You know, it's really, really good to know there are green, and by being green -- healthy, options to the recent traditions of managing monthlies. I was around for the TSS scare, and am glad not to have to have feminine hygiene managed solely by corporate America! And as to travel, tiny tampons may be good in the short term, but a trip of several months cannot be managed so easily. This is a nice, frank discussion on the subject, both in an every day setting and in a travel setting. Nice research.
Green for Girls: A Feminine Perspective
Photo: Thiru Murugan
Women, girls and super-involved eco dads interested in green feminine products, this one’s for you. If you want the details on what’s out there, read on to find out your options.
Alternatives to Traditional Tampons.
Reusable menstrual collection cups.
There are several on the market, but the two best known ones seem to be The Keeper and The Diva Cup. Basically, they are nearly identical except that the first is made out of latex rubber and the second is made out of silicon. They are worn internally and removed when necessary to empty the fluid before reinserting. Cleaning is basically hot soapy water and in between heavy uses and periods a good scrubbing with a specially assigned toothbrush (or something similar) and baking soda with a spray of vinegar. There are two sizes: pre childbirth and post childbirth. The life of the product? About ten years. And in less than a year you can recoup the initial cost outlay in tampon savings, which you may not need to buy again if you so choose. Wa. Hoo. For storage and transport between periods, I’m happy with the funky tribal print drawstring bag mine came with. But if you really want to celebrate your inner moon diva, there are apparently specially made containers you can have an artisan custom make for you. There’s one pictured below.
Word to the wise? Unless you want to have a . . . shall we say Jackson Pollack type of experience, follow the removal instructions. Precisely. ‘Nuff said.
Eco Friendly Versions of the Old Classics.
Many are out there on the market made of organic cotton and / or produced without the use of chlorine. The brand I test drove was Seventh Generation. Definitely compact and able to go the distance on heavy days. At least that was my experience. Ridged for extra surface area and applicator free, I found they had way less packaging than some of the other brands I’ve used over the years. My only request would be that they shrink wrap them a little less effectively. Trying to get some of them open when you are on day one and your last hormonal nerve will leave you wishing for hand grenade. Honestly. Had I known ahead of time how well they were sealed, I would have made certain to have a pointed nail file or small knife on hand to slice them open. Definitely an effective product though. And what a difference in size between a box of their compact no applicator product versus a box of the traditional kind. Way less space and materials used. In my younger days, I really couldn’t embrace the no applicator concept. But after having spent several months on the road with The Keeper being my internal product of opportunity, I’m much more comfortable with it. Would I take a box of these on the road with me for times when I just didn’t feel like dealing with the reusable cup? Absolutely.
Sea Sponges.
Who knew? There is actually a brand out there sold as a sea sponge tampon, but apparently you can also use any of those categorized as cosmetic sea sponges and cut them to fit. Personally, I like the stem factor that you get with a menstrual cup. While I’m relatively comfortable with my body, there’s only so “up close and personal” I’m willing to get. However, if you’re comfortable with this, go for it. From what I’ve read about the cleaning procedures, you give them a thorough under the tap rinse with warm soapy water to get them as clear as possible of fluid and vaginal residue and then boil them for a period of time. They can be reused until they start to get a bit ratty and begin to fall apart. Here’s an article.
Pad Alternatives.
Traditionally styled pads with an eco twist.
If you still want to go disposable, these are basically your only option. For a product test drive (hey, that’s what I’m here for) I went once again with Seventh Generation. They don’t use chlorine on their pads either. The results? No issues with adequate adhesive and pretty decent absorption. If you are one who needs to supplement your tampon , sea sponge or menstrual cup use on a regular basis and aren’t up for embracing cloth pads, I feel confident you’ll be happy with Seventh Generation’s product.
Cloth pads.
I’m not a big fan of the all in one styling on some of these or the ones that require special undergarments with elastic slots for holding the pad. If you’re going to embrace the concept, my recommendation is the style that has the snap around wings and a slot for removable inserts. This allows you to customize for flow rate and also makes for easier drying. You can purchase them premade online or attempt a DIY version from old terry cloth towels and recycled flannel bathrobes, as I recently recommended.
