Feminine Hygiene Moneysaving Alternatives

zodiac

Thanks for all the help, im going to next one and be ready for next month (hehe). Talking about camping got me thinking about festivals and how useful it will be then.

purplepatch

Well, today is my first attempt at using mooncup and it's been a bit iffy if I'm honest. I have a heavy flow, especially since giving birth two years ago, but given other comments from others in the same boat, I decided to give it a go.

Started ok, but now my flow is getting to it's heaviest and the mooncup isn't coping brilliantly. It's leaked twice now, both times due to it being full - the first time I had left it in for 3 hours and the second time it leaked after 2 hours.

The mooncup website says that when full, it holds one third of the average period. Goodness knows how much heavier than average I am as I've lost two thirds of the average period in 5 hours!!!!!!!

All those of you have have used mooncups with a very heavy flow (and I mean very heavy!) how often do you empty on the worst days? I'm dreading going to bed tonight. I guess it's no worse than tampons - I usually wear 2 super plus extra tampons with a towel the size of a pillow at night, but the person who mentioned tidal waves in the morning - I'm knowing what you're saying!!

Any advice anyone?

Jay-Jay_4

Yeah Purplepatch, I was a bit leaky the first month and kept nipping to the loo to check on 'progress' :rolleyes:

I tried it again last month and it was better but I think that we just need to be vigilant for the first couple of days while things are a bit more 'full on'...IYKWIM

I think it's one of those things that takes practice so I'm giving mine the recommended 3 months trial and if things haven't improved I'll send it back.

I think it would be brill for those lighter ladies but maybe not so much for the rest of us.


......and where do they get those 'average' figures from

purplepatch

Jay-Jay wrote:

Yeah Purplepatch, I was a bit leaky the first month and kept nipping to the loo to check on 'progress' :rolleyes:

I tried it again last month and it was better but I think that we just need to be vigilant for the first couple of days while things are a bit more 'full on'...IYKWIM

I think it's one of those things that takes practice so I'm giving mine the recommended 3 months trial and if things haven't improved I'll send it back.

I think it would be brill for those lighter ladies but maybe not so much for the rest of us.


......and where do they get those 'average' figures from

I know exactly what you mean Jay-Jay.

Using the mooncup has actually got me quite worried to be honest. Apparently it holds 30mls fluid. That means that since my little friend arrived this morning, I have already done 100mls! I've just read on netdoctor that heavy periods are considered to be a loss of over 80mls for the whole period.

Perhaps time to get down the doctors to make sure all ok.

Jay-Jay_4

Have yourself checked out pp, just to put your mind at rest.

I think that they pick the 'average' figures from thin air don't they? I mean, we all change from year to year, before and after children etc.

Maybe they tested a cross section of women and averaged out the results. Some women menstruate for 2-3 days, some of us 7-10 days. Some are very light whereas some need super duper protection.

Maybe the people at Mooncup took the most suitable figures to sell the product.


I'm not knocking it yet, I'll give it another chance and like I said, the second time was easier than the first.




edited to say: but it IS scary when you actually see how much is there isn't it :eek: no wonder it hurts like bloody hell!

purplepatch

Indeed it is very scary.

But I'm persevering. For the time being!

Hubby suggested I ask them to make me a moon pint jug! :rolleyes:

Murtle

this might be interesting to read through for Victoria Falls sufferers.....

http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/articles/misc/very_heavy_menstrual_flow.shtml

flea72

for those with heavy flows and having leaking probs, is the mooncup not then a better alternative to tampons/towels, as you must be buying more than the average person, so your financial savings would therefore be greater?

personally i would not have thought having to use two tampons (at once?). plus a towel, was something that shouldnt be referred to a Dr in the first place, as your quality of life during your period must be awful, and you shouldnt have to put up with it

if you find you are emptying the mooncup on average once every 2hrs, i still think that must be some improvement to other sanitary protection, seeing as when inserted correctly a mooncup holds 6 times the amount of fluids that a tampon does

you may even find, as i have, that since using the mooncup, your periods dont last as long - i cant see any reason for it, other than the mooncup can collect it all in one go, rather than having to try and soak it up bit, by bit??

sorry if ive gone a bit too graphic in some areas, but i just wanted to give my 2p

flea

purplepatch

You are right flea in that there isn't much to choose between the two. I think tampons are a bit less messy, but yes, there is certainly a lot of money to be saved with a mooncup. Quality of life isn't great whatever you use for the first couple of days, but it's something you get used to living with. I certainly never had any inkling how much more than average I was losing until I've used the mooncup. It's not something you really discuss with your mates is it
And yes, I did mean 2 at once :eek:

Savvy_Sue

I know the instructions say not to use two at once, but if you know you'll flood overnight without two SuperPlus Tampax and a towel, what are you going to do? Yup, me too.

Also during the day if it's a choice between rushing off to the loo every hour on the hour to change a SuperPlus or putting two in and having a little bit of leeway, what you are going to do? Yup, me too! ESPECIALLY if I'm travelling anywhere that day.

But it is worth going to see your GP: there is medication you can try and you may have fibroids or a polyps which can be treated and trust me, it's worth it!