When I first read about a Mooncup on a toilet wall in 2006, I was grossed out. I’m pro recycling, but it seemed to be going a bit far when it involved something going inside my body. But after three years of thinking about it, and experiencing a few occasions of spending my last $2 on tampons from a vending machine because I couldn’t afford a whole packet, and constantly feeling self conscious when I had my period, I finally decided to do some research.
The Mooncup is reusable silicone cup that can be inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual fluid, rather than absorb it like a tampon. It is easy to insert and to remove, barely noticeable when you are wearing it, and can simply be emptied and re-inserted. Easy.
One of the biggest factors that helped turn me to the Mooncup is that the silicon product is much safer for your body for several reasons:
1. Silicon is not a breeding ground for bacteria, like a tampon, and therefore Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is not related to the use of a Mooncup. While bacteria can find a warm home in the tight ball of cotton fibres of a tampon, they cannot live on the silicon of a Mooncup. Simply boil your Mooncup in hot water before and after use to keep it clean.
2. The Mooncup contains no bleaches, deodorisers or absorbency gels, doesn’t interfere with your natural vaginal environment and will not irritate even sensitive skin.
3. Unlike a tampon, the Mooncup won’t leave deposits of cotton fibres inside your vagina. The main problem that a lot of people bring up is that it can be awkward to change when you are not at home or if you don’t have a sink in the same room as your toilet. Yes, I can see why you might not want to wash it in a public toilet sink. However, you don’t actually have to change the Mooncup that often. Because there is no risk of TSS, as long as you properly sterilise it when you are at home, you can get away with wearing it for a whole day or overnight. Unless you have a particularly heavy flow it will probably only ever get about half full in twelve hours. If you do want to change it when you are out, just use the wheelchair toilet where there is a sink and take a small bottle of water into the cubicle with you (it’s easier to insert when slightly moist).
Check out www.mooncup.co.uk. It’s not just a promotional site—the website has comprehensive information about the product. Once you’ve read up about it, go to Common Sense Organics where there is a Mooncup tied on a string on the display shelf so that you can see the product and feel how flexible it is.
Get talking with your friends. The thing that got me to finally try it was, after reading about alternative sanitary products (including seas sponges and reusable pads), I started talking about the Mooncup with friends who were also keen to try it. While I didn’t actually know anyone with one before I bought the product myself, as soon as I had friends who were considering it and talking about it, it suddenly seemed normal and I couldn’t remember why I hadn’t tried it already.
The Mooncup has saved me loads of money, I’m contributing less to landfills, I forget I have my periods when I’m wearing it and generally leaves me much happier at that time of the month. Please note that this article is not intended to be an instruction guide to using the Mooncup. It is important to read and keep the booklet that comes with the product.