Ladies: Consider a mooncup!
The Mooncup is a reusable menstrual cup around two inches long, made from soft silicone rubber. It’s worn internally like a tampon but collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing. Unlike tampons the Mooncup is NOT a disposable product, so you only need to buy one.
It will hold 30ml of fluid, which is roughly one third of the average total produced each period. A light seal is formed with the vaginal walls allowing the menstrual fluid to pass into the Mooncup without leakage or odour. A user would probably find that they need to empty their Mooncup less frequently than they currently replace towels or tampons.
Unlike pads and tampons the Mooncup menstrual cup is reusable, eliminating the need to carry bulky spares. With proper care the Mooncup will last for several years.
Imagine the towels and tampons that you might be disposing of in landfill sites during those years!
One Generous member says: “I have been successfully using one for the past few months and highly recommend it. What I like about it is its simplicity plus the fact that it works brilliantly! Just think of all the tampons/towels you would get through in a year. I have given all my supplies away and feel much freer as a result.”
They are available from larger branches of Boots and good independent health food shops, at around £18.99.
If you can’t do without, you can buy non chlorine bleached biodegradable tampons, pads and towels.
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03 Feb 2007
W says washable pads are also easy to use.
Cambridge, GB , 08 Feb 2007
I bought one a couple of years ago, and got on with it really well (it honestly feels more comfortable than tampons), but then I lost it. (And it still hasn’t turned up, and it MUST be in the house somewhere). So I’ve finally got round to buying another – and I wish I’d bought it sooner. The only faff is boiling it between cycles.
Oh, and it’s probably worth using a pad (washable or otherwise) first thing in the morning on heavy days.
Birmingham, GB , 08 Feb 2007
I’m not sure I’m ready to use a mooncup, but my compromise is to use organic tampons and washable pads. wrt washable pads it’s definitely worth spending a little bit more on organic cotton as they’re so much softer than the ‘normal’ ones; both types are softer than disposable panty liners etc!
Egham, GB , 08 Feb 2007
I wouln’t be without mine now, it’s fantastic
GB , 08 Feb 2007
I tell just about everyone about this… and have bought several as presents (which have been much appreciated!!). Been using mine for over 2 years now – it’s cleaner, easier (tricky at first but persevere!), and miles cheaper (obviously) than the alternatives, and has never leaked. Supposed to last 10 years… can’t see why not; ask me in 8?!
Cambridge, GB , 08 Feb 2007
Annepet first told me about mooncups. Having read up about them, I bought one over a year ago and can’t imagine using anything else now. Highly recommended – for comfort, cost, and saving the environment.
Wokingham, GB , 08 Feb 2007
I’m thrilled that my action suggestion about mooncups has been made live on the site. Since starting to use one about 10 months ago I have never looked back. Once you get used to using one it is easy to use, comfortable, convenient and friendly on both the environment and your purse! Why not give one a go – it really is worth it.
GB , 12 Feb 2007
Can’t recommend this enough – I will never go back to the alternatives. It is worth reading up about it before you give it a go. Does take a little bit of getting used to, but for comfort and convenience, not to mention ‘eco brownie points’, it really is so worth it.
16 Feb 2007
Just bought mine and can’t wait to try! This has provoked work colleagues to say that it’s “disgusting”. How can I convince them??
20 Feb 2007
Bought one last month, a couple of us from work are giving it a go, and a number of friends are using me as a guineapig to see what it is like!!. I thought it was good, straight forward, not messy or disgusting at all, and I felt good that I am saving money and land fill. I am really pleased i have made the swap.
Plaistow, GB , 21 Feb 2007
Mine’s worked a treat. (ButI had to buy a new one after being distracted while boiling the first one.) Much better than pads or tampons.
Wokingham, GB , 21 Feb 2007
Hi Everyone Just to say that I don’t boil mine in between periods – I give it a good clean and then sterilise it with Milton sterilizing fluid in a jug. That works a treat and brings it back to good as new ready for next time. Well done all you ladies for giving moon cups a go. Lets keep trying to spread the word.
Eastleigh, GB , 24 Feb 2007
This is a fantastic one. Took a bit of getting used to – first time I removed mine it felt like I was going to pull all my insides out, but my technique has improved. No way would I go back to tampons now. I also used sterilising fluid (but cheap supermarket stuff) rather than boiling it…
27 Feb 2007
This was my new years resolution! and so far its going well and the tampon mountain is reducing…..
