Can Softdisc be “used as a reservoir to keep sperm close to the cervix?”
Although commonly used for period protection, trying-to-conceive (TTC) couples appear to have discovered a new use for the Instead Softdisc – as a fertility aid!
Softdisc fertility success stories are so commonplace now that Instead has filed for FDA clearance to officially market the Softdiscs as a conception aid.
Softdisc are “body friendly and body safe.” They have been tested for biocompatibility and are hypoallergenic. In the more than ten years that the product has been on the market, there have been no reported incidences of Toxic Shock Syndrome. Instead was originally designed as an innovative “no strings” and “no wings” alternative to traditional forms of feminine protection.
According to Instead, the makers of the Softdisc, trying-to-conceive (TTC) couples were “seeking a simple and affordable option before going to more extreme treatments. [These couples] discovered that the Softdisc could be inserted immediately after intercourse to promote conception – and they had amazing success stories to prove it.”
As a fertility aid, the rationale behind the Softdisc is simple: Following lovemaking, the Softdisc is used as a reservoir to hold semen and sperm close to the cervix. The cervix is the channel that sperm must pass through to reach the uterus and fertilize the egg. Thus, the Softdisc may work as a fertility aid by helping pool sperm around the cervix.
Instructions for Using the Softdisc
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Using the Instead Softdisc, like anything, requires just a bit of getting used to. That means it might be a bit awkward at first and take a moment or two of practice to insert the Softdisc properly and comfortably. Below are some basic learning tips – and please see our diagram to the right. A complete instructional guide comes with each Softdisc order.
- Unlike tampons, when inserting the Softdisc, PUSH BACK – and not up – for correct Softdisc placement.
- To insert the Softdisc, ensure that the hands are clean. Squeeze theSoftdisc by compressing the opposite sides of the rim together.
- Keeping the rims pinched together, insert into the vagina as far back as it will go and place under the cervix and behind the pubic bone. Complete instructions provide detailed step by step help.
- When removing the Softdisc, use your middle finger to gently hook under the Softdisc rim. When you are ready to remove the Softdisc, avoid pulling the cup straight down. Instead, keep the cup level to the floor to avoid spilling any contents.
**For use as feminine protection instead of a tampon, the InsteadSoftdisc can often be worn twice as long as a tampon.
**The Softdiscs cannot be re-used and should not be worn for more than 12 hours