Menstrual Alternatives

Most women probably realize that disposable pads and tampons haven't been around forever, but most of us don't take the time to really wonder what our grandmothers and great-grandmothers used to absorb their menstrual flow. The environmentally conscious are probably well aware of all the available options, and know where to buy them, how to use them, and how to care for cloth pads or menstrual cups. Where do you fit in?

I just learned about menstrual alternatives 3 years ago and my opinion of cloth pads vs. menstrual cups has changed for personal reasons, which I will share. While there are other options, I will only comment on reusable/washable cloth pads and internal menstrual cups, which are the only alternative products I have tried and the only options available in our store.

Menstrual Cup

The menstrual cup is a great alternative to use for heavy flows, on camping trips or traveling overseas, and for athletes. It is also great for women who use cloth pads, but want to go swimming, boating, or participate in other activities where you can't wear pads. Inserted just inside the vagina, when seated properly you will forget that it is there. It does take some time getting used to it. Some women catch on right away, others take 2-3 cycles to "get it," and a few will say it just didn't work for them.

The menstrual cup does not absorb menstrual fluids. It simply collects it in the cup, which must be emptied, rinsed, and reinserted based on how heavy your flow is. There are various options in menstrual cups, including DivaCup, The Keeper, and Mooncup. We selected The Keeper for our store based on the fact that it is a US product manufactured right here in the USA.

Cloth Menstrual Pads

Cloth menstrual pads are another option for women who don't want to fill up the landfills with our monthly waste! Completely reusable and washable, this is a great option for women who can't use or don't want to use the menstrual cup. Cloth menstrual pads come in many shapes and sizes, and you can get VERY confused by the options out there.

Cloth menstrual pads can be made from numerous materials, including cotton, hemp, polyester fleece and velour. I personally prefer all cotton, but the reason there are so many different options available on the market is because there are MANY different women and preferences!

Why Choose an Alternative Menstrual Product?

There are a number of reasons, including:

•  Environmental- By not requiring new manufacturing/depletion of resources, as well as keeping it all from the landfills.

•  Economical- YOU save money by re-using your own menstrual products rather than buying new each month

•  Health- Not only can tampons be abrasive, disposable pads are made of non-breathable materials that can cause problems for chemically sensitive women. All disposable pads have some degree of dioxins which are NEVER healthy. I will include the information provided by the FDA, which you can use for general knowledge, and probably read between the lines. It is our opinion that dioxins are NEVER, in ANY amounts, acceptable, especially in a product that will be touching or right next to very delicate and sensitive tissue.

Why NOT Choose an Alternative Menstrual Product?

Honestly, the only reason NOT to use re-usable products is if it doesn't work for your lifestyle. If you don't care about environmental concerns, saving money, and your health, then the extra work in taking care of your menstrual cup or washing cloth pads may be a pain to you. While you might think all this is crazy right now, a year from now you might feel differently. I know women who think their own blood and menstrual fluid is gross. At some point, many women change their beliefs, whether it's having a baby, or just accepting their own body and its natural functions. Wherever you fit in, we hope that when you are ready to try an alternative menstrual product, you try one of ours!

Menstrual Cup or Cloth Pads? Decisions...decisions...

As I stated earlier, I will share my personal decisions and how they have changed during the past year. I switched from tampons to the menstrual cup as I've never really enjoyed that "wet" feeling provided by pads. For almost two years, I used the menstrual cup exclusively with no problems. Then out of nowhere, I started getting urinary tract infections every month, at the end of my cycle, only when I used the cup. This is probably also due to hormonal issues I was having, and not fully blamed on the cup. Before I finally stopped using it, I had had about 8 infections.

I had read that using a diaphragm can sometimes lead to infections because it puts some pressure on the bladder. So I imagine that a menstrual cup can work the same way. Some tips to staying healthy if you do want to use a menstrual cup:

•  Use the cup only on your heaviest days, and  use cloth on your light days. The more you use it, the more likely it is to cause infection (to those women who are susceptible).

•  Wash hands THOROUGHLY before removing the cup.

•  Wash all soap off from the cup before re-inserting.

•  If possible, urinate AFTER inserting the cup. This is almost impossible first thing in the morning, but try as much as possible.

•  Get plenty of sleep and take vitamin/mineral supplements daily. Keeping your immune system elevated is your best defense against urinary tract infections.   

As I said before, our views change over time, and while I still am not a fan of that "wet" feeling, it feels a WHOLE lot better than a UTI!! Wearing cloth pads does not bother me at all, whereas I hated disposable pads. Organic cotton cloth pads don't feel like a diaper. Tampons are just not an option to me for health and environmental reasons, so I make cloth pads and the cup work for me because of that. Hopefully you will consider them as YOUR option as well!

Shop for Organic Cotton Menstrual Pads

Shop for the Keeper