Menstruation is taboo in Indian society, and the need to promote menstrual hygiene has been relegated to the sidelines. As such, there is not much common knowledge about the ways to manage menstrual health. According to a report, out of the 40 crore menstruating women in India, less than 20% use sanitary pads, the most commonly found and used menstrual product in India. While the most accessible option, disposable sanitary pads come with a host of problems of their own, such as environmental impacts due to manufacturing and disposal procedure, the possibility of chemicals and artificial in the disposable sanitary pads and irritation and rashes that may result from them.
However, most of us are unaware of many other options for menstrual products. Here, we will discuss some menstrual products available other than disposable sanitary pads.
Types of Alternative Menstrual Products
1. Tampons– Tampons are a type of absorbent plug made of a soft material like cotton inserted inside the vagina to absorb the menstrual flow before it leaves the body.
Pros of a tampon-
- If used properly, one would not even realise that they have a tampon inside them, making it very comfortable.
- They are not as messy as regular sanitary pads.
- They are handy while participating in sports or swimming, unlike sanitary pads.
- They are more discreet and easily transportable.
- Less or no odour as the blood doesn’t flow out of your body.
Cons of a tampon-
- It is easy to forget if you have a tampon inside you. This is extremely risky as one should only use a tampon for 4-6 hours and not beyond 8 hours. Therefore, it is suggested that one does not use tampons while sleeping.
- They are expensive compared to other menstrual products.
- Disposable tampons are not very easily degradable.
- Improper use of tampons may lead to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). However, this is easily avoidable if one takes care while using a tampon.
- It can cause vaginal dryness as they soak up all the fluids within the vagina, not just the blood.
- It may contain chemicals or artificially added fragrances that irritate the body or cause health concerns.
2. Menstrual Cups- As the name suggests, menstrual cups are cups with a stem (for application and removal) made of reusable material, usually medical grade silicone, latex, rubber, etc., available in various sizes. These cups are put into the vagina to catch the blood flow within the body. They can be taken out and emptied every 8-12 hours (depending upon the flow and cup size). Once taken out, one can rinse them underwater and put them back inside. First, however, it must be appropriately cleaned and disinfected between cycles.
Pros of a menstrual cup-
- More environmentally friendly than other menstrual products. One cup can easily last anywhere from 3-10 years, depending on the quality of the material used.
- Comparatively less expensive than other products, as the cost per use is far less than disposable menstrual products.
- Like a tampon, it can be used while participating in sports or swimming.
- It causes less vaginal drying than tampons.
- It does not contain chemicals like bleach, dioxin or any added fragrances.
- There’s less or no odour as the blood doesn’t flow out of your body.
Cons of a menstrual cup-
- It takes some practice to learn how to use it.
- After use, the cleanup process is a bit messy, especially in public washrooms.
- Not suitable for all body types, especially if one has large fibroids or has a history of uterine prolapse.
- There is also a chance of TSS, though less than tampons.
- One might be allergic to the material of the cup.
- The initial cost of buying may be expensive.
3. Menstrual Disc- It is similar to a menstrual cup; however, it is shaped like a disc or a basket. Also, unlike cups that stay inside the vagina by creating a suction, menstrual discs work by catching the blood within it like a tent, not by creating suction. It is inserted into the vagina folded lengthwise. It is advised to take it out every 8-12 hours and wash it with water before reinserting it. Sometimes, these discs ‘auto-dump’, i.e., while using the washroom, the pelvic walls against which the disc was propped shift, leading to some blood leaking out while on the toilet.
Pros of a menstrual disc-
- It allows for sexual intercourse.
- It does not cause vaginal dryness.
- Suitable for people with vaginal prolapse.
- It can help minimise period pains.
Cons of a menstrual disc-
- It is messier to remove compared to other products inserted in the vagina.
- There are fewer choices of sizes available due to less awareness about the product.
- It takes some time to learn to use.
4. Period Underwear- Absorbent underwear can be worn during one’s cycle without using any other product and come in both reusable and disposable variants.
Pros of using period underwear-
- Useful for those with slightly irregular cycles as their menstrual cycle wouldn’t catch them unawares.
- Valid for days with a very light flow.
- Reusable period underwears are environment-friendly.
- More convenient for travelling and sleeping.
- Help protect against leaks if used with other period products.
- Discreet and thinner than pads; stays in place.
Cons of using period underwear-
- There is a chance of odour as the blood flows out of your body.
- Most of the reusable underwear needs to be hand-washed.
- The options of styles and colours are minimal.
- They are expensive, mainly because you need to buy multiples to build a set to use throughout your cycle.
- Changing in public settings might be a hassle.
5. Biodegradable Pads are disposable pads made from cotton, bioplastic, bamboo or banana fibres and are usually organic. They are used similarly as compared to non-biodegradable disposables.
Pros of using bio-degradable pads-
- Have less chance of irritation.
- Are environment-friendly.
- Do not have added chemicals or fragrances.
Cons of using bio-degradable pads-
- Some brands are bio-degradable only in certain circumstances.
- They are costly compared to regular disposables.
- They are messy and have a chance of odour like regular disposables.
6. Cloth pads- Cloth sanitary pads with an absorbent core (like bamboo) that can be washed and reused. Depending on the brand, they can be reused for up to a year.
Pros of cloth pads-
- Environmentally friendly as they are reusable
- It doesn’t catch on pubic hair like disposable pads.
- Cost-effective as the cost per use is less.
- No hassle of running out of pads.
- More comfortable than disposable pads.
- It can be self-made.
Cons of Cloth pads-
- Not all cloth pads can be machine dried. So, they have to be hand-washed.
- Using the same cloth pad for too long can lead to health complications.
- It takes time for pads to be washed and dried, so one must buy multiples.
- The initial cost of buying is higher.
- Bulky and less discreet; tend to shift around more than disposables.
- Changing and storing used pads while travelling is a hassle.
The Need for Menstrual Awareness- Why Should I Know This?
As one becomes more aware of their options, they become more empowered to make their own decisions. In a bid to propagate this empowerment amongst all menstruators, Sacchi Saheli, a non-profit NGO, working on creating period awareness, took the initiative to propagate the knowledge about menstrual products to the common public through various physical and online projects. Its online initiative, #abpatachalnedo focuses on creating awareness about the menstrual experiences of people across society and promoting dialogue to overcome the unnecessary stigma attached to periods. On the other hand, its physical initiative of Menstrual Cafe is focused on creating a community or a group of individuals and providing them with a safe space to freely discuss stigmatised topics such as menstruation, sexual and reproductive health. In addition, they have also undertaken initiatives like PROJECT AGHAAZ to introduce sustainable period measures, where the NGO distributes menstrual cups and holds awareness sessions to disperse knowledge to the beneficiaries. Such dialogues allow menstruators to understand and, in turn, autonomy over their own body. This is why it is necessary to know about menstrual health.