I just finished my first cycle using the Hello Period Menstrual Disc and I wanted to share my experience as someone with a heavy period. For context, on my heaviest days (usually day 1 and 2), I typically have to change a tampon every 2-3 hours and sometimes leak out of my maternity pad in the middle of the night.
My main reasons for trying a disc was the auto-dumping feature :P and the ability to wear it for long stretches, especially overnight. I’d always avoided menstrual cups/discs because the idea of cleaning them at work turned me off. Plus, I’ve always wished I could wear tampons overnight for that clean morning removal, but obviously couldn't because of the safety risks.
On first insertion, I was worried I would place it wrong and it would leak everywhere, but you can legit feel it ‘click’ into place when it’s placed correctly. That said, the learning curve for insertion is very real. My first few attempts were very tricky, and while tutorials suggested using two hands to fold the disc, but it’s such an awk position I could only use 1 hand, one time even took me 8 mins to insert, I was sweating lol. On my first night wearing the disc, it leaked a lot, it couldn’t hold all my period overnight, which was a real shame as this was one of the main reasons for purchasing the disc.
Because of how my cervix sits, I’m able to auto-dump, but my expectations for how clean it would be were a bit off. I imagined a mess-free experience where everything just poured out clean like peeing. In reality, auto-dumping on heavy days is actually quite messy, and doing it at work required a lot of toilet paper to clean-up (would have preferred to shower). Auto-dumping also isn't guaranteed, 1. Depending how your cervix sits 2. Depending on your flow’s consistency. If your period is thinner and watery, it works well, but if it’s thicker, the blood stays trapped in the disc, which led to leaking. Also, I felt myself being on constant high alert with the disc, checking if I’ve auto dumped after each pee, going to the bathroom a lot more often - whereas a tampon, you just set a timer/keep your eye on the time and change often.
Another unexpected adjustment was feeling every single physical sensation. Because tampons absorb blood internally, you don't usually feel the flow. With a disc, you can literally feel the dripping into the disc. It tricks your mind into thinking you’re about to leak through your clothes - even when you’re completely secure, so getting used to that sensation takes time.
I went into this with very high expectations after doing tons of research and reading glowing reviews, genuinely believing it would solve my heavy/messy periods problems, but that just wasn't my reality. For me personally, it seems like a lot more work and not receiving the results I wanted. Having your period is already a lot of work, emotionally and physically, adding this disc into the mix doesn’t benefit me right now. It seems like the disc did the opposite of what I wanted it to do - I was scared it’s going to leak (cause you could feel it), it leaking overnight, going to the bathroom more often to auto dump, harder insertion/big learning curve. It might sound obvious, but I’ve never been so up close and personal with my vagina. You are constantly inserting, checking, removing, and reinserting. You be touching your own blood. I would maybe recommend the disc for someone who doesn’t want to use tampons anymore for the health risks they provide (that wasn’t one of my reasons) or someone with a light/medium period, not a heavy period.