Posted under
Mooncup | Why use it | Advantages | How to use | Reviews | Buy it
Advantages
1. Good for the environment. Imagine how much less trash you produce not using pads and tampons!
2. Can leave a mooncup in for much longer than a tampon (according to flow) with no risk of toxic shock. On my heaviest days, 12 hours of using the cup and it was about halfway filled. I had to change my (super) tampons every 4 hours or so. Also, the cup can collect all the debris and clots!
3. You can use the cup before your period starts. Because it doesn’t absorb moisture indiscriminately, it doesn’t dry your vagina like a tampon does (you should not use a tampon before your period and when there is little flow).
4. Leak free, if inserted correctly. When you have perfected the manoeuvre of inserting and getting it to open, you can have total confidence that it will not leak (unless you forget to empty it). You can even sleep in the nude if you wanted to!
5. It is extremely comfortable. It is possible to even forget that you’re wearing the cup, especially since you don’t have to worry about it leaking (see point above).
6. Surprisingly less messy than tampons and (obviously) pads. It is easier to remove and empty than you would imagine.
7. No need to smuggle “supplies” when you head to the toilet. Also, you don’t have to worry about disposal of used pads/tampon wrappers. Just empty, rinse, and reinsert.
8. Easy to keep clean and hygenic. Just rinse out in hot water after emptying and sterilise at the end of the cycle by boiling in a pan of water for five minutes.
9. Not harmful to your body. The cup is made from non-allergic silicone so it doesn’t contain any bleach or chemicals that can harm your body.
10. Saves money. One mooncup lasts approximately ten years. How many tampons would you buy in ten years?!
Disadvantages
1. Steep learning curve. It did take quite a while to get used to. It can be quite daunting to insert the cup the first few times and getting it to open can be tricky. But once you get the hang of it, it’s a cinch!
2. It’s a slight logistical feat to empty the cup without an en suite washbasin. You can bring a moist tissue or a bottle of water in with you to the loo, or buy a second mooncup to alternate. But honestly, when you start using the cup, you’ll realise that you’ll have to empty it in a public place much less often than you imagine.
You might want to check out this website for more information on menstrual cups in general and also a comparison of the various types of cups (Mooncup, Divacup, Lunette and Keeper)
Comments Off
