Mooncup The Mooncup is designed by women for your comfort and convenience. Made in the UK, the soft medical grade silicone Mooncup holds three times as much as a tampon, making it great for heavy days. And, because it’s non-absorbent, it won’t cause dryness when your period’s light. You only need one Mooncup, which lasts for years. Suitable for women with sensitive skin and allergies. Unlike tampons, the Mooncup won’t expose your body to pesticides or bleaches, leave fibres behind or dry you out. And because there’s no string, the Mooncup is completely discreet, whatever you’re wearing. Ideal for travelling, swimming, and exercise. There are also menstrual discs that are shaped more like a shallow bowl, without a stem. These tend to be one size fits all, and some can be worn during sex. It may take a bit of trial and error to get the hang of inserting and removing them. Cost The multi-award winning Mooncup® was born of a desire to drastically reduce the waste produced by throwaway period products. Created in 2002 in Brighton, we produce the world’s first medical grade silicone reusable menstrual cup: putting an end to the waste, expense and discomfort of disposable tampons and pads. A menstrual cup is a small cup made from flexible and body-friendly plastic which you insert into your vagina instead of using a tampon or towel," explains Stephanie Taylor, Founder and Managing Director of pelvic health company Kegel8 . "It sits just below your cervix and collects any blood or lining you lose for up to 12 hours," she adds. The main difference between a tampon and a period cup is that the cup collects your blood, whereas the tampon absorbs it.

The best menstrual cup for you will come down to personal preference, and will depend on your body and how you feel using one. So don’t be discouraged if it takes a few tries to find the right one, or to get in the swing of using it.Some brands, including DivaCup and Lunette, sell menstrual cup cleansers, and there are also wipes available (which could put a bit of a dent in the eco-credentials of your cup). It can however take some trial and error to find the right one for you, and get the hang of using one. Reduces waste (51%)*' Definitely SO much better for the environment. This is my main reason for using, but I found there is a learning curve' The Mooncup 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. Frequently Asked Questions about using a Mooncup

Choose Mooncup size A if you are 30 years old and over OR have given birth vaginally regardless of age. The size A Mooncup holds up to 29.3ml. of fluid and is 46mm. in diameter and 50mm. in length. A complete game changer. I can’t believe it took me this long to make the switch! It feels so much more hygienic, my cramps have definitely reduced since using it, and it’s better for the environment. I’m also saving money no longer having to buy tampons!” – Nicola Not sure menstrual cups are for you? See our full guide to eco menstrual products for alternative options including period pants, washable pads and reusable tampon applicators Some brands sell small sterilising pots which you pop in the microwave to steam clean the cup, which seem like a neat solution, and others make standalone steamer units. Once the Mooncup is inside it opens up and forms a light seal with the vaginal wall which holds it in place.

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Reusable period products were unheard of when we first started. There was no category for sustainable period products on supermarkets’ period aisles. People didn’t talk about periods and were revolted by what we were doing. To bring reusable period products to the mainstream, we’ve needed to do some serious taboo busting! Most brands have at least two sizes, one that's a bit smaller for users who are under 30 and have not given birth vaginally, and one that's slightly larger for those who have given birth vaginally, or are over 30. Some brands offer a specific smaller teen size, too. Most menstrual cups are made with medical-grade silicon, while some are made from medical-grade TPE (rubber and/or plastic). Both are safe and durable; it shouldn’t make a difference unless you have an allergy to either material, but you might find one type more comfortable. Cup size Thanks to Mooncup® users worldwide, over 3 billion tampons and pads have been diverted from landfill and our oceans.

I bought one of these from Boots on Saturday. After reading a bit about them first, I was worried that it would take some getting used to. How wrong I was! These things are amazing, if you are reading about them, buy one! Don’t put it off a minute longer! No mess, no leaks, it’s easy 🙂 I can’t say for sure after 2 days, but I’m pretty sure this might just be life changing! I have almost forgotten that I am on my period.”– Charli Menstrual cups are reusable silicone cups that you insert into your vagina like a tampon to collect menstrual fluid.This is one of the more obvious impracticalities of using a menstrual cup. But as they have become more mainstream, a whole mini-industry has popped up to make menstrual cup cleaning simpler. Big changes start with small steps, and we all have the power to make a difference. For years, we’ve been participating and organising annual beach cleans on behalf of Marine Conservation Society, helping to record data on beach litter and form a detailed picture of the levels of waste pollution in our marine and coastal environment.

I’ve only been using it for two cycles (never used tampons before, just pads) and I’m getting into the swing of things now. I’ve no idea how I coped with pads for so long, as this thing is amazing. At Mooncup HQ we may well have heard every question in the period book. No matter how “TMI” you may think it is, chances are we’ve probably heard it. In fact maybe we could compile the “Period Book” if we needed to. We like to take pride in our menstrual geekiness in this business!Menstrual cups are becoming increasingly popular, and it's not difficult to see why. They don't dry out the vagina like tampons can, nor do they contain any harmful substances. They're also reusable, eco-friendly and don't create any waste – and, if we're talking money, they're cheaper in the long run. A convincing argument, right?