{"id":105667,"date":"2026-08-25T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sileu.com\/?p=105667"},"modified":"2026-09-24T02:11:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T00:11:38","slug":"menstrual-disc-what-it-is-how-it-differs-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sileu.com\/en\/menstrual-disc-what-it-is-how-it-differs-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Menstrual Disc: What It Is, How It Works, and How It Differs from the Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did you know that a menstrual disc<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

What is a menstrual disc?<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"where
The key difference: where each product sits inside the vaginal canal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How a menstrual disc works (and why it isn’t like a cup)<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"menstrual
The menstrual disc and the menstrual cup, compared on what really matters when choosing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How to insert and remove it, step by step<\/h2>\n

The general process resembles the cup’s in the first steps, but changes at the end:<\/p>\n

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  1. Fold it<\/strong> by pressing the two sides of the flexible ring together, like a flattened figure eight.<\/li>\n
  2. Insert it at a downward angle<\/strong>, pushing it back and down, deeper than a cup, until it’s tucked in behind the pubic bone.<\/li>\n
  3. Check it’s in place<\/strong> by running a finger around it; you shouldn’t feel it or have pain when you move, sit or walk.<\/li>\n
  4. To remove it<\/strong>, 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.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    What are menstrual discs made of?<\/h2>\n

    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 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

    Advantages of the menstrual disc<\/h2>\n