There’s a lot of information out there warning against using a menstrual cup with an IUD, since it could increase the risk of dislodging your contraceptive device.
But what about menstrual discs?
Spoiler alert: Menstrual discs are compatible with your IUD!
You can wear both safely without any risk of expulsion.
In this article, we’ll explain why in more detail and share a few precautions you should take, just to be safe.
Healthcare Professionals’ Opinion on Disc and IUD Compatibility
We conducted a study with healthcare professionals (including midwives and gynecologists) regarding the compatibility of menstrual discs with IUDs
All the professionals we consulted, midwives, gynecologists, sex therapists, and osteopaths, confirmed that there are no contraindications to using a menstrual disc with an IUD, whether it’s a copper IUD or a hormonal IUD.
According to healthcare experts, unlike menstrual cups, the lack of suction and the shape of the menstrual disc greatly reduce the risk of dislodging an IUD.
So yes, you can safely use a menstrual disc with your IUD! 👍
User Feedback
Several of our customers, and many other users, have switched to menstrual discs specifically to avoid dislodging their IUDs.
The feedback on using a menstrual disc with an IUD has been overwhelmingly positive:
Mathilde’s Review of Our Cup&Co Menstrual Disc:
"For me, the big advantages are:
- You don’t feel it at all once it’s in...
- You can have sex as if nothing’s there...
- No suction feeling when removing it (I have an IUD)."
Ségolène’s Review of Our Menstrual Disc with Sterilizer:
"No suction effect with my IUD, nothing but positives, it’s truly an amazing product."
👉 Read More Reviews on Menstrual Discs
Precautions to Take with Your Contraceptive (IUD)
While using a menstrual disc with an IUD is considered safe, it’s important to pay attention to the length of your IUD strings.
If the strings are too long, they could potentially get caught in your internal protection and shift during removal. This can sometimes happen with tampons or menstrual cups as well.
To minimize the risk, it’s safer to have shorter IUD strings that don’t extend too far past your cervix when using internal protection like a menstrual disc.
This way, you can greatly reduce the chance of dislodging your IUD, which could otherwise lower its effectiveness and lead to an unintended pregnancy.
You can ask your midwife or gynecologist to trim the strings a little shorter during the placement or at your next check-up.
Is a Menstrual Disc Better Than a Cup When You Have an IUD?
More and more healthcare professionals, including midwives and gynecologists, are advising against using a menstrual cup (and tampons) for women with a copper or hormonal IUD.
Several studies have raised concerns that menstrual cups could increase the risk of IUD expulsion.
According to health experts, this expulsion may be caused by the suction effect of the cup and the shape of the protection, which can make it easier to accidentally pull on the IUD strings.
👉 Check out our article on menstrual cups and IUDs for more information.
However, menstrual discs work without suction and their shape is less likely to tug on the strings, making them a safer and more compatible option for IUD users.
Spontaneous Expulsion of Your Intrauterine Device (IUD)
Although this phenomenon is rare, affecting less than 5% of women, your body can sometimes naturally expel your IUD.
According to the ANSM (French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products), this phenomenon is even less common during the first three years after IUD placement.
However, in these rare cases, no matter what type of menstrual protection you use, whether it’s a tampon, period underwear, disposable pad, menstrual disc, or cup, you could potentially displace or even lose your IUD, whether it’s copper or hormonal.
