Alternative Menstrual Products: A Guide for Teens

Alternative Menstrual Products

What Happens During Puberty? Alternative Menstrual Products

Breast Development PMS

Why Do I Get My Period? Menstrual Cramps

Timing of My Period Clotting/Spotting Blood

Feminine Protection

Since most young women use name-brand pads or tampons during their period, you might not know that there are other products to choose from. If you are looking for more environmentally-friendly menstrual products or have concerns about the chemicals and synthetic materials used to make regular pads and tampons, you should know that there are other types of menstrual protection available to you. While no method is perfect, you may find that one or more of the following products fits your needs!

What are some of the alternative menstrual products that are available?

Non-chlorine bleached all-cotton pads and tampons are available at many natural foods stores and even in some larger supermarket chains. They are generally a little more expensive than regular pads and tampons. They are disposable, so they are not as environmentally friendly as a reusable product, but they are not made using chemicals. However, even 100% natural cotton can contain pesticides, so if you want to be sure that the product you are buying has no chemicals, it's best to choose a brand made with organic cotton.

Reusable, washable cloth pads work just like regular disposable pads, but instead of throwing them away after use, you rinse them out, wash them, and use them again. Reusable pads usually come in two parts: a liner and a liner holder. The liner goes inside the holder, which has wings that snap around the crotch of your underwear to keep it in place. On light days, the liner holder can be used alone; on heavy days, you can use two or more liners with one holder. One company, Lunapads, makes all-in-one menstrual underwear that has a cloth pad built into the crotch. Cloth pads are more expensive than disposables at the time of purchase, but they will save money over time because they last for years.

Sea sponges are a natural alternative to tampons. They come from the ocean floor, and contain no synthetic materials. One sea sponge will 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 menstrual cycle. In the 1980s, the FDA found that some sea sponges marketed as menstrual products contained potentially harmful bacteria. Today, at least one sea sponge manufacturer (Sea Pearls) claims to sanitize their sea sponges using an environmentally-friendly process, but there are no studies that support that claim at this time. As with tampons, it is possible to get toxic shock syndrome from sea sponges.

Menstrual cups are another alternative to tampons. Currently available are two reusable menstrual cups ("The Keeper" and "DivaCup"), and one disposable cup (the "Instead Softcup"). Menstrual cups are small, rubber or silicone cups that are inserted into the vagina to "catch" menstrual blood rather than absorb it.

The Keeper menstrual cup is made of natural gum rubber from trees. The Keeper is placed inside the vagina a few inches below the cervix and can be worn for 6 to 12 hours depending on your flow, including overnight. When The Keeper is full, simply empty (into the sink, toilet, etc.), rinse with clean water or wipe clean with toilet paper, and reinsert. The Keeper cannot be worn by women with a sensitivity or allergy to rubber.

DivaCup is made of silicone, which makes it an alternative for women with latex allergies or who are sensitive to The Keeper. Like The Keeper, DivaCup sits a few inches below the cervix, can be worn for up to 12 hours, including overnight, and it is emptied and cleaned the same way.

Both the DivaCup and The Keeper are much more expensive to buy than a box of pads or tampons (The Keeper costs about $35, while the DivaCup costs about $25), but with proper care they last for years, making them very inexpensive to use over time.

The Instead Softcup is worn at the very back of the vagina and covers the cervix. It can be used for up to 12 hours at a time, depending on your flow. The manufacturer claims that it can be kept in place during any activity, including sexual intercourse (note: wearing Instead during sex does NOT protect against pregnancy or STDs). The cup must be thrown away after a single use. Instead Softcups are sold in drug stores and supermarkets, but they can be hard to find and are more expensive than tampons.

Are reusable menstrual products safe and healthy to use?

Although it may be challenging for some girls and young women to handle their menstrual blood or place a menstrual cup in their vagina, it is important to know that there is nothing "dirty" about menstrual blood. These reusable products are sanitary as long as they are properly cleaned and stored according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Of course, you should never share reusable menstrual products with any else, and you should be sure follow the manufacturer's instructions about when and how the product needs to be replaced.

Where can I learn more about alternative menstrual products?

Because most women are not familiar with these products, their manufacturers are often willing to provide education and support to anyone interested in switching from the more popular menstrual products. Most manufacturers even offer a money-back guarantee to encourage uncertain consumers to give eco-friendly menstrual products a try. Three commercial web sites with a lot of information about menstrual alternatives are gladrags.com, lunapads.com, and eco-logique.com.

Most of these products take some time to adjust to, especially if you have been using name-brand tampons and pads for years. You might decide that you are happier using an alternative product once you get used to it, or you might find that you would rather stick with regular tampons and pads. There is no right or wrong choice! The best menstrual product for you is the product that you are most comfortable using.

Next: PMS

Written by the Center for Young Women's Health Staff

Updated: 12/9/2004

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What Happens During Puberty?	Alternative Menstrual Products
Breast Development	PMS
Why Do I Get My Period?	Menstrual Cramps
Timing of My Period	Clotting/Spotting Blood
Feminine Protection