Is a moon cup right for me?

There are many environmentally friendly methods of sanitary protection nowadays. Not all of them suit everyone so it is important to choose the right method for you, one that you are happy and comfortable using. You can get the environmentally friendly versions of the more common products - pads and tampons and then there are the reusable products such as sponges and Menstrual cups. The pads and tampons tend to be pretty popular as there is nothing new to learn. They are no different from ordinary sanitary protection in the way they work. The sponges and menstrual cups can take a bit of getting used to, you have to learn how they work with your body. The sponge is very similar to a tampon but is reusable. Like a Tampon you insert it and it soaks up your menstrual flow, when it needs changing you remove it rinse it and reinsert it. Menstrual Cups are small flexible silicone cups that you insert in place of a tampon and they catch your menstrual flow. When it is full you simply remove and pour the liquid away, rinse and reinsert. It can take a while to get the hang of using a moon cup but I personally believe that it is well worth it. I have used a moon cup for nearly ten years now and I would never go back.

Does it leak?

This tends to be the most frequently asked question and the biggest worry when considering making the change to a Mooncup. As I said above it takes a little bit of time to get used to the Mooncup so in the first few months I would say expect some leakage. The biggest problem I had when I first started using mine was leakage during the night. I never experienced any leakage during the day but I have known women who have. However it only took a few months to get used to my Mooncup but since those first few months I have never experienced any leakage or problems. In my experience and from talking to other women it is just practice that is required; you will get used to your Moon cup and never look back.

How often will I need to empty it and how will I know?

How often you need to empty your Mooncup will depend on the strength of your flow. In the first few months I checked mine far more often than I do now. At the beginning of my period my flow is a lot heavier so I empty my Mooncup every 4-5 hours but as it tapers off I only need to empty it every 8 hours or so. Everyone is different and as you get used to it you will find your pattern. You will find that you will just 'know' when it's full.

What if I need to empty it in a public toilet?

This is a fairly common query, I am sure many people do many different things but my solution to this problem was to always carry a small bottle of water with me. You empty the contents of the cup down the toilet and then rinse it with the water, reinsert and you are good as new.

Can I swim and play sports?

Yes, you do not need to behave any differently, you can swim and partake in any sport you would normally engage in. For my own piece of mind though I tried my Mooncup out in the bath first. I felt a lot more confident using it in the pool after my little experiment. I also regularly practice the martial arts Aikido and Wing Chun and have never had any problems. I also cycle and run on a regular basis and have experienced no problems.

The Mooncup comes in two sizes, the smaller size is for those who have not given birth, the larger size is for those who have. The Mooncup literature does say that if you are under 30 and have had your child through caesarian section then you will probably need the smaller size. They also say that women over 30, regardless of whether they have had children, will probably need the larger size unless they are advanced in activities such as yoga, pilates or dance, all of which help keep the pelvic muscles toned. It is very important that you get the right size for your own comfort and to be sure it works effectively.

I have only really mentioned the 'Mooncup' here because it is the brand that I am familiar with and use myself. There are however many other types of Menstrual cup, Diva cup, Femmecup, Ladycup, Keeper, Lunette and Miacup. There are also 'Instead' soft cups but these are not reusable. I have included some links below so that you can check out all the above mentioned menstrual cups.