Alternative period products: Manage your period a little differently

January 19, 2022

Menstrual Products – Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

Managing your period can be difficult no matter what. From cramps to headaches and especially the bleeding — it can be a lot. Another thing that can be difficult is finding the right way to deal with your menstrual bleeding.

For a long time, dealing with menstrual bleeding was pretty cut-and-dry. You had pads and tampons, and in dire situations, a wadded up piece of toilet paper. However, as we’ve advanced our knowledge of menstrual bleeding as a society, we have been able to advance our technology to deal with it as well.

If you’re tired of using pads and tampons (or maybe just want to try something new), consider looking into one of these alternative ways to deal with your menstrual bleeding.

Menstrual Cup

Menstrual cups (or “diva cups,” as they’re often referred to as), are small, funnel shaped devices designed to catch your menstrual blood. The devices are made of rubber and silicone so they’re flexible enough to bend and insert into your vagina. They’re reusable and just have to be washed in between uses.

Pros

Eco-friendly
Budget-friendly
Holds more blood than tampons/pads
Lasts up to 12 hours
Can be worn while swimming

Cons

Can be messy
Can be difficult to insert

Reusable Pads

Reusable pads are a popular option for managing menstrual bleeding because they’re both eco and budget friendly, as well as non-penetrative. Because all flows are different, they also come in different sizes. They can serve as a backup for tampons, or can be used alone. If used alone, they should be replaced every 2-6 hours,

Pros

Sustainable
Budget friendly
Non-penetrative
Breathable and flexible
Lower risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

Cons

Can’t swim while wearing
Must be replaced every 2-6 hours

Period Underwear

Period underwear is one of the newest forms of technology to deal with menstrual bleeding. They are exactly what they sound like: underwear to wear on your period. They’re absorbent underwear that you’re able to wear without any other menstrual product. Period underwear is also reusable. Just wash it between uses and you can keep it as long as you would keep a pair of normal underwear, however Think, a period underwear brand, suggests keeping them for up to two years.

Pros

Sustainable
Budget friendly
Non-penetrative
Breathable
Lower risk of TSS
Last all day

Cons

Can’t swim in them

Menstrual Discs

Menstrual discs are similar to menstrual cups, however, with a few important differences. Similarly, they are rubber devices designed to catch menstrual blood. However, these are disc shaped, disposable, and their key difference: they can be worn during sex. The key difference can be attributed to the placement of the device inside your vagina. The menstrual cup “sits in your vagina below your cervix and extends into your canal,” while the disk, “fits back into your vaginal fornix, which is where your vaginal canal meets your cervix,” according to Adrienne Santos-Longhurst in her article, “Are Menstrual Discs the Period Product We’ve Been Waiting For?”