Let's talk Period: Alternate Period Products




It is easy to see why disposable sanitary pads have taken the world by a storm. They are low maintenance and do a satisfactory job in protecting its users from Urinary tract infections. Why you might then ask, should we look for alternatives? The arguments are simple.

Chemicals. The better a sanitary napkin is, the more chemicals it asks you to tolerate. Alternate products use a minimal number of raw materials.

Disposal. Sanitary waste often ends up polluting water sources. The alternate products do not need disposal for a long time.  

Plastic. The plastic content present in disposable pads is not recyclable, whereas the new products do not use plastic or use it to the minimum.

Most importantly, Comfort. Sanitary pads are comfortable for a sedentary lifestyle. The moment you start walking, they feel restrictive. We need better products that will not make menstruation a liability.

Some of the highest performing period products worthy of a second thought are:



Tampons:

New age tampons are made of fully biodegradable cotton and waxed tip. Furthermore, even the applicators now consist of biodegradable or reusable plastic. The applicator is an accessory; one can choose not to use it at all. Tampons are small, compact, easy to use, and easy to discard. They are ideal for teenagers.

pros:

Tampons are highly comfortable and easy to use.
They are much more discrete and do not create a mess.
Tampons are environment-friendly. Although cases of Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is infamously associated with tampons, chances of actual infection is lower than that associated with pads.


Cons:
Tampons are costly and are not reusable.
The vaginal canal needs cleaning after periods are over since minute left-over cotton particles can be damaging.
Tampons need to be changed more frequently compared to other alternate period products.


To buy now, click on any of the pictures below:




Period underwear

The period underwear is precisely what the name suggests.  The mechanism is quite similar to cloth pads. These underwears have a dry upper layer and an absorbent core. They come in different sizes to accommodate different rates of flow. The design makes it suitable for an active lifestyle and also for women with disabilities. Using them alongside a pad, a tampon or a cup is a perfect fool-proof method of combating heavy flow.

Pros:
Period panties are available in all shapes and sizes.
These panties are extremely good at preventing leakage and stains.
The mobility these underwears provide is unmatched.

Cons:
Just like cloth pads, period underwear needs a separate wash.
One might need to buy as many panties as the number of days in their period.
A reasonable period underwear brand may be hard to find. There is hardly an Indian brand that can match the quality of Thinx.

To buy now, go straight to SheThinx
Or, buy from Amazon: Hygiene and You 



Menstrual cups:

Menstrual cups are different from all other period products and are revolutionary. They consist of only one ingredient- medical grade silicone. They are painless, harmless, make no mess, and makes one forget that they are on their periods at all. The problems of odour, staining while sleeping or on coming in contact with water, don't occur with cups. They are available in a staggering number of sizes and colours. Cups are ideal for adults over age twenty.

Pros:
One needs to invest in only one cup, which can last for a decade if used with care.
The cleaning process isn't messy and needs only water.
One cup can handle all types of flow can be easily combined with other products to provide extra protection for super-heavy flow,

Cons:
Concerns associated with cups are primarily religious, and it does not appeal to tradition-minded people.
Unavailability of clean washrooms and water supply will make maintaining a cup difficult.
It takes time to get used to a cup. Often, people buy cups without considering the shape of their vagina, leading to problems in installation and leakage.


To buy now, check these links out:



It is crucial for the empowered women of today to move on from disposable sanitary napkins so that when the bottom-most strata of women finally get out of the clutch of taboos and embrace it, no one would be raising a finger on the pollution caused by sanitary napkins. There is no official data on the number of deaths caused by menstruation-related taboos, but it is too early to call it a thing of the past.

Menstrual hygiene product is a personal choice. One should go for whichever product feels the most comfortable. However, that decision should be evidence-based. Try out all the products at least once. Using a combination of two products in the initial days of flow is recommended.





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