Reusable menstrual products offer many advantages over their disposable counterparts, such as reduced chemical content and low one-off costs; some even come free through charity programs!
However, some respondents stated they lacked enough knowledge about reusables. Some desired receiving additional or earlier education on this subject.
Hygiene
Reusable menstrual products help minimize waste during periods by replacing disposable pads and tampons with more eco-friendly alternatives that use sustainable fabrics like hemp. Furthermore, these eco-friendly alternatives may contain less bleached cotton and rayon which could contain hormone-disrupting chemicals that harm our bodies.
Reusable pads and cups can also be more affordable than disposables, lasting years longer while saving you money in the process. You’ll find them easily at most health food stores or online.
Reusable pads can help women and girls overcome period poverty, in which women worry month to month about how they will afford costly disposable products like pads. This can cause anxiety, depression and even genitourinary tract infections; investing in a one-off investment such as reusable products could free them from this burden and allow them to focus more fully on school or work; this is particularly essential in developing countries where costs for disposables can be prohibitive.
Cost
Reusable menstrual products may seem costly initially, but in the long run they’ll save you money. One menstrual cup or set of cloth pads could last you for years with proper care – saving thousands over your lifetime!
These products work similarly to disposable pads in that they attach securely to the crotch of your underwear and absorb menstrual fluid externally, but differ by being made of more comfortable and healthier materials that can be reused multiple times reducing waste production and expense.
Reusable pads are increasingly affordable for women, helping reduce period poverty. Women living in poverty face many difficulties managing their periods due to limited access to sanitary products; with every pack purchased from Trade for Aid, one will be donated directly to someone in need.
Environmental impact
Menstrual hygiene and environmental issues are interlinked. Disposable pads and tampons harm the environment as they take years to decompose in landfills and pollute water bodies with microplastics. Many products made with polyethylene aren’t biodegradable either, leaking into landfills and producing harmful gases while the lack of oxygen prevents their decomposition.
People sometimes flush disposable pads down the toilet, leading them into drainage systems and eventually reaching the ocean – an action which threatens marine life and damages ecosystems greatly.
Although this study was not meant to test how awareness levels affect participants’ choice of reusable products, it does demonstrate the opportunity for increasing public awareness regarding the environmental effects of disposable menstrual products. Doing so would require breaking taboos and changing attitudes about period products.
Comfort
Reusable pads offer greater comfort than disposables as they lack plastic backing that can chafe and irritate skin, plus are breathable and absorbent for ease of movement throughout your day. Furthermore, reusable menstrual products reduce waste more efficiently.
Participants who used reusable menstrual products reported high levels of satisfaction with their experience, citing comfort, effectiveness (protection against leakage), and environmental sustainability as motivations for choosing these products. Additional advantages may include lower risk for toxic shock syndrome (TSS) as well as staying active throughout their cycle.
Reusable menstrual products come in various forms, from cloth pads and period underwear to menstrual cups and sea sponges. When choosing products to help manage menstruation, the key is finding what fits for your body and lifestyle best.
