In my last article I talked about the history of feminine protection and how that time of month has been made more convenient for us women. But what is the cost of this convenience?
Commercial tampons and menstrual pads are anything but cheap. Besides emptying your pocketbook they also have detrimental effects on your health. Menstruation is completely normal and nothing to be embarrassed about or to feel you have to hide. Remember, without menstruation there would be no reproduction and our species would die out.
Commercial menstrual protection products have all been bleached white simply because white signifies that something is clean and sanitary. But this process is dangerous to the woman who uses it. A by-product of the chlorine bleaching process, dioxin, is a known carcinogen. The tissue in the vagina absorbs anything it is exposed to, so wearing the bleached white pads or tampons opens a way for dioxin to be absorbed into the body - through the vagina. There is no acceptable level of exposure to dioxin - any exposure, especially the cumulative exposure from repeated and prolonged use of tampons and menstrual pads, is too much. More dioxin is absorbed when tampons are used since they are place inside the vagina.
What effect does dioxin have on the female body? It contributes to the disruption of the hormonal and endocrine systems. Also it contributes to endometriosis, a didcondition in which the endometrium, or uterine lining, grows in places it doesn’t belong, for example the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
The link between tampon use and endometriosis has been kept hidden from the public. Tampon manufacturers can legally hire their own research be done, then slant it to say nothing bad about tampon use. The FDA is not required to release all findings to the public, nor is the tampon industry required to list all of the chemicals used during the manufacture of its product. Research done by those not associated with the tampon industry have findings not favorable to the tampon industry, but those findings are not highly publicized.
Menstrual pads may seem like a safe alternative to tampons, but they are also infected with dioxin created during the bleaching process. True, not as much dioxin is absorbed into the vagina, but any is far too much. The longer you wear a pad, the more dioxin you absorb.
What is a woman to do? It goes without saying that something is needed to absorb the blood that flows out of our body each month. Not too many of us want to just sit around on a rug or blanket to absorb the flow, as Rachel did in Biblical times. There are several natural options to choose from, most of them even save money.
Menstrual cups - such as the moon cup, diva cup, the keeper - are available for those who prefer tampons to menstrual pads. The menstrual cup is worn internally and hold, rather than absorb, the flow. One of them can be worn without emptying for up to 12 hours or overnight. They are reusable, bell-shaped and worn inside the vagina. Medical grade silicone are used to make them except for the keeper, which is made from natural gum rubber, or latex. There is also a disposable cup available, the Instead.
If you prefer menstrual pads, you also have several options. There are natural disposable pads made by NatraCare or Seventh Generation, but these are even more expensive than regular pads. If you need the convenience of a disposable, though, they are an option.
The other option is to either buy washable, reusable pads or make them yourself. Gladrags and Lunapads are made out of cotton and extremely soft. Each pad snaps beneath your undies, so they will stay put. Two liners come with each pad, so you can decide the level of protection you need.
Since there is no plastic backing on Gladrags, they do not chaff as commercial pads are prone to do. Once you try them, you will want to continue using them.
If you are able to sew, you may want to make them yourself. There are several websites, such as www.tacticalintelligence.net/blog/how-to-make-homemade-sanitary-pads.htm, where free patterns and instructions are available.
If you have never even considered using washable, reusable pads before this may seem gross to you. I know, it seemed gross to me until I tried them. It really isn’t - what is gross is imagining a lifetime supply of soiled pads or tampons in a landfill or washed up on a beach for your descendants to see.
How to care for them? I keep a container with cold water, borax and a squirt of Dr. Bronner’s soap in the bathroom to place the soiled pads inside until I am ready to wash them. Borax helps prevent staining. Dr. Bronner's soap just smells great. The water will need to be changed every day, if the pads soak for longer than a day. I would suggest having 6 to 12 daytime pads for a month’s worth of protection.
Gladrags and The Keeper are available from Amazon. I have included links below if you wish to make a purchase from them.
GladRags Color Day Pad
The Keeper Menstrual Cup - Size B
