Menstrual period chimes! You experience mood swings, changes in skin texture and all premenstrual symptoms and you know that aunt flow is coming for you. She will stay by another 3-5 days. She will make you pull out an enormous number of pads and everything bloody in business. But do you know, amidst the indiscriminate pad pulling, you are also degrading the health of earth. Disposing those pads after use, you are adding to the landfill, contaminating water tables and adulterating sea beds.
Usually, women get periods at the age of 12 and continue so until the age of 42 years on an average. Calculating from this, 30 years of menstruating x 12 months a year, we have 360 months to bleed. On average, we use a minimum of 7 pads during each period. This makes it 360×7 = 2,520 pads per woman.
Now imagine the population sum and amount of sanitary napkin use. The figures are devastating. Now imagine the disposal aspect. Without realizing it, you, and thousands other women who use pads, have been contributing to degradation of the environment and causing infections apart from compromising
on the quality of living.
Here are some solutions that will help you manage menstruation in a healthy and sustainable manner. Bonus? Most of the following solutions give you the freedom to indulge in swimming or other sports even on period days!
1. Reusable Menstrual Cup
We women are well versed with the presence of menstrual cups in the market, but many of us have still not added it to our sanitary kit for doubts of inserting a latex product or fear the toxic shock syndrome. In reality, menstrual cups are completely safe to use and flexible enough to be inserted and molded into
the shape of the vagina canal. Made of medical grade silicone, it collects 15ml+ blood and lasts more than 15 years (though it is important to change it every 3-4 years). Now imagine the savings on recurring expenses and good done to the earth, since it reduces waste production significantly. Such cups are available in different sizes for heavy and light flow and young girls and older women.
2. Digital Tampon
Tampons are another common in the market. They are more accessible in neighbourhood shops. Sirona Premium Digital Tampon are made from layers of highly absorbent fibers, and thus last long. The fibers are biodegradable in nature and soft on the skin. The tampon will make space and take shape of the
cavity, without causing any discomfort. These hassle-free menstrual care products come in a pack of 20 pieces for medium and heavy flow. Each box is guaranteed to last at least 3 cycles.
3. Applicator Tampons
These tampons have an extra plastic applicator. They need not be inserted with fingers and the injecting mechanism pushes the tampon in its place without any unnecessary contact. Sirona Premium Applicator Tampons are available for a mini, regular and super heavy flow. These tampons are an appropriate solution for the beginners who want to shift from conventional non biodegradable sanitary solutions to modern eco-friendly ones.
4. Biodegradable pads
These are bio-based pads that are kinder on your skin and the environment. Use them to avoid rashes that you generally get due to plastic pads. Keep changing every couple of hours to avoid bacterial growth and leakage.
5. Sanitary Disposal Bag
Mostly disposal of Sanitary towels, panty liners, and condoms is not done responsibly. People generally resort to flushing them down the drain or wrapping them in a plastic bag for disposal. Both the alternatives ultimately end up clogging sewerage lines and adding to landfills. In case newspaper is used,
the waste is likely to get torn open very easily by dogs in the landfills, which can in turn cause infection to the rag pickers. Alternatively a much better option, Sanitary and Diapers Disposal Bags by Sirona is available in the market. Made from oxo bio-degradable material these are tamper proof and leak-proof,
thus best for hygienic disposal of intimate care products.
Using these products can make a lot of difference in our intimate hygiene management and the health of the environment. Let’s pledge to follow eco-friendly period practices from the next aunt flow call onwards.
