reusable menstrual products

My friend is making a zine, and I told him I'd write something about reusable menstrual products for his zine. So here goes!

Every month is the same, the mad dash to the store to buy pads and tampons. They are expensive, they leak, and they can cause allergic reactions and toxic shock syndrome. So why do we keep buying them? Most of us don't know there is an alternative. But there is! SO get rid of the plastic, paper and bleached cotton and get into something comfortable.

Lets start with pads which are made from layers of absorbant fabrics (cotton, hemp, flannel) which a lady uses while she is menstruating or during postpartum bleeding. After use, they are washed, dried and then reused. There are many options. You can even make your own cheap with minimal sewing skills (who else is gonna see them? they don't HAVE to be pretty). Personally my favorites are "pocket" type where the insert(s) can come out for washing. Basically you have a pad with wings that snap around your undies. Easy right? They might need to be changed more frequently, but the best part is you can customize the absorbency. You can also get fancy ones with organic bamboo velour, fun prints, waterproof backing, etc. They might seem like a big upfront cost, but remember that they will last a long time if taken care of. All you need to do is toss them in the washing machine. I use to wash them with my kids cloth diapers when my kids were little, now I just throw them in with the regular laundry. Sometimes they stain, but most of the time they don't. A good number to start with is 6-8 then go from there. You can always get more, wash more, etc. It is really up to you. Some of the best advantages of cloth pads are: they are eco-friendly, they are less likely to cause rashes, they don't smell the way disposable pads do after wearing them.

Next is the menstrual cup. Made out of silicone or latex. These cost about $25 and go inside the vagina to catch the blood similar to a tampon. Empty a few times a day and you are all set. Menstrual cups are safe and have no risk of toxic shock syndrome. Most cups last 5-10 years. Say goodbye to late night runs to the store to buy tampons. Also it pays for itself after a few months of use. It does have a learning curve to using it. But by the second cycle most people have it down. I have used mine for 5 years now with no complaints, taken it camping, gone swimming, used it overnight, and used it at work. When out and about it is a good idea to put on a cloth pad or liner while using the menstrual cup in case you can't get to a bathroom to empty it right away.

Some links to check out for reusable cloth pad patterns are
http://sites.google.com/site/shewhorunsintheforest/
http://sewgreen.blogspot.com/2007/05/cloth-pads.html
General cloth pad info:
http://partypantspads.com/sale/cloth-pad-curious-giveaway  (they will give you a free cloth liner, just pay shipping!)
http://www.gladrags.com/
http://lunapads.com/
And for the reusable menstrual cup check out:
http://www.divacup.com/
http://www.keeper.com/