mooncup (Merged Discussion Thread)

purplelotus

punkstoner wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_cups

The wikipedia page, link shown above shows these things are far from new.

I suspect they have never taken off in the past due to the messy-ness of using them, and the hygene of cleansing them in public.

Yes they've been around for ages (and yet still no health risk links) but they haven't really "taken off" because:

• each woman only buys one - not a great business proposal
• women don't tend to rave about their sanitary protection
• some women aren't open minded enough about them to appreciate their worth.

I was introduced to them by my younger sister who had just found out about this "totally disgusting" alternative to tampons - so I did research to find out what it was - out of a kind of morbid curiosity I suppose.

When I discovered they are more reliable, healthier for your body, better for the environment, less hassle to carry around / make sure you've enough in stock, and save money too - I figured even if I was the only person I knew using it, I'd give it a go anyway.

That was three years ago. Now most of my friends, those who I'm still in contact with from school, friends from my undergrad uni, post grad uni and my sister all also use one. I like to think that I've started a mini revolution of my own. :T

littleange

RebekahR wrote: »

Me!! Huge trouble. I posted the below a couple of weeks ago:

"I fell in love with my moon cup (the idea of it) about 1 year - 18 months ago. I purchased mine from boots for £20. I used it the 1st day of my next period. Locked myself in the bathroom, ky in one hand, hot tap running and cup in the other. Once I had made it warm and wet I applied a little (prob too much then) Ky and attempted to put it in but it wouldnt go so gave up.

The next month I tried again and it went in a little way but I couldnt undo the thing so pulled it out again in agony.

Many months pass I read this thread with joy and the desire to try again. Just locked my self in bathroom as per the first time and tried to insert. Got it in a little way but fear over took me when I thought of how much it hurt before so I stopped. Tried again but it would go in. So I squatted wider and tried again but it wouldn't go past. So I gave up. I am not on my period at the moment but thought I would try it any way now for practice. Not sure its for me.

Has anyone tried to put it in when they have been ahem "sexually aroused" or after an O when things are more stretched and widened out already? Wondered if that would help at all?"

That thought had crossed my mind, but doesn't seem practical to have to get sexually aroused everytime you want to put it in or take it out. Surely you shouldn't have to resort to such measures. looking at it, it looks impossible to get it in without doing such things!

I'm starting to wonder if there is something wrong with me, with so many people having no problems getting it in!

There is clearly a market for a smaller size, especially I'd say for teenagers. I have emailed mooncup, but I suspect I wont hear back from them!

I guess tampax didn't think there was much market for tampax mini as I'm sure previously to get them you'd have to buy a multipack box where you got a whopping 4 minis! I was going to say you can't buy a box of 40 to get them cheaper as they only do boxes of 20s, but I have just found some 40s so thats much better!

Emmamr

Hi there

Apologies if anything like this has been posted before, have just found the thread and in my enthusiasm have posted without reading every post in depth.

I got a mooncup a couple of months ago and have no problem getting it in. What I have is a problem getting it our without passing out! It takes me ages and hurts a lot and therefore there is no way I could even contemplate using it in public.

I must admit i gave up after a month and have felt like a total failure so any advice you could give would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Emma

littleange

Emmamr wrote: »

Hi there

Apologies if anything like this has been posted before, have just found the thread and in my enthusiasm have posted without reading every post in depth.

I got a mooncup a couple of months ago and have no problem getting it in. What I have is a problem getting it our without passing out! It takes me ages and hurts a lot and therefore there is no way I could even contemplate using it in public.

I must admit i gave up after a month and have felt like a total failure so any advice you could give would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Emma

Hopefully, someone has some good advice for you!

I do worry that if I ever get it in, I wont get it back out again!

ruthiejane

Emmamr wrote: »

I got a mooncup a couple of months ago and have no problem getting it in. What I have is a problem getting it our without passing out! It takes me ages and hurts a lot and therefore there is no way I could even contemplate using it in public. Thanks
Emma

Hi Emma
If taking it out hurts you probably aren't breaking the seal. Don't pull on the stem, but push down until you can hold the base of the cup. You may need to reach up inside a bit. Squeeze the base to break the seal, or slide a finger up to push the rim of the cup inwards. The most important thing is to relax. I know, easier said than done...

Emmamr

Thanks for that

I do find it hard to relax and I reckon that is where I am going wrong. I have issues with smears and fainted once having cervical biopsies done so I think I automatically tense up and then panic. I'll give it another go and see how I get on.

Thanks for the advice and help.

Emma

RebekahR

purplelotus wrote: »

Apart from "ruining the mood" I don't see why you couldn't try!!

Have you tried putting it in while you're in the shower? Standing up, with one foot on the side of the bath. Fold it tightly and push down with all your tummy muscles while you put it in. You only need to get the top rim in at first and then you can relax your tummy muscles and it will move up a bit on its own.

With finger and thumb sort of push it/wiggle it until the bottom of the cup is "out of sight". If you've got the cup in but not the stem, that's great, that's all you need to do, then just cut off the stem.

To remove it it's best if you don't pull the stem anyway, actually squeeeze and pull on the cup itself. Again if you do this in the shower you don't have to worry about spilling or dropping it down the loo. Don't let your other half accidentally walk in though, the "pscho effect" can be quite distressing for them - poor blokes, lucky it's us women that have to cope with it! :rolleyes:

Ok just had another appointment with my moon cup and followed what you said. I ditched the ky jelly this time as that seems to make it a wee bit too slippery. I did the 1 foot on the side of the bath thing and used my muscles. It seemed to go in the 1st time but I couldnt get the bottom bit in only the full rim. 2nd time I could only get half the rim in again and 3rd time I tried was too sore by that point so gave up! Tried twisting it after the 1st time to undo the suction but I think either it wasnt high enough (bottom wasnt in) or you have to yank/twist mega hard to get the suction on! Given up for today will try again tomorrow.

Tittch

littleange_com wrote: »

There is clearly a market for a smaller size, especially I'd say for teenagers. I have emailed mooncup, but I suspect I wont hear back from them!

Hi Sweetie, gosh the board's been busy whilst I've been off line. If you've emailed Su at Mooncup, I'm sure she'll reply or at least Kathy will. They are a good crowd. I'll give her a call Monday and have a chat to her about it and see what she thinks.

Tittch

RebekahR wrote: »

Ok just had another appointment with my moon cup and followed what you said. I ditched the ky jelly this time as that seems to make it a wee bit too slippery. I did the 1 foot on the side of the bath thing and used my muscles. It seemed to go in the 1st time but I couldnt get the bottom bit in only the full rim. 2nd time I could only get half the rim in again and 3rd time I tried was too sore by that point so gave up! Tried twisting it after the 1st time to undo the suction but I think either it wasnt high enough (bottom wasnt in) or you have to yank/twist mega hard to get the suction on! Given up for today will try again tomorrow.

I find that sitting on the loo works best for me, using the Punch Down fold. Sometimes if my vaginal passage is particularly short (it gets shorter after ovulation) I find that I have to try again, but making the cup as narrow as possible works best for me. Twisting it to open it also works best for me, rather than letting it ping open.

RebekahR

Tittch wrote: »

I find that sitting on the loo works best for me, using the Punch Down fold. Sometimes if my vaginal passage is particularly short (it gets shorter after ovulation) I find that I have to try again, but making the cup as narrow as possible works best for me. Twisting it to open it also works best for me, rather than letting it ping open.

How many different types of ways of putting it in are there? I've only been trying the standard one that comes in the instructions.
How do you do it on the loo? Do you open wide? Or hover or what?:o