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For cleaning, you’ll definitely want to do a strong pre-rinse in the sink followed by either a presoak in a container similar to a diaper pail, or setting them aside pretreated to go in with a separate load of dirty towels to be sanitized and dried. As with the menstrual cups, some women really want to celebrate the experience. If that's you, custom made pottery is available for this use, and is pictured below.
Eco Douching
I’ve been wanting to research the DIY possibilities of this topic for a while. Since I was already researching the other two items, this seemed like the perfect time. Apparently, there is a way to do this on your own with a hygienic reusable system at home. There are normal sized douche / enema / hot water bottle combo systems and also a smaller travel size called the Tiny Kit. Who knew it was that popular that someone would make a travel sized option? Certainly, you’ll want to keep a separate soft bristled brush on hand for the cleansing of various attachments, but yes ladies, there is an eco option. Need some ideas for mixing up your own formulas? Here, here, here and here are all places to check.
Online Resources for Further Nitty Gritty Details.
This article is meant to hit the highlights. However, there are clearly other issues to touch upon for those truly interested in exploring some of these options further. Public restroom success strategies for one. Outdoor wilderness use and discreet transport for a couple of others. Would I let you down? Here are some links from around the web:
- An outdoor survival article for outdoorsy women travelers regarding menstrual cups.
- This article is one I wrote before we went on our around the world adventure. It deals with various details and ideas for alternative menstrual care on the road.
- Got some questions on how to survive with cloth pads while running errands or traveling? This piece has some suggestions.
I have to admit, this took a while to figure out a helpful framework from which you could explore further details if you chose. To my knowledge these are all of the basic options out there for eco friendly feminine hygiene. If you are aware of others, please share below. My hope is that people will feel super comfortable sharing questions, knowledge and specifics. If no one is willing to open up, then untold numbers of people might never take the leap for planet, budget and health. I know laying myself bare to the entire internet community about my menstrual practices took forethought, guts and more than a few stiff drinks. Since everyone seemed comfortable sharing deodorant strategies and feminine info in the Tom's of Maine and green on a shoestring discussions, I'm thinking the same should have a good chance of happening here. Thanks for tuning in!
Best of Wise Bread
Thanks so much for the article. My teenaged daughters and I like Luna Pads (lunapads.com). I also use the Diva Cup and have used sea sponges in the past.
For me -- like most women, I suspect -- the most difficult part of switching from disposable to reusable was figuring out what to do in public. But you quickly discover that taking home used pads is really no different from carrying around a bunch of unused pads. And, using a cup along with a light pad or padded panties, you don't have to worry about leaks OR running out of supplies. I also discovered that I can go many more hours without emptying the cup than I could go before changing a tampon.
Contrary to some comments I read elsewhere, reusable feminine products aren't archaic. They're enlightened.
I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. Crack me up. Well, I can honestly say I hadn't thought of that when I came up with the title. While it's an interesting idea to research for an extra commentary piece, I had thought I covered it in the introduction "leader" section. But if you are anything like me, you scanned the title and clicked. Something I apparently need to bear in mind the next time I select a title. Thanks for stopping by.
Glad you liked it. Thanks for the input. The what to do in public issues are what held me back for a while as well. And it took some digging around on the internet and finding a few people on the road who were really willing to talk about the nitty gritty before I was able to start developing strategies that were more streamlined than what I started out with. Nice to know I wasn't alone on that.
i'd been wondering about some of these options & found this post to be quite a handy resource. thank you.
There are several bc pills on the market today that completely stop your period. I'm currently taking Lybrel, which so far I love. My doctor explained to me that if you are on an bc pill and have a period it is because of the lack of hormones your body is receiving while taking the "sugar pills"
just a suggestion
If we're talking about going green, birth control isn't a good option. The amount of chemicals is so extreme that water treated at a sewage plant isn't completely void of them after being treated. We have no idea what the long long term effects will be if we keep increasing the amount of chemicals we put into the environment. Yes, you'll decrease the amount you're putting into the landfill some (but don't your birth control pills come with packaging too? Often plastic?)
