mooncup (Merged Discussion Thread)

jaxxy00

hitchhiker wrote:

This is my second month using the mooncup and I have to say it's actually less messy than tampons and towels, and (sorry if anyone is squeamish) because the blood doesn't come into contact with the air, it doesn't smell as well. Sometimes when I'm using a towel, I feel like everyone knows I'm having my period! Also the silicone is very smooth and you don't get the friction you sometimes get with tampons.

I'm sorry if this is too much info, but I hope it helps!

Thanks hitchhiker, its not too much info its really helpful. Thats a good point that i hadnt thought of about the blood not coming into contact with the air and smelling. I used to hate the friction feeling of pulling out a tampon which wasnt very full if you know what i mean!! Ive been thinking about using one of these but thats as far as ive got. Reading your post though has made me decide if i find one on offer then i will give it a go for around £10-12 I would spend the full amount but worried if i dont like it.

I will ask some detailed questions now and hope someone answers!!
What are these like for people who have quite heavy periods but also clots (yuk!! sorry) and they are fairly large clots at times too?
When you go and take it out to empty it how messy is it? Do you get blood all over your hands/fingers/clothing?
How far up yourself do you have to put your fingers?
Im sorry these are rather iffy questions but i really would like to know. I have 2 teenage daughters too that i have spoken to about using one of these. They both use and have only ever used towels. I have explained about how it would be convenient for them to go swimming etc if they had one of these but they seem to want convincing too.

Jay-Jay_4

jaxxy00 wrote:

What are these like for people who have quite heavy periods but also clots (yuk!! sorry) and they are fairly large clots at times too?

You just empty it more regularly.... they hold quite a lot

When you go and take it out to empty it how messy is it? Do you get blood all over your hands/fingers/clothing?

You do get blood on your fingers but as long as you have some loo roll or a sink handy it's no bother. It's just your fingers because you have to reach inside for the cup.

How far up yourself do you have to put your fingers?

Not very far at all. To put it in you fold the cup in half then in half again, you put it in a bit and let go then push the base up a bit. It sits quite low down really compared to a tampon.

If I've been doing lots of exercise (or pelvic floor exercises) it ends up further up but I've not had any problems putting it in or taking it out. It just takes some practice.


I said earlier on in this thread that it took me three months to get used to using the Mooncup. The first month I didn't really like it, the second month I was still a bit squeamish and my the third month I was getting used to it.

I know I sound like an advert for Mooncups ;o but honestly, it makes life so much easier. Especially at the end of my period when I'm much lighter, I only empty it morning and night so it feels like my periods are shorter than they were when I was changing my tampon every few hours.

purplepatch

jaxxy00 wrote:

Thanks hitchhiker, its not too much info its really helpful. Thats a good point that i hadnt thought of about the blood not coming into contact with the air and smelling. I used to hate the friction feeling of pulling out a tampon which wasnt very full if you know what i mean!! Ive been thinking about using one of these but thats as far as ive got. Reading your post though has made me decide if i find one on offer then i will give it a go for around £10-12 I would spend the full amount but worried if i dont like it.

I will ask some detailed questions now and hope someone answers!!
What are these like for people who have quite heavy periods but also clots (yuk!! sorry) and they are fairly large clots at times too?
When you go and take it out to empty it how messy is it? Do you get blood all over your hands/fingers/clothing?
How far up yourself do you have to put your fingers?
Im sorry these are rather iffy questions but i really would like to know. I have 2 teenage daughters too that i have spoken to about using one of these. They both use and have only ever used towels. I have explained about how it would be convenient for them to go swimming etc if they had one of these but they seem to want convincing too.

I do get very heavy periods and I have only had limited success with mooncup. I can't use it on my heavy days as the, errr, shall we say extra moist conditions, mean that it doesn't form an adequate seal, and leaks really badly - and we're talking within a couple of minutes of putting in, nothing to do with filling up and overflowing. I contacted mooncup and they suggested all sorts of things to do, but nothing worked and I decided to revert to tampons as even though they need changing more regularly at least they don't leak in the interim. I can still use the mooncup on the normal flow days, but often never get round to it. I did try using mooncup with pads, but hate the feel of leaking.

