Natural Feminine Care Products

Alternatives For Menstrual Cycles From Organic to Reusable

Oct 20, 2008

Women are choosing healthy alternatives to bleached feminine care products such as tampons and panty liners. Some products are even safer for the environment.

Choosing natural products for feminine care and hygiene is a personal decision and may be based on concerns:

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), warns in their consumer magazine [March-April 2000] that Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is “now rare, but women still should take care.” Symptoms imitate the flu – high fever, dizziness, a rash, even vomiting and diarrhea can be symptoms of TSS. The document goes on to say “using any kind of tampon -- cotton or rayon of any absorbency -- puts a woman at greater risk for TSS than using menstrual pads.”

Natural Tampons and Pads

Chlorine free pads and tampons are available in health food stores and natural products sections of grocery stores. Seventh Generation® offers a 100% organic cotton tampon. Europe’s Natracare® also offers organic cotton tampons, chemical free sanitary pads and organic cotton feminine wipes with calendula and chamomile herbal extracts.

Alternatives in Feminine Hygiene Products

Menstrual Cup – the menstrual cup serves as a collection container inside the vagina and is made of plastic or silicone and is an alternative to cotton tampons. The Diva Cup brand is manufactured using silicone while the Instead® Softcup® is made with polyethylene, a form of plastic. Folks at Mooncup® are registered with the Vegan Society and show a strong interest in environmental responsibility from the banks they use down to the organic cotton bag the Mooncup® arrives in.

Reusable Menstrual Pad – cloth menstrual pads have made a significant comeback in the last couple of decades as more women and families are concerned with the amount of disposable feminine care products getting into the landfills. Some women will sew their own flannel menstrual pads but there are several products on the market, premade and ready to use after washing from the package. GladRags cotton pads are promoted as lasting up to five years with regular use. Lunapads™ washable menstrual pads are made with cotton fleece.

Sea Sponge Tampon – sometimes called sea pearls these naturally sourced sponges from the ocean are worn as an alternative to a traditional tampon. The lifetime of a sea sponge tampon during regular use is approximately six months. These sponges do not contain synthetic fibers, they are literally harvested from the ocean.

Choosing a Feminine Care Product

When shopping for a natural or alternative to standard feminine care products the consumer will want to consider which products she is currently using and how likely she will be to use a new product. Someone who has never used tampons may be less likely to use a menstrual cup while a frequent tampon user may not require reusable towels or pads. Most of the alternatives on the market are more expensive than a box of disposable pads or tampons so a purchasing decision is one to research.

Tampon Safety, FDA Consumer Magazine, March-April 2000, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, accessed online 2008.

The copyright of the article Natural Feminine Care Products in Women’s Health is owned by Amy Kreydin. Permission to republish Natural Feminine Care Products in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.