Menstrual Hygiene Made Sustainable (and more comfortable)
Why I stopped throwing away 261 tampons a year and felt so much better.
If you menstruate, you will understand what I mean. Getting a period can be very uncomfortable, time consuming and expensive. It means a full week of cramps, being afraid you will stain your clothes or sheets, spending a lot of time on your menstrual hygiene and many used tampons and pads in the trash bin. I love being a woman and having the gift of being able to carry a life inside of me, but this can be very annoying.
For me, menstrual hygiene options were also very uncomfortable — tampons make us dry and need to be changed too often so that you won’t be at the risk of getting an infection. Pads itch, may smell bad and are always misplaced in our panties when we exercise. I used to hat getting my period- and what a terrible thing it is to hate such a natural and amazing process in our bodies.
When I was 18, nonetheless, I saw some ads on menstrual cups and did some research on them. I learned everything about the different models and sizes, the usage and insertion, the correct way to clean them and where to get them and decided to ask my gynecologist what her thoughts were on the subject.
All about menstrual cups
Menstrual cups are little cups made of silicon designed to collect menstruation directly from the uterus. They should be placed inside the vagina, are reusable, safe to use and can stay inside you for up to 12 hours straight depending on the intensity of your flow. They come in different sizes for women who have different realities (e.g. someone who has children or who exercises a lot).
Today, there are many brands on the market that offer models with different anatomic formats and colors (they can be really cute as well). For hygiene, there are some products available that you can use to clean it, but you can also wash it with water and soap after each use and boil it in hot water for a few minutes at the beginning of every cycle.
And that was how I began using menstrual cups to make my periods more comfortable. At first, it was hard to find a good position to insert it and there were leakages quite often, but with time I learned how to deal with it. One of the greatest advantages of using them for me was how long I could be worry-free. As I have a moderate flow, I leave the cup in for about 12 hours before I have to change it and for that time I basically forget I am on my period. What could be better than that?
Another great thing was that it gave me the opportunity to get to know my body better, touch me and see my menstruation. I now have a better idea of how much blood I lose every month and of how it actually is and that is awesome!
One more advantage? I bought one cup and I can use it for years! Yes, it is great for your pocket, but also for the environment. I used to throw away around 261 tampons per year (plus all the packaging) and now all that waste has been reduced to zero.
The big problem about throwing away your used tampons and pads is that they contain a lot of plastics — meaning that they take a very long time to decompose- and also your menstruation — meaning that they can not be recycled. Therefore, we are left with a big amount of polluting plastics in nature. In the US alone 5,8 billion tampons were sold only in 2018.
I know that putting a cup inside your body is not the most appealing idea for many women- and that is absolutely fine. But it does not mean that you have to adopt tampons+pads as your menstrual hygiene pattern (and all the waste that comes from it). There are other sustainable and reusable alternatives that might be more comfortable to many people including those who still have not had sexual intercourse.
Other sustainable alternatives
Period panty
My personal favorite are period panties. They are high-tech panties made of special fabric and many layers that absorb your period while making you comfortable and dry. They can also be used for up to 12 hours depending on your flow intensity and I promise they are comfortable and pretty. You can find many different models, according to your flow, taste and mood.
They are very easy to use and also to clean — you only have to leave them soaked in cold water for half an hour before washing them the regular way. Also, most of them are equipped with special technologies that avoid bad odors that might occur when blood oxidizes in contact with the air.
I love using them to sleep and I have some from different brands. They are, of course, reusable, and last for a few years!
Reusable pads
Many of the brands that produce period panties also offer cloth pads that have the same absorbent technology . This is usually a cheaper alternative and they also come in many sizes and shapes, just like a regular pad. You can place them on your panty and attach them with the buttons.
They are also reusable and easy to clean. If you don’t like the idea of wearing period panties, this might be a good alternative for you.
Considering the average amount of years a person menstruates, you can avoid around 400 kg of plastic waste by choosing some of these sustainable alternatives over disposable tampons and pads — not to mention the amount of money you will save! In addition, these alternatives are usually even more comfortable and prettier, although they can be less practical when you are not at home.
Want to try? Go ahead and enjoy the benefits of it while reducing your waste production — I’m curious to know what you think about it and which one you chose!
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