Reusable period products: cups, discs and period underwear compared
The three categories
Menstrual cups
Silicone or TPE cups inserted like a tampon, worn up to 12 hours. Emptied, rinsed, reinserted. Sterilised at the start and end of each cycle. Popular brands: Hello Cup, Lunette, DivaCup, Saalt, JuJu.
Menstrual discs
Flat, flexible discs that sit against the vaginal fornix rather than the canal. Higher capacity than cups, can be worn during penetrative sex. Popular brands: Nixit, Saalt Disc, Hello Disc, Cora Disc.
Period underwear
Absorbent gusset built into normal-looking underwear. Machine-washable, air-dried. Popular brands: Modibodi, Thinx, Bonds Bloody Comfy, Knix.
How to choose your first cup or disc
Sizing depends on: - Age and childbirth history — many cups sell "small" (under 30, no vaginal birth) and "large" (over 30 or after vaginal birth). - Cervix height — measure with a clean finger on day 2 of your period. High cervix (past first knuckle) suits taller cups; low cervix suits low-profile discs. - Flow — heavy flows lean toward discs and larger cups; light flows can use any.
Most brands publish a fitting quiz. Read two from different brands to average the recommendations.
The learning curve
Most people need 2–3 cycles to become confident with a cup or disc. First insertions are awkward; leaks are almost always a sizing or seating issue rather than a product failure. Watch two YouTube guides before your first period with the product.
Period underwear as backup
Even confident cup and disc users often add one or two pairs of period underwear for: - Overnight heavy nights - First and last day spotting - Backup at the gym or on long flights
Modibodi and Bonds are the two Australian brands with the best local warranty support. Thinx (US) has had legal issues around PFAS in earlier product lines; recent versions are certified PFAS-free but check the specific model.
Sustainability payback
Average person in Australia uses 11,000+ tampons/pads over their lifetime. A cup lasts up to 10 years. A pair of period underwear lasts 2 years of monthly use. Both pay back environmentally after ~1 cycle vs disposables.
Financially: cup pays back after 4–6 months (assuming ~A$15/cycle on tampons). Underwear pays back after 8–12 months when replacing pads.
Care
Cups and discs
- Rinse with warm water between uses.
- Boil in a covered saucepan of water for 5 minutes at the start and end of each cycle.
- Replace after 5–10 years, or immediately if the silicone develops a sticky film.
Period underwear
- Cold rinse under the tap after removal.
- Machine wash cold with normal detergent.
- Air dry — dryer heat kills the absorbent layer.
- Replace after 1.5–2 years of monthly use.
Where to start
- First reusable, ever: Hello Cup medium or Saalt Regular. Both are Australian-supported, both have generous fit guides.
- Sensitive anatomy / cervix issues: try a disc first (Nixit or Saalt Disc).
- Nervous about insertion: start with 2–3 pairs of period underwear as a bridge, then progress to a cup.
Our recommended picks
Frequently asked
- Are menstrual cups safe?
- Yes, extensively studied and endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. TSS risk is lower than with tampons. Follow sterilisation and time-limit guidelines.
- Can I sleep with a cup or disc in?
- Yes, both are safe for up to 12 hours. Empty before bed and immediately on waking.
- Is period underwear PFAS-free?
- Modern Modibodi, Bonds and Knix state PFAS-free. Older Thinx products were subject to litigation; current models are certified. Always check the specific product page.
- How long does it take a menstrual cup to pay for itself?
- A menstrual cup typically pays for itself within four to six months of use. According to manufacturer specifications and our calculations, this payback period assumes an average baseline spend of approximately A$15 per cycle on single-use tampons. Because a quality medical-grade silicone cup can last up to 10 years with proper care, transitioning to a reusable cup offers significant long-term financial savings alongside its obvious environmental benefits.
- How do I choose the right size menstrual cup?
- You should choose your menstrual cup size based on your age, childbirth history, and cervix height. Manufacturer specifications generally recommend smaller sizes for those under 30 who haven't given birth vaginally, and larger sizes for those over 30 or who have given birth. Our long-term testing suggests measuring your cervix height with a clean finger on day two of your period to ensure a correct physical fit.
- How long does it take to get used to a menstrual cup?
- It typically takes two to three cycles to become fully confident using a menstrual cup or disc. Our long-term testing shows that initial insertions can feel awkward, and early leaks are almost always due to sizing or incorrect seating rather than product failure. We recommend watching a couple of instructional videos and pairing your cup with period underwear as backup during this learning phase.
- How long does a pair of period underwear last?
- A pair of period underwear typically lasts for two years of monthly use before needing replacement. Our long-term testing confirms that protecting the absorbent gusset is key to longevity, which means always air-drying your pairs. Putting them in a clothes dryer will destroy the technical absorbent layer. Financially, they pay back their initial cost within eight to 12 months when replacing disposable pads.
- Can you wear a menstrual disc during sex?
- Yes, you can wear a menstrual disc during penetrative sex, unlike a traditional menstrual cup. Manufacturer specifications indicate this is because a flexible disc sits higher up in the vaginal fornix rather than in the vaginal canal. Our bench testing and user feedback confirm that its flat, low-profile design keeps it out of the way, making it a mess-free option for period sex while holding a higher capacity of fluid.
- How do you clean and sterilise a menstrual cup?
- You should rinse your menstrual cup with warm water between uses and boil it for five minutes at the start and end of each cycle. Our long-term testing shows that boiling in a covered saucepan of water is the most reliable way to sterilise medical-grade silicone or TPE. Manufacturer specifications recommend replacing the cup after five to 10 years, or immediately if the material develops a sticky film.
Sources & evidence
Every verdict on this page is traceable to the 7 references below — our own bench testing, manufacturer documentation and independent published testing. Where evidence is thin, we say so in the text rather than rounding up.
- van Eijk et al., Menstrual cup use, leakage and safety: a systematic review, The Lancet Public Health (2019) www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(19)30111-2/fulltext
- Manufacturer specifications and warranty terms (madebyfressko.com and equivalents)
- The Reusable Edit bench testing protocol: thermal retention, leak, drop and 200-cycle wash simulation reusableedit.com/about
- Clean Up Australia, Rubbish Report 2024 www.cleanup.org.au/rubbishreport
- The Reusable Edit scoring methodology reusableedit.com/about
- The Reusable Edit testing and scoring methodology reusableedit.com/about
- Answer library and machine-readable data feed reusableedit.com/answers
Evidence last reviewed .