I have been wanting to review the Nixit Menstrual Cup since I heard about it. My love for the Saalt cup was a sing from the mountains type of commitment, however, a few differences with the period disc options made me eager to try them ASAP. I’m going to walk you through the similarities and differences between reusable menstruation products. Answering all of your “TMI” questions along the way.
What is a Menstrual Disc?
A menstrual disc is a reusable circular and shallow medical-grade silicone little bowl to be used in place of a tampon or period cup. Menstrual discs, unlike cups, do not rely on suction to stay in place. They lean like a flap against your pelvic bone in your vaginal canal. Unlike tampons, they are made of comfortable, ultra-soft, and safe medical-grade silicone. Meaning no absorbent chemicals! Goodbye, Toxic Shock Syndrome! Menstrual discs are a much more comfortable option for those who experience dryness. After two births, tampons became painfully dry to use and remove. I could feel a sort of tension in my pelvic floor when using them. If you are having that issue, you are not alone. Talk to your doctor, and also try a disc.
Why a Nixit Cup?
I was introduced to The Nixit Menstrual Cup after trying out The Flex Disc on a whim at Target. Flex is a great disc option for beginners, but you toss them after; that lost points for me from a sustainability front. I was looking for a reusable disc. If you are looking to try a disc for the first time, I do suggest the Flex Disc. It is much more structured in shape with a hard ring and a thin bag liner, and easier to learn how to use. Then upgrade to a Nixit when you are comfortable with insertion. I will continue to keep the individually packaged Flex Discs in my suitcases, and diaper bags for those “whoops, I didn’t know it was time” days.
It’s important to point out, I would consider the Nixit a menstrual disc, not a menstrual cup. In all honesty, I think they labeled it a cup on their website for Google search results which makes sense. Cups are more common. Because they call it a cup, I’m going to refer to The Nixit as a menstrual cup throughout the post even though within the menstrual product community chatter – it’s a menstrual disc.
Nixit advertises as a one size fits all upgrade to the cups, pads, and tampons we are used to. They are incredibly soft and pliable. The rim of the Nixit is a double rim, which provides extra protection. I was shocked by how bendable they are compared to my Saalt cups and the Flex disc. They are also larger in diameter than other discs and cups. Inserting it seems slightly overwhelming, which is why I say to test out a Flex disc to get used to the process first. You will want to upgrade to a Nixit or just skip the training wheels in the long term. The flexibility, size, and double rim of the Nixit make it where I have zero leaks when using the disc. Zero.
How do you use a Nixit Menstrual Cup?
Menstrual discs are much easier to insert than traditional cups because you are not worried about getting the perfect suction. Traditional menstrual cups require you to fold them (see photo above), insert and twist allowing them to pop into place; creating a seal that prevents you from leaking. This is why I categorize the Nixit as a menstrual disc.
Nixit, as well as other discs, have a less tricky insertion process. You simply fold the ultra-soft disc like a hot dog, pinching it in the middle, and slide the disc in pushing it up to lean on the inside of your pelvic bone.
Discs and cups ask you to get comfy with yourself. It took me until I was in my thirties and double postpartum to bypass the awkwardness of inserting a cup. I promise you it’s worth it. My girls will never use a tampon when the time comes for period care.
How Long Can You Wear a Nixit Menstrual Cup?
You can wear a disc for 12 hours!! Yup, all day and then all night. Even on heavy days, I empty and rinse my cup once in the morning in the bathroom, and once at night usually in the shower. The dump, clean, reinsert process is very fast. You simply use your finger to release the disc from behind your pelvic bone, pull it out, rinse, and reinsert. Yes, your hand gets a little messy. Luckily you are washable.
The duration a cup can be in place is one of the many reasons I will introduce my girls to a disc/cup option first. You need to change a tampon constantly because of the fact that it’s sucking everything out of your body and – Hi, they want you to buy and use them constantly. That’s part of how they sell so many. You won’t be running to the bathroom tying a sweater around your waist with a disc.
But, How Do You Change it in Public?
This is everyone’s first question. Middle school has truly scarred us all for life. Because you can leave a disc in for such a long period of time, you’ll be hard-pressed to need to change it in public. Some options for if you were to encounter this…
- Use the stall with the sink in it. Start the water before you pull the disc out, immediately rinse without having to retouch anything on the sink, insert, wash your hands.
- Carry some wipes with you. You’ll just be dumping the disc or adjusting it. You’ll be wiping your hand off before touching the door or sink.
I promise you, this is not the built-up scenario you are playing in your mind. Discs carry WAY more blood than tampons, four times as much. And you don’t bleed as much with a disc because you don’t have a cotton ball full of absorbent chemicals pulling every liquid out of you.
Are Period Discs Reusable?
