How should I clean my Mooncup? It is always important to wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling your Mooncup.There is no need to sterilise your Mooncup during your period, as the vagina has its own self-cleansing system, and medical grade silicone (from which the Mooncup is made) is specially designed not to support the growth of bacteria.

To clean your Mooncup during your period, you can simply use water or non-perfumed soap. It is important to always rinse the Mooncup well with water after using soaps (or sterilising fluid), as any traces left on the Mooncup may cause irritation to your vagina.
If you want to sterilise your Mooncup between periods, or to sterilise it before first use, you can either:

• boil it immersed in water (in a pan put aside for this purpose) for 5-7 minutes
• use sterilising solution/tablets. These are more commonly used to sterilise baby equipment, and we recommend you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for dilution. Immerse your Mooncup completely and soak for the minimum recommended time, then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
• You may use a microwave steriliser, but the Mooncup will need to remain immersed in water throughout the sterilising process:
  1. Place your Mooncup in a microwaveable cup/container filled with enough water to cover theMooncup completely. The cup/container should be big enough to do this without being more than 3/4 full.
  2. Turn the microwave to high and let it run until the water in the cup/container starts boiling. Depending on the power of the microwave and the amount of water, the time this takes will vary so keep an eye out and note it for future reference. (As a guide, it takes a 1000W microwave approximately 1 minute to boil an average-sized cup of water).
  3. Once the water has started boiling, let the microwave run for another 2 to 3 minutes. That is, you want to keep the cup submerged for 2 to 3 minutes of actual boiling. If you're sterilising your cup before using it for the very first time, let it boil for 6 minutes instead of the usual 2 to 3.
  4. Once the microwave timer goes off, open the door but allow the water to stop boiling completely before you remove the cup/container.
  5. Keep the water away from your face and body until you're certain that it's safe. While it's unlikely to occur (especially with your Mooncup inside), it is possible for a microwave to "superheat" the water. Superheated water is incredibly hot (above boiling point) but doesn't appear to be boiling until it is agitated (for example, by movement). When it is agitated, it can suddenly begin to boil violently, causing a serious safety hazard.
• We do not recommend using a dishwasher, because the detergent used in dishwaters may affect the material the Mooncup is made from on a long- term basis. Also any traces of the dishwasher soap left on the material may affect the vagina's finely tuned environment.

  It is important to keep the Mooncup dry after you period and kleep it in the cotton breathable bag provided.

Endometriosis

Hi Cathy! I have endometriosis, how would the Mooncup work for me? I am sorry to hear that you have this challenging condition. The feedback I have received from other women in your situation has been positive. This is because the Mooncup will hold up to three times more than disposable sanitary products. The Mooncup is able to accommodate clots because it collects your menstrual flow, as opposed to a tampon which is designed to absorb and therefore is not able to accommodate clots. It is also useful to use the Mooncup because you can measure how much you are actually bleeding and report this to your gynaecologist.

 

How often should I empty it? You will need to empty your Mooncup every 4 -8 hours, and after a nights' sleep, depending on your menstrual flow. Women often find they have to empty their Mooncup much less often than they change tampons or pads, as the Mooncup actually holds three times as much as a super plus tampon!

 

 

IUD/Coil - There should be no problem with an I.U.D as long as you remember to place the Mooncup low down in the vagina and take care to release the seal properly when removing the Mooncup.
When an I.U.D is first placed, please wait one whole period before using the Mooncup. This will help the I.U.D settle in. Also, it’s a good idea to ask your GP/clinic if they can trim the IUD strings to keep them short. You should continue to check your IUD strings periodically to make sure it hasn't been dislodged.