Review: Mooncup (UK)
In March I purchased the Mooncup. After a brief initial struggle I got the hang of it and have been happily using it ever since. A discussion on a forum earlier today reminded me that I have wanted to write about my experience with the Mooncup and hopefully convince other women to give it a go, but hadn't yet got round to it. So, here it is! My review of the UK Mooncup. (This entry contains frank discussion about menstruation. You have been warned.)
What is it?
The Mooncup is a menstrual cup - a re-usable silicone device inserted into the vagina during menstruation to collect blood. Much like a tampon, but instead of absorbing the blood it simply catches it to be emptied later. A simple concept, and certainly not a new one. In fact, menstrual cups were invented in the 1930s (patent #1891761).
That's what it looks like. It comes with a longer stem, but I've since cut that off. Yes, that is the exact one I use. Gross, huh? It's translucent and squidgy and comes in its own cute little pouch, aaaaw! The booklet looks pretty daunting, but that's only because it comes in 4890586 different languages.
The Advantages
Cheap: A Mooncup costs approximately £18 (~$27 USD) and is meant to last ten years. If you have a period every month for ten years, that's an approximate cost of 15p per month! Now show me a brand of tampon or pad that is that cheap - I'll be damned if you can find one!
Environmentally friendly: A Mooncup is re-usable. You only need to buy one, and the only waste within ten years is the cardboard box it came in, if you choose not to keep it. If you have a period every 28 days from the age of 15 to 50 which lasts 5 days and you use 4 tampons a day, that's OVER NINE THOUSAAAAAND!!! tampons, and tampons are completely non biodegradable. They just sit in a landfill forever. The same can be said for pads, so no, pad users are not excused!
Safe: Ever heard of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)? Half of all cases of TSS are in women who use tampons. It is believed that this is linked to a tampon's absorbancy. Since a Mooncup absorbs nothing, there is no associated risk, and you remain nice and lubricated to boot! Goodbye horrible just-removed-a-tampon scratchy feeling.
Furthermore, the Mooncup is made only of silicone. Silicone is hypoallergenic, so there's no need to worry if you're allergic to things like latex or other chemicals. What a relief!
Convenient: Because a Mooncup doesn't absorb anything unnecessarily, and contains no harmful chemicals or materials, you can wear it before your period even starts. If you know it's coming there's no need to use an uncomfortable pad or wear your worst knickers in the meantime.
Just like a tampon the Mooncup sits right inside you, and doesn't need to be removed in order to perform activities like swimming. Trust me - the first month I was using the Mooncup I successfully went on holiday to Fuerteventura, wore a bikini, went swimming, and never had a single embarrassing incident with an unsightly string!
A third point about convenience, and probably the one that's going to make the most difference if you are switching from tampons or pads is that a Mooncup holds much more than a regular tampon. You have to change a tampon every 6 hours, but I've found that I can get away with changing my Mooncup only twice a day - once when I get up in the morning, and once before bed.
Inevitable Disadvantages
There's a knack: If you're not already well versed in inserting and removing bulbous objects from your nether regions, it can be hard to get the hang of using the Mooncup. It looks rather large, and it is. However, once you find a fold that works best for you in order to get it in, and learn to correctly manoeuvre your fingers to prise it out, it quickly becomes second nature. It took me approximately two months to really figure it out, though, so don't expect instant gratification.
Can be messy: If you're a little clumsy like me, you could end up with what looks like a murder scene in your bathroom. However, if you can swiftly remove it, empty it, and get it in a sink before spilling anything it's not really any messier than disposing of a tampon (this is assuming you don't just flush them). Though you will need to wash your hands. Honestly, I hope you've been doing that already anyway.
Harder to change in a public restroom: You're probably going to need something to rinse it with, and most people suggest that a quick wipe with tissue paper is adequate. Granted, I've never tried it, but wouldn't the tissue paper just... kinda... stick? Better remember to carry around a bottle of water.
(U)sage Advice
- Sit on the toilet to insert and remove. The leaflet suggests squatting, but I found this approach ridiculously difficult. Simply sitting on the toilet is much easier. Also, oddly, opening your mouth appears to relax vaginal muscles and makes it much easier to remove.
- Cut off the stem! You really don't need it, and provides no assistance in removal. Its only real purpose in life is to scratch your insides to bits. Ouuuuch!
- I boil my Mooncup every few periods to give it a good clean and kill any nasties, but other than that I find that it suffices to just use a bit of mild antibacterial soap to keep it nice and fresh and make sure the air holes are unclogged - just make sure you rinse it well!
- Don't give up. The first time I used my Mooncup I had to get the assistance of my other half. How embarassing! After two days of frustration and moaning at anyone who would listen, I finally figured out methods that work for me, and it took me a second month before I really got good at it. Now, I'm pro!
Ok, I want one!
Mooncups are available in most countries. I bought mine at a local Boots store, but you can probably get them at many other good pharmacies/health stores. You can also order online from femininewear.co.uk.
Unfortunately, the UK Mooncup isn't readily available in the US - but never fear, there are many alternatives! For example, the Diva Cup.
Don't feel comfortable inserting anything in your vagina, but are concerned about the environmental factors of using disposable pads? There's a solution for you, too, in the form of re-usable cloth menstrual pads. These are also available at femininewear.co.uk.