Have you heard of ? If not, stay with me – because this is life-changing stuff.
I’d heard friends rave about the Mooncup for years, but for some reason it was something I just never got around to trying – and then it fell off my radar. Until, that is, I saw this hilarious ad campaign, and decided that now is the time to give it a go.
For those that don’t already know, the Mooncup is a small, soft bell-shaped cup that you insert into your frou-frou to catch your menstrual fluid each month. Made from medical-grade silicone and designed by women, it’s super easy to use – you empty, wash and re-insert it around every 4-8 hours, and it catches the fluid rather than absorbing it. It also holds 3 x more than a regular tampon. What does this mean? It means no more leaks, no more mess, and no more of the dreaded I’ve-run-out-of-tampons panic.
Thinking about it, it’s crazy that I didn’t sign myself up sooner. After all, the Mooncup appeals to all the principles I try to apply to my life – it’s healthy for my body, incredible value for money, convenient and non-wasteful. Oh – and it’s certified vegan and ethical! Let’s break down all the advantages…
It’s eco-friendly
There’s no getting around it – whether you flush them down the toilet or put them in the rubbish bin, each one of the estimated 11,000 feminine hygiene products the average woman will use in her lifetime will eventually end up either in the sea or in landfill. To give an illustration of the impact this has on our poor, abused planet – Ocean Conservancy volunteers collected 27,938 used tampons and applicators on our world’s beaches on a single day. By contrast each Mooncup lasts for years, and can be recycled at end of use (where facilities exist).
It’s budget-friendly
During the past year or so, much has been made of the “woman tax” levied specifically on products aimed at females. Feminine hygiene items are considered “luxury” and so in many countries we have to pay VAT on them – which hardly seems fair. The average woman will spend a couple of thousand dollars on tampons in her lifetime; meanwhile, the Mooncup costs around the same amount as you’d spend on disposables in 6-8 months. It’s a pretty neat way to stick it to the patriarchy!
It’s vagina-friendly
Unlike tampons – essentially hard sticks of cotton which you put in arguably the most sensitive and delicate part of your anatomy – the Mooncup respects the natural balance of your ladygarden. It doesn’t dry you out by absorbing natural and necessary lubrication and it leaves nothing behind when it’s removed. It’s also latex-free, hypoallergenic and contains no dyes, perfumes, BPA, phthalates, plastic, bleaches or toxins, making it perfect for those of us who happen to be sensitive flowers (no pun intended).
It’s suitcase- and travel-friendly
Okay, so it’s not as if tampons or pads take up a huge amount of space in your luggage, but hey, every little bit of space counts, especially if you’re only taking a cabin bag! The Mooncup is so small and portable that it’ll happily sit in your toiletries bag until needed – and best of all, you’ll never again have to worry about learning to say “where are the feminine hygiene products?” in Cambodian.
Do you use a Mooncup, or are you thinking about trying one? Tell us about your experiences in the comments!
*this post was created in collaboration with Mooncup
