After a week of constant ads for menstrual discs on my Snapchat, I finally gave in and tried them. The prospect of a 12-hour, no-(or-low) leak, potentially cramp-reducing product with the option of mess-free sex on your period? Enough to get me interested!

Even though the product isn’t brand-new, most people I know haven’t heard of it. I thought it could be a great option for dealing with your period in the upcoming school year. It’s always good to have more choices!

What Is a Menstrual Disc?

A menstrual disc is a flat, flexible plastic disc that collects menstrual flow around the cervix. Unlike a menstrual cup, which sits lower in the vaginal canal, the menstrual disc goes around the cervix, sitting higher in the vagina.

Before I learned about menstrual discs, I used tampons and pads. They were OK, but even after a year of using tampons, they were still uncomfortable for me when I put them in. So, when I heard about an alternative option, I was eager to try it out.

There are a couple of different kinds. I’ve only tried the Softdisc, which has worked well for me.

Why I Love It

One of the things I love about the menstrual disc is that when you pinch it in the middle, it folds down to a size even smaller than a tampon. The plastic material slides in easier for me than a cotton/rayon tampon.

It took me a few tries to get it in correctly, but once I figured it out, it lasted around eight to 10 hours. Sometimes I forgot I was on my period at all!

There were very few leaks, no hanging string or any visible signs of the disc. And I had barely any cramps (though the jury is still out on if menstrual discs really can reduce cramps since cramps are caused by contractions in the uterus, not the vagina).

I think what draws a lot of people to discs is that they don’t block the vaginal canal, so you can have penetrative sex with one in. This is awesome, but menstrual discs don’t provide any form of protection from unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, so you should still use condoms, which prevent both.

Are They for You?

Menstrual discs are another option for dealing with your period, but they are not for everyone. They’re more expensive than tampons or menstrual cups, and aren’t very eco-friendly. You’ll also need to be comfortable handling your menstrual fluid, because you’ll have to insert and take the disc out with your fingers. Also, it collects menstrual blood, rather than absorbing it, so you’ll see more when you take it out. This took some getting used to.

Despite those potential downsides, menstrual discs are my new favorite menstrual product! They make that one dreaded week out of every month more tolerable.

There are a lot of different options for dealing with your period, but until recently I’d only heard of tampons, pads, menstrual cups and period underwear. If you’re looking for an alternative option for the upcoming school year (whether you’re going to school or doing remote learning), you might want to give menstrual discs a try!