Alternative to Sanitary Towels
Environmentally Friendly Re-Usable Alternatives
...not least to reduce the environmental impact of monthly disposable products. Alternatives can sometimes be more comfortable than mainstream products and just as reliable.
The main two alternatives are the menstrual cup and re-usable sanitary towels.
Mooncup, £18.99/$37.98 including postage to anywhere in the world
This brand of menstrual cup is proving an over-night success with women across the world. An alternative to tampons, it is a flexible silicon cup inserted like a tampon which collects the blood rather than absorbing it. It holds up to 30ml of blood, which is more than most tampons and towels and comes in two sizes: regular and larger for women who have given birth. It is praised for being highly comfortable and most women empty it twice daily, once in the morning and once before bed. It is safe to sleep in and easily rinsed under running water, with a discrete carry purse and full instruction booklet.
What women have told us:
“I've just come to the end of my first Mooncup period and I'm almost sorry it's over. It was so easy, clean and well, unnoticeable... environmentally friendly too.” – Galena
“I bought my Mooncup about 18 months ago, and have to say that it is undoubtedly the best purchase I've made in years. I was so scared when I was using it at first... scared I'd 'lose' it, scared I'd leak, scared it would fall out, but I haven't had any problems with it at all. Nearly all problems women have with the cup during their first use of it are due to the fact that they didn't read the instructions. It's simple once you get the hang of it though.” – Kim
“Just knowing that I'd stop filling up the sea with my floating sanitary waste, or adding to landfill sites, made me want to at least try it...once it's correctly positioned you can't feel it at all. It's worn just in the entrance to the vagina, so is much easier to remove than a stubborn tampon! Yeah, it looks big, but it's really just the right size.” - Suzanne
Another menstrual cup brand on the market is DivaCup which works in exactly the same way.
Re-Usable Towels, between £30-50/$60-100 for a basic set
There are a range of re-usable towels available made from either cotton or hemp and are usually secured around the underwear with a popper-style fastener. They are highly absorbent and different suppliers offer a range of colours from white to dark blue. They are usually machine washable but should be soaked beforehand. Again, these are often ethically produced from sustainable cotton sources and many suppliers also produce an organic range. These are more expensive than the Mooncup but last many years and some women will prefer them for medical or comfort reasons.
Some searches to try for trusted brands are: Eco Menstrual Products, Natracare and Wemoon Natural Menstrual Pads. Women who contributed to this article preferred the cotton pads to the hemp variety for absorbency and comfort.
