FAQ
Dear Cathy, Dear Helen » back to top Dear Cathy, My flow is very light and I find tampons extremely painful to remove. Is it ok to use a Mooncup with a light flow? Kath
Dear Kath Yes it is fine to use the Mooncup when your flow is light. The Mooncup is not absorbent and will not cause dryness so you will find removal much more comfortable than with tampons. Best wishes Cathy » back to top Dear Cathy, How big is the mooncup package - will it fit through my letterbox? If Yvonne
Dear Yvonne The Mooncup comes in an A5 brown manilla envelope with an address label on the front and our company name and address written in small letters at the bottom of the label. There is no indication of what is inside the package. It may be helpful to you to know that the package is small enough to fit through a standard letterbox and doesn't need to be signed for so you don't need to be at home to receive it. Best wishes Cathy » back to top Hi.
Dear Joanne » back to top Dear Cathy, Dear Sharon » back to top Hi,
Dear Catherine, I am sorry that you are having problems but I am sure we can find a solution. The most common reason for leakage is not placing the Mooncup low enough in your vagina. The Mooncup needs to be placed just inside the entrance to your vagina, not up near the cervix where tampons are placed. Also, you need to check that the whole of the stem is fully inside you. Most women need to trim the stem. If you think you need to trim the stem, remove your Mooncup and cut the end with scissors. Trim a little off at a time and reinsert your Mooncup to check how it sits. Repeat this process until it is fully inside you and is comfortable. Another reason for leakage is due to poor seal formation with your vaginal wall. You can try twisting and rotating the Mooncup once inserted. You can also try pulling the mooncup down slightly and then gently pushing it inward. Clamping your pelvic floor muscles around the Mooncup will also help to create a good seal. Occasionally leakage can occur because the small holes below the rim of the Mooncup have become blocked. Use a clean pin and remove any debris blocking the holes. Wash your Mooncup and re-insert. Finally, leakage may be due to the size you are using not being a good fit. In this case please contact the advice service.
Best Wishes Cathy » back to top DearCathy Dear Hazel,
» back to top Hello! Dear Kate » back to top Dear Cathy Dear Lucy » back to top Dear Cathy Dear Julia » back to top Hi Dear Mickie, » back to top Dear Mooncup Dear Helen, Standing or lying down makes your Mooncup harder to reach. Hello, Dear Kelly » back to top Dear Cathy The Mooncup sounds like a very interesting product, but I would like to ask you a question before trying it. When I used a diaphragm, I had problems with urinary tract infections. Have there been any experiences of women suffering urinary tract infections from the use of the Mooncup? Many Thanks Sarah Dear Sarah The diaphragm is worn higher in the vagina than the Mooncup. However it is still possible that the rim of the Mooncup may exert pressure on the urinary tract and if you have been affected by problems of this nature in the past we would recommend that you check with your GP before using the Mooncup. Best Wishes Cathy » back to top Dear Cathy, Will the Mooncup cause me to get thrush? I get thrush from using tampons, look forward to your answer. Cheers Maia
Dear Maia Approximately 1/3 of what tampons absorb are the protective secretions that prevent thrush and other infections from happening. These secretions also maintain the correct Ph balance of the vagina. When you use a Mooncup it will not interfere with these protective vaginal secretions, and it will not absorb them either, so your vagina will remain healthy whilst you are having your period. It is important to rinse your Mooncup with plenty of water if you use soap to clean it, as traces of soap left on the Mooncup can upset the Ph balance of your vagina. In answer to your question Maia, no the Mooncup will not give you thrush. Best Wishes Cathy » back to top Hi Cathy, Dear Kate There should be no problem with an I.U.D as long as you remember to place the mooncup low down in the vagina and take care to release the seal properly when removing the mooncup. It’s a good idea to ask your GP/clinic if they can trim the IUD strings to keep them short. You should continue to check your IUD strings periodically to make sure it hasn't been dislodged.
