It is her moon time, when there's iron in the air

[venta]

A few months back, I bought a Mooncup. For those of you who aren't well-up on such things, it's a reusable alternative to tampons and the like, with mysterious overtones of feminism and hippie nonsense.

The couple of people I've mentioned this to have been extremely curious about the whole business, so I thought by way of a public service announcement I'd put my thoughts on it here. I was considering locking this to just girls on my friends-list, but (a) I can't be arsed, (b) I'm not actually clear on the gender of some people and (c) if boys want to read it I don't see why they can't.

I've tried to be as un-icky as possible, but a certain amount of graphic detail is required to explain things.

If you're not familiar with a Mooncup, it's a cone-shaped cup made of flexible silicon. You insert it more less as you would a tampon, then take it out again to empty it more less as regularly as you would change tampons.

Its main selling points are:

- it's a one-off purchase and will last for years, so it's cheaper.
- it's not disposable, so it's more environmentally sound than chucking away sanitary products each month.
- it's healthier.

I'm not sure of the level of scientific backing for that last one. Apparently it's not associated with TSS, though that's not a particularly large risk anyway. There are general claims made about lack of irritation and overall "vaginal health", but I don't recall any of these being a problem with tampons either.

Does it work ?

Yup. I've been really pleased with it over the last few months. I was concerned about whether or not it would be leak-proof, and thus far it has been completely. Learning to use it is an ongoing process, and sometimes it still takes me a few goes to get it inserted properly (it's very easy to tell whether it's in right or not: squeeze your muscles as if you're trying to push it out, if it stays put, you're fine).

Is it icky ?

Bluntly, yes. If you're a bit squeamish about the idea of applicatorless tampons, don't even consider taking it on. However, it's not significantly different to (say) dealing with a tampon whose string is lost/detached. Inserting it requires you to fold the cup in on itself, and it should pop out to its proper shape when in place. Somestimes it doesn't do that, and you have to prod it into shape.

For removal... "don't push it in too far", they say. Yeah, right. Regardless of what you decide, your muscles will reposition it wherever the hell they want. The cup has a 'stalk' on the bottom which you can grab hold of to pull it out but there are two problems with that. Firstly, in order for the thing to be comfortable when in place, I had to trim the stalk down quite a lot (you are recommended to do this), and it can be a little hard to reach. Secondly, because a slight vacuum seal[*] is formed, it won't really shift until you've managed to reach the base of the actual cup-part and squeezed it to release the vacuum.

In addition, you do have to empty and clean out the cup between uses. This exposes you to actual blood in a way that tampon-use doesn't[**]. The main disadvantage I've noticed is that if you're in (say) a public toilet where the cubicle doesn't contain a sink, cleaning your hands can be a bit of a pain. Of course, I'm sure I should be able to walk across a room with blood all over my hands in full view, but I'm not quite that brave.

Anything else ?

Yup, a few things. Firstly, the main advantage to me is none of the things used by Mooncup's marketing department. I'm very dim, quite absent-minded, and I don't get period pain. This means that I've always been quite inclined to forget to take tampons with me when I go anywhere. I'd quite regularly go to work for the day and not take any, or put some in my work bag but then forget them when I went to the toilet. Other than remembering to locate and sterilise my Mooncup at the start of a period, I don't have to have a memory. The thing is always there, and just requires emptying.

The sterilisation part isn't difficult. They recommend boiling (which I haven't tried, as it seems rather antisocial to boil such things in a saucepan we all use in a shared kitchen), or using chemical steriliser. I've not actually been able to locate the correct concentration of sterilisation fluid they recommend (I'm using standard baby-utensil steriliser).

Mooncups come in two sizes: small (if you're under 30 and have no vaginally-delivered children) and large (everyone not covered by small). When I bought mine, I was instructed to buy large as I'm over 30[***]. This concerned me, as evidence from things like smear-tests suggests I'm built quite small (nurses have previously had to locate an extra-small speculum), however everything seems to be fine.

One of the FAQs on the website is "Can I leave it in during sex?" Well no, duh, you can't. Slightly less obviously, I've found that I'm much more comfortable if I take it out before defecating. No one seems to mention such subjects in the FAQ, but it just felt indefinably wrong and uncomfy to me when I tried it.

I'm happy to answer (or attempt to) questions if anyone's got any. They're probably answered on the website as well, but I'm always more inclined to trust answers from real people than to trust testimonals. I certainly regard the thing as £20 well-spent and would (with reservations about squeamishness) thoroughly recommend it.

