Menstrual Disc: What It Is, How It Works, and How It Differs from the Cup

Did you know that a menstrual disc doesn’t work by suction like a cup, but stays in place thanks to its shape and position? It’s the most common confusion about this product, and also the key to understanding its real advantages. We’ll explain what it is, how it works and exactly how it differs from the menstrual cup, with complete honesty: at Sileu we don’t sell discs, so you can read this comparison without us trying to sell you one.

What is a menstrual disc?

The menstrual disc is a reusable or disposable (depending on the model) intimate hygiene product, shaped like a flexible ring with a central membrane that collects the flow. Unlike the cup, it doesn’t sit below the cervix, but in the vaginal fornix, the deepest part of the vagina, right around the cervix. This difference in position explains almost all its particular features.

How a menstrual disc works (and why it isn’t like a cup)

The menstrual cup works by suction: when it opens inside the vagina it creates a vacuum seal that prevents leaks. The menstrual disc, by contrast, is held by its shape and by the anatomical space of the vaginal fornix, tucking in behind the pubic bone, with no suction. This mechanical difference has an important practical consequence: since it doesn’t seal by suction and sits above the vaginal canal, in theory it allows penetrative sex with the disc in place, something the cup doesn’t. That is, in fact, the reason many people become interested in the disc in the first place.

How to insert and remove it, step by step

The general process resembles the cup’s in the first steps, but changes at the end:

1. Fold it by pressing the two sides of the flexible ring together, like a flattened figure eight.
2. Insert it at a downward angle, pushing it back and down, deeper than a cup, until it’s tucked in behind the pubic bone.
3. Check it’s in place by running a finger around it; you shouldn’t feel it or have pain when you move, sit or walk.
4. To remove it, insert your index finger, hook the front rim and pull down and out carefully, keeping it as level as possible so the contents don’t spill before it’s fully out.

This last step is by far the one that takes the most practice: unlike the cup, where you just break the suction seal, here the whole maneuver depends on manual dexterity, which is why many people recommend practicing the first time in the shower. We go through it in detail in how to use a menstrual disc.

What are menstrual discs made of?

Reusable models are usually made of medical silicone or TPE, just like cups, so the usual questions apply: insist that the manufacturer specifies a real biocompatibility certification, such as ISO 10993, and not just the generic “medical grade” label. Disposable models, on the other hand, are usually made of a single-use flexible polymer, not meant to be reused between cycles — worth bearing in mind if your priority is reducing waste: in that case, a certified reusable disc or a menstrual cup is still the option with the lowest long-term impact.

Advantages of the menstrual disc

• Compatible with penetrative sex while it’s in, the most talked-about difference compared with the cup.
• Higher capacity in many models, useful on very heavy days.
• Less dependent on cervix position than the cup, which in theory simplifies choosing a size for some bodies.
• Less of a “bumping” feeling for people with a low cervix, since it sits in a different area.

Disadvantages of the menstrual disc

• A steeper learning curve than the cup: inserting it and, above all, removing it without spilling the contents takes more practice.
• Less intuitive removal: with no stem or suction to “signal” a clear pull, you have to hook the rim with your finger, which can be more uncomfortable at first.
• Less choice of certified sizes and models on the market today compared with menstrual cups.
• Fewer specific scientific studies. Most of the available evidence on internal menstrual products —such as the systematic review in The Lancet Public Health (2019), with 43 studies and more than 3,300 participants— focuses mainly on vaginal cups, with far less specific data on discs. That doesn’t mean they’re unsafe, only that less research has accumulated; apply the same hygiene common sense as with any internal product.

Why Sileu doesn’t sell menstrual discs (yet)

We’d rather be honest: we don’t have a menstrual disc in our range today. We’ve specialized in cups —seven different models, to suit each user’s anatomy and needs— and in complementary alternatives such as the sea sponge and period underwear, rather than adding a new product category without the same level of assurance we offer across the rest. It’s a range decision, not a negative opinion about the disc: it’s a legitimate product, and for certain uses —above all, compatibility with penetrative sex during your period— none of our cups is an exact substitute.

If that specific use is what you’re after, the most honest alternative in our range is the Sileu Sea sea sponge: being a soft, absorbent material rather than a rigid suction cup, it’s also compatible with sex, although its mechanism (absorption, not collection) is different from the disc’s. You can read more in our guide to sex on your period: benefits and tips to avoid stains and in sex on your period: mess-free options.

Common myths about this product

Several inaccurate ideas are going around that are worth clearing up before you decide:

• “It’s the same as a cup, just a different shape.” No: the way it stays in place is different (anatomical position versus suction), and that changes both how it’s used and how it feels.
• “It’s messier or less hygienic.” There’s no basis for saying so: with proper hygiene (clean hands, regular emptying, sterilizing if reusable) the level of hygiene is comparable to any certified internal product.
• “It fits any body without choosing a size.” Not quite: although it depends less on the exact position of the cervix than a cup, there’s still anatomical variability that makes one model fit better than another.
• “You can’t wear it at night.” As with the cup, you can wear it for several hours in a row within the manufacturer’s maximum recommended time, usually similar to a tampon or a cup.

Menstrual disc: who is it best for?

The menstrual disc can be a good option if your priority is not interrupting your sex life during your period and you don’t mind a somewhat longer learning curve than the cup’s. If, on the other hand, you prioritize ease of use, a material with a longer track record of safety studies and a wide range of certified sizes and firmnesses, the menstrual cup is usually the easiest way in. Our guide to choosing your first cup helps you decide if that’s you.