» back to top Hi Cathy, Dear Anna Hi Cathy! I have endometriosis, how would the Mooncup work for me? Dear Rachel The feedback I have received from other women in your situation has been positive. This is because the Mooncup will hold up to three times more than disposable sanitary products. The Mooncup is able to accommodate clots because it collects your menstrual flow. A tampon is designed to absorb menstrual flow and therefore is not able to accommodate clots. It is also useful to use the Mooncup because you can measure how much you are actually bleeding and report this to your gynaecologist. You may also be interested to know that other women with your condition have reported to us that they experience less pain with their period when using a Mooncup. Dear Cathy,
Dear Lottie, Thank you for contacting us for advice. Yes, the Mooncup works very well for heavy periods because it collects up to three times more menstrual blood than disposable sanitary products. This means that you will need to attend to the Mooncup less often. Women have reported back to me that this has significantly improved their quality of life. The Mooncup also allows you to accurately measure your flow. This means that for the first time your doctor or gynaecologist will be able to know exactly how much you bleed and will be able to treat you accordingly and quickly. Best Wishes Cathy » back to top Hi, I have been looking through your site and think that the mooncup looks fantastic but i have one reservation/question. As the menstrual blood is just collected rather than absorbed, what would happen if you were to go upside down or lay down with your pelvis raised above your body. I know this sounds a really strange question but i do really want one and i just need to know what woud happen if i was to lay down or go on an upside down ride at a theme park. Sorry if you think this is an odd concern! Thank you for your enquiry. Firstly your concern is far from odd, it is not an uncommon query. Using the Mooncup as a collective device will not create any additional risk than these kind of activities may be associated with when you are menstruating. I don't know if you are aware that there is an ongoing debate regarding whether or not it is appropriate for women to adopt any inverted postures during menstruation, for instance shoulder stands in yoga are cnsidered by some to be alleviative menstrual symptoms during a period, whilst others say that this posture should not be done during menstruation because of the potential for retrograde flow (back flow). It comes down to a personal decision, depending on your opinion. I include some internet links below on this subject... http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/546_1.cfm http://www.yoga.com.au/Infosheets/Menstruation%20Info%20Sheet.pdf http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/5572 http://www.skys.com.au/women_inverted.html I think that overall the concerns in these areas are associated with being in inverted postures for a prolonged time, and even then the retrograde theory is just that, a theory, it has not been shown be true. The Mooncup is suitable for night-time use and all forms of sports so there is no need for concern in the doing the activities you describe. I hope that this helps you, let me know if you have any further questions. Best Wishes, Cathy » back to top I just received my mooncup through the post and am finding it really hard to use. I can't seem to insert it. Could you give me any tips? Thank you for your email. I'm going to need a bit more detail to be able to offer you specific advice for the difficulties you are experiencing, why exactly can you not insert it? If you are having problems with keeping it folded you will need to practice until you find a method that works for you. If you are having problems with actually passing it through the entrance of your vagina again with practice this will improve. The most important thing is to remain as relaxed as possible, otherwise our muscles tend to tense up and work against us. Just take your time and practice now and again when you are not menstruating until you feel you have gained confidence and found what works best for you. A water-based lubricant can also make things easier initially.
» back to top I am almost convinced about buying a mooncup however I do a number of aerobics classes during the week. During the week of my period I do sometimes go but often wear a pad as well as a tampon in case of leaks when jumping - would a Mooncup be OK during exercise (including in swimming pool?) Thank you for your enquiry. The Mooncup is ideal for use whilst doing all sports, including aerobics and swimming. Some women use a pantyliner whilst they are still gaining confidence in the reliabilty of their Mooncup, but before long it will provide you with far more confidence than any other product. Feel free to contact me again if you have any further questions at all. Best Wishes, Cathy » back to top I only heard about your mooncup today, but am intrigued, especially for the health aspects. I have big reservations though about how messy it is. Can you please tell me whether this is true? Do you tip any blood into the toilet then wipe it? Is there a lot, it sounds horrible! Is it like inserting a tampon though in terms of the amount of blood you come into contact with? Thanks! Thank you for your enquiry. The Mooncup is actually suprisingly unmessy to use. Yes, when you insert its the same as inserting a tampon with regard to the amount of blood you come in contact with. When you remove the Mooncup the outside of it is generally clean, with all your blood collected inside of it. It stays upright (and is rarely full anyway) until you tip it up to empty it down the loo. Then you simply rinse, or wipe, befor re-inseting. You will see your blood, but you will not have much actual contact with it. Many women find that once they get used to it, seeing your blood is actually a very good way of being in touch with your body and can lead to a greater sense of acceptance and well-being during menstruation! Its really not horrible, its just different at first. Let me know if you have any further questions at all. Best Wishes, Cathy Menopause I am going into my menopause, is it worth buying a Mooncup? The Mooncup can be very useful in helping with the changes that occur during the menopause. Your periods may become heavier or lighter and the Mooncup can be used in both of these situations, saving you from needing to use a whole array of disposable products. The Mooncup is also well able to collect clots and to deal with sudden flooding. Another advantage of the Mooncup is that it allows you to accurately measure your flow. This means that for the first time your doctor or gynaecologist will be able to know exactly how much you bleed and will be able to treat you accordingly and quickly. For many women using a Mooncup improves the quality of their lives during the menopause. Best Wishes Cathy
I have really painful periods will the Mooncup help? The Mooncup can safely be used with painful periods and many women report that using the Mooncup reduces their pain. One reason for this could be that the Mooncup is worn lower down in the vagina than a tampon and allows your menstrual blood to flow more naturally. The Mooncup is also hypoallergenic and does not react with your body. The chemicals contained in tampons may react with the body causing pain. Best Wishes Cathy
Hi can you please let me know if the mooncup is safe to wear at night? Many Thanks Dear Sarah, Thank you for your enquiry. Yes, the Mooncup is safe to wear at night. You will need to ensure it is empty before going to bed and then empty it again as soon as you wake, but because it is safe to be in place for 8 or so hours there is no problem with using it at night. Please feel free to contact me again if you have any further queries at all. Best Wishes Cathy |
