Also known as “self-emptying” or “auto-emptying”, this happens when your pelvic floor muscles naturally contract and shift the disc slightly, allowing excess blood to flow directly into the toilet.
How does hands-free emptying work?
Self-emptying may happen every time you go to the toilet, only on heavier days, or not at all — it varies from person to person. For those who do experience it, it’s a unique benefit of menstrual discs.
When the pelvic floor muscles contract, they cause a temporary shift of the disc’s rim, releasing some fluid into the toilet.
When inserted correctly, the Noola Disc sits securely in the vaginal fornix and stays in place behind the pubic bone. Because every body is different, self-emptying can feel different for everyone. If you can self-empty, it’s an extra advantage! It usually happens when the disc moves slightly out from under the pubic bone during a toilet visit. You can trigger it by gently engaging your pelvic floor muscles while on the loo.
What does “contracting the muscles” mean?
It’s the same movement you use when trying to pass a bowel movement. This gentle push shifts the disc just enough to release fluid by changing its angle.
Will it leak during exercise, sneezing or laughing?
Great question! When the Noola Disc is inserted correctly and tucked behind the pubic bone, it won’t leak.
The muscle movement that triggers self-emptying happens mostly during urination, because it uses specific pelvic floor muscles that aren’t activated during squatting, working out, coughing or laughing. That means the disc stays securely in place.
If you’re worried about leaks on heavy flow days, we recommend emptying the disc before exercising. For extra reassurance, you can wear period underwear or a liner as backup.
How do I reposition the disc after self-emptying?
For many users, the disc simply returns to place on its own when standing up, or after 1–2 quick Kegel exercises. Kegels gently guide the disc back into the correct position.
If you’re new to self-emptying or want to double-check, you can insert a finger to make sure the disc is sitting correctly.