And if you’re anti-silicone, she suggests trying a natural rubber menstrual cup. She recommends the Keeper in this respect.
- Period Undies
- Reusable Pads
Who said period panties had to be ugly? According to Bustle, there’s a great brand of period panties available called Thinx. Not only are they made to keep frustrating stains away, but they also hold your flow. In fact, Bustle says they can carry the equivalent of two tampon collections of blood.
When it comes to Thinx, can choose from high waist to hip hugger to boy short panties. And if you’re really daring, you can try thong or cheeky panties on lighter days. The company recommends testing products to see if you need tampons or menstrual cups in addition to these unique panties.
Reusable pads? Yes. According to Tree Hugger, reusable pads are a great alternative to disposable pads. Women are said to go through up to 16,800 pads and tampons over the course of a menstrual life. This adds to unnecessary garbage pileup in landfills.
Tree Hugger says that one important reason to make this switch is that reusable pads can actually lessen cramps, infections and even skin rashes. They attribute this to the plastics and chemicals used in traditional pads. These ingredients prevent air from circulating, which can lead to a rash. Plus, the synthetic fibers used in traditional pads can wick moisture from your nether region, which adds to the risk of both pain and infection. In fact, the author says that due to the switch, her cramps have vanished.
Tree Hugger claims reusable pads are better for health in general because pesticides and herbicides associated with cotton are eliminated. Plus, you’re losing the plastic and chemical factor. And best of all, reusable pads can cut costs.
But what about the dirty factor? After all, reusable pads would seem rather unhygienic at first glance. Fear not. Tree Hugger says that lots of reusable options offer a liner that can be removed and washed. Further, waterproof linings are said to be added to prevent leakage.