What holds more blood, cup or disc?

Menstrual discs generally hold significantly more blood than cups—making them the top choice for heavy flow. Here's the breakdown:

📏 Capacity Comparison

Product Type Average Capacity Max Capacity Models
Menstrual Cups 20–40 ml • Merula XL: 50 ml
• Super Jennie: 42 ml
• Venus Large: 47 ml
Menstrual Discs 50–70 ml • Lumma Unique Large: 70 ml
• Nixit: 70 ml
• Cora: 60 ml
• Disposable discs (Flex/Softdisc): 60–70 ml

👉 Key Takeaway:

  • A large disc (70ml) holds ≈ 2–3x a standard cup (30ml).

  • Even average discs (60ml) beat most high-capacity cups.

🩸 Real-World Translation

  • Tampon Equivalent:

    • 1 Super Tampon ≈ 10–12 ml

    • A 70ml disc = 5–7 super tampons worth of blood.

  • Daily Heavy Flow:

    • Heavy bleeders lose 60–80ml per cycle (not per day!).

    • Discs can handle a full day’s heavy flow without changing.

⚡ The Disc’s SECRET WEAPON: Auto-Dumping

Discs have a massive functional advantage beyond raw capacity:

  1. Auto-dump when bearing down (e.g., on the toilet).

  2. Empties without removing the disc → effectively "resets" capacity.

  3. Lets you go 12+ hours without full removal—even on ultra-heavy days.

(Cups require removal/insertion to empty, which is messier and less convenient.)

🏆 Capacity Winner: Discs

Metric Cup Disc
Raw mL ❌ ✅
Auto-dumping ❌ ✅
12-hour wear ❌ ✅
Flood protection ⚠️ ✅

⚠️ When a High-Cap Cup Might Suffice

Consider a 50ml+ cup if you:

  • Have a very high cervix (discs can be tricky to reach).

  • Dislike disc removal mechanics.

  • Prefer suction security over auto-dumping.

💡 Pro Tips for Maximum Coverage

  1. Discs: Size up if you flood (e.g., Lumma Large).

  2. Cups: Choose wide, round shapes (e.g., Merula XL).

  3. Pair with period underwear overnight for backup.

  4. Track your flow with apps like Clue to compare needs vs. capacity.

Bottom Line

For pure mL volume, discs win—and their auto-dumping feature makes them even more efficient for heavy bleeders. If you regularly overflow cups/tampons in <4 hours, a 70ml disc is your best defense against leaks, changes, and panic.

✨ Try first: Grab a $10 box of Flex Disposable Discs (60ml) to test capacity before investing in reusables!

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