What’s a period disc and how does it work?
WORDS BY JULIA KITTELTY
“When you move, it moves with you, making it the perfect option for an active body.”
If you’re like me, you remember your first period in vivid technicolour. I was 13, about to go for a sleepover at my friend’s house, and there it was. An uninvited guest.
Since then, I’ve tried all sorts of period products. I’ve always been an active person, so tampons were my go-to during high school. Recently though, I’ve been interested in switching it up. I know that single-use products like pads and tampons aren’t great for the environment, and I’ve got friends and family who swear by period undies and similar products.
Kickstart your wellness journey over at our Health section.
Keen to expand my horizons, I spoke to the Founder of Hello Period Robyn McLean and sustainable period care expert Kim Rosas aka Period Nirvana about the new kid on the block: period discs.
What is a period disc?
Robyn and Kim: Period discs are fast gaining a reputation as the go-to period care option amongst younger people. A period disc, also called a menstrual disc, is similar to a period cup in that it collects period blood in a ‘catch’, rather than absorbing period blood like a tampon or pad. Period discs replace the need for tampons. Not only that, but they hold more and are more comfortable. They are shaped a bit like a diaphragm and they sit just below the cervix.
Google’s top-rated period disc, the Hello Disc, has fans all over the world who have declared it to be a period ‘game-changer’. FDA-registered and made from premium, medical-grade silicone, its unique, patented design means that it is easy to use thanks to its double-looped removal tabs. It holds up to 50 ml (equivalent to five tampons or pads!) and provides hours of leak-free protection. It can be worn all day, during exercise (including swimming) and overnight.
How does a period disc work?
R and K: Period discs work as a barrier, capturing the blood that flows from the uterus, through the cervix. They collect the blood rather than absorb it. While they might look large, discs are folded before they are inserted and so are no bigger than a tampon. To use the Hello Disc, fold it lengthways and insert it, with the tab being the last part to enter your body.
View this post on Instagram
Once you feel you can’t insert the disc any further, use your finger to push the rim upwards to tuck the disc behind the pubic bone and completely cover your cervix. Once it’s tucked, you simply push the bottom edge up and into place. While tampons start drying users out from the moment they are inserted, period discs glide in easily because they are made from super soft silicone.
To remove the disc, use your index finger to hook the looped tab and remove. You can then empty the contents into the toilet and wash the disc in a sink or wipe with toilet paper and it is ready to reuse again. Thanks to its design, the Hello Disc can be removed without any mess at all. First-time users often practise insertion and removal in the shower.
What are the benefits?
R and K: If you have a heavy flow, a period disc is a truly amazing option. It holds so much more than tampons and can be worn for hours without having to be emptied. If inserted correctly, there’s zero leakage. On the flip side, if you have a lighter period, a disc won’t dry you out like tampons can. Period discs are comfortable and non-absorbent and you won’t notice an odour or have to worry about changing them each time you go to the toilet.
Because a period disc sits in the vaginal fornix (beneath the cervix), it doesn’t obstruct the vaginal canal which means it’s perfect for period sex. The disc also won’t interfere with your natural lubrication during arousal as this comes from your Bartholin’s and Skene’s glands located near the opening of the vagina and alongside the urethra. Because of the malleable silicon, when you move, it moves with you, making it the perfect option for an active body. Whether swimming, jumping, running or squatting, you can feel comfortable knowing there’s no leakage or discomfort.
What are the downsides?
View this post on Instagram
R and K: There really aren’t any! Period discs are easy to use, can be worn overnight, during sex and while swimming or exercising, and they only need to be replaced once every five years. Period discs are suitable for anyone who prefers internal products, but they do sit higher than a menstrual cup so you will want to be comfortable about inserting them and pushing them up.
This does mean that if you have a very high cervix most period discs are hard or impossible to reach. The Hello Disc’s looped tab can be worn dropped for this reason. If you have a severe prolapse the Hello Disc may not fit, but outside of that, it is designed to work for most anatomies. If you aren’t confident or experienced using internal products, you may prefer to use period undies or reusable pads instead.
How often do I have to change it?
R and K: We recommend changing your period disc every eight hours, but they are safe to be used for up to 12 hours at a time if you are out and about or want to have a long sleep. It easily holds up to 50ml – the equivalent of approximately five tampons or pads – which is great if you have a heavy flow but equally good if your flow is light because it won’t dry you out like tampons can!
Anything else we should know?
R and K: Because the Hello Disc is made from medical-grade silicone, it doesn’t mess with your pH balance. When using tampons, the porous cotton can sometimes harbour bad bacteria and you run the risk of getting a post-period yeast infection. Single-use period products such as tampons and pads can take 500 years to break down in landfill and the average person will use around 15,000 in their lifetime. Over a period of a lifetime, a disc user will only need eight discs.
For more on sustainable period products, try this.
Liked this? You’ll love these...
