mooncup

The monthly Re-CYCLE using menstrual sanitary cups

Mooncup

This is one of the least talked about sustainable products that has had a big impact on me. This is well worth supporting. I am talking about a reusable menstrual cup – the moon cup.

I first came across one in a London pharmacy in 2008. I had never heard about it but of curiosity I bought it for around 20 pounds – a bit of an investment for a sanitary experiment.

Using and appreciating all its advantages took a few cycles of getting used to. For me it is not inserted as deeply as a tampon and does not work when swimming. After those lessons learned it has ever since been my best buddy for the monthly catch-up. Talking to friends about it their initial reaction was disgust. I witnessed some deep fears of touching ones own body and blood. Menstrual predictability through the pill and overly hygienic worrying across many parts of life seem to have done their part on conditioning. However reflecting and questioning this routine, the advantages about using a moon cup are outstanding. This one cup can last my whole life. It is always at hand and there is no need to re-stock on sanitary supplies. It is hugely economical – this has saved me a few hundred Euros in the last 5 years. Apart from those cost-savings there is no waste and no toxins. And there are two sizes – size A for women over 30 or who have given birth vaginally and size B which is for everyone else. 

Now there is some extra work involved in cleaning the moon cup. Sterilizing can be done by boiling it in water for 5 minutes before and after each cycle. In between it can be cleaned with water and soap. Once a day you need a private bathroom to empty and clean it.

If you want to order a mooncup online or find out more check these links:

Info on original mooncup from the UK, cost around UK 20 GBP, they also offer free shipping to the US for 30 USD: www.mooncup.co.uk

For a wider range check out mooncups on ebay.com or Menstruationstassen on ebay.de

ReCycle!

2 thoughts on “The monthly Re-CYCLE using menstrual sanitary cups”

  1. Love your page!
    From my own experience, I have just a few additions to the mooncup.

    At first my cup was a bit uncomfortable, and I cut the bits of that are meant for easy removal (plastic-stick and rims). That way I can insert it a bit deeper and
    it makes a little vacuum that keeps it in place. You just squeeze the bottom part of the cup to release the vacuum to get it out. As it is perfectly sealed, it is for me the perfect swimming-equipment. There’s no water flowing in and out your vagina and you don’t have to deal with poolwater-soaked-tampons in your holy place.

    Talking to my friends, I experienced similar reactions. They don’t actually have a problem with blood itself, but think that menstrual blood is the most disgusting thing in the world. I think it partly comes from using tampons and pads, cause it seriously looks and smells quite bad on that. So the mooncup can actually have quite a healing effect on your relationship with your own body, cause you will realize, that it’s really only normal blood.

    As I’m a bit of a lazy girl, my monthly cup-cleaning is quite uncomplicated. After rinsing it under cold water with a bit of soap, I put it back in the material bag and throw it in the washing basket and it just goes with the next wash. I have to add, I only do 30-40 degree washing (the lowest temperature you can wash on my washing machine) and it goes into family shared washing basket. And that’s fine, cause it’s just a cup that had once a bit of blood in there!

    Anyway, if you are concerned about hygiene, don’t ever use normal tampons. Due to hormonal changes, the healthy lactobacillus species that prevent vaginal infections through making an acidic environment are a bit low in number when you have your period. By inserting a perfect bacterial growth substrate (normal tampons) at this sensitive time, you don’t only risk yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis, but also the life-threatening toxic shock syndrome due to staphylococcal infection, which is not as rare as you might think. I’ve already seen it twice in my 2 year country-hospital experience.

    So if you look for something easy and economical to use, don’t want to be worried about your health (and life!) and don’t want to make a monthly contribution to growing rubbish-piles, just use a cup. If it is uncomfortable in the beginning, adapt it as needed. And don’t worry, things don’t just get lost in your vagina, especially not if you have a healthy relationship to it.

    1. Thank you for sharing your experience Karin! This should be really a much more talked about topic! Great hint on the cleaning in the washing machine and cutting off the removal stick, I will try that too. And I agree, it creates a healthy relationship with your vagina. For some great thoughts on it I can also recommend seeing the episodic theatre play “Vagina Monologues” usually conducted 14. February at various locations. Or on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKGSIeC3UCQ

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