Five years ago I started using menstrual cups and also reusable cloth panty liners. Before trying them and hearing friends talk about them I was like ‘eww’ I cannot use them, all that blood, the mess, I am sure a lot of people think or say the same. But me being me I had to try them just to see what all the fuss was about.
Five years on and of course I am still using menstrual cups. I was offered to try out the new Me Luna Sport cup in Fuchsia but also a green Me Luna Classic cup.
First let me tell you that Me Luna supply 8 different sizes of menstrual cup because realistically not all women are the same so they have, S, M, L and XL, Shorty S, Shorty M, Shorty L and Shorty XL, 3 different softness levels, Classic, Sporty and Soft, 4 different types of handle; stem, ball, ring and basic (no handle) and a huge range of colours, 16 in fact to choose from which I think is fantastic as no other company offer this. Full details of how to choose a size and cup right for you can be found on the Find Your Me Luna Size page.
Menstrual cups are a fantastic idea because generally, they do not need changing (emptying) as much as a tampon or sanitary towel and for around £14 it will last years. You may think that £14 is expensive but once you have added up roughly the price of boxes of tampons per cycle and sanitary towels for a year you will more than likely find it is cheaper than you are spending now. I still have my original Me Luna menstrual cup that I got 4 years ago. So in that 4 years, I have saved over £220 roughly that is with the price of the cup taken out too.
They decrease the risk of TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) and are definitely better for the environment.
I sterilise my cups using the cold water and Milton tablet method, this does take a little while longer to do but it is just something I do. I could not bear putting a menstrual cup in the microwave where food goes even if it is in a cleaning cup. You can also put it in boiling water to sterilise it for 3-5 minutes.
The Classic green Me Luna menstrual cup I was sent had a different handle to the Classic I already have, this one having the ring handle. I tried this on the first cycle after it had come, sterilising before I used.
The Classic has a medium firmness which I like, I have tried softer cups and do not feel secure at all and they are trickier in my opinion to insert.
There are many folds you can use to insert; I always use the punch down fold as it felt the more natural for me. So I do the fold gripping it firmly with my thumb and index finger while inserting it and let it go when in position, usually it will open up with no problems but sometimes you do have to run your finger around the rim to make sure it has covered the cervix opening otherwise it may leak. You will know if it is in properly because you will not be able to feel it.
Now I got on really well with this apart from when my cervix moved down a bit, then I was having issues with feeling the ring part of the cup and it was sometimes a bit uncomfortable. Because of this, I think I really need to get a Shorty too which would eradicate that issue.
I did find that the ring handle was easier to grab hold of to remove the cup.
I have found that since the birth of my son if I sneeze or cough the cup does slip a bit and I wondered if it was anything to do with the firmness of the cup so I was super pleased that I was sent the Me Luna Sport in Fuchsia too, I must admit I did love the colour as soon as I saw it advertised so it was even more exciting that I was getting one to try too.
My next cycle I used this one exclusively, it has a ball handle which is quite small, the same size as the Classic but firmer.
Now I did like this cup a lot, it was the perfect firmness for me, I think to be honest my son ruined me downstairs lol. Using this cup I found that it did not slip at all. I did feel it at first as it is firmer but it could have been a bit psychological to because it didn’t take me long to forget I was even on my period until I went to the toilet.
I did have the same problem when my cervix decided to go low again so definitely going to purchase a Shorty, but the ball handle was a little more comfortable.
Full cleaning instructions are in the booklet that you get when you purchase the menstrual cup and there is also a cloth bag to keep your cup in when not in use.
As I said menstrual cups can last for years, if looked after properly, however, if you notice a change in the material of the cup, splits or it feeling sticky, you must not use it again. Throw it away and get a new one.
What would I say to those who are contemplating using a menstrual cup?
Yes it can be messy, it can be awkward to insert it and remove it at first but it is totally worth it, you will find after a bit of practice you will be able to do it in your sleep. I really was the best move I made as they have even lessened the really bad period pains I was having prior to using them. The benefits certainly outweigh the cons.
Disclaimer: I received these products for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
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