[*] Arf, arf!
[**] Insert claptrap about being better in touch with your body, etc. Moon goddesses optional.
[***] Actually, I was instructed to buy small because I was under 30, but I had to correct the lady to tell her I wasn't as young as she thought ;)


Edit: for the curious, but who don't wish to read the details: I think it's great, but it's not for the squeamish.

Comments

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Off topic, but looking at your current music - what's Rachel's album like, anyway?

[venta.livejournal.com]

I really like it. For a folk album, it's actually a bit avant-garde and Regina Spektor in places but I've been enjoying it. I don't know if this is a selling point to many people, but it does have a very northern feel to it which I love. (Like listening to Jez Lowe or Bob Fox - it's nost just the accent, there's something quite distinctive about the sound and the songs they choose, too.)

My favourite track on it is actually one of the most classically "folky" songs. Fareweel Regality (http://www.blacktreacle.com/14-Fareweel_Regality.mp3), if you fancy a listen.

[sushidog.livejournal.com]

One of the FAQs on the website is "Can I leave it in during sex?" Well no, duh, you can't.
Anecdotally, you can, although it can cause a bit of discomfort.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Only "a bit" ? I'm surprised.

I was approaching the verb "can" in the way I would when someone says "can you eat deadly nightshade". You can but I think I'd answer no :)

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

Frankly no. No.

No.

It might be ok if you work from home, but I have to share toilets with my students. No f*cking way am I rinsing out blood into a shared sink in full view of everyone, and apart from anything else there are health and safety concerns. (As an ex-first aider, and ex toilet cleaner there are big issues surrounding spilt blood, faeces, urine or vomit and the correct disposal of such things. For example, not smearing blood onto the cubicle door/lock as you negotiate from toilet to communal sink.)

Well anyway - not for me.

[venta.livejournal.com]

When in public toilets, I don't rinse it into the sink - I empty it down the toilet and don't rinse it at all. This only gets blood potentially on one hand and (while I do also wipe my hands) I'm careful to touch doors, taps etc with the other until I've washed.

I'm currently working from home, and when not the toilets in my office are rather swish affairs each with their own sink.

[sushidog.livejournal.com]

They suggest in the info that comes with it that if you're using shared facilities, you should take a bottle of water with you; give it a wipe with loo paper, and a rinse with bottled water. Wipe hands on loo paper, and you're sorted. It's not like you're getting coated to the elbow or anything!

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

I've been using one for several years (not continuously, obviously!).

It rocks. And I agree with you on the major advantage :)

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

Slightly less obviously, I've found that I'm much more comfortable if I take it out before defecating. No one seems to mention such subjects in the FAQ, but it just felt indefinably wrong and uncomfy to me when I tried it.


This is not uncommon with tampons either, and apparently, for some women, with diaphragms. (Which makes them somewhat impractical if you are supposed to put them in an hour before sex and take them out 6+ hours later.)

I suspect my second* problem with theoretical Mooncup use would be the same as the common problem with diaphragms - I am clumsy and would 'sproing' the thing to the floor (probably when full, knowing my luck) enough times out of 10 to make it not worthwhile.

* The first, and somewhat more significant, problem would be: I don't need one (Cerazette now and Depo before that).

[floralaetifica.livejournal.com]

This is not uncommon with tampons either

Indeed; this is the case for me.

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

How often do you need to empty it? Do you only sterilise it at the start of your period and just rinse out for the duration?

I would like to be more green and spend less on sanitary products, but the ick! factor is winning atm.

[venta.livejournal.com]

I empty it every 4ish hours, or sometimes more - about the same regularity I'd change tampons with. It's never been more than a quarter full (though I do have quite light periods). I guess in theory I could leave it for much longer, but this seems like an Inherently Bad Idea.

Yes, you only sterilise it once, and rinse it as you go. The instructions also recommend you wash it with plain soap and hot water occasionally while it's in use, so I tend to do that while I'm in the shower.

[the-alchemist.livejournal.com]

I tend to empty mine much less. Two or three times a day, on average: when I wake up, when I get home from work, when I go to bed.

I don't find them at all icky.

[sea-of-flame.livejournal.com]

I've no idea what steriliser they've recommended that you can't get hold of - but tangentially, I use Milton's when sterilising my brewing stuff (rinseing everything with water afterwards), and the yeasty beasties always survive without anything nasty living alongside them - so I would guess that on those grounds, it would also be a thumbs-up for other biological uses!