Taunton, GB , 29 Mar 2007
This was recommended to me by my best friend a couple of months back. I’ve had no joy finding the right size in my local Boots – so finally just hit the link and ordered one online today. Thanks for advice re boiling / sterilising.
Luton, GB , 25 Apr 2007
Just started to try as I have a day at home (still not sure about use in public toilets, I confess) and have already learnt that it’s worth trimming my finger nails, before trying to remove it!
Taunton, GB , 02 May 2007
It works! It’s fantastic. 2nd month in and can’t believe I didn’t do this sooner. Am already evangelizing to friends (obviously those with whom I can have this kind of conversation!)
Don’t delay. It’s easy.
11 May 2007
I’ve had mine for nearly 3 years and I wouldn’t go back to tampons. A lot of my friends seem to think it’s disgusting – shame on them, it’s reduced my cramps massively. It’s so easy to travel with I wish I’d been introduced to it when I was still at school! Maybe it should be explained as an option in one of those “period” assemblies!
I thoroughly recommend for all to try it.
Newark, GB , 12 May 2007
Haven’t used a Mooncup, but I bought washable pads over two years ago and wouldn’t ever consider going back to the disposables. They’re so much more comfortable, work really well, no mess, really no hassle to wash (they go in with the towel load so no extra washing) and I’ve saved SO much money, plus saved goodness knows how much going into landfill. (I’m putting myself down as doing this action, even though I’m not actually using a Mooncup…)
19 May 2007
I have really appreciated the freedom of Mooncup. In view of my age (over 50) and my less than perfect internal suspension, I wasn’t sure it would be suitable. However, it’s great. Easy to use – and one less thing to go shopping for!
28 May 2007
Got this a few months ago and very nearly gave up after my first few tries (ouch!!). However gave it another go last month and now converted… think it’s fab and would definately recommend it for all the reasons listed above!
01 Jun 2007
I LOVE MY MOONCUP! It’s the best purchase i’ve made in about 10 years. It is so easy to use, so comfortable, so convenient and my cramps are reduced = HURRAY!
Leicester, GB , 22 Jun 2007
I was surprised about how I felt my cramps reduced, I wasn’t sure if it was just me, but apparently not :)
07 Aug 2007
Without doubt the best £18.99 I have ever spent. I only wish I had discovered it earlier in my life…I have also discovered I now experience fewer cramps and actaully have a lighter flow too (something to do witht the dyes in tampons perhaps or just coincidence?). I really like the idea that I am not flusing tampons down the loo or adding them to a landfill site.
Leicester, GB , 17 Aug 2007
I’ve just managed to melt mine in a saucepan while I was sterilising it… I am so mad at myself! But I’ve just ordered another, couldn’t be without it. The reason I tended to boil it was because the sterilising fluids always seemed a bit harsh and potentially environmentally damaging. Does anybody have any suggestions about an eco-steriliser, or can someone reassure me that milton or its supermarket equivalents are biodegradable? xx
28 Aug 2007
Just started using mine – brilliant! Nothing more to say…...
nottingham, GB , 13 Oct 2007
I’ve been using mine for about 4 months now and i can’t praise it highly enough, it’s fantastic and i don’t feel as uncomfortable as i did with tampons or ST’s
11 Oct 2008
I bought my mooncup from www.greenbeginnings.co.uk and haven’t looked back since.
I used to have so much discomfort from tampons but the mooncup doesn’t intefere with the natural body fluids at all.
I can’t recommend it enough.
GB , 12 Oct 2008
I’d like to use one, but I work with children, and have to sit cross-legged on the floor, this sounds bizzare, but I’d be paranoid about it leaking.
Wokingham, GB , 18 Oct 2008
I’ve been using my mooncup for almost 2 years now – it’s great and I’ve never known mine to leak no-matter what I am doing. Sitting cross-legged on the floor wouldn’t make it leak as it is held securely inside. It really is worth giving it a go from both a financial and environmentally friendly point of view.
london, GB , 08 Nov 2008
jjess – what about a mooncup with a ‘light days’ washable pad, so you’d know leaks would be dealt with?
(there is sooo unlikely to be leaks – but you’d feel happier and more confident)
the only thing that’s made mine leak was when i developed a hacking cough for 6 weeks
Leicester, GB , 10 Nov 2008
I also think the mooncup is great – so comfortable I forget I have my period! Takes a little practice at the beginning but becomes easy to use quickly. I sterlise my with sterilising fluid in a dentures bath – just the right size, a tip I got from the mooncup website I think.