In an effort to reduce my own consumption in recent years, I’ve turned a critical eye to as many elements of my life as possible, especially those which are marketed as necessary. Like most other people with vaginas, I menstruate. And like many of those, I didn’t know until I actively started looking that there were any alternatives to tampons and disposable pads. These alternatives may not be the preferred choice for everyone, but considering that in 1998 in the US alone, 7 billion tampons and 13 billion pads (and their packaging) made it into landfills and sewage systems, it’s important to know that there are alternatives. Embracing menstruation as normal and non-dirty may be an important step in battling the waste generated by our throw-away culture.
Menstrual cups – about $30
Menstrual cups were first developed in the 1920s, but you probably haven’t heard of them because it’s less profitable to run a business on something that can last for years than it is to market disposable products. Menstrual cups are made of flexible silicone (Divacup) or rubber (The Keeper), and work by sitting inside the vagina, with the mouth of the cup around your cervix. They collect, rather than absorb, the menstrual flow and are then removed, emptied, washed, and reinserted. Menstrual cups can be reused for years and are much less wasteful and more cost-effective than disposable products. They are also less irritating and drying because they collect only the menstrual flow without absorbing all the other moisture in your vagina. Since cups collect rather than absorb your flow, the risk of toxic shock syndrom (TSS) is extremeley low, and there has never been a reported case using the Keeper or Diva Cup. They are also really convenient for travel and physical activity because you don’t need to carry anything around with you, and they generally need to be emptied less often than you would need to change a tampon or pad (about twice a day). They are bigger than tampons, but they are flexible and fold up when you insert them. You can’t feel them when they are inside you properly, but it does take some people a while to get used to them. When inserting and removing the cup, it helps a lot to tense and relax your pelvic muscles (klegels) to sort of suck it it and push it out. Also, using menstrual cups is a really interesting and surprisingly fun way to get in touch with your body. You can see exactly how much menstrual fluid you produce and what it looks like, which can be useful in keeping track of any sudden changes in your cycle, and can help you feel less grossed out by the workings of your body. Blood can be composted or put straight into soil as a fertilizer, and if you're really adventurous, you can even paint with it!
Cloth pads – free or $20
Disposable pads cannot be composted because of their plastic adhesive backing and because they are treated with chemicals and bleached. Cloth pads are a reusable alternative. You might expect cloth pads to be diaper-like or prone to leaks, but I have found them to be far more comfortable and none has ever leaked on me. You can purchase well-made commercial ones or make your own from scrap fabric. Some cloth pads have just one layer, while some have a slit in the back where you can insert more fabric for a heavier flow. I soak mine in cold water then handwash them. I don’t find it to be more of a hassle than it would be to coordinate going to the store to buy disposable pads.
Not down with reuseable menstrual products?
That’s fine. I don’t want to make you feel guilty, but I would encourage you to give these products a try. If you do want to use disposable products, consider tampons or pads made from organic cotton and with less packaging (such as OB tampons).
Where?
Elephant Pharmacy (Shattuck and Cedar) sells some cloth pads, Divacups and organic disposable products. lunapads.com is a small, women-owned business selling more cloth pads and Divacups. divacup.com and thekeeper.com also sell and have more info on their products. Some of these websites offer money-back trial periods of several months. Patterns to make your own pads can be found online, such as at diapersewing.com/clothpads.htm