The choices you never knew you had!

Most female-bodied people have a menstrual cycle – that is, they get their period. In a nutshell, for an average of 5 days a week (but anywhere from 1 day to 9 days) the uterus is busy expelling uterine lining and blood through the vagina.

When young people get their first period, they’re often introduced to one of two things – disposable pads, or disposable tampons. Many people choose one method they prefer and never change. Sometimes, though, neither of these methods is satisfactory, and sadly, most people don’t know about their other options. Today, I’d like to introduce you to a few new friends! No longer must you suffer the grim idea that bulky disposable pads or uncomfortable disposable tampons are your only options. I’d like to introduce you to four alternative products:

• The Menstrual Cup
• The Instead Cup
• The Reusable Pad
• The Reusable Tampon/Sponge

Now, I know what you’re all thinking. ‘EW, reusable? You mean you put it back in once you’ve used it? Gross!’ but just read on first and find out a bit more…

Reusable Pad

We’ll start with the ones that are most familiar. The Reusable Pad is just like a disposable one, only it’s made from cloth. Cloth pads come in an endless variety of shapes, sizes and colours, and are often more comfortable than disposables. Some cloth pads fit snugly into your underwear and just sit there, while others clip underneath with a button or two. When you’re done with one, you soak it in cold water and then wash it out by hand – or just stick it in the washing machine! A supply of cloth pads (the amount depends on how heavy your period is) can last you years, and while the initial cost can be a bit high, in the long run it can save you a lot of money. If you’re crafty, you can even find tutorials online to make them yourself!

Reusable Tampon/Sponge

The Reusable Tampon/Sponge is just like the disposable one, except you wash it out after you’ve used it. Sometimes they’re crocheted or made from a fabric, but many people use natural sea sponges instead. They hold a slightly lesser risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome because they don’t absorb as much, and so don’t dry out the vaginal walls. When you’re done, just rinse/squeeze them out, give them a wash, and you can use it again. Like cloth pads, they can be a bit expensive at first, but they save you a lot of money in the long run.

Next I’ll introduce you to a couple of slightly different concepts. Pads and Tampons both work by soaking up the menstrual flow, but does it really have to work that way? What if you could simply catch the blood?
You can…meet the Disposable and Reusable menstrual cups.

Reusable Menstrual Cups

Reusable menstrual cups work sort of like a tampon. They are made of medical grade silicone/rubber, and look sort of like a bell. They’re squishy and soft, so you fold them up and insert them into the vagina, where they open up again and catch the flow until you take it out and empty it. When it’s full, you simply take it out, rinse, and pop it back in again, so you only really need the one cup! Menstrual cups can be worn internally for up to 12 hours at a time and can last up to 10 years, and best of all, they don’t pose any risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome. Menstrual cups come in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes and can be easily ordered online. They do require you to be a little familiar with your anatomy downstairs, both so you can choose a good size and so you can insert and remove the cup. There’s a steep learning curve, but many people find that once they learn how to use one, they never look back.

Insteads

Disposable Menstrual Cups are called Insteads. They work like a reusable cup in that they catch the flow instead of absorbing it. However, insteads look more like a cervical cap or a diaphragm and they are worn much higher in the vagina – the instead cup hooks around the cervix rather than just resting in the vagina itself. Instead cups have similarly extremely low TSS risks and can also be worn up to twelve hours at a time. Unlike reusable cups, once you’ve used an instead, you can just pop it in the bin – however, it is safe to wash and reuse a single instead for an entire period, and use a new one the next month. Instead cups are more difficult to use than a reusable menstrual cup and don’t hold as much, but they have the advantage of being able to use them during intercourse – but they don’t offer any protection from pregnancy or STI’s.

Now, are you still thinking ‘EW, reusable? You mean you put it back in once you’ve used it? Gross!’ Rest assured, many people have the same reaction, but let’s stop and think about it for a second. What other things go in or on our most private parts that we reuse constantly? How about cutlery? That goes in our mouths – easily one of the most germ-filled places on our bodies – but we just clean and use those again. What about towels? Underwear? What’s so different about a reusable menstrual product? The only difference is that menstrual blood has super staining abilities. All of the products mentioned here are as healthy as – or healthier than – the disposables you find in stores. None of the products usually end up smelling as bad or leaking as often as a regular disposable pad, and none of them leave cotton fibers inside the vagina after use, and most of them are more comfortable/longer lasting than conventional disposables.

If you have a particular brand of pad or tampon that works for you – great! But if you haven’t found anything that you don’t hate using, try one of the methods above. Aside from the possible benefits in comfort, alternative menstrual products can save you a LOT of money, and they’re great for the environment. Just think – extra money for chocolate!

This blog was produced by Zoe, one of fantastic team of youth content producers. Would you like to see your blog here – check out out Be Involved page for who you can.

Thank you to Student Edge for sponsoring the development of this blog.

Image Reference.
Washing Machine: shakakahnevan from Flickr under the Creative Commons License

Tags: menstrual, menstruation, periods