For those of us who hate contributing to our landfills and sewers each month, I thought it would be a great idea to hunt down some “greener” alternatives to manufactured tampons and pads.
Made from silicone or latex, the menstrual cup is a small cylinder that is folded and inserted in the vagina to collect menstrual fluids. Once placed in the vagina, near the cervix, it unfolds and collects nearly 100ml of fluid before it needs to be emptied, washed, and reused. The cup must be emptied every 8-12 hours. It is designed for use for up to 10 years and washing up requires soap and water.
Many Moon Alternatives is a huge site offering “ecofriendly products for you and your home”. They sell handmade menstrual pads made with leopard print cotton! They also provide a pattern to make your own menstrual pads.
Organic disposable feminine products are made with oxygen bleached materials. If you can find them on the shelves, or online, the cost is usually higher but less cramping, shorter periods, and lighter bleeding appear to be just a few of the benefits of these natural products.
Sea sponges (found on the ocean floor) are a natural alternative to tampons. They contain no synthetic materials and last for about 6 months. To use a sea sponge: dampen it, squeeze it tightly in your hand, and insert it into your vagina. Once in place, it works like a tampon to absorb menstrual flow. A sea sponge needs to be rinsed out about every 3 hours and thoroughly cleaned and dried at the end of each period. In the 1980s, the FDA found that some sea sponges marketed as menstrual products contained potentially harmful bacteria. It is possible to get toxic shock syndrome from sea sponges.
Web sites with more information about eco-friendly options for your period are:
http://www.gladrags.com/
http://www.lunapads.com/
http://www.mooncupsandkeepers.com/
http://www.seapearls.co.uk/
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line.
For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control(prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line. For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
I started using sea sponges about a year ago and I like them. It is a little more work, but I feel really good about what Im doing for the enviroment and my body. The sea sponges are great for lighter period days or spotting. Six months ago I bought the diva cup and have had nothing but good experiences with that. It was a little messy at first, cause it took me a while to get the hang of it, but now it’s really easy. I would reccomend both products.We need to think about the products we are putting into our bodies. What kind of chemicals are in tampons and are they leeching into our bodies? How many women do you know that have cervical cysts, endometriosis, or uterine problems? It’s just something to think about.
Comment by WillowLily — May 29, 2008 @ 10:06 am
Can you buy these diva cups or moon cups at a nearby drugstore or can you only get them online?
Comment by Anonymous — January 14, 2009 @ 8:14 am
I’m a big fan of the Diva Cup, so was shocked to learn that it’s not compatible with the IUD I plan to get. I’m really trying to make ecological decisions about what goes in my body and the effects on the environment but feel that I’m kind of between a rock and a hard place here. Any suggestions?
Comment by Anonymous — March 19, 2009 @ 4:33 pm