It's that time of the month again! Grab your heating pad and ice pack, chocolates and chips to hog on, and some tissue papers because you're surely going to cry for no reason whatsoever. However as bad as it may sound, there are several ways to make your cycle bearable but is it sustainable?
Most of us use the normal sanitary pad during our cycle. We change 3-4 pads a day, for 6-7 days, every month, every year. Can you fathom the amount of waste that is produced by our napkins? These products are non-biodegradable and take up to 500-800 years to simply decompose. That means these pads will remain the same for GENERATIONS! The pads are single-use and cannot possibly be recycled and put into use again. This translates to the fact that, they will add up to the non-biodegradable waste on earth for a very very long time now. This costs not just our pockets but also the environment.
It's not just the non-biodegradable part that bothers me, research says sanitary pads aren't even the best when it comes to health and hygiene. They contain Dioxin which is bleach, and artificial perfumes for the flowery fragrance that these pads hold. This can result in allergies, rashes, hormonal imbalance, and even cancer in the ovaries in a few cases.
If I popped your bubble successfully, it's time for my protagonist to enter this story- Menstrual cups and cloth pads. Menstrual cups and Cloth pads are sustainable and good for the environment as well as our bodies. It's a healthier, cheaper, and more Eco-friendly option when compared to our ordinary pads.
Menstrual Cups
- Menstrual cups are medical-grade silicone-based insertable devices that collect menstrual fluid.
- They can be used for 8-10 years.
- Reusable and Ecologically safe.
- You can go swimming, dancing, running, and trekking even during your cycle.
- Cheaper in comparison.
- It does not cause rashes, itching, or burning.
Link to Pee Safe's menstrual cups
Cloth Pads
- Sustainable cloth pads are made up of layers of absorbent cloth.
- Reusable and Ecologically safe.
- Similar to pads. Easy to use.
- Soft and comfortable.
- Made up of cotton. It does not irritate the skin.
- They can be used for around 2 and 1/2 to 3 years.
Link to Hygiene and You's reusable cloth pads
Switching to these options is a win-win situation, both, for your body and the environment. I've read multiple interviews and also interacted with people who manufacture these products. It's the new sustainable way of menstruating. It is comfortable and allows you to swim, dance, run, and even sleep in peace without worrying about leakage. I also searched about the experiences of female athletes, dancers, swimmers, and trekkers who have switched to silicone menstrual cups. They all claimed that changing their menstruating ways was the best decision they had taken for their professions, their hobbies, their health, and the environment that we all reside in.
This should be enough to help you realize that it is the need of the hour to switch our menstruating ways and make it sustainable and healthier. It's our call, for our environment and ourselves.
Stay safe and healthy :)
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Happy Reading! ❤️
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