Menstrual Discs for Heavy Periods: Capacity, Safety and Fit

A menstrual disc is a flexible, shallow ring-shaped product that sits high in the vagina and collects blood rather than absorbing it. The FDA¹ groups discs with menstrual cups.² If perimenopause has brought heavier periods, a disc may sound appealing. Here is what testing shows, how to use one safely, and what it can hide.

They can hold a lot

A 2024 study in BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health³ tested 21 period products in the lab with blood. Menstrual discs held the most on average, about 61 mL, and one held 80 mL. Tampons, heavy pads and menstrual cups held roughly 20 to 50 mL.³

That extra room can mean fewer changes on heavy days.

The catch: it can hide heavy bleeding

Clinicians often judge heavy bleeding by how often you change pads or tampons. The authors point out that only tampons go through industry-regulated testing for how much they absorb, and that new products like discs make the usual counting less reliable.³

If a disc lets you go hours without changing, you may not notice how much you’re losing. Tell your clinician what product you use and roughly how full it is when you empty it. Our article on how to tell if a period is too heavy lists other signs.

What first-time users report

In a small 2026 pilot study, 14 college students used discs over two cycles. Many struggled with insertion at first but improved with practice. Removal was easy but messy, which made public restrooms harder. A few had major leaks when the disc overfilled.⁴

The FDA¹ notes it can take practice to insert and remove cups, and finding the right size can be hard.¹

How to use one safely

The FDA’s¹ advice for menstrual cups:¹

1. Wash your hands before and after handling it.
2. Empty it as directed, typically every 8 to 12 hours, and never longer than the label allows.
3. Clean reusable products as instructed, often with soap and water, and by boiling between cycles if the maker says so.
4. Choose silicone if you’re sensitive to latex.
5. Use it only for periods, not for bleeding or discharge from an infection or after childbirth.
6. Stop and call your provider if you notice itching, rash, pain, swelling or discomfort.

If you have an IUD

The FDA¹ advises talking with your gynecologist before using a cup with an IUD, because cups could interfere with the IUD strings and placement.¹ Our article on menstrual cups covers the research on cups and IUDs.

Try: “My periods have gotten much heavier and I’ve switched to a menstrual disc. It fills up in a few hours on my heaviest days. Is that too much bleeding, and should we check for a cause?”

Period, Handled includes a Period Scorecard and a visit script. Use them to note how often you empty your disc and how full it is, so your clinician can judge how much you’re bleeding. See the book.