Periods: What's best for our body and the environment?

We all know that women are strange, confusing creatures. We have emotions, that we show frequently and often abruptly. We sometimes think eating ice cream and chocolate will magically solve our problems. Weirdest of all though, our bodies have these smalls creatures inside, that live in constant loops like Groundhog Day, except every day is actually a month. And in that month, this creature inside us, has one goal: to bring life to another even smaller creature. To top it off, tiny, microscopic creatures like little boss babies, keep this whole process going. These little boss babies, let’s call them hormones, control so many things in our bodies. When you add this all up, it’s really not surprising we are misunderstood, because it all sounds crazy.

For the purpose of this post though, the most important thing, is that each and every woman on this earth has a different body. We have different creatures inside us, and varying amounts and types of boss babies. We have different outside factors. Different incomes. Different work schedules. Different sleep schedules. Different relationships. The list can go on forever.

I want every woman to know that you are unique, and what works for one woman, may not work for you. And that is okay. 

It’s okay. 

You may have to try 15 different period cups, or simply find the perfect one on your first try. You might only use tampons, or only use Thinx underwear, or use and love both. You maybe have never heard of Thinx underwear. You might hate tampons and use cloth pads. You may have vaginitis, vulvodynia, or allergies that really make every option difficult. And I want you to be able to care for your body, and also care for the environment. I refuse to believe that either should have to sacrifice. 

On average, one pad contains four plastic bags! I hate this. Due to scientific advancements, we can literally clone our favorite Shih Tzu. However, we struggle to make affordable, earth-friendly menstrual care products. It’s truly unfair that one of the few choices for over a hundred years of ideas, is four plastic bags. It takes hundreds of years for a single bag to decompose in a landfill, assuming it makes it to a landfill. And roughly 1% of all plastic bags get recycled. 

Tampons are even more controversial, at least in the safety of our bodies. Yes, they are made of cotton, but the cotton in conventional tampons contains a lot of pesticides. They contain rayon and viscose, which stick to your vaginal wall, and contribute to TSS. In addition, many manufacturers aren’t even required to tell consumers all the ingredients of personal hygiene products. Tampons are bleached, which creates harmful toxins called dioxins. Add the probability of genetically-modified cotton, polyesters, harmful fragrances. (Reference the article by The Huffington Post I source below if you would like to read more about this). All of this inside our little creatures, where we one day hope to grow other little creatures! Either we are walking around with four, earth-destroying plastic bags, sweaty against our skin, or we are carrying harmful ingredients around in our vaginas.

I think you get my point. We deserve better. Our earth deserves better. And our creature-making creatures inside our bodies (this analogy no longer makes sense does it?) deserve better. 

Menstrual cups. I have a lot to say about them. They are hygienic, easy to care for and clean, reduce TSS, save tons of money, last several years, AND are great for the environment. But, I get it. They are kind of off-putting. Not every woman wants to be that intimate with their menstruating vagina, conjuring images from The Game of Thrones “Red Wedding” (Thank you Amy Schumer). From someone who has used a menstrual cup, it’s not the mess that I struggle with. I have never liked tampons. I use them once or twice during a period. I guess my vagina is a free spirit or something, it wants to be out and open. So, I don’t like to use a menstrual cup my whole period. I struggled with this for a while. I felt very guilty. But, when I allowed myself to be…myself, I found other options too. Don’t let perfect get in the way of good. Back to the cups. They are expensive to try and non-refundable. Not everyone woman can afford to buy a thirty dollar plastic measuring cup just to find that it doesn’t fit their vagina. Wait, vaginas come in sizes? Yes, yes my darlings. Just like your pant size, or bra size, or even hat size, vaginas are not standard. Which brings me to my final point about menstrual cups. I would say a majority of women don’t want to buy several non-refundable, otherwise useless menstrual cups, until they find the perfect one. I was lucky and only tried two before I found one that fit well. By now, I’m sure you are starting to think, “Geez, is she trying to stop us from using menstrual cups?” And I promise, I am not, but I want to be honest. I want you to feel good about your choices. Not guilty, or disappointed, or shameful. Menstrual cups are great (reference the many reasons listed above). And I want you to try them if you are able and willing. I found a great article sourced at the end of this blog post from The Wirecutter, that helped me find a good cup the second time I tried. It is worth a read. Happy cup hunting!

Thinx. The period proof underwear. I love Thinx underwear. Free vagina spirit here, and all. They have several styles and now have different fabrics and colors. Each style holds a certain amount of blood, and they even advertise and sell a set for your whole cycle, customized to your flow. They have great customer service. They are a bit costly, averaging around $32 a pair, but some underwear at Victoria’s Secret are in that price range. They are machine washable just like any other panty. The best part is that they truly work. Most of my friends doubt me whenever I talk about them, but they work. You can’t feel or smell your blood. Only one time did I think I smelled weird. I wore a pair when my flow was unexpectedly too heavy on day four of my cycle. I wore them for 12 hours while working. And I didn’t wear a tampon or a cup the whole time. I didn’t notice the smell until like hour 10, and anyone at hour 10 of work needs a shower anyway. I think that passes the smell test! I strongly recommend them. 

Organic cotton sanitary products. There are a few feminine brands that make all cotton, usually organic, pads and tampons. These are not only better for your body, but also better for the environment than brands like Always, Kotex, Tampa, etc. The brands Natracare and Organyc make 100% organic cotton pads and tampons, wrapped in fully biodegradable/compostable materials. They provide just as many designs as normal brands. You can find them on Amazon or in many stores including Whole Foods and CVS.  They are more expensive than standard brands, but combined with other options like Thinx or cups, your use will be greatly reduced and so will your overall cost. I can use one small box of Natracare pads (box of 14) for 4-5 periods. Fourteen Always pads would barely get me through 2 periods, if that. Beware of brands like Seventh Generation that are not 100% cotton and are individually wrapped in plastic. There are many good brands, and some that are not as good. Even spending a small amount of time researching can help weed them out.

Reusable cloth pads. This is something I have yet to try, but after some research, I am excited to give them a chance. Glad Rags is the main brand that I researched. They offer organic cotton cloth pads and colored cloth pads made from conventional cotton. This method meets all my needs. Reusable, supportive of good agriculture, no waste, save money, and a free and happy vagina! They do have some negatives though, like a potential for staining and a little extra laundry care. Practicality may also be an issue when out and needing to change your cloth pad. You can’t really just throw that in your purse, can you? However, if this seems feasible for you, I think they are a great choice.

I discussed so many options, and I think they are ALL better than the standard pad or tampon. Do your research. There is always something new to discover. Make a decision that is best for you, and also helps the environment.  

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Sources:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/feminine-hygiene-products_b_3359581.html
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-menstrual-cup/