You know, I have several friends and colleagues that use the exact strategy you just suggested and it has worked great for them. I wish it could work for me, but the truth is every time I have tried hormonal birth control of any form it has been an absolute nightmare for me, for various and numerous reasons. Also, as I turn 40 this spring and haven't ruled out the parenthood option, the doctor I last saw about such issues recommended leaving it alone.
However, those I know that have done it and make out well with pills / injections absolutely LOVE the idea. So you are right that it can work for many people. Thanks for chiming in. I appreciate it.
I practiced using my Diva Cup before I started to use it. When I started using it, I would empty it in the shower just to be safe (I have a carpeted bathroom - gross on so many levels).
A lot of women out there have hang-ups about the menstrual cup. But after using it, I firmly believe it is less disgusting than using a pad, and a lot more comfortable than a tampon. I realize that some women are against menstrual products that are inserted (for religious, health, or other reasons), but for those who use tampons, just try out a cup. In two or three months, you will love it.
I have to say, I spent a fair amount of time "test driving in advance" my Keeper too. Especially since there would be no turning back once we got to some of the remote places on our itinerary.
It does take some getting used to. No doubt. And the heaviest days can be challenging if you are on the road. At least for those who need to deal with things before the 12 hour time window is up. But if you are backing up with a pad anyway, you can usually slide through. After that, I can honestly agree with you. This was the first product in this entire category I was ever able to get excited about. Very empowering once you get the hang of it. And what a space saver in the backpack!
Another post, in reference to Janet's post on stopping your period.
Most women I know who have been on Depo-Provera have had a terrible time. Migraines, break-through bleeding, major mood swings, etc. And the problems didn't stop when they switched methods of birth control - one friend of mine bled nearly constantly for a few weeks after the 3 month shot "wore off".
And there have been no long-term studies done on the side effects of skipping menstruation through hormone treatment. Who knows what effect this will have in 5 or 10 years from now, when you actually WANT to have kids?
Estrogen therapy (through birth control or hormone replacement therapy) has been linked with heart problems, blood clots, endometrial cancer, breast cancer, not to mention mood disorders like depression and anxiety. There's a whole host of problems with estrogen therapy, and if you're interested in learning more, check out the work of Barbara Seaman.
The bottom line is that it's your body and you can do what you want. But I'd advise you to empower yourself with knowledge on estrogen, and then make your decision from there.
I'm still super glad Janet felt comfortable chiming in. And I agree everyone should do with her body what she choses.
Sounds like you're super informed though. Does Barbara have any specific titles, or is her work published in journals only?
I have been loving my diva cup for a few years now. The first week I tried it, I was in a dance concert. I found that it leaked less than traditional tampons. I have less need for a panty liner than now than I did with tampons.
When I have needed to empty it in a public restroom (not a common occurrence for me), its worked best to find a handicapped stall or one-holer with a sink next to the toilet. Barring that, I've used an unchilled bottle of water to rinse it out.
I still keep an emergency tampon in my purse and desk at work. But I hardly ever use disposables anymore.
As far as the whole "hygiene on the road" thing, I carry a peri bottle with a veeeeeeeery weak vinegar/water solution in my purse, so that if I'm in a position of needing to empty the cup but don't have running water nearby or convenient or whatever, I can just rinse from the peri bottle.
Also, there are at least two yahoogroups, designed to help out women who are new to non-disposables. I really recommend them, there's a lot of wisdom available.
Another user and avid fan of the Diva Cup here; and I'm so not comfortable with my own body or wanting to tout my own femininity here, but it's so much more comfortable and convenient, not to mention better for the environment, so that's a great big yay.
I've been using the Keeper for about 4 years, I LOVE it. I was tired to spending a lot of money on pads and tampons just don't work for me, they slide out no matter what I do. I read about the Keeper in BUST mag and had to try. It is so worth the initial investment. I'm pretty comfortable with my body and have no difficulty with inserting or removing. I just had to trim the stem to get it comfortable. I'm so glad that the word is getting out about these alternative products!