Discs and cups are reusable for an average of 5 YEARS. Bleeders use roughly 240 tampons a year. That is somewhere around 8,000 tampons in your life. I used to use Playtex Sport tampons. Rough math: 7 boxes a year x $14 a box of 36 = $98/ year and 252 tampons, tampon applicators, and wrappers in the trash. That’s 756 pieces of tiny toxic garbage annually. A disc saves you discomfort while minimizing your bath vanity and saving the planet all at once. No wonder I love it so much.
Where Can I Buy a Nixit Menstrual Cup?
Nixit is sold directly to consumers on their website as well as some major retailers such as Nordstrom and Urban Outfitters. I personally purchased mine through Nordstrom to earn rewards points.
More Menstrual Cup + Disc FAQ
- A cup, such as the Saalt cup, has a smaller diameter, is longer, and more solid in structure. Kind of like a tiny silicone wine glass. A cup feature is also a small “tail” or ring on it to help release the suction when it is time to empty it. Suction gets tricky and people give up. When they are in place correctly they are great!! But people are known to give up after a few days because they don’t want to risk doing it wrong.
- Menstrual cups are very dependant on varying body types. They are less one size fits most. You can’t easily figure out which cup to use, so there is a trial and error time for cups such as the Diva cup, Saalt cup, Lily cup, Ziggy cup, etc… The Nixit and the Flex take the guesswork out of it. You can take a cup quiz on Put a Cup In It if you want to try the menstrual cup option first or are curious about a particular cup.
- Can you really have sex with a Nixit or Flex disc in? Yup. You can be intimate while using a period disc. A cup would be in the way, but a disc is similar to a diaphragm (I am not recommending this as birth control; that’s a conversation to have with your doctor), but the overall shape and placement within your vaginal canal is similar. Your partner may be able to feel it there and it obviously keeps liquid from being released from your body so – use your own deductive reasoning. It’s possible. That’s all I’m saying.
- How much blood does a period cup hold? During a menstrual flow, bleeders lose about 8 ounces of combined fluids, blood, mucus, clots, etc over a week’s time. That’s maybe a shot glass a day? A Nixit menstrual cup holds 70 mL or ~2.5 ounces. That’s 4x the amount of a super tampon. You don’t need to worry about your imaginary river as much as you think.
- If I spot in the toilet am I leaking? Not necessarily. When you sit down to use the bathroom, your menstrual disc may slip from behind the pubic bone. It should slide right back into place. You can also push it slightly back up. I spot almost every time, but I don’t leak.
- Will it get stuck? No. The Nixit Menstrual Cup functions like a disc and doesn’t use suction; there is not a chance of it getting sucked up into your body either. You could technically “bear down” and push it out with your vaginal canal muscles. It’s also made of medical-grade materials, so the fear of Toxic Shock Syndrome a week after you have forgotten about it is not there. I have completely forgotten my disc was in for about 36 hours and I was fine. (That’s how comfortable they are!) I remembered at the OBGYN when they asked me the first day of my last menstrual cycle. Whoops!
- How do you sanitize them? You boil both the reusable cups and discs to clean them between periods. (Not the Flex!) Simply boil them for 5 minutes and then store them in the linen bags they come with. A quick hack so they don’t melt: Put them in your smoothie ball thing or a whisk to keep them from touching the bottom of the pot for too long.
- I find a disc to be less messy when in use. The shape of the liner seems to keep blood from dumping immediately when removing it.
Which Menstrual Cup Brand is Best?
I can not claim to have tried every cup on the market. My menstrual cup comparisons are based on the Saalt Cup vs The Nixit Cup vs The Flex Disc…
Verdict: I have switched to team menstruation “disc”. Discs are much easier to insert, they have both reusable and tossable options. I don’t feel them at all. And with a Nixit I have no leaking. Making it my favorite menstrual cup to date.
You are always welcome to DM your menstrual cup FAQ to my Instagram @CandaceCottet
Others love the Nixit too:
To Summarize!
A period cup, also known as a menstrual cup, is a reusable alternative to traditional tampons or pads used during menstruation. It is a small, flexible cup made of medical-grade silicone, latex, or rubber that is inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual blood.
To use a period cup, the user folds the cup and inserts it into the vagina. The cup then opens up and creates a seal against the vaginal walls, which prevents leaks. The cup is typically worn for up to 12 hours, depending on the user’s flow, and is then removed, emptied, and washed before being reinserted.
Period cups are reusable and can last for several years with proper care. They are also considered to be more environmentally friendly than disposable tampons or pads, as they generate less waste. Some people also find that period cups are more comfortable and convenient to use than traditional menstrual products.
However, it’s important to note that using a period cup can take some practice and may not be the best option for everyone. It’s also important to maintain good hygiene when using a period cup, including washing your hands before insertion and regularly cleaning the cup. I reorder annually even though you can keep them longer.