If you're cringed out by talking (or reading) about periods, now's the time to leave because we're about to have some serious girl talk.
Like you, I'm sure, when Miss P forced her way into my life way back in 2009 there were only really two options available to keep her under control: tampons or pads. It's 2020 now honey, and there are so many more options that 14-year-old me would have killed for. I'm talking underwear that just soaks it all up. I'm talking menstrual discs. I'm talking Mooncups! Menstrual cups are my female hygiene product of choice and when people find this out (because I actively tell them, of course) they tend to all ask the same questions. So, to save you – and me – a lot of time, I'm just going to tell you everything you need to know right here, right now.
“Why do you use a Mooncup?”
I'm glad you ask. Firstly, pads ick me out and tampons friggin hurt. And, tbh, I'm not about that “walking around with a wee-soaked string in my undies” life. Mooncups are better for me, better for the environment and they save me money.
“Doesn't it like, leak?”
No. Menstrual cups have teeny little holes around the rim at the top and when you put it in, these holes create a kind of suction seal that means nothing can spill over. And, to be honest, the cup very rarely – if ever – fills all the way to the top. I've used mine for four years now and it's never “spilled over”.
“How do you get it in?”
Mooncups are made from super flexible silicone and they're around the size of a shot glass. You literally just kind of fold it in half lengthways and put it up like you would a tampon, then when you let go it shapes to your body and creates the seal. Sometimes it makes a little “scccchlup” noise.
“How do you get it out?”
Right, I'm not going to sugarcoat this, ladies. I kind of like push with my muscles so it wiggles down a bit, then just grab the bottom of it and pinch it to release the seal. Then you just pull it out one side at a time and voila. Tip it down the loo and get on with your life. It also has a stem that you cut down to suit your body. You can use the stem to help pull it out but I just chopped the stem off of mine because it was annoying and stabby.
“How do you clean it?”
Well, if I'm at home, after I empty it I just run it under the tap then back up it goes. At the end of each period, I leave it in a bowl of boiling water and give it a scrub with its own dedicated toothbrush – then when it's dry I pop it back into its little canvas bag until next month. You can also buy a special wash for it here.
“What do you do if you need to empty it in public?”
TBH, if I know I'm going out, I'll empty if before. Generally, I only really empty it twice a day anyway. But, if worse comes to worse and I really need to empty in public, I'll just empty it then wipe it with a tissue and pop it back in. Or, I'll take a bottle of water in with me and give it a lil rinse.
“Where can I get one?”