Glad they are working for so many of you. And cool tip about the Yahoo discussion groups. Ditto on the bottled vinegar and water solution. I can see how that would have come in handy in say . . . back woods Cambodia? Oh well. Next time.
I'd have to seriously investigate the environmental consequences before putting myself on a hormone altering drug, if I was trying to live a greener life. Excessive artificial hormones( like other drugs) are excreted into our water system and are difficult to remove.
Just an additional two since everyone seems to be comfortable sharing. I am in full agreement with the person who suggested trying to grab a larger stall. Maybe those who have used them longer (I'm only coming up on two years now) find it easy in the regular stalls, but girlfriend still needs room to groove. Anybody else?
I just got a Keeper for my birthday and used it for the first time a few weeks ago. Although I had tested my Keeper before, I had the lovely experience of putting it in while in an airplane bathroom. FUN.
Even though I've only used it for one month, I love my Keeper. Love love love. The suggestion about bottled water/vinegar is a good one - I'll have to try it out next time.
Has anyone seen sponges in a net? I keep reading about them but haven't seen a modern version. I think there's an old fashioned one pictured at the online menstrual museum, but nothing that I've seen for current retail options. Still seems like way more effort than a cup, but if you really wanted to go for the sponge option, it could make things a bit easier.
Oh, and the airplane bathroom? You have my complete empathy.
What happens when you're in a public restroom with individual toilet stalls, but the sinks are shared? My work has bathrooms like this. You can't rinse out a reusable product like the keeper in a sink when your coworker or a stranger could just walk in and witness the mess! It's not professional. And I can't imagine using plastic baggies to save it for later... where would you stow it? In your purse for 8+ hours, hoping/praying it doesn't leak until you get home?
according to the website, the cup does not need to be cleaned for 12 hours. so unless you're having a hellish workday, you should be ok! also, the say you can simply wipe it out with tp and clean it at your earliest convenience.
I tried a MoonCup maybe a year ago, but although I followed the instructions I ended up cutting the stem too short. (The instructions didn't say "walk around for a day to let it settle in before you trim." They should have.) As a result, I had too difficult a time getting the darn thing out, and gave up on it. So that was a big waste of $50.
I recently ordered some of those organic cotton reusable "napkins." I generally have short, light periods, so I think I can get away with just a few; I normally use one disposable pad a day for three days, so I'm hoping five inserts and three holder things should be plenty. We'll see--hopefully this attempt works out better for me, or it's another $50 down the drain.
As for "going green" by using birth control to prevent periods, I don't think that's exactly "green." I used hormones to stop my period for years, and while I found it incredibly convenient, all that birth control comes in packaging too! Whether it's pills, an insertable ring, a shot, or what have you, it definitely involves disposable packaging (thrown out by the clinic in the case of a shot, but thrown out nonetheless). If you need to use birth control for birth control, then of course do so; having a bunch of kids isn't exactly "green" either, so I'd say that's a good trade off. And if you use it to stop your period even though you don't need it for birth control, well, I won't hold that against you either. I'd probably still be doing it if the side effects hadn't started to bother me. But if your primary goal is to be more ecologically friendly, there are more effective ways of going about it.
I don't think pouring out menstrual blood in any public sink is appropriate or thoughtful behavior towards others who might use the sink. In fact, it's pretty selfish and gross. Don't punish others in your quest for eco-friendly alternatives. (And this is not to say I am against these alternatives or squeamish about my own fluids. Just be considerate.)
Guest commenter #23 - Actually, when the public thing comes up, most people (and this took some digging to get suggestions on before I purchased mine) just reinsert. As long as you are giving it a cleansing at home, hotel or hostel, it won't be an issue. The fluid is emptied out in the toilet. So no, you don't need to carry it around and worry about leaking. It takes practice, but you can get to the point where you can do this without having too much mess. If you are feeling you want back up to wipe your hands, some people have a damp cloth or eco friendly baby wipes in a baggie. Then you would use the sink outside as normal. Until I got good at it, I tried to avoid the stalls on day one or two. However, I can now do it with minimal yuck factor. Personally, I like to have access to my sink at home. But since you really only need to deal with it maybe once a day outside of the house, it's worth it. And that's only on the heavier days. Also, I admit to grabbing back up on tampons on those first days while I was still test driving. Not for if I was at home, but while I was out until I felt more secure with my skill level.
