Menstrual Disc Vs Menstrual Cup
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Hello everyone!
If you are looking for an honest breakdown of the differences between menstrual discs vs menstrual cups, then you’ve come to the right place.
For starters, let me just preface this by letting you know that I am not a professional, this is just my honest opinion on the products as a consumer. I’ve tried a variety of different options, and I will list them at the bottom for easy access after you’ve read all of the different pros and cons of each.
So, let’s get started.
Let me begin by giving a short bio on how this began for me. I got my first period around 10 years old, and I’ve always had really heavy periods with the worst cramps. My cramps would have me curled in a ball on the couch wrapped around a heating pad like it’s my lifeline. However, I was intimidated by tampons at that age so I didn’t begin using them until I was roughly 16ish after my mom suggested it. At that time, I thought tampons were the best thing ever and the cleanliness of it was fantastic. But, even those soon became such a hassle, and they seemed to create more cramping for me. Trying to work and also deal with my period was disastrous and I had quite a few leaks despite all the different sizes out there.
It wasn’t until I was 24 before I dipped my feet into the world of reusable menstrual products. Let me tell you, I stayed away from those things for so long because the size of them looked terrifying. I mean when you see them, you think there is no way that can be comfortable. And despite having a child come from there, I was still very intimidated about trying one. I finally bit the bullet and bought a Diva cup after dealing with a terrible period because I was hoping it would provide me a little relief over dealing with a period on top of a newborn. My wishes were granted.
The Diva cup was my first choice because of the popularity of it. I read the directions and played with the different fold methods to see how it worked. For those who are brand new to the cups, you have two basic fold methods: the U-fold or the Push-Down fold (How to fold and insert the Diva Cup (youtube.com)). For me, I found the Push-Down fold to be the easiest for insertion because it resembled a tampon, and it helped it to pop out and create the suction needed to keep it in place. After practicing the fold a few times, I headed in to give it a whirl. It did not go well. It took a few times of inserting it before I got the hang of it… or should I say the entire day. Once it’s inserted, it is essential to make sure that you run your finger around the outside rim of the cup to ensure that there is no area popped-in. However, despite the difficulty in inserting it, removing it was rather easy, and not too messy. I wore it for a few hours with a panty liner and I had a little bit of leakage, but nothing compared to what it would’ve been like with a tampon. After a few cycles, I was able to actually get to almost no leaks. Although I never went the full 12 hours that’s advertised, I was able to go about 4-5 hours before feeling like I needed to change it out. Compared to the hour I got using a Super Plus tampon, this was a game changer. I also noticed that my cramps receded and my period seemed to be over a lot sooner. It took me a few cycles to get the hang of it. However, wearing it at night was an absolute nightmare. The moment I stood, it was a mad dash to the nearest bathroom. After having my daughter, the menstrual cup was incredibly uncomfortable and I decided to try the Saalt brand cup instead, because it was made from a softer material. This one did work better than a tampon, but I did still have constant leakage. I eventually stopped using it and this is when the menstrual disc came into my life.
After a ton of research, I ordered the Flex Reusable Disc. This was the best decision I could have made. There’s only one way to fold it and the insertion instructions were super easy to understand. I inserted it over the toilet (once again), and it went in so easily that I actually thought I did something wrong. It actually folds down until it’s almost smaller than a tampon and I had zero issue inserting it. I kept checking for hours after to make sure I wasn’t having any leaks and it was completely holding up. I didn’t actually change it for the first roughly 6 hours, and that was only because I was curious how well it did. The removal is most definitely more messy though. It’s easier to be able to do it when near a sink, so you are able to clean it easier. However, I have taken it out in a public restroom and emptied it and it was not that bad. It depends on how comfortable you are with your body and your period. Sleeping is an absolute dream while wearing this. I’ve yet to have any leaks with it and I’ve been using it for about 6 months. I can sleep through the whole night, and when I get up, there’s no mad dash to the bathroom or anything like that. I’ve been able to go the entire day while wearing it with no issues (12 hours max). I still pair it with a pad or panty liner, just in case because I would rather have the extra protection. But, I can definitely see where someone would need it depending on the severity of their period. Also, you can self empty it.
So, in summary, here is my list of pros and cons for each of the reusable menstrual products.
Menstrual Cup
Pros -
Can’t feel it once properly inserted
Easy pull tab
Relatively mess free for removal (just a little on your fingers)
Holds more than a tampon
Cons -
Difficult to insert
Loses suction at night
Not a one size fits all (can be difficult to find the right shape, size and material for your body)
Menstrual Disc
Pros -
Easy to insert
Comfortable
Holds more than a tampon
One size fits all
Stays put through the night
Self-emptying
Cons -
Messy removal
May cause slightly more cramping
As you may be able to see, I am 100% partial toward the menstrual disc. For me, I haven’t really had any issues with it. There is a learning curve with the removal to keep it a little more mess free, but with how simple it’s made my period, the mess is completely worth it to me. Being constantly on the go with my children, it’s made my life so much easier. Don’t get me wrong, I still dread that time, but it’s helped me be able to deal with it more. Especially since getting to the bathroom with two toddlers is a process.
Below are the links to the different brands I have used in order of my most to least favorite.
Flex Disc
Favorite reusable product to date. My go-to is this paired with the Honeypot Pads. They don’t cause me any irritation and you can get them with or without the herbs. I personally prefer the herbs cause the menthol effect is very soothing during that time of month.
2. Saalt Cup
Saalt Cup
This is the cup I started using after having my second child because the other, stiffer cups, cause a lot of discomfort. So, if the Diva cup is uncomfortable, this may be the best option for a reusable menstrual cup do to its softer design.
3. Diva Cup
Diva Cup
First reusable menstrual cup I ever bought. The long design of it works well for those with a long cervix.
4. Pixie Cup
Pixie Cup
This menstrual cup offers the same shape as that of the Saalt cup, but with the stiffer material of the Diva cup.
If you have any questions about the products listed, please feel free to contact me at thecomtoislife@gmail.com.
I hope this post was helpful.
All the best,
Lexi Comtois