"Now I Barely Think About My Period at Work"

Of course. I work at Uppsala University, so most of my days are a mix of research, meetings, teaching and sitting in front of my computer for too long. I first saw Mooneva in an article on the university website. I remember thinking that it was interesting to see a menstrual product connected to Uppsala and a Swedish startup, so I became curious.

I had heard about discs before, but I didn’t really understand how they worked. I had used tampons for years and was getting a little tired of always having to think about changing them during the day. The idea of something reusable that could stay in longer sounded practical, especially for workdays.

I was still a bit sceptical though. I think my main thought was: “Is this going to work for me?”

No. [laughs] I definitely had to figure it out.

The first time, I wasn’t completely sure if I had put it in correctly. I kept thinking about it and checking whether I was leaking. After a couple of periods, it became much more intuitive.

Now I barely think about the insertion part. It’s funny how something that felt very unfamiliar in the beginning can become completely normal.

Probably how little I think about my period when I’m at work.

Before, I would check the time and think, “Okay, when did I last change my tampon?” Or I’d make sure I had enough with me before leaving home. I still keep a backup period product in my bag because I’m that kind of person, but I almost never use it.

With the disc, on most days I put it in before work and then just continue with my day. That mental part is one of the things I appreciate most.

Yes, especially at the beginning.

I think anyone trying a new period product has that little fear. The first few times I wore darker trousers, just in case.

Once I understood how to position it properly, I became much more confident. I know my body better now too, like which days of my period are heavier and when I might want to empty it earlier.

Probably how normal it feels once you get used to it. At first, you look at it and think, “How is that supposed to fit?” [laughs] But after a couple of cycles, insertion and removal both became much easier.

Now I don’t really feel it when it’s in, and I barely think about it during the day. That was probably the biggest surprise.

Emptying it in a public bathroom is not my favourite thing. The removal loop makes taking it out easier, especially compared with what I imagined before trying a disc, but I still prefer doing it at home when I can.

On heavier days, sometimes you have to empty it during the day, but if I know I have a long day, I usually empty and rinse it before leaving home.

I think, loving this product doesn’t mean every single part is more convenient, but overall, for me, it’s still much easier than my old routine.