What is my cervix? And how do I use it to insert my disc?

Successful insertion is about getting the disc centered right below your cervix.

At first, I didn’t know anything…

Before I started using menstrual cups and discs, I used pads and tampons — so I didn’t need to know anything about my inner vagina. I felt a bit overwhelmed with all the things I needed to know to even just get my disc in. I didn’t know folding mechanisms, the angle of my vagina, or where my pubic bone was.

The biggest thing that I did not understand, even a long time after I started using cups, was the cervix. And I think if I had understood it earlier, it would have been a lot easier and more simple to start using a disc. So I want to share the basics to make your switch much easier.

First, what is your cervix?

Your cervix is pretty much like a tube connecting your uterus to your vagina. Every month when you have your period, it’s because your uterus is shedding it’s lining (the tissue it prepared for a potential pregnancy) which is what makes up the most of your period flow. The blood goes from your uterus, through the tube (your cervix) to your vagina, and then out of your body.

In simple terms, your cervix is just where blood comes out of. The cervix is a super important part of your reproductive anatomy. It allows sperm through, protects a baby while you’re pregnant, and then widens so your baby can come out during delivery.

How do you know it’s your cervix?

The best way to find your cervix is to insert a finger into your vagina, after first washing your hands with mild soap and water.

The only part of your cervix that you’ll feel is the very end part that opens into your vagina. It can be anywhere from 3 to 6 inches inside your vagina. It’s height depends on the time in your cycle (it is higher in the middle of your cycle and lower during your period). It also depends on the person: some people have naturally higher cervix’s than other people.

If it is low enough for you to reach, it will feel similar to the tip of your nose, though it might feel a bit softer than your nose during the middle of your cycle (during ovulation).

Why does my cervix matter?

Since your menstrual disc is meant to catch the blood, it needs to be positioned right below the cervix.

If you push it too far up so that it’s sitting next to the cervix or in front, or behind, it won’t be able to catch the blood. While you don’t want it too far up, if it’s too low, the blood could also sneak past the disc. So the goal is to get the disc far enough in so that it’s right below the cervix. That distance will depend on the person because of our unique cervix heights.

How do I get the disc right below the cervix?

Nine out of ten times, people have no problem with it — they just push the disc in as far as they can and then “tuck” (push) the front rim up above the pubic bone. Your pubic bone just feels like a harder part of the inside of your vagina, on your belly side. And that’s it!

I’d recommend trying this basic insertion method first because you might have no problems. If you’ve already tried the basic tuck method but it’s leaking, it’s most likely because the disc isn’t centered right below the cervix.

So how do you center it?

First, insert your finger to get an idea of where your cervix is. Then, push the disc in until the back rim has traveled past and underneath your cervix (like you’re scooping it up). If you’re not sure it was scooped, you can gently poke your finger into the bottom of the disc to feel your cervix through it. If you don’t feel your cervix, relax and try again later.

Tip: remember that you should aim towards your back/tailbone not up, since your vagina is a bit diagonal.

How do I know if I put it in correctly?

A correctly positioned disc will generally pass this 5-point confirmation test:

1. The disc is centered right below the cervix
2. The back rim sits behind the cervix
3. The front rim stays tucked above the pubic bone (harder area of the inside of your vagina, on your belly side)
4. The disc is comfortable and you don’t notice it
5. The blood ends up mostly in the disc

The biggest sign that you put it in correctly is that the blood is mostly inside the disc when you pull it out. There might be a little bit of blood outside the disc but that was just left over from before you put the disc in.

If it worked, congratulations! If not, don’t worry, the learning curve takes time for many people.

I promise you it’s worth it so when you’re ready, try it again! If you have any questions, please contact us below and we can give you our best one-on-one guidance based on your situation, or try our free AI tool that can diagnose your specific needs.