5 Sanitary Products You Can Try Other Than Pads, Tampons & Menstrual Cups

Every menstruator knows the importance of finding the perfect menstrual products for themselves. e. While sanitary pads, menstrual cups and tampons are the most popular choices, there are several environment-friendly options available these days beyond those common three. Let’s take a look.

Period Panties

How convenient would it be to never have to worry about leakages or changing a menstrual product every few hours? Period panties offer that comfort so that every menstruator can go about their business without any hassles. They work well with heavy flow and are long-lasting. You can wash and reuse the panties. Thus, they generate no plastic waste, making them environment-friendly as well. Soch and SOQO are brands in India that are manufacturing period panties.

They are available in XS to 2XL sizes. Women with issues of mild urinary incontinence, daily discharge and postpartum bleeding can also use them. They will prove to be the best travel companions. Their prices start at ₹695.

Cloth Pads

Brands like Bumpadum and Saukhyam are offering cloth pads, an eco-friendly alternative to sanitary pads. Similar to cotton pads, cloth pads also soak the menstrual blood. Saukhyam’s pack of five pads costs ₹330.

Most of them are made of cotton arranged in multiple layers and enveloped in waterproof fabric. This makes it easier to wash and reuse them. They are easy to carry in a purse or travel bag. They also reduce the risks of Toxic Shock Syndrome, a type of bacterial infection menstruators are cautioned against when they use regular pads or tampons.

Menstrual Disc

Offering up to 12 hours of protection from leakage, menstrual discs sit at the vaginal fornix, an area deeper inside the vaginal canal. Their work is similar to menstrual cups. They collect the blood and prevent it from coming out of the vaginal opening.

Brands like Pee Safe and LemmeBe are selling menstrual discs that can hold up to 55mL of period blood. They are usually made of medical-grade silicone to prevent infection and provide a safe experience to a menstruating individual. Its shelf life is about five years.

This product ensures mess-free period and also, for those keen on it, enables non-penetrative ‘period sex’. They are reliable as well. However, much like menstrual cups, discs are also tricky to insert inside the vaginal canal. The starting price is ₹799.

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Menstrual Sponges

Menstrual or period sponges are natural alternatives to tampons. They are also called sea sponge tampons (pads vs tampons) because they are sourced from the depths of oceans. Hence, they do not contain bleach, chemicals, dyes, synthetic fragrance or chlorine.

Brands like Etsy offer a trial pack of three menstrual sponges for ₹1,454. The set has sponges available in three sizes - small, medium and large. One can use it for three to six months.

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Interlabial Cloth Pads

Soch introduced interlabial cloth pads that are placed between the folds of the labia, the mouth of the vaginal opening. They are absorbent pads that come in the shape of a leaf. They catch the blood and allow it to accumulate at the centre of the product. The set of three reusable interlabial pads is available at ₹299.

These eco-friendly options are not only better for menstruators but also for our planet. Stay tuned to HerZindagi for more such recommendations.