[Me-Luna Shop Review] International Shipping Experience & Why I Chose MeLuna Cups + 10% Discount on Me Luna Cups

Price + Shipping: 26.88 € 

Purchasing Experience: 10/10

Shipping: 8/10 (14 days from Germany to Malaysia)

Coupon Code: DPA5Z8XC 

(10% on a Me Luna® valid until 31/01/2019 on www.me-luna.eu)

* not valid for other products from our offer or reduced goods. I don't earn any money from readers using the code.)

What is a menstrual cup? 

A menstrual cup is a small, pliable cup that looks like a tiny funnel that you can find in laboratories, but instead of funneling liquid somewhere, it's sole purpose is to collect - you've guess it - menstrual blood. It is folded and then inserted into the vagina like a tampon, where it will then unfold itself and create a sort of seal inside the vagina to collect menstrual flow. 

Me Luna has very kindly sent me a giant cut-out on how exactly a Me Luna cup can fit inside the vagina. ^^ This cupboard cutout tickled me for ages. Lol. Thank you~ 

The cup is emptied after a few hours as needed, and depending on the size you get, that could be up to 12 hours. Afterwards, the cup is emptied, rinsed out, and reused. In between menstrual cycles, the cup can be sanitized by boiling in water for 5 minutes or cleaned as necessary. Menstrual cups can last for up to ten years with proper care, which is an eco-friendly alternative to tampons and sanitary pads. 

There is, admittedly a steep learning curve in the beginning, but after you've gotten used to the way it works, it's easy to use, practical, hygienic, environmentally friendly, and offers - according to the Me-luna description page - a completely new feeling of independence. 

I've first heard of menstrual cups a few years back, but in a fleeting, 'huh, I didn't know things like that existed.' Unlike tampons or sanitary pads, menstrual cups are like the bonus content in the game of life. Some people never really unlock it. Some skip past it altogether and don't bother finding out more about it. It could be due to a number of factors. As for me, I was just getting used to having to suffer through sanitary pads and wasn't really keen on taking on another responsibility. After all, why fix something that isn't broken? 

Then why am I looking at alternatives now, you ask? Good question. 

Image from Health Medicine Network

Other than the obvious reason that this is a much eco-friendlier route (the average woman will use 12,000 to 16,000 disposable pads, pantiliners, and tampons in her lifetime), or that I could potentially go more than 12 hours without thinking about my period, or that it will reduce/eliminate ordor due to it's position, or that it could collect a lot more blood than sanitary pads/tampons and thus not have to worry about leakage, or well, you get the point. Initially though, it wasn't my noble quest to reduce wastage... I'm just a really curious person, okay? I see new things, I want to try, and this appears to be a new and improved way to handle periods and I really want to try it too. 

Menstrual cups have existed for a long time. According to the Me-Luna page, the first 'menstrual cups' were invented in the 1930s. This got me curious because I never would have thought cups to have existed for so long! The first design that looks like the cups that we are more familiar with today is invented by Leona Chalmers, who patented a design made from latex rubber. There were designs for cups before that too, but those look nothing like the cup designs now. 

The Improved Menstrual Receptacle was invented in 1884 and looked like this: 

Image from: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2015/06/89096/first-menstrual-cup-history

Lol. Interesting, isn't it? According to Refinary29.com, section a goes inside the vaginal while section B leads outside the woman's body to section A, which would collect menstrual fluid throughout the day. Seems kind of unnecessarily complicated now that we know about menstrual cups' design, doesn't it?

It didn't really make sense in my mind why the menstrual cup design didn't take off afterwards. In Lunette's history of Menstrual cups, I found the answer. Unfortunately, a shortage of latex rubber during World War II forced menstrual cups production to stop. In the early 1950's, inventor and American actress Leonar Chalmers re-launched the cup with improved designs. Yay, right? Unfortunately, it's an uphill battle there too. 

Women aren't as open to the idea of menstrual cups back than as they are now, and even with the menstrual cup company's big advertising budget, they were unable to make much sales and the cups disappeared in 1963. 

The problem with menstrual cups is also it's biggest selling points. People who would buy it would not necessarily need to buy a replacement. After all, the cups are reusable! And the people who aren't comfortable with trying it in the first place, which makes for the majority of the population, just wouldn't buy it. 

