Many women use sanitary pads or napkins, which absorb menstrual blood and are worn underwear, for menstruation. There are different varieties, from thin panty liners for light bleeding (panty liners) to thicker “max” or “overnight” pads that absorb more fluid during heavy bleeding.
Reusable period products can be washed and reused over and over, like cloth underwear. You can find these in natural health stores and online.
Tampons
Tampons are small cylindrical menstrual products made from cotton or rayon blend fabric that can be easily inserted into your vagina with the use of an applicator to absorb your menstrual blood and may become practically undetectable under clothing when used correctly.
They come in various sizes and are designed to be leakproof. Period products made of this material have become extremely popular among lower income people in the US, often because they’re discreet, smaller than pads, and easier to insert without looking down.
Unfortunately, they also contain chemicals that could be dangerous to your health. Studies have identified high concentrations of metals such as arsenic and lead in some tampons – this poses serious threats to both women’s physical well-being as well as environmental concerns. WVE is working hard to remove such harmful chemicals from the $3 billion U.S market for feminine hygiene products such as douches, sprays, washes etc – while the new Tampon Safety and Research Act hopes to ensure greater transparency regarding additives contained within them.
Pads
Pads and panty liners are two of the most frequently used menstrual products. Crafted from cotton or other absorbent materials, they come in different sizes to accommodate for your flow and can even be rewashed and reused multiple times before being thrown away. Reusable pads can even be washed multiple times for reuse over multiple cycles!
Menstrual pads come in both disposable and cloth options; cloth options may be washed and reused (commonly referred to as menstrual towels). Pad length can range from panty liners and mini/super pads (for overnight protection) or longer overnight pads (known as maxi/super pads).
Girls often have different preferences when selecting period products, making it necessary to try a few before finding what works for you. It is normal to switch up products during different stages of your period – using tampons on heavy flow days and pads or menstrual discs on lighter flow days/overnight periods or as backup protection if leakage occurs; you could also consider changing out pads/liner every 3-4 hours for optimal comfort, comfort, odor prevention and bacteria growth control.
Underwear
Period underwear should be soft, comfortable and leak-proof. They feature layers of absorbent material which wick away moisture from your vulva to keep skin dry, with some brands also featuring antimicrobial technology to combat odor and prevent bacteria growth.
Period underwear can be used alone or as a backup to tampons or menstrual cups, but it’s essential to follow the size and care instructions on each pair for best results. For instance, it’s best to hand-wash until all water runs clear as this helps avoid irritation of vulva tissue caused by clothing or towels rubbing against each other, leading to staining and set backs on clothing or towels that could irritate it further.
Many women find period underwear more comfortable than traditional disposable products because it does not feature wings or strings and looks more like regular underwear. Plus, they’re low waste and reusable — good news for the environment. You can wash it either cold or warm cycles using mild detergent without fabric softeners or bleach – then air-dry and store between uses to extend its life span.
Detergent
Chemicals like detergent are widely used to remove stains from clothing, bedding and other fabrics. You’ll often find detergent in cleaning products as well as beauty care items like lipstick. Unfortunately, though, detergent can leach into the environment and enter your bloodstream, potentially posing health threats such as reproductive issues and high cholesterol.
Use of tampons and pads may increase your exposure to dioxins (like octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin ) from their packaging or production process, leading to hormone imbalance and even some forms of cancer. Dioxins have been linked with hormone disruption as well as certain cancer types.
To reduce your exposure to chemicals, choose organic pads, tampons and panty liners made of 100% organic cotton. Also consider investing in menstrual cups that can be washed and reused over multiple periods – these may cost more up front, but will last longer and help to reduce plastic waste.
