Menstrual hygiene products most frequently used include pads and tampons; however, some women also utilize panty liners, liners for menstrual cups/discs as additional forms of menstrual protection.
Find your ideal product(s) can help reduce waste and irritation – but finding it may take some trial-and-error, but the journey will definitely pay off!
Disposable
Disposable absorbent products, like tampons and pads, are the standard choice among many menstruators. They come in various thicknesses and shapes that cater to light or heavy bleeding (panty liners for light bleeding) or “max”, “overnight”, or “super” pads if your flow is heavy enough. When switching to eco-friendly options it may take some trial-and-error until you find what suits your individual needs best.
Disposable tampons and pads take an estimated 800 years to break down, using significant natural resources, energy and chemicals for production. After being used once or twice, they’re then either flushed down toilets or dumped into landfills where they eventually break down into microplastics that pollute oceans, rivers and beaches.
Natracare has taken steps to lessen their environmental impact with their tampons and pads by using organic cotton, wood pulp absorbent layers, biodegradable plastic applicators, home compostable options that you can store in your own compost bin, and home compostable options that you can place directly in it.
Reusable
Though reusable menstrual products require additional effort and time for washing, they’re cheaper and better for the environment than purchasing disposable pads every month. You can wear one for up to 12 hours without changing it out – meaning fewer changes!
Sustainable tampon applicators are bell-shaped silicone or rubber cups designed to collect menstrual blood during your period. You can rinse and re insert these cups during each cycle for better environmental impact compared to traditional tampons made of medical grade plastics or organic cotton grown using pesticides and fertilizers.
Participants who use reusable menstrual products reported favorable opinions of them. More often than those who had never tried them before, reusables were seen as beneficial to the environment, cost-efficient, comfortable, and provided protection from leakage. They did, however, express concerns regarding washing and cleaning (especially dealing with bloody water), along with perceived barriers to their usage.
Cloth
Reusable pads like Rael provide reliable, cost-effective, and safe methods of collecting menstrual blood while also avoiding leakage or discomfort during menstruation. Due to this fact, their growing popularity shows no sign of slowing. Reusable cloth pads like Rael are now more widely accepted due to being both better for your body and environment than disposable products that contain chemicals linked with dermatitis, dryness and worsening menstrual cramps; by comparison, disposable sanitary products contain harsher materials that irritate skin irritation while disposable products contain harsher chemical ingredients linked to dermatitis, dryness or worsened cramps; in contrast to this trend are made of soft organic natural materials which provide greater relief from discomfort during their monthly periods than disposable products which contain harsh chemical compounds which irritate skin further than disposable products made with harsh chemical ingredients linked with increased menstrual cramps whereas Rael cloth reusable cloth pads are made from soft organic natural materials which provides protection than both body and environment alike!
Though it may seem small, every month a girl spends around PS13 on period care products alone; that total adds up over her lifetime! By choosing eco-friendly reusable pads instead, which save both money and the environment simultaneously, long term savings may be possible. The AWHS survey is collecting data to elevate menstruation as an important health indicator while supporting development of tools specifically tailored to supporting those who menstruate.
Cups
Menstrual cups have been around since the 1960s, yet are once again experiencing widespread popularity. Offering safe, comfortable, and effective alternatives to pads and tampons that can last up to 12 hours of wear while relieving cramps when properly used (check this guide out), menstrual cups provide leak protection during physical activity as they use suction to create seal. Reusable for years when properly cleaned after each use with boiling water sterilization or other sterilizing measures – though expensive at first they become very cost effective over time! Invest in different sizes over time – once invested they will last!
No one size fits all with these implants; though some find them helpful. Insertion and removal can be cumbersome and they need to be cleaned regularly; this can present challenges if there’s no access to clean water or you live somewhere with poor hygiene standards.
