Flex Disc Carrying Pouch & 2 Discs

I feel like I should rate it four stars because there is room for improvement, but there are so many pros, I don't really want them to panic and change it too much. Used the Nixit for several years. Took a break because I had my fourth baby. I loved a disc but to be honest it lightly leaked especially on super heavy days. Not always, but unpredictable spotting or nothing, so you really need a light pad with it. I have vulvodynia so the slightest irritation is like the end of the world in terms of hygiene products, rubbing, pressure, stems etc down there. Pads literally make me sore and aching skin within a couple days, they also are messy and have an odor and you can't wait to shower daily because you feel so unclean. I have used tampons but they come with a lot of risk, they are hard to gauge, too much absorbency and you get the dry tampon removal experience, or too little and it is leaking and sopping, plus that string is not just a little gross hanging around waiting to collect bacteria and infect you. I used cups for a while but they are not great with vulvodynia and you can end up feeling pretty desperate and raw by the end of your cycle even with stems trimmed off. Also getting suction every time when inserting can actually be tricky and you can really be in a panic on the toilet trying five and six times over and over, nope it is pushing itself back out, nope, slid out, why isn't it working, three different folds etc. At night is fine because you don't walk around so no friction or disturbance in suction from activities. Also, have you gotten it suctioned way up so you can't get it out? I have and my husband had to be called for assistance and even then we almost didn't get it out. Scary. Well after my period returned five months postpartum, I got the Flex reusable. I was looking for a disc that was clear to avoid dyed silicone. It is amazingly designed (yes I bought it not a paid promo). Compared to Nixit- Nixit is pink silicone, Flex is clear (much prefer clear, many people hate it but honestly 1) I want to see to clean it, not like a navy blue cup or tie dyed pinks and reds so you don't even know what you're washing 2) there is nothing we know about silicone colorants, the v is acidic can it eventually leach after being inside for days and days every month? one brand has cobalt titanate to color the disc and I looked it up and in pubmed there is currently carcinogen concern over the use of that even for medical device colorant but FDA currently still has it approved for use, not fussy about using a potential carcinogen near my cervix, sure the clear might yellow a bit but literally who is going to see that and I cheerfully trade it off for more safety assurance Nixit is about the same size as Flex in diameter, not noticeable Nixit is a thicker silicone material, Flex is incredible slim and streamlined and the pouch on the disc is like silicone Saran wrap Nixit has a double rim leaving a groove in between the rims, Flex is smooth (I do not like the groove because it is hard to clean gunk out and I have to run my nail in between or stuff actually builds up in there, yuck) Nixit rim is very soft and squishy incl rim, Flex is very soft and silky but the rim is firmer and springier more effort to pinch Nixit doesn't have a notch in the rim, Flex does (get rid of the notch! It doesn't help insert it at all and actually causes more twisting and difficulty and is a hard firm tip instead of a firm rounded insertion point. In fact it twisted so badly and folded up all over the place and turned into figure 8, I contacted the company and they said try turning it around so notch end goes in last not first in and ha, it worked) Because the rim is firmer on flex, I have no way to compare but people who aren't as stretched out inside as I am from birthing large babies might be a bit daunted by getting it in and accommodating it. I might be wrong though but somehow it seems more substantial inserting it than Nixit. Nixit is easier to insert in my opinion, the rim is firmer and the bottom is so silky on Flex it is actually a bit tricky to pinch the two sides together without one side trying to already twist under the other. Nixit leaks some because it is so soft it just must bend too much with activity. It is quite quite good and I still don't mind wearing it but don't do it on a heavy day, or you just should accept lightly leaking on and off at random. I am insanely impressed how despite all it has to do, you put the Flex and if you got it right, it is IN and you can confidently wear no pad on a heavy day. I farm, I was chasing escaped calves. I mowed. NO LEAKS. Except please be careful because I was on a heavy day, and was so enthralled by the Flex doing it's job I didn't empty it (sometimes it will auto dump but sometimes not if you don't do #2), I went 8 hours between emptying, I sat on the couch strangely maybe cross legged or on one leg and heard a sound and bled thru everything. I think it dumped on me. You can wear both when going #2, but you'll prob want to check with a clean finger it is back up under the pubic bone after. Nixit is more likely to sag down more. Nixit removal is like a blood bath. Flex there is a small amount of extra blood but I think the thin thin wrinkly silicone pouch part somehow collapses in on the blood and mostly contains it while removing it. I don't care about blood with removal, just grateful it wasn't in a pad and on me but it definitely is a plus to have less of it all over when removing the Flex. I haven't slept with it in yet. I have tried the Nixit and once I couldn't pee when I got up in night, and got so scared I never wore a disc at night again and use a cup (saalt soft). I tried last night for first time in a few years and I had been sore on inner pubic bone from trying to get the Flex in repeatedly and failing plus the notch nonsense (it was like my anatomy had shifted, low cervix??? Trick is relax, push down low with the disc and aim down towards tailbone to almost scoop under cervix. ). Lying down didn't feel good with the rim on sore spot so I took it out and wore Rael depends disposable organic underwear. I'll try the flex at night next. So far the Flex isn't causing urine retention or any discomfort even with my vaginal pain issues which is pretty something in fact. Hope this lengthy review helps you as I have others' reviews. So far I'm favoring the Flex reusable disc right now. Nixit is ok but it is less iron clad in my opinion in terms of leaking. I feel like nothing is happening when on period and wearing Flex. Clean, dry, not sore, no cramps, no sick feeling in stomach, and can keep a social calendar without wondering what awful gross bathroom you'll be forced to carry out tampon removal and pad changes, could even wear a white dress and not worry at all. (I would always still wear backup if I wore white lol). But having to change it every few hours or be worried about tss or leaking everywhere is great. And please do not ever get rid of the option to purchase clear undyed color style. Flex is the only one on market with a clear disc!