The best menstrual discs, reusable and disposable (2026)

How we chose.

We did not wear these discs. We compared what each brand and Amazon listing publishes: capacity in milliliters or tampon equivalents, material, sizes, wear time, removal features and lifespan. We kept discs from established makers with large review counts and checked that every product link points to that exact listing. Safety sections draw on FDA and Cleveland Clinic guidance. Our full method is on how we review. None of this is medical advice.

Flex Disc.

The disc that made the category mainstream. Each disc is single use, holds the equivalent of 5 super tampons per the listing, and can stay in for up to 12 hours. Because it is disposable, there is nothing to boil or store, which makes it the lowest stakes way to find out whether a disc suits your body. Flex Disc on Amazon.

Saalt Menstrual Disc.

Medical grade silicone, made in the USA, with a removal notch on the rim to hook with a finger. Saalt publishes two sizes: Regular at about 50 ml and Small at about 30 ml. The listing rates it for 12 hours of wear and up to 10 years of use. It is the reusable to buy once a disposable has proven the format. Saalt Disc on Amazon.

Flex Reusable Disc.

Flex's silicone version holds the equivalent of 6 super tampons per the listing, about 70 ml per the brand, which puts it at the top of the mainstream range. It ships with a pouch and two disposables. Like every disc, it takes a few tries to tuck behind the pubic bone.

nixit Reusable Menstrual Disc.

A one size soft silicone disc that the listing says holds about twice a cup or 6 tampons. It is built for heavy days and long stretches between changes. The single size and large rim will not suit everyone, so it is a better second disc than first.

Pixie Menstrual Disc.

Pixie adds a pull feature so the disc comes out more like a tampon, which addresses the main complaint about discs. This listing is the Large, rated for the equivalent of 7 tampons. The extra part is one more thing to clean.

Softdisc Menstrual Disc.

A long running disposable with a thinner, lower profile than Flex. It holds the equivalent of 3 super tampons per the listing, so it fits lighter days or people who find the Flex Disc too much.

Flex Plant Plus Disc.

The same disposable design and capacity as the Flex Disc, made with plant based medical grade polymers. It is still single use. If waste is your main concern, a reusable disc is the larger step.

Where a disc sits.

A tampon and a cup sit low in the vaginal canal. A disc sits at the top, in the vaginal fornix, which is the widest part of the vagina, just below and around the cervix. The back rim rests behind the cervix and the front rim tucks up behind the pubic bone, which holds it in place. There is no seal and no suction. That is why many people with a low cervix, an IUD, or bladder pressure from a cup find a disc more comfortable, and why brands say a well placed disc should not be felt.

How to insert and remove a disc.

Inserting. Wash your hands. Pinch the disc in half lengthwise so it is long and narrow. Sit or squat, and slide it in aiming back and down toward your tailbone, further than a tampon would go, until the back rim passes the cervix. Then push the front rim up so it tucks behind the pubic bone. If you can feel it or it leaks, it is usually not tucked. A little water or water based lube on the rim helps. Do not use silicone lube on a silicone disc; the reason is in lube safe for toys.

Removing. Sit on the toilet. Bear down gently to bring the disc lower. Hook the front rim (or the notch, loop or pull, depending on the disc) with a finger, keep it level, and slide it out over the toilet. Removal is messier than a cup while you learn, so the first few times are easiest at home or in the shower.

Auto dumping. Some people find a disc partly empties when they bear down on the toilet, then resettles. That is normal for the format, and many users treat it as a feature that stretches the time between changes.

Capacity and leak protection.

Discs hold more than most cups because they sit in the widest part of the vagina. For reference, the FDA's tampon labeling standard rates a super tampon at 9 to 12 grams of absorbency. The discs here range from the equivalent of 3 super tampons (Softdisc) to about 70 ml (Flex Reusable and nixit). Most leaks come from placement rather than capacity. Pair a disc with period underwear for the first cycle or two while you learn.

Disc	Type	Capacity (per brand or listing)	Removal feature	Lifespan
Flex Disc	Disposable	5 super tampons	Rim	Single use, 12 hours
Saalt Disc	Reusable silicone	About 50 ml (Regular)	Notch	Up to 10 years
Flex Reusable	Reusable silicone	6 super tampons, about 70 ml	Rim	Years
nixit	Reusable silicone	2x a cup or 6 tampons	Rim	Years
Pixie Disc	Reusable silicone	7 tampons (Large)	Pull	Years
Softdisc	Disposable	3 super tampons	Rim	Single use, 12 hours
Flex Plant Plus	Disposable, plant based	5 super tampons	Rim	Single use, 12 hours

Discs and toxic shock syndrome.

Toxic shock syndrome is a rare but serious illness caused by bacterial toxins. Cleveland Clinic notes that tampons are the most common link but it has also occurred with menstrual cups and other internal devices. Discs are internal too, so the same rules apply: follow the 12 hour limit, wash your hands, and use internal products only during your period. Seek urgent care for a sudden high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, a sunburn like rash, or dizziness during or right after your period.

Discs and IUDs.

Cups have been linked to IUD expulsion in several studies, likely from suction during removal. Discs have no suction, which is why clinicians often suggest them to IUD users, but there is little direct research on discs and IUDs. Ask your clinician, hook the rim gently, and check your strings as advised. More detail on cups and IUDs is in the best menstrual cups.

Cleaning a reusable disc.

During your period, rinse in cold water first, then wash with warm water and a mild unscented soap or a cup and disc wash. Between periods, sanitize as the brand directs, which for silicone discs usually means boiling for a few minutes or using a steamer. Let it dry and store it in a breathable pouch. Replace it if it cracks, tears or turns sticky. A disposable disc goes in the trash, never the toilet.

Disposable or reusable.

Disposables are the right first step: low commitment, no cleaning, and the same technique as a reusable. Reusables cost more upfront but replace years of disposables, which makes them far cheaper over time and far lower in waste. If a disposable works for you after two or three cycles, a reusable silicone disc is worth the switch.

Who might skip a disc.

People who find any internal product painful, who have recently given birth or had pelvic surgery and are not yet cleared for internal products, or who have a history of toxic shock syndrome should talk to a clinician first. Painful insertion can be a pelvic floor issue; see lube for pelvic pain. If discs are not for you, organic tampons and period underwear are the other low fuss options.