Zannie: I'm sorry your product didn't warn you about the stem thing. Mine did. So I knew in advance. To tell you the truth, it was a bit pokey the first 48 hours. But then I got used to it and never did cut the stem. I like knowing I have more to work with, but that's just me.
Thanks for keeping the conversation going, everybody.
I thought it was common knowledge that douching is not healthy. It upsets the delicate balance of the "flora and fauna" in that region. Our bodies are designed to clean themselves out. In my opinion, the healthiest and greenest option would be to not do it.
I've been thinking about getting a DIVA cup and trying out. It's been nice to read all the tips. Thanks.
I got a diva cup primarily for a canoing trip, secondarily for economic/environmental/health concerns. Unfortunately, this was not the answer for me. I apparently have somewhat unusually shaped innards, because I cannot wear a tampon comfortably after years of trying. (The GYN just shrugged her shoulders and told me it's just that way for some folks. Lotsa help.)
I tried multiple times with the diva cup, re-read the forums, and still had lots of pain on both insertion and removal. Bummer, I was pretty excited about it.
I still have it, so perhaps I will try again, but seriously, I was in tears the first time. Any advice?
But Myscha, to answer your question about Barbara Seaman.
I have read one of her books called "The Greatest Experiment Ever Performed on Women: Exploding the Estrogen Myth", and it was rather eye-opening. It mostly focuses on hormone replacement therapy at menopause, but it also relates back to any type of hormone pill.
I also borrowed "For Women Only!", the last half of which is a collection of articles, some written by her. I haven't read much yet, but I plan to in the near future.
She has a few other books out, but they're not at my local library so I haven't been able to read them.
As a side note, she is one of the women involved with getting warning labels added to prescription medicine (specifically the pill), which is the highlight in her fight for the informed patient. from the 1960's until earlier this year when she passed away, she had been fighting for the rights of women patients in the medical field - an area in which I feel we are still so very oppressed.
The comment someone made about estrogen from the pill ending up in the water and environment is valid, however the bigger contributing factor to hormones in the water is from livestock. Farmers regularly inject cattle with estrogen to make them grow faster.
I get really, REALLY worked up over Big Pharma's treatment of women, so my apologies if I come across as being aggressive on this issue. If you want to seem me even MORE worked up, ask me about Gardasil.
Do you suppose exploring with various insertion depths would help? Or experimenting by reducing the stem length by incremental degrees?
Thanks for this post. I am currently pregnant so thus not in need of these products (for a while), but I loved the reviews of all the options! We cloth diaper, and along the way I have come across of the reusable products for women as well. Just wanted to pass along a link to discreet storage zippered (and waterproof) bags if one was to use cloth pads out and about. The only reason I know about them is because we have a bigger version for our cloth diapers. It doesn't hurt that they are cute, too!
Those are cool bags. And I like that they are section so you only need one. The only suggestions I'd thought of were reuseable Ziplocks. These look way more fun.
@Charisse, while douching is usually not necessary for younger, healthy women, it can become a useful tool in maintaining a good acid balance in menopausal women. I never had yeast infections until I hit menopause (come to think of it, I never had chin hair, either...) and so the periodic vinegar/water douche has become part of my maintenance routine.
score another one for divacup. when i'm at school and cant run to a sink, i'll use toilet paper to clean it temporarily.
Myscha, I've seen those sponges at my local food coop. I thought they were for your face or something :) shows what I know. Also, I was not so keen on the diva cup. It was very rigid and I felt like I was giving birth every time I took it out. It hurt A LOT. Maybe this product is better for people who are sexually active, and are, uh, a bit looser. Maybe I'll try it again when that happens, but until then it will sit in my closet.
From what I understand, you need to make sure you get the ones that say cosmetic sponge. The other ones probably are for shower spa uses.
