Considering of making an attempt reusable alternate options to sanitary pads? Right here’s the place to get them, the right way to use them, and our tried and examined critiques.
It’s been a full 12 months since I’ve switched from utilizing sanitary pads to a interval cup, and it’s secure to say my life is perpetually modified. Since I’ve gone sustainable with the cup, I’ve bid goodbye to sitting for hours in icky menstrual gunk and having to really feel a waterfall of blood leak out of me every time I get up. After all, I’ve shared my expertise with each one that has a uterus. And plenty of mates have requested me how they’ll get began – therefore this helpful information. However when you’re on the lookout for different sustainable alternate options to sanitary pads ‘cos interval cups simply aren’t your “cup” of tea, don’t fret! I’ve obtained that coated too.
The place to get sustainable alternate options to sanitary pads
1. Interval underwear: Mooncheeks
Lovely model title apart, we love Mooncheeks for its assortment of sensible and trendy interval underwear. Sure, you may look cute and never fear about getting a stain! Say goodbye to itching and chafing from cumbersome pads. The clear up is tremendous straightforward too. Simply rinse them beneath chilly water and pop them into the washer if you’re carried out. You may store them by underwear model or absorbency.
Mooncheeks, out there on-line and at #05-K3, The Grandstand, 200 Turf Membership Street, Singapore 278994
2. Interval cups and biodegradable tampons: Luuna
This women-led B Corp-certified menstrual care firm is an absolute powerhouse. Based in Hong Kong, Luuna is a rising presence in interval care. It was created with a drive to fight the unhealthy and unsustainable choices that we presently have available in the market. If you happen to’re not able to enterprise into the world of menstrual cups simply but, no worries. Luuna provides natural tampons, pads, and liners too! They’re made with pure, hypoallergenic cotton free from pesticides and fertilisers. The tampons are biodegradable and the pads are available water-soluble wrappers.
Luuna, out there on-line
3. Interval cups: Freedom Cups
We love that Freedom Cups provide two interval cup sizes – mini and grande. This makes it the right sustainable sanitary pad different for inexperienced persons and skilled customers alike. You may get the completely different sizes individually (when you solely want one). Or go for a duo pack with one in all every measurement. Freedom Cups even operates on a buy-one, give-one mannequin. So if you buy a cup, it donates one to girls in underprivileged communities!
Freedom Cups, out there on-line
4. Interval cups, discs, and underwear: Saalt
The generic interval cup is already fairly comfy by itself – you don’t even really feel it as soon as it’s been inserted. However Saalt takes consolation to the following degree by providing two completely different firmness ranges! Get the unique cup when you desire a extra resistant one which pops open and seals with ease. Or strive the comfortable cup when you’re on the lookout for a interval cup that feels barely there. And when you aren’t able to tackle interval cups but, get some interval underwear as a substitute!
Saalt, out there on-line
5. Interval underwear: Thinx
Thinx was began by three mates. Bored with experiencing gnarly interval accidents, they goal to assist girls all over the world proceed to do the issues they love whereas on their interval. From hip huggers to boy shorts, it sells interval underwear for each kind of life-style and circulation. It’s an important choice when you don’t like the thought of inserting one thing inside you. Goodbye, ridiculously massive sanitary pads and nasty evening leaks!
Thinx, out there on-line
6. Menstrual discs: Nixit
Tried the interval cup and simply can’t get it to suit proper? Maybe take into account a menstrual disc as a substitute. It’s an important sanitary pad different that’s touted for being simpler to insert and take away than the cup. Nixit’s menstrual discs provide 12 hours of safety and maintain as much as 70ml of liquid (versus cups that maintain as much as 30ml). Superb when you expertise heavy flows.
Nixit, out there on-line
7. Menstrual discs: Ziggy Cup Menstrual Disc
One other worthy menstrual disc contender is the Ziggy Cup, which boasts a revolutionary flat-fit design that moulds completely to your physique, and has a petal skinny membrane for max consolation. You’ll by no means dream of carrying a sanitary pad once more! We additionally love that it comes with a protecting silicone case, so we will simply pop it in our purse after we’re on the transfer.
Ziggy Cup Menstrual Disc, out there on-line
Undecided the right way to use them? Take a look at these sources
Find out how to: Interval cup
We love this YouTuber’s extremely informative video! She explains and demonstrates intimately (in an excellent soothing approach) the right way to insert and take away a interval cup with ease for a pain-free, leak-free expertise.
Find out how to: Interval underwear
Certain, interval underwear sounds fairly simple. However how do you make sure you select the correct pair in your circulation? How absorbent are they, and the way lengthy are you able to put on them for? This vid solutions all of your burning questions, so you may have a stress-free time selecting out your new pair of interval underwear.
Find out how to: Menstrual discs
We love how informative this video is! It touches on the fundamentals of utilizing a menstrual disc, the varied manufacturers out there and the way they carry out, and the right way to decide the correct disc based mostly in your form and desire (as a result of vaginas aren’t one-size-fits-all).
Actual-life experiences with reusable interval alternate options
If you happen to’re nonetheless hesitant (which is completely comprehensible), we’re completely happy to share experiences from customers of sustainable sanitary pad alternate options to provide you a bit extra perception into what it’s like! First, try this menstrual cup evaluation by our staff at HoneyKids Asia. Consisting of younger adults and oldsters, they share what it’s like utilizing cups and discs (some for the primary time!).
On interval cups
“I transfer round so much for work and leisure sports activities, so interval cups appeared like an important different to tampons and sanitary pads. They’re additionally extra environmentally- and cost-friendly in the long run. I’d undoubtedly suggest a interval cup as a result of it helped me spark a more healthy relationship with my bleeding and my physique. I used to be extra acutely aware of how a lot I used to be bleeding, the various shades of interval blood, and likewise turned extra intimately conscious of my physique within the course of.”
“Though the training curve was robust for me and I’m nonetheless within the means of studying the right way to use the interval cup, I’d suggest it to mates. Not having to put on a sanitary pad is such a liberating expertise. It felt nice the primary time I set it in correctly!”
“It’s been a tremendous expertise up to now! I’ve been utilizing the interval cup for 4 years, and I really feel it’s really extra sanitary than utilizing a pad. Whereas it was intimidating at first, I watched movies, browsed by boards and spoke to mates, and this helped me tremendously in overcoming the preliminary worries and challenges I confronted.”
On interval underwear
“I’ve by no means been comfy inserting a tampon inside me, and I couldn’t carry myself to make use of a interval cup for a similar purpose. So interval underwear simply appeared like probably the most logical different to sanitary pads for me! It’s undoubtedly made bleeding a much less messy expertise, and I get pleasure from having the ability to fall asleep at evening understanding I’m not going to stain my mattress.”
“The completely different types of interval underwear out there have given me extra choices throughout that point of the month (reasonably than having to put on gross granny panties to suit my massive maxi pads). I additionally love that the thong makes me really feel tremendous attractive even after I’m bleeding. Once I’m carrying my interval underwear, it makes me neglect that I’m on my interval due to how properly it absorbs.”
On menstrual discs
“I discover the menstrual disc a lot simpler to make use of than the interval cup. I didn’t have a really exhausting time getting used to inserting it since I used to be already utilizing tampons. It holds a lot blood, I don’t have to fret about it leaking on my heavy days. It’s additionally a giant bonus that I can have mess-free interval intercourse with it. No shock, my husband has zero complaints about this.”
Right here’s to experiencing a extra comfy approach to bleed with sustainable sanitary pad alternate options!
[This article was originally published in 2022 and updated in 2023 by Ashe Liao]