The earliest reappearance of the menstrual cup after that is quite possibly by The Keeper, which is manufactured in the United States in 1987 and is still available today. With the introduction of medical grade silicone in the beginning of the 21st century, menstrual cups became medical-grade and the first company to made silicon cups was the UK-based Mooncup in 2001. 

Now, there are so many brands available to purchase that it's dizzying. Yet, the use of menstrual cups are still not full embraced. 

There are many reason to go for menstrual cups. If you're already familiar with using tampons, I'd imagine the switch to menstrual cups would be easier for you, but even if you're a sanitary pads user (like me!), it's not too difficult a switch either!

Why Use Menstrual Cups? 

Menstrual cups collects menstrual fluid inside the body instead of absorbing it, like with tampons and sanitary pads, which means it would reduce odor, since it doesn't actually leave your body. I don't know about you, but whenever I get my period, my nose power amps up to a thousand percent and I turn into a bloodhound. There's no actual smell. It's just my brain insisting that there is because I know I'm having my period. 

Not having a tampon inside your body or a pad outside of it also means that the vaginal environment isn't affected by the pH of whatever the tampon/pads are. Tampons can cause or worsen vaginal dryness whereas sanitary pads can cause an overly damp environment outside of the body and increase the risk of fungus growing over the perineal region and around it. People with diabetes are especially prone to this issue. In cases where the pads are worn for too long, menstrual blood can lead to skin rashes and infections. The issues is further exacerbated by the damp environment caused by wearing pads. Ideally, you should change your pads every three to four hours. It is not recommended for women to wear panty liners daily (not even though that are meant to be worn daily - corporations are after your money!). The moisture absorbing surface can dry out the skin and cause irritations. 

Speaking of which, the cups are able to collect more fluid compared to tampons or pads and does not have the risk of infection, which means that you won't have to switch it every three to four hours. The suggested period to empty your cup is 12 hours or less to clean the cup and/or prevent leakage. 

While it's still possible to experience leakage using menstrual cups, this is mostly due to improper cup size or wrong application. There's a steep learning curve when it comes to menstrual cups, so don't be discouraged when you don't find the perfect fit the first time around. If worn properly, 

Which brings me to why I decided to go with the MeLuna cup.

Why Choose Me Luna?

They have a bundle (starter) pack available where buyers can get both sizes S & M, which leaves a little room for error so if it's your first time using a cup and you're not sure what size would fit you better, getting their bundle set is definitely a good deal. 

MeLuna Cup also has one of the biggest ranges available, so there's bound to be one that would work for you. 

When I purchased my MeLuna cup from the EU website and let them know that I will be doing a review, they were so kind as to send me a bunch of these samples that give a good idea of how varied their sizes are! Unfortunately, they are all punched through so I can't use any of these if the ones I purchased ends up not working. XD Well, I do have the coupon code that's usable until Jan 2019, so I could just get another? :P The glittery ones looks nice! They've also very kindly sent me a Sports version of their cups, which I will be reviewing shortly. ^^ 

The XL sure looks imposing, doesn't it? The sizes in the ring are from the smallest to the biggest. the shorter ones are the shorty classics, which would work better for those with shorter cervix. 

Or, here's a size by size comparison for the Classics vs their Shorty versions. 

There is a size guide for the Me Luna cups in their link here. Or, if you're like me an unsure, get a starter pack! They're reasonably priced. ^^ 

To tell the truth, there aren't many options available for getting menstrual cups here in Malaysia. Well, there aren't many options if you're looking for safe Menstrual Cups. There are so many cheap options available on shopee and lazada, cups for RM10 or less that ships from China and claims to be safe to use and 'medical grade' but hasn't gone through any testing. 

They're quite the deal, especially considering a legitimate menstrual cup is priced at RM90 and above. 

But the thing is, these cups aren't tested for safety and there's no telling what would happen if you put one of those silicone (or whatever it's made from) inside your vagina. Some consumers have purchased cheap cups and found the chemical smell too off-putting to even bring it even near their vagina and others have reported getting headaches after using the cups. And we don't even know what the long-term effects of putting those unbranded cups inside your body will do! 

With almost ten years experience in the industry, Me Luna cups are manufactured in Germany from start to finish and meet the highest medical standards. Me Luna menstrual cups do not contain any harmful plasticisers, protein, latex, pvc, silicon, alkylphenols, bleaching agents, deodorants, or absorbent gels. They're cleared for sale by the FDA in USA and by the Japanese Health Authority in 2017. Me Luna cups in every color are regularly tested by independent laboratories and judged to be safe for use as well.

