MoonCup Menstrual Cup

I found out about the MoonCup in 2005, when I read a magazine article called “Go Green with your Menstrual Cycle”. The fact that it could hold more blood than a tampon immediately had me interested, as I’ve suffered with very heavy, long periods for years.

I ordered one a few days later and used my MoonCup for just over 7 years. I absolutely loved it! I’d empty mine 3-4 times per day - morning, lunchtime, later afternoon before gym session and then again before bed. No more sneaking tampons to the loo, no more tampon fluff getting stuck where it shouldn’t, no more monthly thrush and no more worrying about leakage! In the 7 years, I think it only leaked 3 or 4 times. Once because I didn’t check the seal properly and the other times because I got stuck in meetings and it got too full!

In the beginning, it took a little getting used to, but I found that rubbing a little KY Jelly (personal water-based lubricant) around the rim made insertion much less painful, especially in the beginning and on the first day of my period. I ended up cutting the stem right down to 5mm, as it was too uncomfortable for me. I’d remove my cup by grabbing the base (where the stem joins the cup) with my thumb and forefinger, squeeze it slightly to break the seal and pull it out that way.

The MoonCup was really easy to use and allowed me to be more in tune with my own body. Cleaning it was a breeze and it could wiped out with toilet paper and reinserted if I was in a public restroom and then rinsed with hot water each evening and the next morning, at home.

When rinsing it, I’d use hot water out the tap and rinse both the inside and outside of the cup, as well as the little grooves under the rim. Then fill the cup up with water, place my palm over the top, tip it upside down and then squeeze the cup (make sure you’re over the basin, bath or in the shower), so that water flows through the little holes on the sides. This will flush the holes, cleaning them and making sure that the cup seals properly.

I have had my moon cup for years and in terms of sanitary products, this had paid for itself over and beyond. In fact, now that I have had a baby and am due to change sizes I am excited to get to buy a new one once my menstrual cycle starts again.

Of course, when I first read about it I thought it was a bit hippyish, woo-woo and kinda gross but after using it for so long I can safely say I will never go back to pads/tampons unless absolutely necessary (ie. right after childbirth). There is a bit of a learning curve with this and at the beginning I struggled with the folding of the cup and insertion.

It is best to try using it in a relaxed manner and if it doesn't go in right the first few times, try again later as being tense doesn't help! And by tense, I mean tense down there! Try in the shower, or squatting in the shower.

Once you get the hang of insertion, you have to try and pull it out without creating a gory blood soaked horror scene. Try again in the shower and once you feel confident just over the toilet.

At home I would normally tip the contents in the toilet and then rinse under a tap before reinsertion.

I normally have very heavy periods and the only times I have leaked is overnight so will sometimes double up with a liner to catch leaks otherwise leaking is much less than with tampons.

After my period is done, I normally boil the moon cup for at least 5 minutes.

Now that I have been regularly using my moon cup, it has over the years gotten a bit discoloured. This does not effect it's function but I am looking forward to a new one.

Overall, it can be a bit scary getting used to it but once you get the hang of it, it is easy peasy. Not to mention you are saving money and the environment. Every little bit helps.

I have had my mooncup about 4 years now. When I first got it I was struggling to insert and remove it, now I wouldn't be without it. I have PCOS so have very heavy painful periods, with this the pain is greatly reduced, I am no longer spending the first day curled up with a hot water bottle and hoping for the pain killers to work, instead a couple of Panadol does the trick and I can get on with my day. It also has cut down the length of my cycle form 7 days to 4.

I do find it a bit gross to empty if I let it get too full. I need to empty it once during the day as well as when I wake up and again before bed, although if you don't have heavy periods just morning and night might be enough. When emptying I just pour it straight into the toilet,and wipe with toilet paper before reinserting. When I'm in the shower I give it a good wash. I use Milton sterilising tablets at the end of my cycle to get rid of any nasties before next time.

I have bought the mooncup, and used the once and so far so good. It was really weird for me at first to be using it but you just do it! I had really looked at it and everything before I used it, just to get the feel etc and yeah. Not really much else to say about it! It does what it should, and in the long run saves money!

