Environment-friendly menstrual products?

[Sara Lovelace]

Indeed I am a very environmentally conscious girl, and I need a little advice here.

The only time I ever used pads was when I had my very first period back when I was 14 years old, and I absolutely hated them. I just can't stand the feeling of the blood coming out - it feels like I'm peeing myself, and I can't function in day to day life with that constant sensation. So after that I went and bought a box of tampons and have used nothing else ever since.

I love the idea of applicator-less tampons. They're so much cheaper than the traditional ones, and they're so good for the environment because there's a lot less wasted plastic. I've tried to use them several times, but I just can't do it - it's too painful to insert them.

Can you buy re usable tampon applicators? I think that would be so great. That way once you're done putting in your tampon, you could just wash it out and put it away to be used again and again. Several times I have tried saving a plastic applicator from another tampon and trying to re use it by shoving one of the applicator-less ones in it, but alas I couldn't get it to work because the other tampon wouldn't fit inside the tube.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas on environmentally friendly ways to manage your period? I've heard of menstrual cups, but I don't know very much about them. I've never seen any for sale anywhere and I'm not sure how you're supposed to put them in, and I'd be worried about something like that leaking or falling out.

 

[Moem]

Menstrual cups are the most environment-friendly way of dealing with your period. They're also utterly comfortable once you get the hang of using them.

I use a LadyCup, not a DivaCup. The principle is the same.
They're soft, pliable cups that you fold to insert, and they sit in your vagina below the cervix (lower than a tampon does) and catch the menstrual fluid. Every couple of hours (up to 12 hours if your flow is light) you remove the cup, dump the contents in the toilet, rinse the cup and re-insert. No waste of any kind.

The cup forms a seal against your vaginal walls, and if it's in correctly it cannot leak until it's full; it has a much greater capacity than any tampon or pad. It can't fall out, because the gentle suction keeps it in; also, while unfolded it's much wider than a (fresh) tampon, so your vaginal muscles will easily keep it in. I've never worried for one moment that my cup would fall out.

There are many other brands apart from the Diva, but they're not well known in the US; the Diva is a fine cup and there is nothing wrong with just getting one of those, but it's good to know that you have options!

Compared to other cups, the Diva is the longest cup, so if you think that you have a short vagina / a low cervix it might not be the best choice for you. I'd suggest you do some research. Especially, see the LJ community I linked to below.

My opinion on cups in general:
I love them. They're so comfortable and they make me feel very clean.
There is no smell of any kind and for me they don't leak either.
They don't dry you out like tampons do so you can even wear one if you're not sure you're bleeding.
You will never again have to worry about having enough disposable products at hand when your period arrives. And no more smuggling tampons in your sleeve when going to a public toilet.
It may take you a cycle or three to completely get the hang of using them, but it's so worth it.

I think cups are the best invention in this area ever. I would recommend all menstruating women to give them a try and see if they work for you.

Finally: kudos to you, for having an open mind.