And yes, my experience of it on heavy days before I discontinued using, was VERY MESSY!!! But only fingers, not clothing. It's when it gets behind your nails!

hitchhiker_2

jaxxy00 wrote:

I will ask some detailed questions now and hope someone answers!!
What are these like for people who have quite heavy periods but also clots (yuk!! sorry) and they are fairly large clots at times too?
When you go and take it out to empty it how messy is it? Do you get blood all over your hands/fingers/clothing?
How far up yourself do you have to put your fingers?

Hi jaxxy00, I get a normal to heavy flow but not VERY heavy so I can't really speak for very heavy. The cup holds quite a lot, and as Jay Jay said, you just need to empty it more often. I've had it in all day at work and it's only about a third full. When you get the knack it's quite easy. Sort of like when you're learning to use a tampon, you also have to get a knack for it. I think the mooncup puts you more in touch with your body and after a couple of times you will probably know how often you need to tip it.

As for messiness, I get no mess at all. No blood anywhere except into the loo. MUCH better (for me anyway) than the stupid string in the tampon. I know a lot of people say don't pull on the stem, but I find it useful to get an initial grip. When you bear down the stem lets you get your fingers on the thing and then just grip the cup and hold on until the suction is released. If you just tug on the stem, the suction may release suddenly and you get a spray! I suggest practising when you're not having your period to get used to it. You don't have to put your fingers in very far at all. Don't cut off the stem until you've tried it though. I know some people cut off part or all the stem, but I find I need all of it.

If you try it first yourself, you might find it easier to convince your daughters. I've not gone swimming but I've slept with it and it's fine. Much better than a maxi pad, no stains on the bed, and much safer than a tampon (which you're not supposed to use sleeping anyway).

No, I'm not being paid to advertise mooncup. Good luck though.

jaxxy00

purplepatch wrote:

And yes, my experience of it on heavy days before I discontinued using, was VERY MESSY!!! But only fingers, not clothing. It's when it gets behind your nails!

Made me laugh that. Instead of dirty finger nails you could go show off your nice red nails!! ewwww!!!! thats really not very funny.
Anyway thanks for the info.

Jay-Jay wrote:

I said earlier on in this thread that it took me three months to get used to using the Mooncup. The first month I didn't really like it, the second month I was still a bit squeamish and my the third month I was getting used to it.QUOTE]
What was it you didnt like about it to start with? Was it just a case of getting used to something different or was there certain problems you had?

arkonite_babe

I *might* take the plunge then and order one

Jay-Jay_4

jaxxy00 wrote:

What was it you didnt like about it to start with? Was it just a case of getting used to something different or was there certain problems you had?

It seemed big and messy and awkward. I remember dreading using it and would 'treat myself' by using tampons instead

It was a very similar feeling to when I first started using tampons all those years ago. It was a kind of trepidation I suppose. So I told myself that I would get used to it if I persevered and now I don't hesitate when my period arrives because I can take it out, rinse it in the sink and pop it back in without it becoming a drama.



TMI ALERT!!!!..... it's quite eye opening to see the amount and consistency of the 'loss'. Without sounding like a hippy, I feel much more in tune with what's going on down there. Oh, and just for the record...... you know all those people who said "oh you only lose about a teaspoon of blood during a period!" ...? yeah, well they got it SOOOOO wrong!

arkonite_babe

You'd think in my job, this wouldn't be a problem for me (I work for a company who services female hygiene products) but how often does it need emptied?? Some of my clients are really narky if you ask to use the loo

Jay-Jay_4

It depends. For the first few days I empty it whenever I go to the loo, after that a couple of times a day and for the remaining days I empty it morning and night.

For the first month or two maybe you could wear a small pad, just to put your mind at rest until you get used to the whole thing?

arkonite_babe

I think I'll be a big brave girl and order one