If female bodily functions make you a bit green around the gills, and I do not mean eco-friendly, back away from the screen slowly. Do not make any sudden moves.
[waits]
Last warning!
[listens to the stampede]
Alrighty then, is everyone comfortable? I would make a bathroom break joke but…
The Curse – what I call that time in the lunar cycle where normally serene and blissful women turn into She-Hulk. Aka menstruation.
There are many ways of dealing with the messy side effects – the most common ones being disposable pads and tampons. These create billions of tons of waste every year that is dumped into landfills and into sewer and septic systems.
After developing allergies to something in most disposable tampons and pads, I started using the Instead Softcup – a medical-grade silicone menstrual cup. For the most part I have really liked it. My doctor gave the okay to reuse it, rinsing it after each use and sterilizing after I was done each month, which made financial and ecological sense to me. I was a bit squeamish about reusing it beyond one cycle, so I would throw it out. I did feel guilty about that but compared to disposable tampons and pads, the amount of waste was slight. One box of Insteads would last me an entire year – not bad for a $7 investment. Using the cup has additional bonuses. While trying to conceive, it is great post-deed as a cervical cap, keeping the deposit near home base. And as long as I rinse it out right before, sex with the cup in is not messy at all – and the Rogue never complained he could feel it.
After my current supply of supplies are diminished, I may have to give the Diva Cup a try. Yes, I know converting has been “life changing” for some women. I totally get that. I would switch over now but I have a bunch of things that need to be used and it’s not like I can donate them to Goodwill or a woman’s shelter due to health concerns. They would just get thrown away and really how is that any better for the environment than if I just used them? Part of going green is being a smart consumer – using up and then replacing with eco-friendly items is far greener than just replacing now.
In the meantime, I will be researching reusable cloth options, such as Lunapads – as well as making my own. I have a ton of fabric in the house to put to good use.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
You amaze me, woman. Never in a million years would I have thought about menstrual needs beyond the options that are readily visible and available in the drug stores/super markets.
I have heard good things about the Diva Cup, and there are a bunch of free patterns/ideas at craftster.org for reusable pads.
I am trying to go green, but I’m not quite sure if I can bring myself to take this step just yet.
I do not blame you – it was a tough decision and ultimately one made out of necessity.
I will have to check for the patterns. Thanks!