The day has finally come! YES! The world now has a truly reusable menstrual disc similar to the cult favorite SoftCup/ Instead Cup called the Ziggy Cup. Once upon a time there was a reusable version but it was discontinued and those who love their reusable discs had to either go back to disposables or make the switch to a traditional silicone menstrual cup. For the sake of clarification we will be referring to the Ziggy Cup as the Ziggy or Ziggy Disc since it is not a menstrual cup.
Intimina tackled making a reusable menstrual disc using the same super soft silicone they use in their other hygiene products. Now, to be upfront, neither of us like disposable menstrual discs. BUT the option for a reusable one was intriguing and we were anxious to see if the silicone and the design of the Ziggy Cup would make the experience of using a menstrual disc better or different than the disposable variety.
The Ziggy is $40 on Amazon which is the very high end of what menstrual cups can cost. (We have used affiliate links in this post so if you buy from our links we can make that cost back!)
Our Review
The very long video review covers how the test went for an entire cycle including, yes, MESS-FREE PERIOD SEX!
The Good
- Completely comfortable while worn correctly and undetectable
- Insertion and placement was easier (IMO) than a disposable disc
- 100% leak free when it was working (not even a pink tinge for 2 days)
- Mess-Free Period Sex!
The Bad
- Removal is messy (I’m talking blood dripping down fingers messy)
- Removal and cleaning in a public bathroom is traumatic without access to a sink
- Hard to correct position if it slips without removing and re-inserting
- The capacity is stated to be 76 ml but that is going to be less for most people
For a solid two days the Ziggy was working perfectly but then… it wasn’t. For the first part of my trial I was using the Ziggy while camping but it was barely spotting so I didn’t cover this in my video review. The next two days were my heavy days and it worked flawlessy! As told in the video I was able to have sex with the disc in and when it was removed I was able to see that it was VERY FULL when it came out in the shower so we dodged a bullet there.
For the third day I was in NYC and the disc worked well for the first half of the day until I had to remove it and clean it (in public, which was a disaster) after which I never could get it to work without small leaks or without it slipping out of place.
As with other products, cups included, it can take a few cycles to fully get the hang of the Ziggy. I do plan to give it another run next period because when it was working it worked flawlessy. I think it’s worth more trials but I’m not excited about any potential future removals in public spaces. The Ziggy can’t be easily wiped clean and reinserted like a menstrual cup. I suppose you could forego wiping and simply put it right back in but the way it stays flat at removal has meant so far, for me, the entire front and back get bloody and this doesn’t prevent your fingers from still being covered.
The Intimina website lists the capacity of the Ziggy at 76 ml however I believe this to be misleading for actual use. Yes, if you held the Ziggy underneath a faucet and filled to the brim then dumped that and measured the contents it’s going to hold that much. While being worn it is still “squished” and longways to a degree inside for me, and likely for many other wearers. This reduced the capacity by quite a bit. If you did allow the cup to fill entirely and went to remove it the more full it is the messier removal is since it’s removed at an angle and it’s hard to keep it from spilling out immediately once it’s outside of the vagina. We call the disposable discs “blood drawers” for this reason and the Ziggy is the same way. The messy removals are a big pro to sticking with menstrual cups which are not messy at all (in my experience.)
The Ziggy does seem an ideal option for anyone who LOVES their disposable SoftCups or Flex Discs but have wished for a reusable version for either environmental or longterm cost savings reasons. It can also be an option for those with a fairly low cervix (too low of a cervix and you may have placement issues, however) since the disc doesn’t take up the length of the vaginal canal the way a cup does.
35 Responses
I could never get the original Ziggy to tuck behind my pubic bone despite having had no such problems with Softcups. I ended up just biting the bullet and using menstrual cups for years. I recently got one of the reusable Flex discs and the fit (no leaking, autodumps, can’t feel it, the whole 9 yards) is great but it gets stuck and is hard to remove, I always have to hook my finger over the top and spill the contents, same as I had to do with disposables. Sometimes it does not want to come out, my insides are pliant and I sit there having it barely hooked on my finger but it is not coming out so I have to try again later. I guess it’s back to scouring the internet for a firm disc that has a removal aid, because I really really like my Flex reusable other than the fact that it is so hard to remove.
I see this review is quite old, has anyone who had trouble with the original Ziggy tried the new, smaller size? I never could get it to stay in place behind my pubic bone and had much trouble getting it under my cervix as well. It’s been sitting in my cupboard for years and now I see there is a smaller size that may be the answer to my problems.
While I haven’t tried either, I have used several other brands. Have you tried any others yet? I personally like the Lumma one as it has easy to understand sizes, doesn’t leak, is easy to insert (doesn’t collapse/not floppy), and the “string” makes it easy to remove. Any of the ones with a texture to the outside surface are a hard no for me as I am apparently super sensitive, probably my fibromyalgia.
I love flex discs but the ziggy has been incredibly challenging. It’s too soft for me to position correctly without a 20 minute exercise in contortion gymnastics. I’m so sad…once it’s in it great. I just don’t have the emotional energy to make it work.