Menstrual discs, similar to menstrual cups, offer the advantage of a prolonged wear time of up to 12 hours. What sets them apart from other period products is their unique capability to be used during intercourse. While menstrual cups and discs are renowned for their convenience and effectiveness, it’s essential to heed expert warnings about their potential to obscure underlying health issues.
If you’re seeking an effective solution for managing heavy periods, you might not be familiar with a product that surpasses pads, tampons, and even menstrual cups in terms of its fluid-handling capacity.
An August 7th online publication in the BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health journal revealed that menstrual discs, which are insertable devices designed to collect menstrual blood rather than absorb it, can hold significantly more fluid. In some instances, they held over twice as much as traditional tampons or pads.
Furthermore, this study shed light on the fact that menstrual products like cups or discs, although convenient for those with heavy menstrual flow, could potentially lead to an underestimation of the severity of an individual’s period, as noted by the lead author, Dr. Bethany Samuelson Bannow, a hematologist at the Center for Women’s Health at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.
Up to 50% of Women Experience Heavy Period Bleeding
Excessive menstrual bleeding is a prevalent issue, affecting a significant portion of menstruating individuals. According to the Cleveland Clinic, approximately 27 to 54 percent of people who menstruate experience heavy period bleeding each month. Surprisingly, many individuals tend to endure this condition, with only one in three women seeking medical treatment, as reported by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). However, it’s essential to note that heavy menstrual bleeding could indicate underlying health problems like bleeding disorders or fibroids, emphasizing the importance of seeking appropriate medical attention.
More Women With Heavier Periods May Try Using Menstrual Cups and Discs
Diagnosing heavy bleeding can be difficult due to various factors. One such reason is the lack of accurate or up-to-date tools for assessment, as stated by the authors of the recent study.
“We have noticed that a lot of folks — particularly those with heavy periods — are moving toward cups and discs, and [we] realized we don’t really have a good metric to diagnose heavy bleeding utilizing those methods, as all the currently available methods are dependent on pads and tampons,” Dr. Bannow stated. But doctors — and women — need to be aware of how they can recognize heavy bleeding, regardless of the products used, so that it can be recognized and treated properly, she advised.
To tackle this problem, Bannow and her team embarked on a study to evaluate novel or less familiar menstrual products. Their approach was unique: instead of using conventional water or saline solutions typically employed in labs, they utilized expired red blood cells to assess the products’ containment and absorption capabilities.
Researchers Used a New Method for Absorbency Testing After Finding How ‘Blood Is Thicker Than Water’
The idea to use expired red blood cells rather than the usual water or saline was both “unique and ingenious,” Nichole Tyson, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California, said. She specializes in pediatric and adolescent gynecology. Though she was not part of the study, Dr. Tyson was a coauthor of an editorial that had been published together with the study.
She explained that while red blood cells differ from menstrual blood, they are much more similar than saline or water. This closeness helps us gain a better understanding of the capabilities of these products.
“The use of blood matters, as it is, literally, thicker than water and therefore we expected — and we saw — different absorption with blood instead of water,” Bannow said.
Period Products: The Tried-and-True Ways Vs. The New Methods
Traditional menstrual pads and tampons are facing increasing competition from innovative alternatives such as menstrual cups, menstrual discs, and period-proof underwear, which have gained popularity in recent years.
Menstrual cups and menstrual discs differ from tampons as they collect blood instead of absorbing it. Cups, usually made from medical-grade silicone, are inserted into the vagina and held in place by a seal. They can be worn for up to 12 hours, after which they can be emptied, rinsed, and reused as per Nationwide Children’s. On the other hand, menstrual discs, typically disposable but now available in a reusable option, are made from a body-heating medical-grade polymer. These discs conform to the wearer’s shape and rest at the base of the cervix without a suctioned seal, allowing for up to 12 hours of wear. Interestingly, menstrual discs can be worn during intercourse without being noticed by either partner.
Period-proof underwear features an absorbent area where a pad would traditionally be placed. This design effectively absorbs menstrual blood, preventing leaks and protecting clothing.
Menstrual Discs Can Hold the Most
Various product brands and sizes were assessed, totaling 21 products in the study. The findings revealed that menstrual discs, on average, had the highest capacity, holding 61 mL of blood. One specific brand even held as much as 80 mL, as reported by the authors.
In contrast, period underwear had the lowest average capacity at 2 mL, regardless of size. Tampons, pads, and menstrual cups demonstrated similar capacities, ranging from 20 to 50 mL.
As anticipated, the research showed that most products absorbed less blood than previously reported when tested with water or saline.
Heavy Period Bleeding
“Anyone who fills a menstrual cup to the top three times during a menstrual cycle qualifies as having heavy periods. It’s harder to know with the discs because they likely don’t hold as much in the body as they did in the lab, but they also have the potential to hide heavy bleeding,” Bannow explained.
ACOG lists additional indicators of heavy bleeding, such as:
- Bleeding persisting for more than 7 days.
- Requiring one or more tampons or pads every hour for consecutive hours.
- Using multiple pads simultaneously to prevent leaks.
- Having to change pads or tampons overnight.
- Menstrual flow containing blood clots the size of a quarter or larger.
Individuals experiencing heavy periods should consult their doctor to explore potential underlying causes, assess for iron deficiency or anemia, and discuss strategies to minimize menstrual losses. Bannow suggests considering hormonal treatments like birth control, as recommended by Tyson.
More Discussion and Research Needed about Menstruation
“This study highlights that people with uteruses have periods, often every single month, for a really long time. This is our lived experience, and we should be talking about it more,” Tyson said.
Bannow recommended always going to your doctor first. “I always encourage people just to talk about periods more. So many people suffer from menstrual concerns like heavy menstrual bleeding because of the stigma and taboo around discussion. They just don’t know what is ‘normal’ or what is okay. The more we talk about periods and normalize that discussion, the better off everyone will be,” Bannow advised.
The authors of the BMJ editorial emphasize the importance of involving not just healthcare providers and friends but also the broader researcher community in the discussion. They highlight a significant disparity: only one study on menstrual blood was published between 1941 and 1950, and a mere 400 in total over the past several decades. This pales in comparison to the approximately 10,000 studies conducted on erectile dysfunction during the same period, underscoring the need for greater attention to menstrual health research.
The Best Products for You
The factors that influence what period product or products a person chooses are as unique as the individuals themselves, said Bannow. “Many consider convenience and practicality. For example, teachers want products that don’t have to be changed frequently,” she said.
How much you exercise and preferred activities play a role with it too, she added. “Folks who do a lot of yoga, swimming, or other physical activity may prefer something that can be inserted, rather than a pad that moves,” Bannow said.
People are considering issues such as cost and sustainability as these are of growing importance to many as well, she said. “In Oregon, I think many consider the sustainability of products, which perhaps leads to higher rates of cup usage and lower rates of disposable product usage.”
She also suggested reading Period Nirvana for evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of different period products.
If you’re thinking about transitioning to a cup or a disc, especially due to heavy bleeding, Bannow advises talking to a doctor about strategies to reduce blood loss alongside changing products.
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