Mooncup Monday: Week 1 (it begins)

Men, you may wish to stop reading now...

Welcome to a brand new series following three Leith woman as they try an alternative sanitary product, the Mooncup. The average woman uses over 11,000 tampons or pads in her lifetime, these end up in landfill or in the sea. The Mooncup is a viable solution to this problem but not one we're talking about, until now. Every Monday we’ll update you on this challenge in an effort to discover if a reusable menstrual cup really is a sustainable solution for the modern woman. 

Join the Challenge

If you’d like to join us, all you have to do for Week 1 is let us know how you feel about the Mooncup? Log on to the Mooncup website to read about a cheaper, safer and greener alternative to tampons or check out the comments below for some inspiration. Do they sound ridiculous, are they intriguing, useful or awful? Please add your sensible comments.

Mooncup Mitchell

We have enlisted the help of Leith's very own Mooncup expert ‘Mooncup Mitchell’. She chats mooncups when you’re enjoying a pint or on a bus and I find it embarrassing! I don’t want to hear about washing them out  in public bathrooms or sterilising them in a 'mooncup saucepan'. That is, until now. I’ve avoided Mooncup Mitchell’s conversations for long enough, I’m ready to listen.  She has agreed to answer questions and provide moral support to our three anonymous ladies. She will be responding your comments on the blog too.

Thoughts on the challenge from the ladies (A, B and C)

MCA: 

The Mooncup challenge, something initated during a sunny afternoon in the meadows. I agreed not really knowing what a Mooncup was but felt it would be good to try something new, that was until I went onto the internet and saw what it actually was!! I'm suddenly feeling apprenhensive about using it and the actual function of it!  

MCB:

I've been thinking on and off about trying the mooncup for 5 years, ever since I saw them advertised at a festival. I'm not really sure why it's taken me so long to get around to actually trying one... I think initially it was the price that put me off, but then considering what I spend on tampons and liners each month it is actually an investment!!

Am I nervous about it? I don't think so, I've done quite a bit of reading up on the mooncup and reviews seem to be overwhelmingly positive. They're a lot safer for the body, and - big plus in my book, they are infinitely better for the environment. It's horrendous to think of all the things that are flushed out to sea each day, and I've seen the results on beaches. Not a pretty sight. So, all in all, I think I'm feeling good about this! Will go out today and purchase my first ever mooncup! 

MCC:

I’m a moon cup half empty kind of girl. I’ll give it a go but I’m yet to be convinced. Sustainability is out to get me, the harder I try the worse it gets. All my bags for life have holes in them, two of my energy saving light bulbs went last week – they were meant to last eight years, they’ve lasted …….two! I got attacked by drunk people when I tried cycling. I’ve been terrorised by birds. And now mooncups, even the name puts me off. A cup is a measure for rice, or your bra. Either way it’s too big to go in the place its intended and then you add the word ‘moon’, what were they thinking? The moon is huge! I just can’t see it working.  

Week 2 challenge: Purchase and snap

Ladies, you have one week to purchase a mooncup and take a photo of it. We want to know how your purchasing experience went and we want to see your photo. You can take a photo in the shop or at home or of your mooncup in an envelope if you’re doing mail order mooncup. You can buy them in boots but try other places too.

Follow the Challenge

Every Monday they’ll be an update here on Greenerleith. There's a twitter account to follow the ladies and your comments too so please do add them. There'll also be some interesting mooncup facts and some much needed humour. Follow mooncupmonday here (don't worry, we won't be adding any graphic details). 

Good luck ladies!

UPDATE: Read the week 2 challenge here.

Read more from Emily on Sustainable Stories, Twitter or Facebook.

Comments

[Emma Quayle]

I already have a Mooncup and have been using it for over a year now. I think they're fantastic although it's not something you can get use to in your first month, it took me about 4 months to get use to and comfortable with it. They're easy to get in and out after a bit of practice and last all day if you're not super heavy.
I know it's a bit pricey (although you can get them cheaper online) but it pays for itself after a yea or so and you don't have to feel guilty about sending tampons out to see or towels off to landfill!

As for washing them out in public sinks - no one's going to do that, you just make sure you have a bottle of water with you in your bag, or just wipe it off with some tissue and wait until you get home to do a proper wash. It really doesn't need changing that often anyway and tends to last over 8 hours for me, unlike tampons and towels that need regular changing.

The sterilising saucepan isn't really necessary either, I just use Femfresh to give it a wash in the shower. Plus, if it does get smelly (which only happens if you're not cleaning it regularly or forget to take it out for more than a day) the only thing you can really do is leave it to sit in the sun for a few weeks.

I recommend the Mooncup to all women. In our crazy stressful lifestyles our periods remind us that we are female, are still a part of nature and do in fact need to take care of our bodies.

GO MOONCUP!

p.s. one thing you can't do with the Mooncup is stand on your head, i've not tried it but apparently it breaks the seal keeping everything inside and leaks can occur...nice.

x

[Jazz]

hey Ems sounds really .....exciting read up about the moon cup. a very good idea . However I am a bit worried if people have accidents and need to change themselves quickly...... xx

[Lucy]

I have used a mooncup for the last ten years or so and think it's brilliant. I switched for environmental reasons, but once I started using it I realised it was way simpler than tampons or towels, both of which are really gross. It's a little investment but then that's a one-off thing, so you don't have to keep buying more tampax every month. I lost my first one (went missing during a house move!) so bought another one as I couldn't imagine using anything else. 40 quid over ten years isn't bad - 30p a month!

