What's a Menstrual Disc, and Is It Better Than a Menstrual Cup? We Asked an Ob-Gyn

There's been an explosion of environmentally-friendly, cost-effective solutions for menstrual bleeding in recent years, with period panties and menstrual cups carving out the largest share of the market — but the menstrual disc checks many of the same boxes, and it has an added benefit that none of the others can claim. It's the only period product you can wear during sex.

A menstrual disc is a flat, flexible disc that collects blood, but unlike a menstrual cup — which sits in the vaginal canal — a menstrual disc is placed just below the cervix in the vaginal fornix, Renee Wellenstein, DO, a board-certified ob-gyn, told POPSUGAR. (You essentially wedge the disc behind your pubic bone.) This leaves the vaginal canal open during sex. "A menstrual disc may also be more comfortable than a menstrual cup, since it is placed at the widest part of the vagina," she said.

That said, there are things to consider before trying a menstrual disc. Some are disposable, which means they don't require cleaning, but you'll need to purchase discs more often than you would a menstrual cup. "Insertion and removal may also be a bit more difficult, since the disc is placed higher in the vagina and it's ring-shaped," Dr. Wellenstein explained. If you decide to give it a shot, remember that even though you can have sex while wearing a menstrual disc, it isn't a form of contraception.