Been using my Mooncup about 6 months now and love it, really easy to use and never had any leaks unlike with tampons. I have really heavy periods and used to need to change tampons regularly (1-2hrs!) which was difficult at work, don’t have that problem any longer because the mooncup is definitely up to the job which takes away a lot of stress. I was nervous about emptying it in public toilets but you really only need a small amount of water to rinse it out and a little bottle of water takes up less room in my bag than a massive pile of tampons! I would recommend it to any woman, it really is amazing :)” – Becca Discreet (36%) ' It worked perfectly when I went on holiday and fit in my handbag and is discreet if I need it when I'm out and about.' Some cups are more soft and pliable while other are more firm. Some people might find softer cups easier to insert, and those with sensitive bladders may prefer a softer cup it won't have the same level of outward pressure as a firmer cup.

Some brands, including DivaCup and Lunette, sell menstrual cup cleansers, and there are also wipes available (which could put a bit of a dent in the eco-credentials of your cup). Mooncup The Mooncup is designed by women for your comfort and convenience. Made in the UK, the soft medical grade silicone Mooncup holds three times as much as a tampon, making it great for heavy days. And, because it’s non-absorbent, it won’t cause dryness when your period’s light. You only need one Mooncup, which lasts for years. Suitable for women with sensitive skin and allergies. Unlike tampons, the Mooncup won’t expose your body to pesticides or bleaches, leave fibres behind or dry you out. And because there’s no string, the Mooncup is completely discreet, whatever you’re wearing. Ideal for travelling, swimming, and exercise. Just like tampons, it's a goer. You can wear menstrual cups while swimming, and for every other form of exercise. "You wear a menstrual cup completely internally, so you don’t need to worry. However, if you’ve experienced leaks and haven’t quite mastered the art yet it’s best to resolve this first," suggests the female health expert. I should note that I’m a virgin and have never even used a tampon before, so don’t worry that it’ll be too big or that you need to try a tampon first or anything like that! l’Il admit that I wanted to throw it across the room at first attempt, but once I’d gotten it in for the first time, I knew I was onto a winner. (I use the punch down fold, I’d recommend it).”– Laura The first menstrual cup, made from rubber, was invented in 1937 by an American woman named Leona Chalmers. Unfortunately for Chalmers, a wartime rationing of rubber during World War II impacted the production of her menstrual cup.This is one of the more obvious impracticalities of using a menstrual cup. But as they have become more mainstream, a whole mini-industry has popped up to make menstrual cup cleaning simpler. You sure can. In fact, Stephanie points out: "Menstrual cups can hold up to 5 times more blood than towels and tampons. Some come with measurement lines to tell you whether you’re having a light, medium or heavy flow. They can also help diagnose endometriosis which affects 1 in 10 women in the UK, as very heavy periods can be a tell-tale sign. How we test The best menstrual cup for you will come down to personal preference, and will depend on your body and how you feel using one. So don’t be discouraged if it takes a few tries to find the right one, or to get in the swing of using it.

I can wear them for long periods of time (39%)' I think they are brilliant, last longer than a tampon and no leakage.' Some respondents in our survey said it took a while to get used to their menstrual cup and find a comfortable position, but overall 61% told us they liked or loved their menstrual cup. Choose Mooncup size A if you are 30 years old and over OR have given birth vaginally regardless of age. The size A Mooncup holds up to 29.3ml. of fluid and is 46mm. in diameter and 50mm. in length. Uncomfortable (16%) ' I started out loving them but over time they started to cause me pain. My body shape has changed and I think my cervix moved. I had to cut use right down.'

In December 2021, we asked 382 people who had used a menstrual cup in the past two years to tell us whether they thought the brand or brands they used were good for comfort, durability, value for money, and protection from leaks. Right from the start we’ve been committed to not buying into the shame, secrecy or embarrassment of old-school feminine hygiene advertising. From our 2010 Love Your Vagina campaign in the London Underground to thousands of face-to-face discussions in festivals, schools and marches, we’ve been chipping away at the taboo around periods for almost two decades. Absolutely – you can still use a menstrual cup if you've never had sex! "You can start using a menstrual cup from your first period," advises Stephanie. "It may feel uncomfortable at first, but don’t force it. It’s best to choose a brand which offers smaller sizes if you're a beginner with menstrual cups." Just wanted to let you know that I wore my moon cup while diving several times a day for a few weeks, to depths of approx 18 metres, and it was absolutely fine 🙂 Cleaning it well on a remote island with no running water was more of an issue, but I managed! Thanks very much.” – Lauren

I’ve only been using it for two cycles (never used tampons before, just pads) and I’m getting into the swing of things now. I’ve no idea how I coped with pads for so long, as this thing is amazing. A menstrual cup is a small cup made from flexible and body-friendly plastic which you insert into your vagina instead of using a tampon or towel," explains Stephanie Taylor, Founder and Managing Director of pelvic health company Kegel8 . "It sits just below your cervix and collects any blood or lining you lose for up to 12 hours," she adds. The main difference between a tampon and a period cup is that the cup collects your blood, whereas the tampon absorbs it. Her cup was met with resistance from the public. Perhaps ahead of its time, the idea was shelved due to the rise in the popularity of disposables and the invention of the applicator tampon.

Attachments

It can however take some trial and error to find the right one for you, and get the hang of using one. The Mooncup is worn internally, lower than a tampon, and collects rather than absorbs your menstrual fluid. It is folded and inserted into the vagina and opens up once it’s inside. You will need to remove and empty the Mooncup every 4 to 8 hours depending on your flow. The Mooncup is then simply rinsed out or wiped, and reinserted. It can be cleaned more thoroughly between periods. Menstrual cups are reusable silicone cups that you insert into your vagina like a tampon to collect menstrual fluid. They also took into account how comfortable they were to wear for the recommended amount of time, how confident they felt in public, and how easy it was to clean and re-insert.

I bought one of these from Boots on Saturday. After reading a bit about them first, I was worried that it would take some getting used to. How wrong I was! These things are amazing, if you are reading about them, buy one! Don’t put it off a minute longer! No mess, no leaks, it’s easy 🙂 I can’t say for sure after 2 days, but I’m pretty sure this might just be life changing! I have almost forgotten that I am on my period.”– Charli Big changes start with small steps, and we all have the power to make a difference. For years, we’ve been participating and organising annual beach cleans on behalf of Marine Conservation Society, helping to record data on beach litter and form a detailed picture of the levels of waste pollution in our marine and coastal environment.The multi-award winning Mooncup® was born of a desire to drastically reduce the waste produced by throwaway period products. Created in 2002 in Brighton, we produce the world’s first medical grade silicone reusable menstrual cup: putting an end to the waste, expense and discomfort of disposable tampons and pads.