[venta.livejournal.com]

They recommend $chemical_whose_name_I_can't_remember at 5% concentration. Milton's (which is what I use) is $chemical at 2%.

[ulfilias.livejournal.com]

May be worth putting the conculsions in your top post - I was curious if it was a 'thumbs up' or not !

[venta.livejournal.com]

Added :)

[sciolist.livejournal.com]

My partner has one and the boiling thing seems to work fine. Though admittedly folks in a shared house may be squeamish. You could always get a cheap red saucepan and warn them not to use it.

Or start making home-made black puddings. Now there's a delicacy!

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it's not just me who has noticed the thing with pooing. To me it feels wrong because I have this vision of pushing it out too and dropping something that cost me £25 and won't even flush away because it floats into a pile of poo.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Yes, there is that worry as well, though I suspect it's not actually likely to happen. Doesn't stop it feeling like it might, though.

I think you're the 5th commenter who also uses one. Are we an unusually enlightened bunch, or are they much more widespread than I'd thought ?

[lathany.livejournal.com]

Thanks for writing this. I've always wondered about mooncups and it answers all the stuff I never felt I could ask.

Still not sure they're for me though. (Will require more thought).

[floralaetifica.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this. I've been wondering about them.

[shrydar.livejournal.com]

Thanks for not locking me out - your post and the subsequent comments were most informative. There are a few other Mooncup users on my flist, too.

[addedentry.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting this! I like to believe there's no such thing as TMI.

Will there be more entries in the series "things you don't write about on lj"?

[venta.livejournal.com]

I believe in provide I, and letting people decide when it is, for them, TM.

Will there be more entries in the series "things you don't write about on lj"?

Having listened to some nice beardy-sounding chap on radio 4 this morning trying seriously to explain Russell's paradox to a lay audience, I can feel my brain attempting to flick out my ears when I contemplate this question.

[random-c.livejournal.com]

I just got one, tried it for the first time today, and second all that - referred here by a mutual friend and yes, I got the large size and suspect the small would have done fine, but it's not leaked.
I'm forgetful as well, so I ended up keeping tampax in my desk. I had four packets buried amongst the cables when I left. I didn't think I'd put them in that drawer, which my male minion had to dig through fairly regularly, poor thing.
I didn't trim it, it seemed quite keen to settle quite deep. Best part for me so far, having a weak bladder, is not having to either change it or put up with a wet string every time I have a pee, but yeah, changing it is fairly messy and will require the disabled/shop toilets while away from home. I suspect these things will get more popular in time, and as they do, the sinks in the ladies will slowly migrate inside the cubicles.

[ailbhe]

I find my mooncup improved my continence, which was great, given my previous issues! Also it definitely reduced the other physical discomforts of periods, and I have no idea why but I'm not knocking it.

Mine is second-hand, sterilised before I used it for the first time.

[cuthbertcross.livejournal.com]

Hiya - got to this one late - blimey are there lots of mooncup users here or what!

One practical point (as I had the same concern about shared loos/sinks when I started using one) -

Most places one goes to in public have a disabled loo (OK, some are radar locked but most aren't).

The disabled loo (that I often use purely as it's the only way to have a pee with two toddlers and a buggy in tow) almost always has a sink in the cubicle - so if you use the disabled loo you can rinse under the hot tap in privacy.
Not yet had to empty mine in presence of the beebs yet though - could make for some interesting comments if I do!

TMI competition :)

[rabbit1080.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the post. I finally bought a mooncup a few months back (a while after reading this post) - had to get it specially imported all the way around the world :)

My experience is a little different as I have a Progesterone-only IUD ("Mirena"), so I no longer menstruate. Yay! However, my vaginal secretions are a little more copious than they used to be between periods (my dr. says this is normal), and I don't like the smell, so I like to use some sort of feminine-hygiene product every day. Moon-cups have been great for this. With the Mooncup I can see that I only secrete about 1-2mL each day, it just seems a lot more when it's not contained.

It took about half-a-dozen attempts (over a few weeks) before wearing the Mooncup was comfortable. Removal is harder than inserting, because of needing to break the vacuum-seal. Re-reading the instructions between attempts helped a lot.

I like being able to sterilise the product - tampons are not sterilised. But then I don't live in a share-house, so boiling my Mooncup occasionally isn't a big deal. (I haven't told any dinner-guests though. Yet. :)

The only downside is that it's uncomfortable whilst riding my push-bike, so I still wear a tampon if I'm going for a long bike-ride.