Every month, millions of girls and women worldwide experience periods – the natural biological process by which blood from their uterus leaves the body through vagina. To manage their periods more comfortably, many use menstrual hygiene products like sanitary pads, tampons or cups.
Whatever product you use, it is essential that it be changed regularly as moisture can cause irritation and promote bacterial growth. Furthermore, ensure your genital area stays hygienic by using unscented toilet paper and water only – chemicals may interfere with its natural pH balance and cause irreparable harm.
Pads
Pads are rectangular pieces of absorbent material designed to sit inside your underwear and catch menstrual blood. There are various sizes and absorbencies available; you may need to experiment until you find what best works for you.
Some pads feature extra pieces of fabric on either side (known as “wings”) to help secure them around your underwear and prevent leakage, while others only rely on sticky bottom adhesives as a form of security.
Change your pad every four to six hours during the day or more frequently if your flow is heavy, and always make sure that your hands are washed before and after changing it. Furthermore, be sure to dispose of old pads correctly — don’t flush them down the toilet!
Tampons
Tampons are small balls of absorbent cotton inserted into the vagina and used as menstrual hygiene products, offering light to heavy absorbency for light to heavy flows. Tampons should be changed every 4-6 hours to avoid oversoaking or Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).
TSS rates have steadily decreased over time due to more informative tampon labeling and education and awareness efforts, however overuse of tampons increases your risk for TSS as well as possible leakage leading to undergarment stains.
To insert a tampon properly, ensure your hands are clean and follow the directions inside its box. A string on one end of the tampon allows you to quickly pull it out when full and change is time.
Period Underwear
Period underwear looks and feels similar to regular underwear, with extra absorbent layers in the crotch area to absorb menstrual blood. They can be worn alone or alongside tampons or cups as an additional layer of protection during menstruation.
Reusable menstrual products offer many advantages for women looking to reduce waste from disposable menstrual products that contain harmful chemicals and generate waste. Many brands are leakproof, washable and reusable – with some lasting up to five years with proper care! They’re an appealing option for women seeking alternatives that limit chemical-laden disposable options while cutting wastefulness.
But it may take time to adjust to feeling your flow through these undergarments; some users start out using them only on light flow days or as backup protection until they become comfortable with them. Either way, this innovative product promotes body confidence and empowerment while simultaneously encouraging sustainable practices.
Menstrual Cups
Menstrual cups are bell-shaped reusable period products that sit comfortably in the vagina and collect menstrual blood for collection, creating a leakproof seal between uterus and vaginal canal for leak-proof protection. Menstrual cups come in small and large sizes and are commonly made of medical grade silicone or rubber materials.
These devices hold approximately an ounce of blood, roughly twice that of superabsorbent tampons or pads, and can be worn up to 12 hours without changing or needing a lavatory break to change. Furthermore, they help prevent menstrual blood from coming in direct contact with air which helps reduce odor.
To use, grasp the stem with both thumbs and index fingers, folding it over into your vagina, before pinching its base and pulling downward to remove.
Menstrual Discs
Menstrual discs are similar to cups and tampons in that they collect blood rather than absorb it, yet remain less intrusive than either option by collecting instead of absorbing. Furthermore, unlike tampons which seal against the cervix they offer less restriction and discomfort during menstruation.
Menstrual discs pose a risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). You can lower this risk by washing your hands before inserting/removing products, using a clean pot for boiling and sterilization during each period, and washing hands thoroughly afterwards.
Menstrual discs may take some practice to use effectively, but once you do it will become easy. We offer an in-depth guide that will walk you through each step and address any initial concerns that might arise.
