women's health again; menstrual stuff...

[Clara]

where are the nasties going to come from?

From inside of you???

I don't think I understand. Please explain. If the nasties are coming from inside you then they're already inside you whether you are using a cup or not. You menstrual blood is not nasty or dirty and so long as you don't introduce any germs into the cup by not washing your hands etc then there is no problem.

[the.fee.fairy]

I've heard of these sponges before and to be honest, i really don't fancy giving them a go.

I love my mooncup, its the best thing i've ever bought.

Mooncups are made from medical grade silicone - it doesn't harbour bacteria. Tampons are not sterile, even when they'r in the packet, They are not sterilised prior to packaging. With a mooncup, you sterilise it before use, and then whnever you feel like it. Personally, i sterilise mine after use every month and then give it a spritz with sex toy cleaner before use. I keep it in its cotton bag when not in use. Your insides are not dirty germ filled places. You will not mysteriously develop problems from anything inside you. You can develop problems by introducing foreign organisms - such as those carried by tampons. Mooncups are unheard of when it comes to TSS, but tampons are the number one culprit...

[Jinwin]

Jam sponge...he he... Fantastic name!

[mrsflibble]

well i am one day in... my cup arrived this morning, i am totally converted!
stuff the sponges!!!!

1. its the first time since i was 12 the NOTHING has leaked at all
2. it's sooo comfy
3. it's not itching
4. did i mention it's comfy?!
5. i wasnt as grossed out by rinsing it out as i thought i would be cos its no worse than tampons.

i love my cup!!!!

[red]

and you will find yourself telling all the women you know because its so much better than anything you used before.. !

good aren't they

[Annpan]

I bought mine a few months ago but somehow when I get my period I don't want to try new things... I look at it languishing on the shelf and think.... "Naaaa, I 'll just use a pad this time - Where's the chocolate?"

[Clara]

I bought mine a few months ago but somehow when I get my period I don't want to try new things... I look at it languishing on the shelf and think.... "Naaaa, I 'll just use a pad this time - Where's the chocolate?"

I think it is far better if you practice getting it in and out when you haven't got a period, so that when you do come to use it for the first time it won't be so goopily stressful.

Though after DD was born I got far more into pads and decided to invest in some nice hemp/merino ones from etsy, I use both but tend to prefer pads.

Thanks for reminding me I have some chocolate stashed somewhere!

[mrsflibble]

honestly, i love it to bits! it's right now sitting in a pan of boling water sterilising itself...

when she's got used to periods i will be buying my little sister one and explaining it i reckon. our mum is good, is doing her duty and Loo wont be surprised or think she's dying or anything, but mum's very old school. honestly, i dont think she'd have stopped using Dr White's if she'd not outgrown the belt after having my little bro lol!!!!

[bryony]

i'm keen to get a mooncup, there's just the problem of living in a shared house with boys, some of which are not particularly mature or sensitive, so there's the problem of sterilising it in a shared kitchen. I'm tempted just to go ahead and ignore negative reactions (or just lie about what it is!)

at the sponges! though fair enough if they do the job!

[Helsbells]

I'm tempted just to go ahead and ignore negative reactions (or just lie about what it is!)

Hee hee Bryony, I am just thinking of the things that you could pretend it is!

I want to stop using tampons,
I have recently switched to organic cotton tampons as opposed to tampax, but I only use the smallest absorbancy, and the organic ones only come in regular so I find they are too absorbant, and it hurts to take them out.

I have looked at a moodcup in a shop, and had a squish and play with it, and I just cant imagine getting it in, and it being comfortable, it looks awful!

[kathleen]

My husband couldn't stop laughing the first time I had mine in a pan on the stove!! I was a bit apprehensive when I first got mine, but as soon as I figured out how to operate it I was hooked - although I ended up only getting to use it for one cycle before finding out I'm pregnant, but will be back moon cupp-ing as soon as I can after baby comes! Give it a go!!

[eccentric_emma]

I've said it so many times, and I'll say it again I LOVE MY MOONCUP!

it's the best. its so comfy and its so easy to clean and to sterilise. I'll never go back to pads again! Best of all I can wear my nice pants all month round now!

I would recommend it to anyone!

Bryony - I reckon the boys will be completely stunned if you tell them what it is.....so you should do that. The male friends I told about it were just open mouthed at it and couldnt think of any jokes because they just had these images in their heads! My husband is very jokey about it and tells all his female friends about it (i think he is pleased my big pants have been relegated to the back of the wardrobe now )

Every couple of months I boil the little cotton bag it comes in as well (cue boil in the bag jokes)

Every girl should have one!

[Annpan]

i'm keen to get a mooncup, there's just the problem of living in a shared house with boys, some of which are not particularly mature or sensitive, so there's the problem of sterilising it in a shared kitchen. I'm tempted just to go ahead and ignore negative reactions (or just lie about what it is!)

at the sponges! though fair enough if they do the job!

They should be told exactly what it is I hope they are suitably 'grossed out' you could tell them it is a small egg poacher, or a new kind of measuring spoon.... then tell them the real use only after they use it..... hee, hee, heee

[the.fee.fairy]

If you're worried about them seeing it when sterilising, then sterilise it in milton instead.
I used to use milton to sterilise mine -that way you can put some hot water in a flas, add a few teaspoons of milton, drop your cup in the flask and take it to your room, pretending that its tea. Then, tip out the milton and cup after about half an hour et voila! Clean cup, unsuspecting male housemates.

Or...do what some kind woman did with my OH before i met him - tell them exactly what it is, what's it for and teach them how to remove it! I nearly fell on the floor when he said that he was well aware of what a mooncup was and had been taught insertion and removal techniques! Not sure in what context (a few of my male friends have had demonstrations out of the body in a pub garden...), but either way, its quite marvellous! So do any future non-conventional ladies that they might meet a favour and give them all the details!

[mrsflibble]

as for the not understanding how it can be comfy thing, believe me i had a c section and so wasnt...stretched.... by childbirth and i still find it easy to get in and out. i watched a video on youtube about it with a woman putting it into a champagne flute so i was prepared lol!!!

two things; it goes in better slightly damp. i used ky cos we had some.
secondly, it folds really easily. there are different ways to fold it to get it in.