[Emma Quayle]

£40! mine was £20 and you can get them for 17 online. http://www.holosfoods.com/p/Mooncup-Size-A/

[Mooncup Mitchell]

Good to hear your positive Mooncup stories ladies. I thought the Mooncup was too 'out there' for me when I first heard about it 3 years ago, but I thought I should give it a go to reduce the amount of waste I produce.

After a wee bit of practice, I found that it was easy to use and I think my Mooncup is absolutely fantastic. I'd never go back to tampons (the exception is if I'm having to use portaloos at a festival!). (Jazz, I've not had one 'accident' in 3 years, so don't worry about that).

I just wish I'd started using a Mooncup years and years ago. Lots of folk still haven't heard of the benefits, so that's why I talk enthusiastically about Mooncups on the bus and in the pub sometimes! It's great to see the expressions on some people's faces too!

Any questions, just ask. There's also loads of information (and testimonials) on www.mooncup.co.uk

[Julia]

Think before you flush!

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1416932_united-utilities-sewer-monster-april-fool-gag-goes-down-the-drain

[Julia]

This campaign explains why flushing sanitary products (as well as other things), can cause sewer blockages

http://www.water.org.uk/home/resources-and-links/bagandbin

mooncups would help this problem also.....

[Jane]

I've been using menstrual cups for 8 years - starting with Mooncup - I jumped at the chance to get one when I heard it holds more than tampons and they don't leak as much. With my heavy flow they are the BEST as I can safely wear them overnight (which can't be done with tampons, as much as some tampon companies claim otherwise) and can go longer during the day. Although they do leak if left too long it is nothing like the full flood you get when tampons leak! Seriously, if you have heavy flow cups are a MUST!

I also discovered the chronic yeast and bacterial infections I had all the time in my teens had been down to using tampons and commercial pads - since switching to cups I've not had one single infection, and I feel a lot more confident that I'm healthy down below as I'm not drying-out vaginal walls or putting chemicals up there. Oh, and no soreness round the vaginal opening from insertion, tampon string cutting through me like cheese string, pads feeling sweaty, sticking to me or rubbing on my leg - cups are much more comfortable.

I would NEVER even consider going back to tampons or pads, a Moocnup was the best purchase I ever made :)

[Clare B]

I use a Mooncup and I cannot praise it highly enough. It's so odd that people think it sounds off-putting, or in some way less convenient than regular San Pro. Regardless of environmental issues, I would simply choose to use the most convenient method - dealing with menstruation is hard enough. Which is why I couldn't even conceive of using pads... Tampons, although relatively convenient, have a lot of disadvantages. They can 'leak' if not changed enough, can cause TSS and very commonly thrush as they destroy the natural balance inside the vagina, are very expensive, often awkward/messy to get rid of, and you always have to have another one to hand. As the mooncup is inside you, you don't need to remember to take anything into the toilet (often this can be embarrassing eg at school or in the workplace).

I have never had any problems with using the Mooncup and just don't understand the apprehension of those who haven't tried it. I wonder if it is perhaps that we, as consumers, are so used to throwing away used SanPro that it sounds off-putting to throw away the blood and reuse the cup. (For info: my friend who introduced me to the Mooncup pours the blood onto her houseplants- it makes great fertilizer!)

My message would be : Ladies, do not fear the Mooncup! It has literally no disadvantages, will save you a small fortune (San Pro is taxed as a luxury item) and will massively reduce damaging impact to the environment.

I think this a great initiative by Greener Leith, and I hope it will raise awareness about the Mooncup. I hope the 'guineapigs' find the cups as incredible as most people do, and I am sure that they too will become as evangelical as a lot of converts (myself included)!

[MoonCup is Mad]

Toxic Shock Syndrome much?

[cuppa tea]

Sorry folks - Mooncups are not for me. I agree with Mooncup C above - a cup is measure for rice or bras - and a receptacle from which to drink tea!

[Clare B]

What does the comment by 'Mooncup is Mad' mean? I think that if a comment is not adding to the debate, or is patently foolish, you probably shouldn't publish it. I can only perceive that the writer is accusing women who are praising the Mooncup are experiencing TSS. Or maybe he is trying to suggest we are all hysterical.
I find this comment offensive. Or are Tampax buying you already? You should definitely post balanced crticism but this actually offensive.

[jo]

I've been using my mooncup for over 8 years now and I love, love, love it! Saves money and waste - I don't know why more people don't use them! I recommend to all my friends but I still get funny looks. Has leaked maybe twice on extremely heavy days but thats a lot less often than the alternatives let me down! Only thing is I have a habit of forgetting I've put it in, but thats a testament to how it just blends in to my every day life. I hardly even think about the fact that its that time of the month because the mooncup is so unobtrusive and I've developed ways of handling it in public situations e.g. this might sound a bit gross but you can use urine (sterile when fresh!) to rinse it or tissue if no access to water, then clean when you get home. Good luck to the testers, I'm sure you'll love it!

[Trella]

I've used my mooncup for about 4-5 years now and, like other users, LOVE it.Tried it for environmental reasons and because read lots of positive testimonials about it. To my happy surprise, I found it more comfortable and convenient than pads and tampons - never mind the environment! You get a better chance of a good night's sleep for not having to worry about the padding leaking or slipping out of place and being uncomfortable. I can simply forget about my period. As for the scale of grossness...emptying and rinsing the cup doesn't compare too bad wit the concept of tonnes and tonnes of towels and tampons festering, brewing and stinking away in a landfill... And, it's true, you simply work out strategies for dealing with the cup in public loos - they're still less hassle than than sannies.

It does take a little while to get the hang of it, and can be a strange concept to overcome in one's mind, but now I would never consider going back to the padding again.

[Sae Gypsy]

I have been using the Moon cup for a few years now and dont mind using it at all. It totally works for me.