<< Warning: if you are male and /or squeamish, you may want to skip this one and just go ahead and read the other posts. I won’t mind>>
It’s bad enough being doomed every month to five days of pain, bloating, spotty skin and terror-sweat inducing chocolate cravings, am I right girls? Add a love for animals and respect for the planet and your period can become more of an annoying question mark. And no wonder, when you consider that the average woman uses around 17,000 items of disposable sanitary protection in her lifetime.
But fear not, your monthly visit from Aunt Flo doesn’t have to mean a deluge of dioxins, synthetic chemicals, rayon, plastics, binders, fillers, applicators and wrappers in the local landfill.
Rather than spending stupid amounts of money on tampons (and risking Toxic Shock Syndrome), you can try one of the nifty reusable menstrual cups available (a device worn inside the vagina during menstruation to collect menstrual fluid rather than absorb it). Legions of women swear by the Diva Cup (www.lunapads.com). Made of soft hypoallergenic silicone, users love the comfort factor (once you get past the slight learning curve involved in the insertion. They also love the money they save over time (devotees have claimed to still have their Diva Cup after three or more years). It is available in two sizes depending on age and whether the user has had vaginal child birth. Detailed information about their care and application can be found both on the website and the package. The Diva Cup sells for about $30 and can be ordered online or at certain natural food and living shops.
The Keeper (www.keeper.com) is another option. The concept is similar to the Diva Cup but is made from natural gum rubber rather than silicone. Like the Diva, the Keeper is also available in two sizes. The Keeper is reported to have a life expectancy of up to ten years if properly cared for though women with latex allergies will want to look into a silicone alternative such as the Diva or the Mooncup (also available at www.keeper.com). All three methods are FDA approved and the Diva is also approved by Health Canada.
Another alternative is the reusable menstrual pad. Lunapads (www.lunapads.com) offers a good selection of comfortable cotton pads in a variety of sizes, patterns and colours (including unbleached organic cotton) that attach with plastic snaps rather than an adhesive strip and come with cotton liners that can be easily replaced rather than having to change the entire pad. Rather than tossing them after one use, one simply washes them. Users find they feel a lot nicer against the skin than disposable nylon.
Lunapads offer a starter kits for the curious and will sell their lighter liners in kits with the Diva Cup. Many Moons (www.manymoonsalternatives.com) also offers washable cotton pads with a nylon lining to guard against leakage. They come in four different sizes and numerous patterns as well.
If the idea of washing your menstrual products makes you cringe or if you’re simply uneasy about using them in public washrooms, there are “greener” disposable alternatives available. Seventh Generation (www. Seventhgeneration.com) sells organic cotton tampons that are not bleached with chlorine, do not contain rayon and are packaged in recycled paper. They also offer pads in three different sizes that feature a wheat-based absorbent core and recyclable wrapping. Natracare (www.natracare.com) also offers disposable tampons, pads and feminine wipes made from organic cotton and a biodegradable material known as “Bioplastic) which is made from plant cellulose rather than petroleum. They are also widely available at natural foods stores and some conventional drug stores.
Women will want to do a little research to see which method is best suited for her and there is a plethora of information available online. So armed with good information and a few bars of vegan chocolate, we can face Aunt Flo every month with a clear conscience, and maybe even a smile
