Bernice J. Hicks 
For anyone who is menstruating, there are sustainable swaps for disposable menstrual products that can really save money. It’s important to remember that the more stuff we throw away, the more items end up in landfills.
Here are four durable swaps for disposable period products.
Menstrual cups
(Photo Illustration by Catherine Norby)
Menstrual cups are flexible silicone or latex cups that fit into the vaginal canal like a tampon, but putting them on can be tricky. Once it’s in place, it’s fine to sit for up to 12 hours before needing to be emptied, unlike tampons which can only be left in place for four to eight hours, according to WebMD.
They range from $30 to $40 and can be used for up to 10 years.
There are a variety of options for buying menstrual cups, but it all depends on which shape you think will work best for your vaginal canal. You may need to try a few before you find the right one for you.
DivaCups are lean, good for narrow channels, and the company also sells its own cleaning solution. Flex makes similarly shaped cups with a hook on the bottom for easier removal. Saalt makes wider cups with long stems, also for easier removal.
However, if you have an IUD, you should not use a menstrual cup as there is a risk that when removing the menstrual cup you could also accidentally remove your IUD. According to WebMD, “In April 2020, a study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology found that women who used a menstrual cup had a higher rate of IUD dislodgement than women who used tampons or pads.” Although this is only one study conducted, it is a risk to keep in mind and you may want to check out these other alternatives instead.
Menstrual panties
Period panties are a great alternative for those who prefer pads to tampons or for those who need extra support during their period. Like most menstrual products, there are a variety of panties to best suit your flow, even if it’s heavy, and they can be washed after each use.
Period panties can help protect against leaks, making them good backup partners for regular pads, tampons, or menstrual cups. However, some pairs are designed to be worn alone. Others also come with special compression material that can also help relieve cramps.
The Knix brand categorizes its menstrual line into two groups based on the amount of flow: heavy – super absorbent and light – medium absorbent. They also provide a chart based on the number of pads you use per day to determine the fit and level of tightness you’ll need for your underwear. Click on any pair of underwear and it will detail approximately how many teaspoons of blood the pair will hold against each day.
The Period Company is a brand that claims to be “the most absorbent and affordable period underwear brand in the world”. They don’t have the same variety of designs as Knix, but most Knix period underwear is over $20 while The Period Company starts its line at $12.
Reusable pads
Reusable pads work very similarly to period panties and are a great substitute for single-use pads if you prefer. According to an article by Self, reusable pads can work in two ways: either “there’s a washable backing that snaps around the crotch of your underwear, and an absorbent insert that you can wash, reuse, and even double for heavier garments”. days”, or there is “a single piece of fabric that snaps into your underwear”.
The Hannah brand is one of many reusable tampon sellers and offers two options in a variety of fun designs: organic reusable tampons and organic cotton tampons. Like period underwear, reusable sanitary pads come in a variety of thicknesses depending on how heavy your flow is.
Another brand, Aisle, sells both reusable pads and reusable liners. Each pad has a rating to show the weight of a stream it can support as well as more details about its support by clicking on that pad. However, their individual pads are more expensive than those offered by Hannah, which sells pads in sets.
Buffers
If none of these options work for you, you can always go green with tampons even if they’re not reusable. The best option here is to look for tampons with cardboard applicators or tampons without applicators. These two alternatives always help keep plastic applicators out of landfills.
The Tampax line with cardboard applicators is available at Target and other convenience stores. Tampons without applicators are also available at Target and on Amazon.
