I did a research project on this my senior year of high school (6 years ago) so I dont know if this information is still true. What I learned at that time was that there was a toxic chemical byproduct from bleaching cotton that is regulated by the FDA, the amount they allowed in tampons & sanitary napkins was exponentially higher than what was permitted in toilet paper and papertowels. Natracare organic feminine hygiene products, organic unbleached cotton. My favorite thing about being a yuppie. http://www.natracare.com/products/the_natural_choice.htm The even hippier alternative which saves lots of money because it a reusable cup is The Keeper... Umm yeah idunno I never tried it, seems like it would be pretty humiliating to use in a public washroom, but I scare easy. http://www.keeper.com/index.html
I use the Diva Cup, which I believe is very similar to The Keeper. I love it! Actually, it holds so well, you dont really need to worry about it untill you get home anyways. You could always make your own flannel pads if you wanted to go that route.. I guess its the mom version of the cloth diaper!
I used the Diva Cup for over a year and LOVED it. Unfortunately, a few months ago, it pulled out my IUD. I got a new IUD so I had to stop using it. I have a few cloth pads and I am going to buy more.
meh, until I can afford otherwise, I use tampons. Better than pads, which feel like diapers. I hate how some people try to outlaw them! Its my vaginal, my choice, my risk.
I use both tampons and pads... I don't really have a problem with either of them.. but lately I have just been using pads.
I use tampons, and sometimes if its really heavy, a pad to back it up.. I cant just use a pad.. i think its disgusting to just sit on your own menstrual blood for any length of time.. id rather keep it inside till its ready to be disposed of... never heard of the diva cup, but I tried those disposable insertable cups and gave me a rash.. never again!
I simply use cloth towel material. Get a new hand towel, cut it into the sizes you want (I have different thicknesses for heavy days and light days), and viola! You have soft, comfy menstrual cloths which will last years if you take care of them right. Just soak them after use with some soap & tea tree oil mixed in the water, than wash them as you would with the rest of your laundry. I've had mine for years, and never had any issues. Here's a fact that I pulled from The Keeper website. I read the same fact in a woman's fanzine-type publication about 7 years ago: "An average woman throws away 250 to 300 pounds of tampons, pads and applicators in her lifetime. The great majority of these end up in landfills, or as something the sewage treatment plants must deal with." Just thinking about that 300lbs of blood-soaked, decomposing cotton & applicators that would take forever to decompose made me decide then and there never to use that junk again. Besides, cloth pads are so much more comfy than plastic pads - those DO feel like diapers. And as far as cost, there's no better alternative! :O)
i use tampons during the day and pad at night. i heard its not safe or good to use tampons when you go to sleep. I used to use pad only but i coudldnt go out or never wanted to get outta the bed or bathroom and im so glad i started using tamons...i dont even feel anything..It kinda sucks that during first day or so i have to change them every two to three hrs...
i've used just about all of the above mentioned products, and i have to say, my favorite is the keeper moon cup. tampons/pads that you throw away... horrible for the environment, stinky, and just generally gross. plus they soak up all your good vaginal bacteria that keep you healthy and allow a fertile breeding ground for the bad bacteria. yuck yuck yuck. i had a diva cup, it was okay. kinda big though. the keeper cup is a little smaller, more suited for the way my vagina is shaped, and it's marvelous!!! honestly, for those of you worried about changing it in public washrooms and such... generally, unless you bleed heavily, all day that you would be out and about, it should be okay to leave in. i can usually feel when it is full, because i laugh or sneeze and it starts to protrude from my vagina 'cause it's heavier. but seriously, it rinses right out with a little water, and is easy to reinsert. it can be a little messier in some ways (don't drop a full cup kids... BIG mess lol), but doesn't generally end up with the nasty odor pads/tampons get. and just trying the disposable cups is probably not the way to see if a keeper or diva cup is right, because i think the disposables are made of latex or something not as good as silicone, which is generally not an allergy inducing plastic. i could be wrong though!
