So here is a tiny slice of my fluffy addiction and it comes in the form of reusable menstrual products.
After years of struggling with thrush and heavy crippling periods a friend recommended cloth pads to me and i have never looked back, reusable menstrual products really have turned my life around when it comes to that time of the month and instead of dreading the arrival of aunt flow i look forward to using my cute and fluffy pads or popping in a cup not having to worry about my period for the next 12 hours.
What are reusable menstrual products?
Reusable menstrual products come in the form of cloth pads, menstrual cups, cloth tampons and sponges.
CSP
Cloth pads are also known as: CSP, Cloth San Pro, Cloth Menstrual Pads and RUMPS .
Cloth menstrual pads are an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable menstrual pads they do not contribute to landfill as they are reusable and do not come in or contain plastic packaging, basicly they are an eco friendly alternative to disposable sanitary towels that get washed after use instead of throwing away.
cloth pads can last for years, i have some that have been used every cycle for the last four years and they still have plenty of life left in them those made from natural materials can be composted whereas disposable sanitary towels made from synthetic materials cannot be recycled or composted.
Cloth san pro also creates less overall waste compared to disposable menstrual products as they can be upcycled from already used materials such as old t-shirts, old pillow cases,towels, fleece blankets and reusable nappies that are no longer needed. I have just boosted my night time csp stash with some hand made pads made from some old nappy prefolds and an outgrown t-shirt and they work wonderfully.
In the long term, it is less expensive to buy or make by hand cloth menstrual pads.
While they can seem less convenient than disposables they are not, they are still convenient as they can simply be cleaned in the washing machine. I normally store mine in a little wetbag untill the end of my cycle then throw them all in with the towel wash so i never even notice the extra washing.
Before using cloth pads i suffered from terrible thrush after my monthly period which i can only put down to the chemicals and the skins inability to breath due to the plastics, this has improved massively and also cloth menstrual pads are less likely to cause rashes, contact dermatitis, as well as helping women afflicted with certain types of vaginitis. Women with sensitive skin and allergies may prefer cloth pads made of undyed organic cotton. I prefer to have pads with the tops made from natural materials such as cotton or organic bamboo velour rather than minky which is man made and can be a little bit sweaty.
Cloth menstrual pads, like all menstrual pads, remove the risk of TSS associated with tampons.
Some cloth pad makers run or donate a portion of their proceeds to programs that provide reusable feminine hygiene products to women in developing countries so that they can continue to go to school or work while menstruating, one of these is ecofemme.
Cups
Reusable menstrual cup are worn internally a bit lower than a tampon but, while tampons and pads absorb menstrual fluid, a cupcollects it. This means it doesn’t cause dryness or irritation that can be caused by tampons and the chemicals they contain. Because cups are reusable, you only need one so it saves you money and helps the environment, too.
Menstrual cups are designed to be folded and inserted into the vagina, then removed, rinsed and reinserted up to every 8-12 hours. A light seal is formed with your vaginal walls, allowing menstrual fluid to pass into the cup without leakage or odour. This seal is released for removal, allowing you to empty the contents, rinse or wipe and reinsert. Comfortable, convenient and safe menstrual cups can be used overnight and when travelling, swimming or exercising.
Reusable tampons
These are the equivalent to tampons but made from cotton/bamboo or knitted from wool.
Reusable tampons offer the advantages of an internal product, with the advantages of a reusable one. They can be cheaper than Menstrual Cups, however they can cause TSS like disposable tampons where as cups don't, and they can be harder to clean.
Reusable tampons can be purchased online or they can be handmade
Menstrual sponge
Menstrual sponges are natural sea sponges that are inserted into the vagina to absorb the blood as you would with a tampon, but then rinsed out and used again. They are used moist, making them soft and comfortable to insert. Sponges are reusable, but they only last around 6-12 months then they need replacing.
Over the next few week i will also be adding some reviews of menstrual products i have used :)
