, so it's very discreet.

@Jazzcafecoffee do the quiz on putacupinit as someone posted above, or read their comparison chart. There are lots of different options with firmness etc.
I bought the Luna but am really disappointed that it’s just not for me. I found the stem very uncomfortable and even when I trimmed it off completely I feel like the base of the cup itself is rubbing my perineum from the inside (I do have some scarring from severe testing in childbirth) and even when I get it in high enough it doesn’t seem to stay there. Also, my flow is very heavy so the frequent emptying made me sore.
My friends all rave about theirs so I think it’s very marmite whether you get on with it or not, but they do say to persevere for a few cycles to get the hang of it.
I have heard stories of research around the increased risk of prolapses, and I can see what they mean after a few amateur attempts to remove the cup without breaking the seal, but don’t take my word for it, I genuinely haven’t looked into it.

Best thing I ever did during lockdown was switching to a menstrual cup! (I use the Luna with the ball pull).

Period cramps are pretty much non existent anymore!

I added a mooncup to my Ocado delivery about 6 months ago and I can’t believe how much of a game changer it is! I never thought I would be a mooncup convert but I am. No more flooding a tampon or running out of Super Plus or being caught out without a spare.

Mine is quite soft and it takes a sort of double fold to insert but it’s easy and then I forget about it.

Oh, sorry, the outside has ridges and a stem. You can shorten the stem or cut it off, which I did, but found the ridges uncomfortable so I flipped it inside out.

Thanks for everyone that has given advice.

I'm going to go to boots tomorrow and get one. Depending on stock!

It's good to hear different options as I'd of prob tried one and not realised there are different brands if one doesn't suit.

I had one called a Duchess cup which I bought on Amazon. I did absolutely love it but I started getting thrush ALL THE TIME which I never used to get. I got rid of the original cup and bought another brand but continued to suffer with it. Since I’ve reverted back to tampons the infections have stopped - it’s really annoying because I found them so easy to use. I’m not trying to put you off but keep it in mind if the same should happen to you.