mooncup (Merged Discussion Thread)

Haffiana

Mumof2 wrote: »

I've had to stop using my Mooncup which is a real shame as I loved it. It did leak even though I did all I could and followed all the instructions. Sorry if TMI but it turns out that my pelvic floor muscles are too good and it was sort of being squished up a lot higher than it should be and going around my cervix which the nurse at Mooncup said could be dangerous (can cut off the blood supply) - there should always be a gap between the Mooncup and the cervix.

So now I'm back to square one and looking at other alternatives. I can't face Tampax again; they dry you out so much and I was having to change every couple of hours.

My cup always goes around my cervix. So does everyone's that I know about. It will never leak if it goes around your cervix - that is where it should go. It will form a sort of loose 'seal' around the cervix, and this stops any leaks missing the cup. Strong muscles simply mean that it will stay in place! The cervix, which is the same sort of size as the tip of your nose will sit 'in' the cup. Have you ever used a diaphragm? It is exactly like that, except the cup has a far smaller circumference, and so surrounds the cervix more closely, (and in fact more loosely as well).

There is no gap, although it is in no way jammed against the viginal walls around the cervix. I honestly cannot imagine what the Mooncup nurse was talking about, unless she was trained using those ridiculous incorrect diagrams that show a vagina that is impossibly long, with a microscopic cup sitting at the opening. Perhaps she meant that the rim of the cup shouldn't touch the cervix? - this is quite true, it doesn't. It forms an 'O' around the cervix, and doesn't actually touch it at all.

However a cup will leak if it goes too high, doesn't open and misses your cervix - and this can mean that the outside of the cup presses against the cervix and be uncomfortable. The cervix is *not* at the very top of the vagina, and if you push the cup too hard when inserting it, rather than let it open and sort of kegel it (or not even that, it will naturally find where it should be) into position, then the cervix may end up next to the cup, and it will leak. The cup does not need pushing in high like a tampon.

It is worth finding where your cervix is, especially during a period, when it can be surprisingly low. It will be on the front wall of your vagina. Aim the cup towards it - the cup does not sit absolutely vertical when correctly positioned, but at a sort of angle across the vagina.

There are some good diagrams here http://menstrualcupinfo.wordpress.com/instead-cup/ This shows an Instead cup, which is a much softer, disposable brand which does in fact position more like a diaphragm than a true moon cup, but it does give a far more accurate picture of where the rim of a cup should be positioned in relation to the cervix. Far too many diagrams show the vagina as a sort of rigid tube with the cervix at the top!

It may be worth trying by inserting the cup gently just past the pubic bone at the entrance, allowing it to open, and then just kegel it. It should find where it should be by itself - it may be a lot lower than you expect. If you run a finger around the outside of the rim when it is in place, you may feel your cervix inside.

juno

Mumof2 wrote: »

Wouldn't I have the same problem with all of them though? I had thought about this .... will investigate.

Well, they're all different sizes - both in circumference and in length. This site has useful comparisons (or did, it seems to be under reconstruction now). The Mooncup is quite a long cup, so it's possible it's sitting too high for you because it's too long - or maybe you're just pushing it too high because you think you have to to get it to fit!

I've only tried Mooncup and MeLuna, but if I'd only tried the former I would not be a happy cup user now. A lot of people seem to think that a Mooncup is the only menstrual cup but they don't suit everybody.

daveandjadea

Mumof2 wrote: »

I've had to stop using my Mooncup which is a real shame as I loved it. It did leak even though I did all I could and followed all the instructions. Sorry if TMI but it turns out that my pelvic floor muscles are too good and it was sort of being squished up a lot higher than it should be and going around my cervix which the nurse at Mooncup said could be dangerous (can cut off the blood supply) - there should always be a gap between the Mooncup and the cervix.

So now I'm back to square one and looking at other alternatives. I can't face Tampax again; they dry you out so much and I was having to change every couple of hours.

Like other have said - different cups will fit differently.

I've tried Mooncup, Ladycup, Lunette, Divacup, MeLuna - plus about to try Femmecup, which seems to be wider than the Mooncup too.

Of these I couldn't use Divacup or Lunette (too long, too firm and too narrow) and MeLuna (not flexible enough to create suction, and frankly it stunk no matter what I did to clean it). Mooncup sat low for me so worked fine, and Ladycup sits very high but is wide enough not to cause problems. We're all different

I only promote Mooncup over other brands as it's UK-based, one of the oldest and most trusted brands, a good mid-flexibility/mid-size cup, and to promote this link http://www.mooncup.co.uk/wc.php?u=1741 to raise funds for women's health projects (yes, that WAS a shameless plug).

On alternatives;
Natural sponge tampons, softcups, soft/wet tampons, cloth tampons, cloth pads, diaphragm as menstrual cups, etc.

Mumof2_2

Many thanks for all your advice; got lots to think about there. Also thanks for your PM daveandjadea

daveandjadea

Currently Mooncup are offering 10% off for customers ordering a Mooncup or MCUK from their online shop before December 31st.
Order at mooncup.co.uk (again, affiliate link so 20% of sale goes to support women's health projects) using promotion code SANTA

Also, free 2012 Mooncup Lunar calendar (PDF) - here.

Haffiana

Link to a thread on the Grabbit board for half-price Femmecup:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3838985

lilbert

My Femmecup just arrived. Its so flexible and soft compared to the Mooncup. When I first got the Mooncup I was amazed at how flexible it was, this one seems almost flimsy in comparison. Think its slghtly smaller too. And the holes are on the actual cup as opposed to the rim. Will try it out later.

pokey128

I just got a femmecup as well from the half price deal. Lo and behold AF arrives a day later so I get to put it to good use! I love it so far although getting it out is a little tricky and (TMI - I seem to leave a trail of stuff behind!) Any handy hints?

flea72

pokey128 wrote: »

I just got a femmecup as well from the half price deal. Lo and behold AF arrives a day later so I get to put it to good use! I love it so far although getting it out is a little tricky and (TMI - I seem to leave a trail of stuff behind!) Any handy hints?

TMI - never, lol

when you say you leave a trail you do mean blood thats sunk to the bottom of the pan, or stuck to the bowl? if so, before removing, put a few sheets of paper down the loo so they lay on the front of the bowl, out of the water, and empty the cup onto that - it should all flush away ok then

F

lilbert

If your referring to a trail as in, once youve inserted it, there is some blood left infront of the cup that leaks out, Ive found just cleaning thoroughly with toilet paper after insertion takes care of it Of course you could be on about something else entirely

Well day one with mooncup went well, no leaks. But woke up this morning and leaked all over my pants, took mooncup out is was OVER-FLOWING!! So full i was gobsmacked. I always thought i had a very light flowed compared to others but im strangely amused by the volume im collecting each time

Took me a while to get the hang of inserting and making sure it popped open and formed a seal fully, think ive just got the hang of it and no leaks so far for the rest of the day. Will have another go tonight with a backup pad.