Sheilaz Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 ...... all I have with me is a pany liner and that's not good enough to do the job alone so it's got to work! Sounds lik I'm doing things okay, just needs practise! It won't let you down! You'll still need a pad on the heaviest day/night if you needed one before as well as a tampon. As Cathy says, a slight push will help if it's hard to release. Definitely gets easier and it helps to approach with confidence and really relax at that stage. Nothing bad can happen, it can't get stuck or go anywhere. If you're somewhere awkward & feel panic, leave it & change it at next visit. I felt complete panic at times my first month, 2nd was easier and by month 3 I felt like an expert! I cut off all the stem & felt puzzled & worried in case I shouldn't. But, it's the best thing I've bought in the last year, I wish I'd found it sooner, this is an amazing forum! Good luck Ange, you'll soon feel liberated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Agree with all the above - yes, sort of 'bearing down' helps if you can't reach it. I have had a problem with pinching myself - and my nails aren't particularly long! I try and get a grip on the stem now, and tug it down a bit till I can get hold of the cup. It does get easier with practice, so keep going. You won't look back - I've given all my remaining tampons away to friends as I know I won't want to use them again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ange1 Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 I can just imagine your friends faces Olly when you gave them your tampons Did they ask why you didn't need them?! My boyfriend is quite interested bless him, though he doesn't want TOO much details, he keeps trying to offer suggestions well, you can imagine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ange1 Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 A question. Someone I think it was hils78 said that sometimes she felt as though she was being impaled on a bambo cane??!!! This is a good description! Did you cut off all the stem to stop this feeling?! Have the others who use the cup done the same? For me it's when i try and remove it. I've cut the stem short, but not completely off, so it's too short to get a grip on, so I tend to pinch the base of the cup, there are ridges on it anyway and pull from there, but then the stubby stem digs in and I get the bambo feeling!! So I'm thinking that I too should cut it all off? Sometimes the cup pivots to one side and therefore the stem 'swing' over,(this is normally after a sleep) so it is even difficult to get it out without catching yourself with the stem! Anyway, today was the last day, a nice short one only 4 days, they used to last for 7?! Don't know if it's anything to do with the cup? Yes it's tricky, but the feeling of being fresh and nothing dried and potentially smelly on the outside is SUCH a nice feeling! I'm essentailly a happy bunny! Just need to practise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 I have cut all the stem off, there is just a little "hollow" bit left at the bottom. I can't feel my mooncup at all, even when I take it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 It definitely takes a bit of practice - and yes, I would cut of all the stem. I was always aware of it 'digging' a bit. To remove, just bear down a bit, grasp the base of the cup, tilt slightly and squeeze the sides together gently, this breaks the seal that forms and it should come out very easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Well I'm reaching the age when I might well be giving my tampons etc away for other reasons ... but as it happened it was a good friend, I'd told her about the mooncup, and she was delighted to get several free boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaR Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 I've cut all the stem off mine too - before then, I used to jump sky high everytime I sat down As for the pivoting, mine has a mind of it's own day and night as to its preferred position, so yes, I would say that it is perfectly normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ange1 Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 I hope you realsied I was teasing ! I'm only jealous as I don't have any friends that I know well enough to give them my leftover tampons! Thanks for everyone's advice - this site is great!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hils78 Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Aint it great being a woman!!! I've had the great task of telling my man (who I don't live with -yet) that I use a mooncup The reaon being he asked me why he hasn't seen Tampons falling out of my bag considering we've been together for so long! So taking a deep breath & lots of 'erming' & 'you know what I meaning' he said - so what you're telling me is that you shove a silicone cup ............................................ why couldn't I have put it like that?!!! He didn't bat an eyelid. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hils78 Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Ange1 - I've just caught up with your posts & you have really made me laugh (for the 1st time since Fri - we've had to postpone our wedding ). The trials & tribulations of mastering the mooncup needs a determined owner! Avert your eyes if you're squeamish......... Re getting it in - sitting on the loo, I found that holding in 'un-deployed!' between thumb & middle finger & getting it to where it needs to be - then guiding it in with your thumb for the remainder of the journey locates it perfectly & it deploys once your thumb is removed....! And getting it out - it really helps as Snowy Hallows said, bear down & grip the base of it but tilt it only slightly to free the suction/vaccum . I always think of a prolapsed chicken when trying to retrive a fully vaccumed mooncup!!! Re the length of your TOTM - mine was reduced by about 3 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LesleyH Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Hi all - I just want to say that I am a mooncup user. I too cut the stem right off. It takes a bit of practice but makes you feel so self riteous and you soon get used to it!!! For anyone thinking of it - go for it...you will not look back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ange1 Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Thanks Hills, I've only just got back from holiday so hadn't seen your lovely reply, glad I made you smile, sorry to hear about your wedding though, hope things turn out! Oddly enough I've just boiled mine ready for the next time, Boyfriend came in and asked if we were having boiled eggs for lunch, I couldn't dissapoint him so I had to get the proper egg pan out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Finally got one! Bought it today from Boots, couldn't find it on the shelves so had to go and ask. Woman on counter hadn't heard of it but went and asked someone else. I'm almost looking forward to trying it out but did you all 'practise' before hand? Sorry to be so blunt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ange1 Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Chickvic no I didn't practise before hand, I intended to but kept chickening out! I think I would be too 'dry' yo practise anyway! Good luck, we're here if you've any questions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Yes, I did practice . I also read that it's a good idea for your first "time" to wait till near the end of your period so it's not so messy while you get the hang of it! I tried that and it was a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 that's a good idea ANH ... handling a full one can be a bit tricky! To be honest though, I didn't practice, just went straight for it, although I did choose a weekend when I'd be at home, it helps if you can go into the loo and fiddle with it if it doesn't feel quite right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 :dance: Result! :dance: Went swimming this morning for the first time since getting the mooncup. In the past I wouldn't have dared - especially as we have to use the big, open plan changing area for me and the children, so for 1 week in 4 I used to sit at the side while the boys had their lessons Not today! 16 lengths! And no problems at all!! I'm freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 Wow . I don't think I'd ever dare do that . I'm just so thankful that I won't need mine on holiday - don't know how I'd have managed on a bike, in a foreign country, finding toilets etc . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ange1 Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 That's great to hear Snowy! I'm not that heavy and I think that I would be able to go swimming too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 I go swimming with mine all the time, it is great not to have to say 'Oh I can't go this week' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hils78 Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Hurrah more women liberated by Mooncup! I don't think I could do a holiday (actually whats one of those?) without one. You just need to pack it & its there for good. No tampons falling out of your bag. My sister is going travelling very soon & she's so glad she uses a mooncup because she doen't like the idea of buying tampons from a 3rd world country without the regs that we have here. If she's remote & needs to 'deal with it' she only needs a small bottle of water & a good bush to hide behind. No need to dispose of a used sanitary item too. I've been horse riding whilst using mine - no probs. Ange1 the wedding is back on!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 I'm about to use my mooncup shortly and wondered how you sterilise yours? Me and DH have been having discussions about how is the best way to do it. He's very interested and impressed with the money we'll save Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Boil it in a pan we've used for camping . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 I used to boil it in an old pan, but now I just chuck it in some milton the day before it's due to be used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
