How to have a Toxic-Free Period
I made the move from disposable menstrual products to reusable ones almost three years ago. I was motivated by #PlasticFreeJuly when I bought a reusable menstrual cup in an effort to stop buying and throwing away so much plastic. But it also proved to be financially beneficial, and a lot more comfortable than standard cotton tampons.
Earlier this week, I wrote about the materials in disposable menstrual products, and how they can affect not only our bodies, but also the environment. Currently, there are few policies in place to encourage people who menstruate to make the switch to reusable menstrual products. Governments and manufacturers need to do their part to enable a move towards less toxic options for people who menstruate, to avoid introducing toxins into our bodies and the environment. Now is the time to take control and have a Toxic-Free Period; for your body, for the environment and for society. In this article, I will be discussing the alternatives to disposable menstrual products, and showing how periods are a social justice issue.
Which reusable product is right for you?
Reusable menstrual products are a more sustainable option for all people who menstruate: they are better for the environment and better for our health, and for some, better for our wallets. People who menstruate in the global north are the world’s largest consumers of plastic — however, as awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution has increased, so have sustainable alternatives to disposable menstrual products.
Menstrual Cups
Menstrual cups are made of silicone, latex or rubber, and instead of absorbing blood, they collect it. The blood that is collected can just be flushed away, eliminating the solid waste of tampons or sanitary pads. Or in the case of some people, the blood is used as a valuable fertiliser for plants.
The cup is inserted into the vagina and twisted to form a seal, just below the cervix. I find mine to be so comfy, that I forget it’s there. One cup can be used for up to 10 years, which is a great investment for me, as mine cost only €12. The cups mostly come in small, medium and large, based on the height of your cervix, or how heavy your flow is. I wear my cup during the day, when I sleep, even when I play sports.
But it hasn’t always been so easy. At the beginning, I wasn’t sure how to ensure it had formed a seal, and often felt that wetness that signalled I should go and check my pants. A lot of people find it difficult to use the cup correctly, but with practice, I found it worked for me! In order to feel a bit more safe, I pair my menstrual cup with another sustainable menstrual product; a reusable sanitary pad.
Reusable Sanitary Pads
These have been an absolute game-changer for me. On day one of my period when I’m in pain and bleeding the most, I know I can rely on this guy to keep my clothes/sheets clean. Mine has a snap fastener on the wings that closes underneath the saddle of my underwear, keeping it in place throughout the day. It is made of upcycled hemp and cotton and I bought it in a tiny zero-waste shop in Budapest. After I use it, I soak it in cold water overnight and then put it in the washing-machine.
What I love about reusable sanitary pads is that you can make them yourself from clothes that you no longer use. Alternatively, you can support small female-led businesses that make them. I love that they don’t need to be bought from big companies or chains, it makes them feel a little less commodified.
Period Pants
Period pants are having a real moment. There is no denying that the most famous of them all is Thinx, who have created a whole range of pants that can absorb your blood and keep you dry for up to 8 hours. However, if you don’t live in the USA, it can be a bit complicated to have them shipped over to Europe. When I typed “Period pants” into google, a whole range of less well-known brands popped up, and it seems that there are a whole variety to choose from. As I’m living in Berlin at the moment, I chose to visit my local DM (a health/beauty/pharmacy shop) and found that there was only one packet left of the “SelenaCare” period pants in my size. Seems like I’m not the only one looking to find more sustainable menstrual products in Berlin!
As I bought these pants at the end of my last cycle, I’ve not tried them out yet, but for the first time ever, I am eagerly waiting for my next period. The pants I bought are made from breathable fabric, they’re easy to wash (the same as the reusable pad) and they have antimicrobial protection to keep it all safe down there. My intention is to use them alongside my cup on heavy days when my reusable pad is in the wash, or on the last day when there is not much blood.
The great thing about using reusable pants is that for people who menstruate who don’t feel comfortable using insertable products, these feel like just regular underwear. For trans men and non-binary people who menstruate, having a period can lead to feelings of gender dysphoria, which is excaerbated by overly-feminised menstrual products that come in pink plastic wrappers, covered in flowers. Period pants can be a great way of circumventing any dysphoria by de-gendering periods. Because having a Toxic-Free Period is also a social issue too!
Detoxing your Period
Making your period as toxic-free for yourself and the planet is a great way to feel like you have control over your own body and your impact on the world. But to go even further, we can all work towards making periods less toxic in society. As mentioned above, period inclusivity is important; not all people who menstruate are women, and not all women menstruate! In my previous article, “How Toxic is your Tampon” I wrote about how being aware of how the materials used in disposable menstrual products could improve human rights for women across the globe (cotton manufacturing and pesticide use).
Even talking about your period is a great way to start — breaking the silence and taboo around your time of the month can lead to a less toxic period. Research from WEN found that 48% of girls in the UK are embarrassed by their period. When we feel ashamed of something natural and normal, other aspects of our lives suffer, like our self-esteem and mental health.
Having a Toxic-Free Period is about empowering yourself and those around you to have a safe and clean menstrual cycle. But what if you don’t have the resources or tools to manage your period at all? In the final part of this series I will be discussing period poverty; the lack of access to safe, hygienic sanitary products, and/or inability to manage menstruation with dignity, due to stigma or taboo. Whilst striving towards a more environmentally-friendly period is paramount for those who can afford the time and money to do so, it is imperative that period poverty is understood as a barrier for many people who menstruate.