*This might be explicit to some people*
This article might not be interesting to everyone, but I wanted to educate people on them, to talk about my own personal experience, and to encourage people to use them. In this article I'm going to be talking about menstrual cups and reusable pads. To start off so that everyone has a better idea of what I'm talking about here is a brief description of each; menstural cups are silicone cups that are flexible and are used as a replacement for tampons. The sizes are based on how heavy your flow is. Also depending on how heavy it is, you don't have to take it out until after 12 hours. If your flow is heavier you may have to remove it every 5 hours. When removing it you just have to rinse it off with warm water, wash your hands, and put it back in. Once you are done with your period you can purchase cleaning product for it, look up at home cleaning products, or boil it for ten minutes. There are many different brands that have different shapes and sizes, such as the Diva Cup and Lena Cups. Reusable pads are cloth pads that adsorb blood as well as store bought pads. It is important to have an open mind and to make the decision to go against cultural norms that say tampons and pads are the best products to used because with research menstrual cups have a lot more benefits than tampons.
Menstrual Cup
I have both products, which I purchased about 6 months ago and have used every month since then. I bought a Lena Cup that was around $25 dollars, which many of the brands cost between 15-25 dollars. I did look up reviews of many different brands and the overall reaction people have to using them, and since most of them were positive I decided to buy one. One thing that I realized was important when buying one of these is being comfortable with yourself and your vagina because you are going to have to put it with your hands. It may be uncomfortable at first, however, it does get better and it is natural.
Pros:
- It is a one time cost, unlike tampons which you have to buy every month or few months
- It doesn't contain any of the chemicals that tampons do
-Since it doesn't contain the chemicals, there isn't a risk of getting Toxis Shock Syndrome
-It helps the environment because you're not throwing used tampons, the plastic/cardboard they come in, the wrappers, or the box in the landfill
-Some companies donate one cup to a woman in a third world country for every cup you purchase
-As someone with a heavy flow, the cup reduces the amount of anxiety I have about leaking during my period because it absorbs a lot more than a Super Plus tampon does.
Cons:
-It can be challenging to get in properly until you get more practice
I understand that there are probably mixed reviews on them, but as someone who uses one every month I really encourage you to invest in one and try it for a few months. It is really amazing and environmentally friendly.
Reusable Pads
I know many woman that don't use tampons, even as they get older which is perfectly okay because there are reusable pads too! Make sure you do your research in order to find a good brand that is absorbent so you are getting your money's worth.
Pros:
- Environmentally friendly because you're not throwing anything into the landfill
-You can buy them in bulk and get about 10 for only 5-10 dollars
-Save money on pads
Cons:
-Bulky
-They go on with a clip on the flaps of them, so they tend to move around a lot
Overall, these are amazing products that allow you to save money, save the environment, and to help out women in developing countries who don't have access to proper hygiene products. An awesome website where you can find both products is http://gladrags.com/. I hope you decide to try at least one of these out, open your mind to new things, and inform others of these products!
