4Mooncup

Content Warning: all things periods. Anyone who has periods will tell you it is our least favourite time of the month. Shut up, give me some chocolate, and let me lie in bed watching dog videos, God damnit. As a sufferer of Thicc Thigh Syndrome, the discomfort caused by using single-use pads and tampons is next level, particularly in the summer.

And, everyone who has periods will know someone, who knows someone, who got hospitalized with Toxic Shock Syndrome from tampons. Generally, it’s just not a good time; having a vagina is messy, expensive, painful and comes with a lot of taboos. I wouldn’t even be surprised if most people have stopped reading by now. I literally can’t even tell you how much the Mooncup changed my life. It’s a little reusable cup which you insert into your vagina when Aunt Flo visits. This may seem really weird, and I was not keen on the idea at first, but thought I’d give it a try, and I’m so glad I did.

The Mooncup is medical-grade silicone, so drastically reduces the risk of TSS. It’s comfy, and you can’t feel it when it’s in. It holds more fluid than even the highest-absorbency tampons, so you can avoid those awkwardlytimed bathroom trips. It can be a bit tricky to insert at first, but there are several different methods to try.

A reusable product may seem really odd, but if you rinse it before you re-insert and boil it for 5 minutes after the course ends, it’s definitely more hygienic than most other options. Plus, each Mooncup comes with a 25-year ‘guarantee’- that’s about two in an average woman’s lifetime. And to say they’re only £25, with the average box of tampons ringing in at about £4- you get your money back within the year. Also, compare one cup to the tonnes of plastic waste from periods which end up in landfills and oceans every year. It’s clear the Mooncup has ability to make real change.