Menstrual care products are essential in helping women stay healthy and comfortable throughout their period. Products designed specifically to address leakage, absorbency and odor can greatly help.
Many individuals lack access to essential period products; this condition is known as period poverty and some women struggle even to afford one pad or tampon per month.
Pads
Pads are rectangular pieces of absorbent material designed to help you absorb period blood. They help avoid leakage and odor while also protecting against leakage during periods. Pads may be composed of natural or synthetic materials and come in various sizes and absorbencies – UNICEF procures disposable fragrance-free pads which are appropriate for medium to high menstrual flow rates.
People with light periods should opt for panty liners instead of pads as they’re thinner, easier to use and pose less risk of TSS.
Both pads and tampons may put users at risk for toxic shock syndrome (TSS). To reduce risk, always choose the lowest absorbency possible, changing every 4-6 hours, cleaning and drying hands after changing it, never flushing down toilets with pads that have been used due to flushing-clog risk, instead using special disposal bags to safely seal it before discarding.
Tampons
Pads and tampons are among the most widely-used period products used to manage menstrual flow. Being discreet, small and compact makes them suitable for sports activities like swimming or any other physical activities that may involve menstruation.
Tampons are made of soft cotton pressed together into a cylindrical shape that can be inserted into the vagina. Tampons come with different absorbencies to accommodate for heavy bleeding levels. Finding the appropriate size tampon can take trial and error to achieve optimal performance.
Most tampons sold in the United States are composed of cotton or rayon (derived from wood pulp cellulose fibers) or some combination thereof. Rayon contains trace amounts of dioxins produced during wood pulp bleaching processes that were once an issue; now these toxins must be free. People should always wash their hands prior to inserting a tampon for maximum health protection, and remember to change every 4 to 6 hours to avoid Toxic Shock Syndrome which can be potentially life threatening.
Menstrual Cups
Menstrual cups differ from pads and tampons by keeping blood within your vagina, creating an airtight seal to prevent leaks and providing protection for people of all ages and can even be worn overnight for added protection. While finding the ideal cup size may take some time, many women find a smaller cup works well for those who have never experienced intercourse or birth vaginally; larger cups should be chosen by those with heavy flow or those who have given birth vaginally.
To use a menstrual cup, first wash and moisturize your hands before applying a small amount of lubricant such as vaseline to its rim before folding tightly and inserting rim-up into your vagina. When it’s full, empty and sterilize as per package directions before emptying and using again; these reusable cups have proven both eco- and wallet-friendly!
Reusable
Before pads and tampons became widely available, people simply bled onto their clothing or used homemade flannel cloths for heavy flow. Nowadays, however, period underwear, menstrual cups, and applicator-less tampons offer washable solutions with reduced waste production while simultaneously saving on cost.
Everyday, hundreds of millions of disposable pads and tampons are flushed down toilets causing serious pollution to our waterways as well as contributing to fatbergs: massive masses of nappies, wet wipes, period products and oil that block sewers.
Switching to reusables may take some adjusting, but can save both money and reduce impact on the environment. There is a wide selection of overnight pads with various absorbencies and sizes that can be machine washed; others even can be boiled! Furthermore, biodegradable options exist as well as organic versions free from chemicals.
