Can You Use a Menstrual Disc With an IUD?

You may have heard some horror stories from friends or read them on Reddit about people accidentally pulling out their IUDs when using a menstrual cup. 

Anecdotally, I personally have not encountered any cases of an IUD expulsion reported with a reusable disc in the online communities for cup and disc users. But it is true that it can happen. 

Cups create a suction in the vaginal canal that is believed to dislodge an IUD, although it’s not common. Of more concern is the risk of pulling on the IUD strings when you go to break the suction in your menstrual cup to remove it. 

But what about discs? Can you use a menstrual disc with an IUD without pulling it out? The tl;dr answer is yes, you can, but you still have to be careful and keep a few things in mind.

Do Menstrual Discs Create a Suction Like Cups?

Menstrual cups stay in the vaginal canal, but menstrual discs sit a little higher, and tuck behind the cervix. A cup creates suction, but a disc does not. When you try removing a menstrual cup, you have to use your finger to break the suction. But with a disc, you just have to locate the rim or the tab and pull it out.

You may have heard people say that the suction from a menstrual cup can pull out your IUD, and this is a valid concern. According to research on this topic, people who used menstrual cups did report a higher rate of IUD expulsion than tampon or pad users, but only one person said it happened while using the cup. (The others thought it might have come loose during sex or because of their period flow or while using tampons.)

Either way, if you have an IUD and want to be safe, using a menstrual disc does decrease the risk just because of its shape. A menstrual disc doesn’t create any suction, so you won’t have the worry of suctioning out your IUD. 

What Are the Chances That My IUD Will Come Out With a Menstrual Disc?

The risk of pulling out your IUD when using a menstrual disc is higher if:

• Your cervix is lower, which means the disc will sit lower, and so do your IUD strings
• Your intrauterine device was inserted within the last 6-8 weeks
• The IUD strings are long to begin with

How to Reduce the Risk of Pulling Out Your IUD

You can’t really do anything about how high or low your cervix is, but you can take a few precautions when using a menstrual disc with an IUD. 

The main thing you should be careful of, whether you wear a disc or a cup, is not pulling on the IUD strings. With either product, you could accidentally grab the IUD strings as you are pinching the cup or pulling on the disc during removal.

You can have your IUD strings cut shorter, but do NOT try to do this yourself. Your OB/GYN can trim your IUD strings closer to your cervix to reduce the chance of grabbing your strings during removal. Shortening the strings can make it harder to remove your IUD in the future, but it’s not impossible.

Another tip is to wait for a while after IUD insertion to start using a menstrual disc. Most physicians recommend waiting at least two menstrual cycles after your IUD is put in before using menstrual discs. That’s because an IUD is slightly more likely to move out of place during the first six weeks.

If you have any concerns about using a menstrual disc with an IUD, call your doctor or OB-GYN. You can also make an appointment with your local Planned Parenthood health center for a consultation or in-person visit. In the meantime, join the Period Nirvana Facebook group and search for posts on this topic, or post your own question to get helpful answers from our members.