Flex Menstrual Discs | Disposable Period Discs | Reduce Cramps & Dryness | Beginner-Friendly Tampon Alternative | Capacity of 5 Super Tampons | Made in Canada | 12 Count

FYI- this will be a descriptive review and may be TMI for some people...I have been curious about the period cups, but have been too nervous to try them. I've also read that the dyes that make them blue, purple, or pink are artificial and unsafe. The color used in these is from charcoal, so it's safe, and the reusable ones are colorless, if you want to go that route. In addition, I don't want to have to clean period blood out of a cup in a public restroom and boil it at home (yuck).Flex disposable disks are a different story. Take all of the upsides of tampons (versus pads or the ick factors of reusable menstrual cups) and multiply that by 100. To be honest, I have not tried reusable cups or discs, nor do I plan on it. Evidently, one must be aware of how high or low their cervix is, and other factors that I, personally, don't know how to determine. They are pricey and you don't know how they'll fit you, especially the cups, from what I've heard in reviews, such as Period Nirvana reviews on youtube. The suction aspect of cups seems complicated and the upkeep is more than I want to deal with.Enter flex disposable discs! Imagine that you could safely use a tampon for 12 hours at a time, whilst being able to use the bathroom without having to change your tampon. For those who hate the feel of pads or hate using overnight pads and STILL having leaks on undies, clothes, or sheets, I wholeheartedly suggest discs. I hate using pads overnight and have tried using incontinence underwear overnight because I somehow always leaked using extra long overnight pads. So I preferred using tampons, but due to the risk of TSS, I used to set an alarm for 4 am to change my tampon.This cycle, I started using the flex disposable discs and periods couldn't be easier. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY LEAKS and I'm a complete beginner in this kind of thing. As I mentioned, they self empty when you pee, or go #2. From reviews, I heard that if you didn't check your disc after using that bathroom, or even if you sneezed, leaks could happen and could be scary and intense. Since this is my first time using these, I've worn period underwear or pantyliners to be safe, but have not had any messy or gross problems. To be safe, I wash my hands after using the bathroom and use a clean finger (or thumb) to push the rim up behind my public bone to make sure it's in place and I won't leak.Period Nirvana suggests removing your disc in the shower if you're new to this alternative and to mentally prepare for the sight of blood, but I haven't had any problems; in fact, my period seems to be lighter than ever (I don't know if that's related to the disc or not). In terms of cramps, I read some amazing stories about debilitating cramps getting better with discs, and I'm happy to report that in my case, I only had one day of the most minimal cramps ever. Growing up, my school knew that I'd need to be absent at least one day every month because I'd be doubled over in pain.In summation, if you can use tampons (especially tampons with no applicator or the painful cardboard applicators) you can use disposable discs- I really believe you can do it! I've had times with Tampax pearl where the string comes off or the string is in backwards and I've completely panicked, but with a disc, you don't even need to put your entire finger in the find the rim. As for inserting, there's no complicated way of folding (like you do with a menstrual cup). I believe the flex reusable has a notch that needs to go in the front or the back in order to be leak proof, but with the disposable, simply pinch it in half (to make it like a tampon) and slide it in! It may even be smaller than some tampon applicators, but it's more comfortable that the best gliding tampons I've ever used. My favorite part is that before bed, I can put in a disc and not have to worry about Toxic Shock Syndrome. In a 24 hour day where I'd normally use AT LEAST 6 tampons (I use a new one every time I pee or take a shower, and use 2 during the night), I use 3 discs- in my early 30s, my flow can be heavy on day 2 or 3, I've been changing my disc during the day since I'm new to this, but I could probably just use 1 every 12 hours.I literally never thought I'd say this, but I'm never going back to tampons.

Monthly girl time was never a good time for me. Not that it's good for any woman, but I was always in debilitating pain every time I had mine to the point of vomiting and curling up dead in a corner for a few days. Heavy flow and cramping, and my cycles usually last 8 days compared to the normal 4-6. My mother had to put me on birth control at 15 to help with the pain. I never thought tampons would be part of why my pain was so bad.I had a tampon in the first day when these arrived in the mail, and I was skeptical, but I gave these a shot the next day because I'd read how they potentially could help reduce cramping. I've tried hundreds of products claiming the same thing with no success.The change was insane. The cramping is still there, but very much reduced. It's like the edge has been majorly taken off. I insert them as instructed, I squeeze it, keep the side with the plastic attached facing away from me as I put it in and push the bottom part up behind my pelvic bone. I don't even feel it in there. I tried twisting and moving around all kinds of ways after putting it in and it was surprisingly comfortable and didn't move or come out.To date I've never had leaks beyond what tampons had for me, so I do still use a pad as a backup (and you generally should if your flow is as heavy as mine has always been). I am able to reuse the same disposable ring for the entirety of my cycle and I toss it when it's over. When I go to the bathroom, I'll have some toilet paper ready and if I'm at home, I'll use that to move the ring to the sink. I clean up as normal and rinse the ring (and the sink) with warm water before reinserting it.If I'm out in public, the most I'll do is pull it out just enough to let it drain before putting it back behind my pelvic bone, but I usually don't have to empty it but twice a day, once when I wake up and once in the evening. After the first couple of days I can get away with only emptying it once per day.As far as mess goes, in my opinion it's the same as dealing with the heavily soaked tampons. There's really not much difference to me. I'm beyond happy to deal with a little more effort on cleaning the ring out in the sink for the reduced pain.Another major plus, it's FAR less wasteful, and it's durable enough to last an entire 8-day cycle without coming apart. With the 12-pack of these, I could potentially only have to buy them once per year!I bought a small pack because I was quite sure I was going to hate these, but I love them and wish I'd had them 20 years ago. My cycle has changed dramatically since using them. The flow even seems to be a little lighter.I've been using them for three months now and I never plan on going back. I came here to order another pack of these and look at potentially buying the permanently reusable one to give that a try, but I decided to leave a review first.Women of the world, I know it's scary and different, but give it a try for one cycle at least. I've given my stash of tampons away and will never buy them again. These rings have made my period time far less of a miserable sick time and so much more manageable with just a little ibuprofen that it isn't even funny. I feel like I'm finally living how I hear is supposed to be normal for women on periods.Just give it a shot. I'm really happy that I did.