General Questions
Both collect your period, but they sit differently. A Cup sits in the canal below the cervix and opens to form a seal. A Disc sits higher in the vaginal fornix, behind the cervix, with the front rim tucked behind the pubic bone.
Some people love both. Some find one much easier than the other. If you have struggled with cups opening or sealing, have a particularly high or low cervix, or dislike the sensation of a Cup in the canal, a Disc may be worth trying. If you prefer a product that sits lower and like the security of a Cup-style seal, you may prefer the Cup.
Our Bundle lets you try both, with two sizes of each.
We size Cups by anatomy, not by age or whether you have given birth.
The most useful starting point is your cervix height during your period. With clean hands, gently insert a finger and feel for the cervix. It often feels a little like the tip of a nose, although bodies vary. If you reach it quickly, it is relatively low. If you need most of your finger, it is higher.
Your cervix can move during your cycle and even between different days of the same period, so check it while you are actually menstruating. Finger lengths vary too, so knuckle measurements are only rough guides.
Every Unicorn Cup twin pack includes both sizes so you have room to work with your own body rather than relying on a one-size guess.
Disc sizing is different from Cup sizing. A Disc spans the space between the back of the fornix and the pubic bone, so the fit depends on that space rather than simply your cervix height.
Not being able to reach your cervix does not automatically mean you need the Large Disc.
If a Disc repeatedly refuses to stay tucked behind the pubic bone or pops out of position, it can be a sign that it is too large. That is one reason we include both Regular and Large in every twin pack.
Yes. Cervix height is not fixed. It can change throughout your cycle and can also sit differently on different days of your period.
That can explain why a Cup or Disc feels perfect one day and lower or more noticeable on another. If something suddenly feels uncomfortable, do not force it. Recheck the position and try the other size if appropriate.
Up to 12 hours, but that is a maximum, not a target.
How often you actually need to empty it depends on your flow. Someone with a very heavy period may need to empty much sooner, while someone with a lighter flow may comfortably go much longer. Learn how quickly your product fills on different days of your period and empty it before it reaches capacity.
Yes, and capacity is one of the reasons many people with heavy periods move to reusable products. The Large Unicorn Disc holds approximately 60 ml and the Regular approximately 35 ml. Your emptying frequency should be based on your own flow rather than a fixed timetable.
If you are experiencing unusually heavy bleeding, flooding, dizziness, shortness of breath, severe fatigue, or bleeding that is affecting your health or daily life, speak to your GP. A period product can help you manage or measure bleeding, but it does not treat the reason it is happening.
The most common things to check are whether the Cup has opened fully, whether it has formed a seal, whether your cervix is actually inside the Cup rather than sitting beside the rim, and whether the Cup is simply full.
If you are new to Cups, do not assume leaking automatically means you need a different size. Work through our Cup troubleshooting guide first.
First check the position. The back of the Disc needs to sit behind the cervix, the cervix needs to be inside/above the basin, and the front rim needs to be tucked behind the pubic bone.
If it is positioned correctly but only starts leaking after a period of time, it may simply have reached capacity.
The most important rule is: do not pull the Cup out by the tail.
The tail helps you locate the base. Once you can reach the base, grip the grippers and pinch or press the base to break the seal. Then gently rock the Cup out.
If the Cup is sitting high, relax and bear down gently to bring it lower. Repeatedly pulling against an intact seal can be uncomfortable and can damage the tail.
Many people use reusable period products with a coil, but the evidence around menstrual Cups and IUD expulsion is not completely settled.
If you use a Cup, always break the seal before removal and take care not to catch or pull the coil strings. String length and the time since insertion may also be relevant.
If you have a coil, particularly if it was fitted recently or you are unsure about your strings, speak to your GP or sexual health clinician for individual advice before using a Cup or Disc.
If you have active thrush or another vaginal infection, it may be more comfortable to pause internal period products while you are being treated.
Follow the advice supplied with your treatment and speak to your GP or pharmacist if you are unsure, particularly if symptoms keep returning.
Before reusing your Unicorn Cup or Disc, clean and sterilise it according to our instructions. An intact silicone product does not automatically need to be thrown away simply because you had thrush. Replace it if the silicone is damaged or deteriorated.
There is no age at which somebody suddenly becomes anatomically ‘allowed’ to use a Cup or Disc. What matters is whether the person feels comfortable, understands how the product works and is ready to use an internal period product.
There is also no medical test of ‘virginity’, and using a tampon, Cup or Disc does not determine whether someone is or is not a virgin.
For a young person who feels nervous or overwhelmed, there is no need to rush. Read the information, understand the anatomy and try it only when it feels like the right time.
The hymen is not a seal covering the vaginal opening and its appearance cannot prove whether someone has had sex. Hymenal tissue naturally varies enormously between people and can stretch or change for many reasons.
Using an internal period product can stretch hymenal tissue in some people, but that has nothing to do with ‘losing virginity’. Virginity is a social concept, not a physical diagnosis.
It can take a little practice, particularly when removing a very full product, but it does not have to be a bloodbath.
Remove it slowly, keep it as level as you can and empty it into the toilet or sink. Most people quickly work out a technique that feels routine.
Silicone can sometimes retain an odour, particularly if a product has been worn for a long time, not cleaned thoroughly or stored before it is completely dry.
Clean and sterilise it according to our instructions and allow it to dry fully before storage.
If the unusual smell seems to be coming from your body rather than the product, or you also have discharge, itching, pain or other symptoms, stop using the product and speak to your GP.
No. The vaginal canal does not lead into the rest of your abdomen, so a Cup cannot travel around your body.
It can move higher and become harder to reach. Relax, change position and bear down gently to bring the base lower. Do not panic and do not keep pulling on the tail.
A Cup or Disc should not be something you have to endure.
Pain can come from tension, dryness, the angle of insertion, a product sitting too low, the wrong fit, pulling a Cup without breaking its seal, or other pelvic/medical factors.
Stop if you are sore. If pain is persistent, significant or happens repeatedly despite adjusting your technique, speak to your GP. We can help with general product troubleshooting, but we are not medically trained and cannot diagnose the cause of pelvic pain.
Possibly, but this needs individual advice.
We are not medically trained, and conditions affecting pelvic anatomy or the pelvic floor can change how an internal period product fits or whether it is appropriate for you. Speak to your GP or pelvic-health clinical team before use, particularly if you have a diagnosed prolapse, significant pelvic pain, recent pelvic surgery or another condition that affects the area.
Follow the cleaning and sterilising instructions supplied with your Unicorn Body product. Each twin pack includes a wash/sterilise case.
Wash your hands before handling the product and allow it to dry before storing it between periods. Do not use Fairy Liquid or strongly fragranced/harsh household cleaning products on the silicone.
A good-quality silicone Cup or Disc can be reused for years when it is cared for properly.
There is no need to replace it just because it has stained. Replace it if you notice deterioration such as cracks, tears, stickiness, changes to the silicone or other damage that could affect safe use.
Yes. Period blood can stain silicone over time and staining does not automatically mean the product is dirty or unsafe.
Clean and sterilise it as directed. Replace it because of damage or deterioration, not simply because the silicone is no longer the same colour it was when new.
Not necessarily. Some people get a Cup or Disc right first time. Others need a few attempts or a couple of cycles to understand what works with their anatomy.
Watch our troubleshooting videos and focus on one problem at a time. If you become sore or stressed, stop and try again later. You do not need to force yourself through a difficult first attempt.