Being a woman isn't quite as expensive now! (The Mooncup)

Member Name: sirg0508

Product:	The Mooncup
Date:	06/11/06 (1344 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 1 off cost which has saved me money, environmentally friendly, safer than tampons

Disadvantages: Takes a lot of getting used to... not so easy for me to remove

The Mooncup is a feminine sanitary product that removes the need for other products like tampons and pads as the cup, inserted like a tampon, collects the flow which can then be emptied. I bought one on the understanding that there were several benefits: environmentally friendly – no more binning of tampons or pads as this is a reusable product, for that fact it would then be economically friendly to me – no need to buy tampons every month, and hygiene reasons – no risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (no cases reported but still has to be removed every 4-8 hours), doesn’t leave fibres or is messy, causes leaks or dryness.

Price:

I was lucky enough to find one on eBay for £17 including postage as they are normally £19.99 at Boots… and my local one doesn’t stock them so another £3.50 postage from there. They can be bought directly from the website for £18.99 including postage to anywhere in the world. But still when all things considered, the Mooncup is expected to last years and I could be spending a couple of pounds a month on other products. In a year I could have spent at least three times that so the fact that it saves me money I absolutely agree with.

Size:

There are 2 sizes to choose from based on age and if you’ve had children so as I’m under 30 and not had any children I use size B which is smaller than A (43mm and 46mm). Check the website (as given below) for more details. Based on questions asked on their site you can use it from the time you start your periods as by then you are ready to give birth.

What you get:

The cup itself arrives in a little box and in a little bag – it has to be washed or sterilised before use as it’s not sealed in anything protective and this can be done in boiling water or soaked in sterilising solution. This also needs to be done after your period to keep it clean whereas it just needs to be washed or wiped during use which is easy enough to do under the tap, with bottled water or a tissue. There are also instructions provided in many different languages and tiny writing which does give useful tips and instructions.

Practice:

What I absolutely recommend anyone do before use is practice beforehand because if first used during a period it could be messy, painful and you’ll find yourself in a difficult situation. I did practice and thought I’d made the worst mistake of my life and I do still find it takes a lot of getting used to. The product is shaped like a cup in thick silicone around the top and thinner around the main body with a little spout at the end. This is just to help with inserting and removing like a tampon string but is not essential and can be removed altogether. The cup quite tough which shows it is good quality but is still malleable so it can be folded in half and on removing can be squeezed to remove the suction. Even on first use I was still a little uncertain of it so I did wear a pad at the same time – less worry of not knowing how full the cup could be or if it will leak so that gives extra protection until you get used to it.

There are a few problems I’ve come across though:

For starters is trying to insert it… something that big is not meant to go anywhere. Even when folded in half it is still much bigger than a tampon so I know there could be a few that have problems inserting it but like tampons you have to aim for the small of your back and just relax so your muscles are not tensed. Lubricant is also extremely helpful. It just takes practice.

Second problem is the stem. As the cup is very low down in the vagina, the stem rests at the opening and can be too long so it pinches the skin which can be painful when sitting and moving about so as everyone is different this may need to be trimmed – again a benefit I found when trying it before my period.

Third is removal. I still have quite a big problem with this unfortunately but again practice really helps. When removing it I find sitting on the toilet helps and I grab the little stem so I can pull the cup down so I can grab the base with my other hand. This can cause suction and can be painful as it feels like it’s trying to suck my insides down. At that point I’m able to grab the cup so I can squeeze the bottom of it which lets air in up the side and let it move more freely and less painfully so I can then pull it further down till it’s almost free… but considering the size of it when it’s fully open and how I had trouble inserting when it’s folded in half, that obviously leads to the conclusion that it’s not going to come out. Well it does but when the thick rim reaches the opening it is stretching what shouldn’t be stretched until childbirth! It really hurts. Hard to describe the pain but it’s really not pleasant and I have to keep going. As soon as one part of the rim gets freedom the pain stops and the rest comes out quite easily. But time is a great healer and I tend to forget the pain by the next month or I’m just getting more used to it.

Fourth problem is it can be a bit messy. I can’t say I have a problem with leaks but with this product my hands or at least fingers do get covered in blood at times and of course the cup has blood in it which then has to be emptied. I think at this point I’d say I don’t recommend to those who prefer applicator tampons or who don’t like the sight of blood. Of course I’d always wash my hands before inserting or removing. Inserting isn’t that messy although I usually need several tries so always have a tissue nearby. Removal causes the most problems as I know I have to try and fold it while still wearing it to get it out. So I have a couple of tissues – one to lay it on and the other to wipe my hands before going to wash it and reinsert.

Benefits:

However this product is not all about problems although I’ve ruled out not being messy as not quite so true. It can take time to figure out your flow and how often this has to be emptied just like with tampons but a benefit to tampons is it can be left in longer and overnight without risk of TSS as the cup does not use fibres that bacteria grow in like cotton and rayon. Mooncup say that “The Mooncup will hold 30ml of fluid [3 times more than a tampon], which is roughly one third of the average total produced each period” but those people must be lucky as I probably filled it a few more times and even on the website someone said they’d probably filled it 12 times. I count myself as lucky! The instructions say that it does have to be emptied around 4 times in 24 hours just so bacteria don’t build up but can be left 4 to 8 hours. Not so keen on blood myself but was easy enough after removal to just tip upside down to empty it into the toilet and I always feel much cleaner than I do if I was wearing a tampon and so much cleaner than a pad as they just seem more unhygienic.

When thinking about the environment it is amazing how much could be done to save the planet as the Mooncup is not binned after use and considering how many women there are in the country or even the world that would mean a much greater reduction in waste. Before I had my Mooncup and uncertain when my period would start I never wanted to use tampons as they are not to be used before but the Mooncup can be used which really helps when not at home or if you forget to take tampons etc. with you – if it’s near that time, wear it.

As soon as I have inserted it I forget it’s there although as it is low in the vagina I can sometimes feel it’s there. Even in the morning I don’t worry about waking up to find it leaked as I’ve never had a problem as long as I empty according to my flow. Best of all though you don’t need to carry anything extra around or feel embarrassed about opening packets of things and trying to dispose of others. If using in a public toilet I’d rather have a bottle of water to rinse it but a tissue can be used which isn’t as embarrassing as washing it in public. It’s ideal if working during the day - 9am – 5pm is still 8 hours and could be put in before work and removed when back at home if the flow is not heavy.

I can also easily exercise with it in as even with movement there is enough suction to form a seal around the edges to prevent leaks and with the stem trimmed even less problem.

Finally:

I will say that a Mooncup will not suit everyone as I did reconsider at the start because of removal problems but I’m sticking with it and it gets easier. It is a big cost to pay out at £18.99 (inc postage from the website) to find out if it will or won’t suit you and obviously not a product you can return but if it works, it’s a payment that you’ll only have to make again in years to come with good care. I’ll be saving at least £70 a year and if I keep going till menopause I’ll be saving well over £1,000 – being a woman is not cheap. I really hope though that I haven’t put people off it as I really do recommend it and there are so many recommendations for it. I do see the many benefits compared to other products and will sing its praises… I just won’t be giving it 5 stars as it doesn’t suit me as much as others.

As this is just my opinion of the product I haven’t covered things that didn’t affect me but there are lots of questions asked on the website which I’m sure others may want to know so I do recommend checking it for the opinions of others and even contact them if it isn’t covered. For example, more info on TSS, usage problems, Endometriosis, backflow and Urinary tract infections as well as others. The site is in several languages and the cup can be ordered online at a cheaper price than Boots currently offer.

www.mooncup.co.uk

Summary: Feminine sanitary product that could change the world