Nixit

 Menstrual Disc

Most Helpful Positive Review

ABSOLUTE MAGIC for people with heavy flows and IUDs!

I have been using the same Nixit disc for five years now and I want to favorite thing about Nixit before I get into anything else: you can empty it without removing it. Let me repeat: YOU CAN EMPTY IT WITHOUT REMOVING IT.But first, some caveats. Ideally, you should remove and wash it every time you ...empty it. (I believe this site says it can be worn up to 12 hours.) However, if you're in a public restroom and you can't access the sinks without leaving your stall, all you have to do is stay seated and bear down with your muscles like you're going to poop. If the cup is full enough, that will cause the liquid to briefly break the seal and empty into the toilet. If you have the cup correctly tucked up behind your pubic bone, it should stay in place and maintain the seal after being emptied like this. Then you can just clean up and go, no repositioning needed. (Gone are my days of pulling out my diva cup, trying not to drop it in the toilet or dump it on my ankles, and then trying to hide my Lady Macbeth-ass hands as I make my way to the sink to wash up.) Now for some other things of note: --The learning curve: Yes, there definitely is one; for getting it tucked up in there, for getting it back out again, and for knowing how often you need to empty it. It took me one or two periods before I got it, but now it's second nature. --Positioning the dang thing: The most important part is getting it nestled up behind your pelvic bone. If I feel like it's not quite there, I'll push and slide my finger against the double ridged rim side to side to help the disc move deeper sideways and back, which usually gives me enough space to then tuck the front rim up behind the pubic bone. When you're trying this for the first few times, I recommend using some lubricant or water to help you stay comfortable as you figure it out. (Don't worry, you'll get it!)--Heavy flow: I have very, very heavy flows thanks to my copper IUD. The ease of emptying the cup without removing it makes it so much easier and more comfortable to casually empty it every couple of hours in the first few torrential days of my period. (Seriously, it's like the Shining down there).) Also, I've researched most of the menstrual cups and discs out there, and Nixit has the second largest liquid capacity I've found at 70ml. The largest I've found is Intima's Ziggy Cup 2 with a 76ml capacity--I haven't tried that one though because my Nixit disc is still working and looking as great as the day I got it. Meanwhile, most other discs have a 40-50ml capacity, and cups have a 20-30ml capacity.--IUDS: I once had a menstrual cup pinch my IUD string against my vaginal walls and partially pull it out of me. (AHHH!) The Nixit menstrual disc poses little to no risk of that, since the front rim gets pulled down and slides the whole disc out without scraping the vaginal walls as it exits.--Mess-free sex: Yep, it works great for penetrative sex, whether you're soloing with toys, playing with partners, and/or using condoms. Just two things of note: 1) do NOT use silicone-based lubricant vaginally while your disc is in, and 2) make sure you empty it in advance of any adventures. (Unless that's what you're into. In which case, more power to you.)--Keeping it clean: The outside of the disc will start to stain after a handful of uses, but you can soak the disc in hydrogen peroxide for 20 minutes and it'll be as bright and fresh as the day you got it. I do this 2-3x a year, usually when I've wrapped up my period and I'm cleaning the disc to store for next month.--Leakage risks: Now that I've got down the positioning and the timing for emptying the cup, I have zero problems with leaks. However, unlike cup style menses catchers, there are no little warning air bubbles or feelings of pressure to signal that it's full. You do kind of have to just develop a sense for when to empty it. Until then, try to empty the cup periodically by using the bear-down method, and think really hard about whether or not you emptied it recently before you sneeze in public.--Discomfort/other sensations: For the most part, I don't feel it at all when I'm wearing it. However, around my fourth or fifth day wearing it nonstop, I do find I start to feel a tiny bit of crampy pressure. Usually my period is wrapping up by then though, so my solution is usually to take it out and switch over to a very light liner, or to pace myself earlier in my period by wearing a pad or a tampon for a couple of hours before popping it back in. Also, as a side note, it does create some slight resistance when you're having a bowel movement, and sometimes bowel movements can shift the disc, requiring some slight readjustment before going on your merry way. I usually leave it in with no issues. However, if you already experience difficulties with bowel movements, I recommend removing the disc beforehand, and then cleaning yourself up very thoroughly before reinserting it. And that's it. Enjoy the magic, folks!