As for the Diva Cup, I can't really say. I use The Keeper, which has been flexible enough for me. It might have something to do with the difference in materials, since one is out of rubber and one is from silicon. But having never seen the Diva Cup up close, I couldn't say.
Good luck.
i've been using ob tampons for a few years now. i love them and they really do form to my body better than tampax, etc. i've never had a leaking problem like with other tampons. also, the applicator free is better for the environment. i like to support 7th generation, but its not always cost effective to do so.
A friend (who was impressed that I'd brought up this subject on a personal blog) referred me to this article. Very informative, and exciting to know that there are alternatives.
I was 30 before I tried tampons (the TSS scare, and some strange moral objection I'd been taught, kept me away from them). I liked the concept -- and no leaks! -- but my periods aren't heavy after the first two days. So I was half-using four or five a month. And half-used tampons are FUN to take out, too. I stumbled across a reference to the DIVA and took the chance. I like it immensely. Now that I've figured it out, I can even sleep on our new mattress and not worry about a female catastrophe. Plus I'm not throwing away yucky things every month.
As for the commentor who found the insertion and removal painful: I don't think it's working right for you. It isn't supposed to be painful. Rather odd sensation the first few times, but not that bad.
I'm leery of the idea of stopping your periods with hormones. There are usually hidden consequences to any golden new method that interrupts the natural order of things. I was mostly thinking of a woman's personal health; I hadn't thought of chemicals in sewage.
-- SaraJ
Thanks for keeping the conversation going, ladies. This is exactly what I was hoping for: a frank discussion on the options, and the issues involved with each.
While I'm happy with The Keeper, I have to admit I'm still hoping for some more specifics on the sea sponge option. It's always intrigued me, particularly since I read somewhere that they've been used women in certain parts of the world for thousands of years. And apparently not just for menstruation, either. Contraception by adding certain sperm killing substances, and treating vaginal infections through slathering them with medicines and inserting them. I've even seen them encased in a netting with a string attached. Apparently, some people used them as tampons before there were tampons. If you haven't had a chance to check out the online Museum of Menstruation, there are some interesting tidbits of information out there, and images of some of the sponges that were handed out during World War II in these little medical tins as part of the first aid / ration kits. There's also information on how they fell out of use, etc. But they were around.
Looking forward to more frank discussion.
You knooooooooooooww... Im just not there yet, with the Diva Cup and the like. Not yet.
I am also not with the idea of stopping your period all together with the use of hormonse. When Ive been on BC, I felt like a psychotic wench and couldn't tolerate mySELF! Woo! Now I am hormone free and well we leave it up to good timing and luck if you get my drift. I can't ...I dont see myself getting back on BC.
This was a good post and while Im comfortable with my body Im just not there yet, lol!
To tell you the truth, the around the world trip was what finally forced my hand. I thought about it for years beforehand, and like you . . . just not there. When I know I'd be somewhere that would involve using The Keeper and cloth pads or nothing (gross), I decided it was better to test drive the products and develop the necessary skills (of which there are several) and tolerance while I was still somewhere with familiar plumbing.
Otherwise, I might still be waiting to take the plunge. Do what works for you, girl.
Came across this post again, and thought I'd update: I'm trying a Keeper now, and without trimming the stem, I think it's gonna work out for me. Though I think I may get a LadyCup too!
I'm psyched for you. They are such a cool option, it's frustrating to feel you can't participate. It did take me a while to get used to them too, as I'm sure it does for any woman. Good luck!
Ok, here's how to deal with the public bathroom situation. I have 2 diva cups (hey, it's still cheaper than buying disposables). I take it out and dump all the fluid in the toilet. Then I insert the spare clean one from my purse. The used one goes into a small ziploc plastic bag until I can get home and wash it properly. Not a perfect world but a solution that has worked for me for years.
Good one, Frugal Cat! Isn't it funny how sometimes the most obvious solution doesn't occur to us? I actually have two of the Keepers now, since one of them was temporarily out of access during a move a few years ago. So while it might have seemed like a chunk of change to invest in two of them up front, it's workable now. And you're right, it's still less than 1-2 years of disposables. Thanks for joining in the discussion.
