PMS Factor

We all complain about getting our periods and the rigmarole that goes with having them, from period cramps and mood swings, through to the feminine hygiene products we use. And if you’re like me, you’ve spent the best part of your menstrual life using one of two products, tampons or pads.

Tampons or pads – it’s a bit like “wax or pluck” isn’t it? Neither is a particularly attractive prospect, but if you want the job done it’s a choice you have to make. Personally, I’ve always been a tampon girl. Not that they’ve ever actually prompted me to go surfing, horse riding or skydiving like the girls in the tampon commercials; but I do think they offer more freedom than pads. But they’re not a miracle product. They leak, meaning that during your heavy days you have to wear a pad anyway, pretty much defeating the purpose of using them in the first place.

Until very recently, tampons and pads were the only two options I was aware of. But now, thanks to the gals on our chatboards, I’ve had a revelation. I’ve discovered the Mooncup.

The Mooncup is a reusable menstrual cup about two inches long and made from soft silicone rubber. It is worn internally, like a tampon, but collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it. Unlike tampons the Mooncup is not a disposable product, so you don’t need to be putting one in your grocery cart every month.

For those of you who are familiar with the Mooncup (and why did no-one tell me about it sooner?) you’ll know it’s a cute little thing, looking not unlike a small, decorative wine glass, without the base. It’s made of soft, pliable silicone, and once it’s inside you it creates a light seal within your vagina, holding it in place. You change it less often than a tampon or a pad, and you don’t have all the extra landfill to worry about.

To learn more, go to: http://www.mooncup.co.uk/index.html