Alternatives to the Mooncup? (a women only thread i guess!)

[JulieSherris]

Hels - trust me - once you've mastered the mooncup, it's fan-bloody-tastic!

Saying that though, I might have been a touch squeamish before I had my kids - funny how you change your mind after suffering the indignities of childbirth

[pureportugal]

the sponge is surprisingly easy to remove (comes with instructions). i ride horses and a string can be incredibly painful, one of the reasons i liked the sponges. another big advantage is that you can remove, rinse, and use again - so you never need to worry about getting "caught short".

[Sally Jane]

i would have perservered (sp?!) if it hadnt felt like it was burning me whilst it was in me! Miffy

If it seemed to be burning, I wonder if you are allergic to it?
I couldn't get on with the Mooncup - perhaps it's just me, but I felt like I needed to be a contortionist to get it in and out, and I'm not blessed with long slender fingers either, so I wimped out in the end.
I am a total convert to washables and find them really comfortable and easy to deal with.
I'm dreading later this month when I shall be going to stay with my daughter who is expecting her first baby soon. She thinks washables are gross (she's going to be using terry nappies on the baby, so she'll get over the yuck factor in time, hopefully!) so I shall have to buy some 'fairy hammocks' to take with me.
Roll on the menopause!

[Miffy]

I am intrigued by sea pearls, but the website says that they are creatures - so presumerably one to avoid if you are vegatarian or vegan?

Miffy

[Helsbells]

Hmmmm so it does,

I suppose its a bit like coral or something. I mean it doesnt have a brain does it.

I am not a vegetarian anyway, so spose it doesnt matter. Hmmmm

[Miffy]

I dunno. I'm not veggie either (although i am picky over where my meat comes from which leads me to be effectively meat-free!) but i am intrigued by what these "creatures" actually are!

Anyone else got a view on Sea Pearls?

Miffy

[Annpan]

I looked it up on Wikipedia.... they don't have a central nervous system but they do seem to eat things.... but so do venus fly traps...

I don't know how they are a creature and flytraps arn't

But I don't like the idea of them being harvested, I worry about the stocks depleting of these things.... wasn't there a movement against buying natural sponges a few years ago?

[shae]

I know of a woman who gets her sponges from the local chemist (they are the natural ones not a commercial make up sponge) and swears by them.
I'm a Mooncup user (but there are quite a few different varieties around now) and I love it!!! Like most other people, it took me a good 3-4 cycles to get comfortable with it. I trimmed the tip right off as well.
I guess if it's stinging, maybe another option would be wise - it's a shame though. I'd never go back now.
You can also make your own washable pads, they are surprisingly easy and cost a fraction of what it would be to buy them.

[the.fee.fairy]

Have you tried different folds? There's a cup group on Livejournal, and they have a list of different folds. I started using the C fold, and then i read about the 'punch down' fold and it made everything a bit easier.

Have a go, and use lubrication. When you're removing it, see if you can fold it slightly.

[shae]

It's funny how we're all so different! I started with the pinch down fold, but found I was getting alot of leaks, but the when I did the C fold I've had no problems at all. All part of the trial and error journey!

[the.fee.fairy]

I've got one of each size - i lost the smaller one and had to replace it, and i find that the C-fold works fine with the smaller, but it has to be the punch down for the larger one.

To be graphic, for taking it out, i tend to bear down until the base starts protruding, squeeze the base until the seal is broken and then remove. for putting it in, i tend to fold and then shove...my muscles do the rest of the work. Although...apparently, i have very good muscles...must be the years of mooncup use!

[jampot]

i had a simmilar probs with the moon cup ,
i got the smaller size but i think im just too small down there!
it hurt so much the first time igave up. still got it tho in case i change my mind

[Jinwin]

Thanks for being brave enough to start this thread! I just got a mooncup as well and I was very sad when I couldn't get it in at all (although maybe that's because I don't actually have my period now, I was just very excited to try it out! ) I like the ideas of lubricant and different folds so thanks for the advice, girlies

[Rosendula]

I bought one recently and have just finished using it for the first time. I tried it out before my period to see if I could find the right position, having read through the book and advice on the internet three times. I can get it in OK, but although I've done everything I'm told - tried different folds, cut the tail off to almost not there, positioned it lower, then highter, checked it's opening, turned it, squeezed it with my muscles, etc., it still leaks a tiny bit, so I still need a panty liner All I can think is that I need to improve my pelvic floor muscles, so I'm working on that over the next month to see if there's any improvement. Once I get that problem sorted, I'm sure I'm going to be very happy with it.

Bit annoyed with DD1, though. She brought up the subject of periods so I took the opportunity to ask her if she'd heard of Mooncups and told her I now had one. I was going to offer to buy her one, but she reacted like I said I have a fetish for eating vomit or something I mean, OK, so she doesn't fancy it, but she completely over-reacted. Oh well, I guess that's what being 15 is about.

Jinwin, I'd give it another try before your period 'cos playing about 'down there' later on might be a bit messy. In the shower's a good place to practice. Remember to relax and aim for the small of your back, not the top of your head. I'm sure other more experienced users will give you better advice than I can though...

[Annpan]

Just out of curiosity (and to work out if mine is worth another try) did anyone else find the first time you put it in it hurts like a MO FO and pulls and stretches all the skin before pushing it's way back out (despite having been place a good inch or 2 inside?)

I wouldn't be surprised if I am the only one, the doctors really butchered me when sewing me up after giving birth (it's not even in the same place as it used to be )

Do you think there is a market in second hand mooncups? it costs quite a lot for it to linger in my medicine drawer before I chuck it out in a few years time.