WHAT IS A MENSTRUAL CUP?
A menstrual cup is a small, foldable, reusable device made from silicone, rubber or plastic that collects, rather than absorbs, the menstrual blood when inserted into the vagina. Mooncup® is the brand name of a menstrual cup: the first medical grade silicone menstrual cup in the world.
The Mooncup® is a soft, silicone menstrual cup that you can reuse every time you get your period.
Tried and trusted since 2002 by users around the world, the Mooncup menstrual cup offers an end to the waste, discomfort and expense of disposable sanitary protection.
It was designed by womxn as a convenient, safe and eco-friendly alternative to tampons and pads. The Mooncup was the first ever menstrual cup to be made from medical grade silicone; a hypoallergenic alternative to rubber which had previously been linked to latex allergies.
The Mooncup is 5cm long and has a ‘stem’ to help with removal. As vaginal length varies, the stem of the Mooncup is designed to be trimmed if needed.
HOW DOES THE MOONCUP MENSTRUAL CUP WORK?
Once the Mooncup is inside it opens up and forms a light seal with the vaginal wall which holds it in place. It sits lower than a tampon and works
by collecting the menstrual blood. The Mooncup is held in place by the vaginal muscles and can be emptied, rinsed and reinserted every four to eight hours. It can be used safely when travelling, swimming or exercising.
WHY USE A MOONCUP?
The Mooncup is a healthy and convenient alternative to tampons and pads which saves you money too. It’s great for swimming, sports and because it’s designed to last for years, it’s an easy way to dramatically reduce the waste you produce.
Some of the benefits that make the Mooncup menstrual cup so unique include:
A pioneering period brand, smashing the menstrual taboo since 2002.
The highest quality standards: ISO 13485 certified and registered with the FDA.
Made in the UK by the first sanitary product manufacturer in the world to be certified as an ethical business.
Unique telephone and email Advice Service run by medical health professionals.
The Mooncup menstrual cup is available in two sizes with only 3mm between them: Size A and Size B.
Size A is for those who are 30 or over and all who have given birth vaginally. Size B is for those who are under 30 who haven’t given birth vaginally.
HOW DO YOU INSERT A MOONCUP?
The Mooncup is inserted into the vagina by folding it. You can fold it using the c-fold:
HOW DO YOU GET THE MOONCUP OUT?
To remove the Mooncup menstrual cup, you pinch the base to release the seal. Take it out, rinse it, then reinsert.
HOW DO YOU CLEAN A MOONCUP MENSTRUAL CUP?
Like when using tampons, it’s important to wash your hands before inserting or removing your Mooncup. During your period, you can just clean it with water or non-perfumed soap. Clean it more thoroughly between periods by putting it in an open pan of boiling water or soaking it in diluted sterilising solution.
HOW DO YOU USE A MENSTRUAL CUP IN PUBLIC TOILETS?
If you need to empty and re-insert your Mooncup when you’re out and about, you can take a small bottle of water into the toilet with you to rinse it, or just wipe it with some tissue.
You can give it a more thorough clean when you get home.
It’s worth remembering that you won’t need to empty it as often as you would change tampons or pads because the Mooncup holds three times more blood than a regular tampon.
As with anything new, using a Mooncup can take a little practice, sometimes up to 3 cycles; although many people will get the hang of it straight away. But take your time because once you’ve got used to it, your Mooncup will last for years and years and you’ll never want to go back to using tampons and pads again.
Check out 40 FAQs here
Mooncup Ltd responds to “Menstrual cup misuse ‘can cause pelvic organ prolapse’” coverage, 11th March 2020 here