You might be wondering why I am posting about this. I am trying to make an effort to focus on important topics of education and discussion and this is one area that Punjabi women often don’t know their options. In our community we definitely need to be expanding on health topics, whether it's women's health or men's health. As we discussed previously there is a lot of menstrual stigma so I think it is great if those who are menstruating get to learn more about their options, and even for their partners to have more awareness. I made a little infographic- it’s a bit blurry because of how it looks when I put it into blogger but it’s at least an overview. I will go in more detail below if its too hard to read.
One of the things that I found really challenging about being on call, wearing scrubs and being in the hospital for over 30 hours was managing your period. Dealing with the cramps, bleeding, fatigue, and emotions added a new layer of challenge to my job. People who menstruate spend a significant portion of their overall life cycle dealing with their periods so it’s important to do what we can for our comfort. Women’s health is incredibly important, and as we realized some women resort to unsafe methods to manage their periods. Finding something you find comfortable makes a huge difference in the quality of your life. So let’s go through the options and you might realize some things you may not have before. This post is for general information, make sure to do your own research when choosing a product and make sure it's right for you and your body. For women in the post-partum period (after they have a baby) they especially should not be using anything internally and should be careful on their selections of products.
Period Underwear
Period underwear are a type of lined reusable underwear to be worn during your period. This is an environmentally friendly option and usually worn for light days or backup coverage. A lot of women wear them overnight. They come in a lot of different styles like normal underwear does (hipsters, bikinis, etc). Some are more bulky for holding more liquid, some have coverage on the back, and some absorb different amounts. Generally they all tend to absorb more than pads or tampons but because of the fuss of having to change them, normally people don’t use them as the main period product. It can be hard to change them when away from home but you can get wet/dry bags like you do for cloth pads. They can be costly upfront but are reusable. You have to be careful as to how you wash and dry them so as not to damage them. They can be more comfortable for some than traditional pads because they are just made out of cloth. They can’t be used for swimming because they are absorptive. They come in different colours, so if you buy black ones you are less likely to see the blood on them which is advantageous when it comes to stains, etc. and some women don’t like seeing the blood all over. Examples of companies that sell them: thinx, knix, flux, aisle, modibodi (I don’t think they ship to Canada), Ruby, and Dear Kate. If you don’t like the idea of thick underwear Knix leakproof are like normal underwear, but don’t absorb as much.
Cloth Pads
These are made of cloth and put in the underwear. Rather than sticking like a traditional pad, most of them have snaps to close them around your underwear. They are reusable and washable. Some of them come with really specific washing instructions, and need to be washed by hand and dried in the air, but some can just be thrown into your usual wash and dry cycle with your clothes (rinse them really well by hand to remove most of the blood). These tend to absorb a lot more than traditional pads, some companies have up to 4x more even with smaller pads. They come in different sizes and colours. This is advantageous again if you are worried about stains and don’t like to see the blood. They are more costly upfront but you tend to save money over time because they are reusable. They are cloth so people tend to find them more comfortable than the plastics used to make traditional pads, and they come with less problems for rashes/reactions. Because they are absorptive they cant be used for swimming. When travelling, they take up less room than a traditional pad because you can just lay them straight instead of folding them up. They are harder to change in public bathrooms, so you have to get a wet/dry bag but you don’t need a garbage around. A lot of women use them for night-time. Examples of companies that sell them are numerous but Aisle and Hannahpads are popular.
Tampons
Unlike the above options, tampons are worn inside the body. A lot of women like them because they aren’t “sitting” in the blood like a pad, but rather all the blood is absorbed inside. There is a string attached to pull it out. Some come with an inserter (cardboard or plastic), and some you just push directly inside. When they are used, you throw them away and they are not reusable. Some women don’t like the idea of wearing something internally, some find it painful, or falls out, and for some it just doesn’t feel comfortable. Because they are worn inside, they can be used for swimming. It is harder to know when a tampon is full compared to a pad or menstrual underwear. They do take up a lot of space when travelling because sometimes if you carry them outside their box, the applicators can get pushed in by accident and ruin your tampons. You can carefully stack them in a little purse safely though. They take up less room than a pad in your purse. In western countries they are usually a reasonable price, reasonable to find, and easier to change in public bathrooms than some of the other options. They have various absorption ranges for heavier or lighter flow like all the other options. You have to select one that’s the right flow for two reasons. One is that removing a dry tampon is painful. The second is that having the wrong absorbency contributes to toxic shock syndrome. Toxic Shock syndrome is always a risk with tampons. This is why they can be worn for a maximum of 8 hrs, and then they really need to be changed. It is rare but you can get very sick from Toxic Shock and its important to read the little instructions with tampons carefully for that reason. Companies that sell tampons include Kotex, Tampax, Playtex, OB, Lola, and Cora.
