What are alternative menstrual products?

What are alternative menstrual products?

Many people find tampons and disposable pads uncomfortable. Some have allergies to chemicals used in the manufacturing process while others are worried about toxic shock syndrome (associated with tampons, not pads). Many are bothered by the drying caused by tampons and the diaper feeling of wearing a pad.

Others have no problems like these but are concerned with the environmental waste produced by the manufacture and disposal of tampons and pads. Disposable pads and tampons are also expensive over time. But several alternatives are available.

Cloth pads look a lot like disposable pads, but can be washed and reused. They are made from soft, absorbent materials, and usually backed with a water resistant material to prevent leaks. Wearing a cloth pad can still feel bulky, but because they are not plastic, they do not feel like diapers. Most people find that cloth pads do not smell as strongly as disposable pads while remaining just as absorbent.

Many people are discouraged by the extra care required. To keep pads unstained, they should be soaked in cold water after use, but they can then be thrown in a washing machine and dried in a drier. If staining is not a concern, they can go straight in the washing machine.

Many people on www.etsy.com sell pads in a variety of cute patterns for a few dollars each. Though this costs more at first, cloth pads usually last for several years, so they end up costing significantly less than disposable pads. Alternately, you could make some with scraps of fabric for free. The internet is full of patterns.

Sea sponge tampons are essentially reusable tampons. A sponge is inserted into the vagina, left for several hours, removed, rinsed out, and reinserted. Boiling at the end of a cycle kills bacteria. They typically last about six months before needing to be replaced. They’re usually sold in packs of two for $10 to $15 each, and can be purchased online. Some people have gotten toxic shock syndrome with sea sponge tampons.

A menstrual cup is a bell-shaped silicone or rubber cup which is inserted into the vagina and catches menstrual blood. It holds approximately 20mL of fluid, where the average woman loses 35mL of fluid during an entire period. It is recommended that the menstrual cup be emptied and cleaned every twelve hours, and most people do not need to empty it more frequently than that. DivaCup is a popular silicone cup in the United States.

Menstrual cups are not absorbent, so they do not cause a dry feeling, and can be inserted in anticipation of a period without causing discomfort. No cases of menstrual cups causing toxic shock syndrome have ever been reported.

Menstrual cups have a circumference of approximately two inches, and while they are folded smaller for insertion, women who are not sexually active may have a difficult time. Also, menstrual cups don’t come with applicators, so insertion requires that you put your fingers in your vagina while menstruating, which some women aren’t okay with.

Menstrual cups cost $30 and last for about ten years if properly cared for, making them very cost effective. A number of other cups are available, so it might be worth doing some research. Cups also all come in sizes for women who have given birth and women who haven’t, something to pay attention to when purchasing one.

Health food stores and co-ops that carry environmentally friendly and new age products may be likely to have these kinds of products, though their prices are sometimes very expensive.

Recommendations: Three alternative menstrual products, all reusable and all available from amazon.