Peta's Mooncup Experience!
7th Sept, 2011. Arrival
Well, the Mooncup arrived! I was a little apprehensive about opening the package. What would it look like? Funny, but it looked exactly like it did on the website! Thick see through rubber cup with a little 'tail' on the bottom. Thought about giving it a test run, but wimped out and decided to leave it to the actual day.
10th Sept, 2011. Use
Here goes. Fold it once, fold it again, then insert. Found the right height, them trimmed the tail. But found this wasn't high enough, so pushed it up a bit higher, then of course, the 'tail' was too short. After about 4 hours (instructions say it can stay in for 8 hours), I removed it. There had been no leakage whatsoever. Because I had trimmed the tail too short, I had to feel around to find the bit of tail left to pull it out. Once out, it is a little confronting to see your menstrual flow like this. Definitely not for the faint hearted. But, hey, for those of us who have had kids, this is nothing! It is also surprising to see how little you lose during the day. The instructions say to rinse it out with water (take a bottle of water into the toilet with you) and then re-insert, but that seemed like too much hard work for me, so I just wiped it with some toilet paper. It doesn't get the cup totally clean, but clean enough. My first night with the cup inserted. How much will it fill up overnight? Time will tell.
11th Sept. Day 2
Bloody hell. It's been in for about 10 hours and is only 2/3 full. I really thought it would be overflowing. It hasn't shifted overnight and was totally comfortable with no leakage. Again, was hard to pull out due to the short tail, but found if I sat on the toilet and pushed down (like a bowel movement), it moved lower down, making it easier to remove. I decided to leave it in all day. Again, no leakage at all. After 10 hours, removed it, to find it was only 1/2 full! Amazing!
12th Sept, 2011. Day 3.
Ok. Was not going to wear it to work, but decided, what the hell. Was absolutely fine all day. No leakage. Totally comfortable. Again, had it in for 10 hours and was only about 1/4 full. Still can't get over how little I lose.
13th Sept, 2011. Day 4.
Decide not to use it today. Last day of cycle so will be very light. Besides, I still have two packets of tampons to use. Thoroughly clean the Mooncup and leave out to airdry.
Conclusion.
I'm not totally sold. The only advantage I see is the fact you can leave it in all day, which is convenient if you're at work. The no leakage factor is a bonus too. I would feel 100% secure going swimming with it. It would also be good for camping, if you're in not so hygienic conditions, as you can leave it in for hours. The disadvantage is the mess factor taking it out. But next time, I will only take it out twice a day (this time I did it more often which was not necessary). I will give it another shot next month and see how I go!
March, 2012
Have been using the Mooncup for six months and am now sold. I only change it twice a day AMAZING. Pop it in in the morning, change it about tea time, then take it out again in the morning. I also give it a good rinsing between changes. (I never take it out during the day so no need to take a bottle of water into the cubicle - just rinse in basin in sink.) I can't remember the last time I bought pads or tampons. I also can't believe I waited this long to buy one. Brilliant. Highly recommended.
Well, the Mooncup arrived! I was a little apprehensive about opening the package. What would it look like? Funny, but it looked exactly like it did on the website! Thick see through rubber cup with a little 'tail' on the bottom. Thought about giving it a test run, but wimped out and decided to leave it to the actual day.
10th Sept, 2011. Use
Here goes. Fold it once, fold it again, then insert. Found the right height, them trimmed the tail. But found this wasn't high enough, so pushed it up a bit higher, then of course, the 'tail' was too short. After about 4 hours (instructions say it can stay in for 8 hours), I removed it. There had been no leakage whatsoever. Because I had trimmed the tail too short, I had to feel around to find the bit of tail left to pull it out. Once out, it is a little confronting to see your menstrual flow like this. Definitely not for the faint hearted. But, hey, for those of us who have had kids, this is nothing! It is also surprising to see how little you lose during the day. The instructions say to rinse it out with water (take a bottle of water into the toilet with you) and then re-insert, but that seemed like too much hard work for me, so I just wiped it with some toilet paper. It doesn't get the cup totally clean, but clean enough. My first night with the cup inserted. How much will it fill up overnight? Time will tell.
11th Sept. Day 2
Bloody hell. It's been in for about 10 hours and is only 2/3 full. I really thought it would be overflowing. It hasn't shifted overnight and was totally comfortable with no leakage. Again, was hard to pull out due to the short tail, but found if I sat on the toilet and pushed down (like a bowel movement), it moved lower down, making it easier to remove. I decided to leave it in all day. Again, no leakage at all. After 10 hours, removed it, to find it was only 1/2 full! Amazing!
12th Sept, 2011. Day 3.
Ok. Was not going to wear it to work, but decided, what the hell. Was absolutely fine all day. No leakage. Totally comfortable. Again, had it in for 10 hours and was only about 1/4 full. Still can't get over how little I lose.
13th Sept, 2011. Day 4.
Decide not to use it today. Last day of cycle so will be very light. Besides, I still have two packets of tampons to use. Thoroughly clean the Mooncup and leave out to airdry.
Conclusion.
I'm not totally sold. The only advantage I see is the fact you can leave it in all day, which is convenient if you're at work. The no leakage factor is a bonus too. I would feel 100% secure going swimming with it. It would also be good for camping, if you're in not so hygienic conditions, as you can leave it in for hours. The disadvantage is the mess factor taking it out. But next time, I will only take it out twice a day (this time I did it more often which was not necessary). I will give it another shot next month and see how I go!
March, 2012
Have been using the Mooncup for six months and am now sold. I only change it twice a day AMAZING. Pop it in in the morning, change it about tea time, then take it out again in the morning. I also give it a good rinsing between changes. (I never take it out during the day so no need to take a bottle of water into the cubicle - just rinse in basin in sink.) I can't remember the last time I bought pads or tampons. I also can't believe I waited this long to buy one. Brilliant. Highly recommended.