The mooncup definitely took some persevering. It took a couple of months to get the hang of and feel comfortable in the fact that I could trust it, but it was worth every second! I will never go back to tampons after using the mooncup, everyone that I talk to about the mooncup says that they think its gross, but that's how I feel about tampons having used it. I'm very happy in the fact that I am no longer putting bleached cotton in places it should not go and that I never have to experience that dried out feeling I used to get with tampons. I had issues with the stem being uncomfortable when I first started wearing it, so I would cut it down a little bit each time I wore it, as I didn't want to cut it too short. Eventually the whole stem was gone and it was no longer uncomfortable (It still works fine with no stem! I just squeeze the base to pull it out) Being a university student it also helps not having to buy tampons every month, I save a lot of money so the $40 I spent on this was really worth it!

I have only had the chance to use mine once as i have still only had one period since having my son, but it was so nice not to have to use pads or tampons! Like the others said it takes a few goes to get it in the right position, but there are instructions that help. It is also fantastic that it is helping reduce waste and helping towards saving the environment, plus it means you dont have yucky used pads and tampons to deal with :/ Im almost looking forward to my next period so i can try it again!!! even after only one cycle i love it and want to try get every other woman i know to try it!! it only take a couple of cycles before it has already saved you money too!

So, I'd heard of these a few years back, and finally got my paws on one after being fed up with having to buy supply's every month. The promise of lasting for years sounds pretty good to me.

Its quite a firm yet smooth feeling silicone, like a bell shape. Obviously you put the "bell" in upside down though ;) Its a little tricky to insert in the right place at first, keeping in mind it sits lower than a tampon, and you've got to work a little quickly once you've folded it, popped it in & let go, it pops back into shape instantly and the seal is formed. Once its in you really don't feel it, its so easy to forget your wearing it - except the little stem that sticks out to help with removal, it kept poking me in the wrong place and was really quite annoying to walk or sit down. But silly me then I remembered it stated in the directions that you can trim the stem to suit you, and then it felt much better! I took about half of it off after a couple of attempts at a small trim - I didn't want to take too much off after all.

No leakage - none at all, even with my first time wearing this, its seal is really brilliant! and it holds LOADS, I never even got it half full in a whole day! - then again I don't usually have extremely heavy bleeds. It is a little tricky to take out though, you need to get 2 fingers up there then squeeze it and break the seal, and it is a little uncomfortable to pull out, but nothing us ladies cannot handle ;), it isn't as bad as it sounds! And not as bad as a trying to yank out a semi dry tampon!(ugh!!) Give it a quick rinse or wipe with paper if there's no tap available and pop it right back in, super duper convenient! Best time to do this is in the shower where you can practice, it helps if you can put one leg up on something and kind of squat, slightly bearing down till you can break the seal & grab it. At the end of my cycle I just wash it with hot soapy water and smear tea tree oil on it to store it (in the cute little bag it came with), then give it a quick rinse when I next need it. I love my mooncup, I'm so happy I finally got myself one and will never look back! Saves your wallet and the environment (makes me sick thinking about all that "stuff" billions of women have to dispose of every month) So this gets a huge thumbs up from me!

I was a bit leery of menstrual cups when I first heard of them, but I am 100% converted now. The Mooncup can be sterilized (unlike tampons), Has never been associated with TSS, doesn't dry you out or cause micro-abrasions, and doesn't smell.

I have saved so much money that would otherwise be wasted on disposables, I'm not being exposed to bleaching agents, and I'm not adding to landfills. Overall I highly recommend this product.

I LOVE my moon cup, there are so many pros and very little cons. It has made having a period a lot less stressful and easier as i no longer have to carry around tampons in every bag and worry I may not have enough. Now I only have my moon cup. They're so much better for the environment and a LOT cheaper on the wallet, as one will last you a long time if you look after is properly. I only take mine out and empty it 2-3 times a day (morning, lunch, bedtime). It holds a lot more blood than a tampon so its likely you wont need to change it more than twice a day unless you have a heavy flow. To clean I just rinse it with hot water after emptying it, if i need to empty it in a public bathroom i empty it and wipe it with toilet paper and reinsert, waiting to rinse it when I get home. At the end of my period i clean it thoroughly with hot water and antibacterial soap.