It's Earth Day: And That's On Period!
It’s Earth Day! Let’s talk about periods. I’m so uncomfortable talking about it, and yet, my friends have pushed me to become a more informed menstruator.
Several years ago, my best friend Laura ushered me into the basement at REI in SOHO for a WE Bike NYC clinic with Sustainable Cycles on menstrual products. That day I learned all about reusable pads, menstrual cups, leakproof underpants, sponges, and a whole bunch of other sustainable alternatives to the tampons I’d been using since high school.
Let’s rewind. My first time using tampons would’ve made an excellent infomercial. You know the ones where folks have THEE hardest time flipping an egg, or putting on pants? Whatever the menial task, the actors make it seem infinitely more challenging. That was me, in a public bathroom, trying to figure out how the hell to insert a tampon. It was a few cycles before I finally realized you weren’t supposed to shove the cardboard applicator up there as well. I discovered this when I got a fancier plastic applicator and well… things definitely didn’t add up.
My 7th-grade health teacher made us watch a baby being born and put a condom on a banana… but for some reason never bothered to explain that the applicator was not supposed to stick around for the party. Those print out instructions are not nearly as clear as IKEA assembly infographics… but I digress.
That day in the REI basement I finally learned that I no longer had to worry about cardboard or plastic applicators, that I didn’t have to deal with disposing of absolutely disgusting used tampons, or pads, I didn’t have to have any more embarrassing accidents in public places, and I didn’t have to continuously spend money on any of these things. There were solutions. There ARE solutions.
This lifestyle upgrade was a HUGE game changer for me. I think everyone can find their own arsenal of products. It took a bit to find the things that worked best for me, but I have. It’s great for this pandemic situation cuz I literally don’t have to worry about running out of period products. It’s also great for travel, and bike racing and bike touring. I’m always prepared with my Ziggy cup and leakproof underpants.
Before the Ziggy cup, I tried the moon cup and that did NOT work for me at all. Apparently we all have different shapes so different cups work better for different people. I did find that the soft disc (formerly soft cup) was a good compromise and an excellent starting point when I wasn’t super sold on menstrual cups yet. They’re still disposable, but I found that they were far more flexible than other cups, and since I used one cup per cycle (not the instructions, but totally worked for me) a box of 14 would last for more than a year. The best part is that they’re sold in pharmacies all over the country, so if I find myself out and about without my stuff. I don’t have to resort back to tampons if I don’t want to.
Beyond the convenience, disposable menstrual products smell horrible, have tons of chemicals in them, and create immense amounts of waste. Menstruators generally average a period every 28 days or so. With bleeding lasting for 4-8 days, that’s A LOT of products per person. A LOT of trash. Think about the products themselves, and the packaging that contains them. If you’re looking for an easy way to make a solid impact on decreasing your waste, switching up your period game is a really good one. I know folks who love sponges or reusable pads and others who prefer cups. It’s really all preference. Do your research, learn your options, and find the product or combination of products that work for you.
This information is not nearly as available as it should be. I do it because it’s better for the environment, super convenient, and saves me money. I’ve heard other menstruators mention that it helps them feel more connected with their bodies. I know some folks use menstrual cups to continue intercourse through. It’s conceptually different than everything I learned before it, and quite frankly, I thought it sounded gross, but once I developed a system, I was mad I hadn’t learned about it sooner!
Your reasons can be your own, but I assure you, it’s a complete and utter game changer once you learn how to make it work! Definitely worth looking into.
Have you learned all about sustainable alternatives to disposable period products?
Happy Earth Day! And that’s on period. <3
Relevant Links:
Product List Learn about your options!
Fort Negrita (Small black-owned zero-waste business. They make reusable pads)
Leakproof Underwear I bought these a few years ago. They are as ugly as sin, but they work. For prettier options, you can try Thinx.