The Mooncup® Original Menstrual Cup

A period cup (or menstrual cup) is a small & flexible cup that sits inside the vagina and collects fluid, unlike traditional pads, tampons and even reusable period pants which all absorb blood.

It’s designed specially to be inserted into your vagina and be worn for up to 8 hours.

Mooncup® is the world’s first medical grade silicone menstrual cup. Made from medical grade silicone, it’s easy to insert and remove and can be worn for up to 8 hours - so it’s perfect for those heavy days and allowing you to get on with your day without frequent period care changes.

The Mooncup Original comes in two sizes:

• Choose Mooncup size B if you are under 30 years old and/or have not given birth vaginally.
• Choose size A if you are 30 years old and over OR have given birth vaginally regardless of age.

The difference between the two sizes is 3mm in diameter; which seems incredibly small but can make a significant difference

• The size A Mooncup is the larger size and is 46mm in diameter
• The size B Mooncup is the smaller size and is 43mm in diameter
• Both sizes of Mooncup are the same length; the collecting cup is 50mm, and the stem is an additional 21mm

Using a Mooncup is easy once you’ve got the hang of it. Here’s a quick guide to using a period cup:

1. Wash your hands and get into a comfortable position.
2. Fold the cup, our favourite is the Punchdown or the C/U fold.
3. Insert the cup into your vagina by gently separating your labia with one hand and using the other to slowly insert the cup rim-first into the vaginal canal.
4. Slide the cup up and back aiming towards your tailbone and not directly up until the body of the cup is inside; the stem should be completely inside your vagina. 
5. Check the cup is in place by running a finger along the inside of your vagina up to where the rim of the menstrual cup meets your vagina. Follow the rim and ensure the whole rim is open.
6. When it's time to empty your cup, you simply break the seal and remove it!

Here’s our ultimate guide to using a period cup for the first time. 

Remember, swapping to a menstrual cup can take a while to get used to (usually around 3 cycles) but we recommend practising when you’re not on your period so you can get used to the process and practise with no mess!

The Mooncup® Original is made from soft medical grade silicone (quartz and sandstone), is latex-free and contains no dyes, BPA, phthalates, plastic, bleaches or toxins. It is not the same type of silicone that is used for breast implants.

The Mooncup® Original needs to be removed and emptied every 4-8 hours. First of all, wash your hands with warm water and soap and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Remember: in order to remove your Mooncup® you must first release the seal.

1. Choose a position that’s comfortable for you such as sitting on the toilet or squatting.
2. Gently squeeze the base of the cup or insert a finger alongside the Mooncup® to release the seal.
3. Keeping the seal released gently remove the cup. Angling the Mooncup® slightly sideways to remove half of the rim before angling it the other way to release the other half will help your Mooncup® to remain upright with the menstrual fluid contained inside.

Medical grade silicone is commonly used for its durability in products such as medical grade tubing, hypoallergenic baby bottle teats, and catheters. If cared for as per our guidelines the Mooncup® Original should last for years and will only need to be replaced if you notice any changes in its appearance, texture or flexibility.

Over time there is a natural discolouration that occurs when using the Mooncup® Original; this discolouration should not affect its use.

When filled to the rim the capacity of the size A Mooncup® Original is 29.3ml, and the size B is 28.8ml