Disposable pads and tampons contain toxic chemicals that are hazardous to our bodies, taking up space in landfills and possibly polluting oceans by leaching into marine environments causing harm to marine life.
Reusable menstrual products can make a world of difference! Reusables are one-time purchases that offer greater savings to women living in areas with limited access or struggling to afford disposable options.
Comfort
Cloth menstrual products offer more comfort and less frequent change-over than disposable pads or tampons, which often touch intimate areas and must be changed frequently to remain functional. Furthermore, cloth products can easily be cleaned with either hot or cold water for faster washing processes than changing and washing conventional menstrual products.
Some users reported experiencing an initial learning curve, particularly with intravaginal products like menstrual cups which may feel unsettling to insert. With practice comes lessened discomfort and increased comfort over time.
Reusable menstrual products not only benefit the environment and cost savings; they may also make young people feel positive about themselves and self-image when used correctly. This was evidenced in participants’ descriptions of positive changes to relationships with themselves, other women and bodies as a result of using these reusable menstrual products – these changes included greater understanding, acceptance and positivity which is often neglected when studying menstrual product usage’s impact. This key finding highlights one key benefit that often goes overlooked during studies into its effects: these key findings that often go overlooked during studies that measure its effects: when this study included this aspect as it was often left out from analyses conducted regarding its effects: this key finding highlighted this aspect as often neglected when investigating effects associated with menstrual product use: young women reported an improved body image when using these reusable menstrual products: this was evidenced through participants describing changes associated with increased understanding, acceptance and positivity amongst themselves and other women related relationships that associated with use; this finding represented increased understanding, acceptance, positivity. This finding highlighted this important finding due to studies overlooking it when studying its effects; this aspect must not be neglected when analysing such studies concerning its effects upon menstrual product use studies conducted into its effects upon effects studies into its effects upon usage studies which often forget this factor when studying its effects upon user population groups that this cohort of products can produce.
Ease of Change
Reusable menstrual products can be quickly washed and reused. Unlike their disposable counterparts, which typically consist of plastic material, reusable items can be washed in cold or warm water and tumble dried on low heat without worry – or machine washed and left outside to dry in the sun!
Participants reported positive changes in their perceptions of menstruation and themselves after using reusable products, rejecting menstrual stigma and appreciating their menstrual bodies; something contrary to the dominant advertising message which promotes disposable products.
Yet some participants voiced reservations regarding the upfront cost and limited availability of reusable menstrual products; hygiene concerns; as well as discomfort with menstrual cups. They noted difficulties changing reusables outside of their own homes, leakage issues and cleaning burden. All these concerns could contribute to long term users hesitating or dropping out due to these barriers – especially where discussing periods is stigmatized or women have few sustainable product options available to them.
Environment
Most women and girls rely on disposable sanitary pads and tampons each month, which end up in the trash. These products contain harmful chemicals that can lead to skin conditions like dermatitis and dryness as well as plastic leaching into water sources. Reusable menstrual products made of organic materials don’t contain these toxic chemicals or plastics and should therefore be considered.
Reusable menstrual products are environmentally-friendly because they require less water and electricity to produce and store, and don’t need to be flushed down toilets or stored in plastic packaging. Furthermore, these reusables don’t emit an unpleasant odor and are silent.
Many young women lack adequate knowledge on reusable menstrual products and how they can be safely used, whether due to stigma surrounding menstruation, a lack of lavatories and handwashing facilities nearby or poor economic circumstances (known as period poverty). To combat period poverty on U.S. college campuses and beyond, The ExtraVAGanza Project seeks to increase availability of reusable products through increasing availability.
Cost
Reusable menstrual products offer an alternative to disposable pads and tampons that contain chemicals that disrupt hormone levels as well as plastic waste; instead they’re made from natural materials that feel soft on your skin without chafing. Reducing waste generated from menstruators while simultaneously keeping harmful plastics out of landfills and oceans are additional advantages of choosing reusable menstrual products.
Reusable products may appear more costly at first, but switching will drastically cut the costs associated with menstrual care. On average, a manstruator goes through 12,000 pads and tampons during their lifetime – so switching could save thousands.
This study collected both qualitative and quantitative data from participants recruited via social media ads. Quantitative analysis used multinomial logistic regression and Poisson regression to identify demographic characteristics associated with current or former reusables users, while open text responses provided an opportunity for future research to investigate barriers associated with their use (including difficulty learning how to insert cups correctly or finding something suitable) as well as to determine the need for more extensive information about menstrual products.