Price & Shipping

There are a few places where I can get menstrual cups shipping to me from international locations, but I decided to go with Me Luna cups because the bundle purchase + shipping costs actually come up as the cheapest per cup. The company in EU ships worldwide with a reasonable shipping fee. 

For my bundle of 2 classic cups and shipping, the cost was 26.88 €, which is ($30.40) RM127.35. That's not too bad at all for two cups. There are three different handle styles available: 

• The Small Ball, least noticable and most comfortable.
• The Ring, which is most noticable and easiest to find for user worried about not being able to reach their cups easiliy (me); and 
• The Stem, which is great for beginners. It is comfortable and easy to find as well. 

I went to the ring because I wanted to have something I can grab onto when I panic and I've read a few reviews that said the ring is more comfortable than a stem, which can be a little pokey. 

I made my order on November 16, 2018 and the item was delivered the very next day. I received the order in Sarawak, Malaysia on November 30, 2018. Two weeks, so that's pretty good too! Unfortunately, the cup arrived while I was just finishing up my period and I had to go on a short trip, so I haven't gotten around to testing it out yet! I will be doing that soon.

Cleaning Instructions 

Before using the Me Luna cups for the first time, it is important to disinfect the cups by floating it completely submerged for 3 - 5 minutes in boiling water. Afterwards, it is sufficient to clean the Me Luna cups with mild soap and water. Rinse with clear water after washing to remove any traces of soap prior to using. 

From time to time, it is recommended to cook the Me Luna with some vinegar water or salt water to prevent stains and deposits. 

Dry the cup completely before storage and in non-airtight container. The storage bag provided with the purchase is a good place to store the cups. 

Instructions for Use

Always clean your hands thoroughly before inserting or removing the cup. Prior to inserting, fold the Meluna cup that is most comfortable for you. There are several folds that you can use, as illustrated in the pictures below. The C-fold, S-fold, or Punchdown-Fold. Personally, I feel the C-fold would be the easiest to get right the first time around. 

You can insert the cup while sitting on the toilet, in a standing position, or while crouching, whichever position is the most comfortable for you. A water-based lubricant can be used if you find yourself having difficulty inserting the cup. To avoid leakage, make sure the cup is unfolded completely upon insertion. On average, it is sufficient to empty, clean, and re-insert your cup two to four times a day. 

To remove the cup, relax your lower abdominal and vaginal muscles and remove the cup by slightly squeezing it together with your fingers to release the suction, which results from the fact that you pull on the cup during daily activities. A slight twisting motion of the cup can be helpful when removing the Me Luna Menstrual cup. The grip should not be used for gripping and forcing the cup out. Instead, it is supposed to lead you to the base of the cup. Take hold of the bottom of the cup to pull out the Me Luna. Be patient and don't panic if it is hard to remove it the first few times. 

The insertion, positioning, and removal of the menstrual cup needs a little practice. Some women succeed immediately while others take 2 - 3 cycles before it works. Be patient and don't worry too much if you have leakages. It may be that the cup wasn't opened all the way and you need more practice, or the cup size isn't perfect and you need to switch it up with another. ^^ No worries. 

First Impressions

I don't know why but I expected the cups to be bigger. Lol. There're not as imposing in real life as they are on screen! Me Luna has very kindly sent me a Sport version of the cups. As you can see from the pictures, there is visually nothing differentiating the two cups except for colors. In terms of firmness, however, the Sport is definitely firmer than the Classic. 

The sport version is aimed for those with a more active lifestyle and provides a more secure seal and resists compression by strong pelvic muscles but it can be more challenging to insert and remove. 

I have yet to boil it for safety and will do so prior to my first period just to make sure it's nice and clean. ^^ 

Hope this is helpful in some what! 

In the meantime, if you're looking to purchase a cup and doesn't know where to get one, Me Luna ships to most countries for reasonable shipping fees and you can use the code they've kindly provided for my readers! I'm not affiliated and I don't earn any money from you using the code. ^^ 

Coupon Code: DPA5Z8XC 

(10% on a Me Luna® valid until 31/01/2019 on www.me-luna.eu)