One of the things I learned when I went to India was that 1) there wasn’t toilet paper. For us in western countries toilet paper is a huge part of managing your period. A lot of the toilets are in the ground so they use water to just clean up and there’s no towels. I’m sure the local ladies have learned how to manage. 2) there wasn’t always a garbage can in the bathroom. This was super frustrating when trying to figure out where to dispose of your menstrual products. I think a lot of these bathrooms didn’t have women in mind, but also that women cannot often afford menstrual products so it probably wasn’t even an occurrence for them to have a garbage for that reason. Certainly disposable products do create a lot of waste. 3) you can’t really get tampons there. I think it’s not really culturally accepted to be putting something inside and basically just not sold for whatever reason. In our previous post we even talked about how women are embarrassed to buy menstrual products from store owners who are usually male. What I realized when I got there was that with the lack of garbages, and toilet paper, and generally just unsanitary conditions, it is a lot more risky to be using tampons with the risk of bacteria being introduced. I really empathized for the women in other countries, because their access to these products really might not be the same depending on where they live. A lot of menstrual companies do donate reusable products to other countries for this reason. If you do travel, plan accordingly.
Traditional Pads
This is an option that everyone knows- the plastic pads that have a sticker side and get stuck onto underwear. They absorb and get thrown away in the garbage. They come in different absorption ranges, for heavier or lighter flow. Sometimes the material is slightly different depending on the company. Some pads have “wings” which means they have sides that stick around the underwear so it can be seen on the outside on the bottom of the underwear, but it helps them to stick better and make sure blood doesn’t leak around the pad. Because they are absorptive, they cannot be used for swimming. The are usually changed pretty frequently- every 4-6 hrs or so. Some women have to change them a lot more often if they have heavy flow, and some less often. Some women find them uncomfortable and some even have a reaction to the material. Sometimes the stickiness doesn’t work so well and they can move around. They tend to be less absorptive generally than the reusable options. Pads are usually white so you can see the blood that’s been absorbed. One of the things that is annoying about travelling with pads is that they take up a lot of space in your luggage (and in your purse). One of the advantages for western countries is that they are usually cheap, easy to buy/find, and easier to change in public bathrooms than some of the options above. The unfortunate thing is the wrapper usually does make a lot of noise and you have to make sure there’s a garbage around. Companies that sell pads for example are Always, which is a very popular brand.
Pantyliners
This is like a pad but smaller and lighter and usually used in anticipation that you are going to get your period soon just in case, or on lighter days. They are also thrown away after use.
Menstrual Cups and Discs
These are worn internally just like tampons. The difference is that they are reusable and can be worn for up to 12 hours, and they hold the blood rather than absorb the blood. The risk of toxic shock syndrome still exists but is thought to be less than tampons. They do need to be sterilized when you first get it, and at points after that, by boiling them in water. They can be worn while swimming. They come in different sizes, usually based on your age and whether you have had children. They hold a lot more blood than any of the above options, usually 20-30 mL at a time. Some people who find tampons don’t work still can use cups. Because they are worn internally some people might not be comfortable with the idea of putting them in. You really need to know your body and your anatomy to be able to wear a cup- both insert and remove and empty it. You have to be ok with looking at and dealing with the blood as well. Cups are increasing in popularity for their advantages. They are eco-friendly and can last for years which saves money in the long run. They are costly upfront. Unlike pads and tampons they don’t take up a whole lot of room for travelling. When choosing a cup, a lot of things come into play like cervical height, flow, whether you play sports, have had kids before, have bladder problems, softness/firmness, etc. The website putacupinit is really useful for information and comparisons, as well as reviews and suggestions on selection. Menstrual discs are flat and circular and not shaped like other cups. They also sit differently in the body. Cups can be challenging to change in a public bathroom but since they hold more it is less likely you will change them in public. There are over 100 cups on the market. Examples of companies that sell them are Lunette, Diva, Si-bell, Meluna, Dot, Lena, Lilycup, Saalt, Ruby, etc. There are a lot of cheap knockoffs that may not be safe to use. Be careful and try to order from legitimate companies directly and to make sure it is medical grade silicone or TPE. Examples of disks includes Nixit and Ziggy.
None of these menstrual products are methods of contraception. One thing to note is that some methods of hormonal contraception can lighten people’s periods, make them less heavy or make them disappear entirely so that can be another way for people to deal with menstruation depending on their beliefs around menstruation, and contraception.
In summary, I think it's great to try different options if they are available to you, and if you feel they will be comfortable and a good fit. The key thing is for women to feel comfortable and confident during their periods and for us to support them in their choices.
Reference
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/thinx-period-panties/
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