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.

How should I deal with coursework about sex screwing with my head?

My reading for class is screwing with my head. The sexual feats in myths are making me feel inadequate and Freud is making me feel weird about everything.

College students often face problems like these. Medical students worry they have every disease, philosophy students have existential crises, and literature students start to think its appropriate to describe parts of their lives as Kafkaesque. Doing readings about sex and relationships can have similar affects.

You should work on building up some distance between yourself and the reading you’re doing for class. Keep in mind that what you read isn’t the only point of view and get involved in activities that remind you there’s a real world all around you. Try to mix your reading for class with some pleasure reading.

You should also make friends with some kids from other disciplines who can tell you that the things you are worrying about are stupid and some friends from older classes who can empathize with you and tell you how they got through the same readings.

But if you continue struggling with feelings of inadequacy and confusion, you should also consider finding someone to talk to (like a friend, a parent, a resistant assistant or director, health services, or a therapist) about any deeper issues you could have.

Recommendations: Two general books on relationships and sex for college students.

How would one get into the practice of tantric yoga?

How would one get into the practice of tantric yoga?

If you’ve got lots of money, there are workshops and retreats, which the internet can help you find. If you’re under eighteen though, you might not be able to sign up for some of them.

If you’ve got lots of patience and self discipline, you could buy a book, though many of them may be too theoretical to be very helpful. Youtube has some brief instructional videos and exercises you could watch and follow along with. It’s free and easy, but the quality of instruction may not be as good or consistent as classes.

We’re assuming, since you sent this question to a sex column, that you’re looking into tantric yoga for its sexual benefits. Any yoga class might help you to be more aware of what’s going on in your body. If you can achieve a similar state of concentration toward pleasurable sensations, they may become a lot more pleasurable.

A lot of people associate tantric yoga with delayed orgasms that are intense and long lasting. A very simple way to work toward more intense and controlled orgasms is to stop stimulation when you feel very close to orgasm, wait a few minutes, and then resume. Doing this repeatedly can help you build up to more intense orgasms, show you how much control you have, and teach you to be more aware of other parts of your body when you’re aroused.

Taking slow, deep breaths as you get closer to orgasm gets the rest of your body involved, which usually makes for more intense orgasms. You may be able to achieve what you’re looking for in tantric yoga without it.

Recommendations: Two books about tantric yoga and one book about how couples can learn to have more pleasurable orgasms.

What is an air embolism and how can it be prevented?

What is an air embolism and how can it be prevented?

An air embolism is a condition in which an air bubble gets into the blood stream. This can happen very rarely during medical procedures, and can be fatal if a large bubble reaches the heart, but usually doesn’t cause any problems. Under most circumstances, it’s something that only SCUBA divers need to worry about.

Relevant to sex, pregnant women are warned not to let their partners blow large amounts of air into their vaginas during oral sex. This can very rarely cause an air embolism because there is a lot more blood in the vessels around the reproductive organs during pregnancy, and if the pressure of air in the vagina is higher than that in the blood vessels, air can sometimes enter the vessels.

Vaginal penetration and oral sex don’t put you at risk for an air embolism, whether you’re pregnant or not. If you’re very paranoid, don’t let your partner blow air into your vagina (normal breathing is fine), but really this isn’t something you should worry about.

Recommendations: Two general books about sex and safer sex.