The perfect tampon alternate options, and how you can use them

As somebody who’s enthusiastic about lowering waste, one space I’ve discovered myself missing is in my use of tampons. However lowering waste is not the one motive to make the change to tampon alternate options: A reusable interval product like menstrual cups, menstrual discs, reusable pads, and interval underwear can even prevent a ton of cash in the long term. A single reusable disc or cup, for example, solely prices $30 to $40 to begin and might last as long as 10 years, which finally ends up manner cheaper than shopping for new tampons and pads every month.

Because the pandemic has me working from residence, I figured it was the right time to attempt greater than a dozen menstrual merchandise with out having to fret about bleeding by means of my pants throughout a 40-minute commute on the subway. This is what I discovered.

Menstrual cups, $20-40

One of the frequent alternate options to tampons and pads are menstrual cups, which acquire blood from contained in the vaginal canal for as much as 12 hours at a time. I’d been wanting to change over to a extra reusable product like a cup for some time, however I might felt too overwhelmed by the big variety of choices of kinds, sizes, and shapes to select.

This is what I realized in scripting this story: The overall form of a cup is usually the identical between totally different manufacturers, however some are longer than others to account for larger or decrease cervixes. (You may simply measure your cervix top with a finger if you happen to’re unsure.) One other issue to contemplate is diameter. Many manufacturers recommend slim or small choices for somebody like me (underneath 30, hasn’t carried a full-term being pregnant), however these are simply options. There are quizzes you’ll be able to take to see what merchandise doubtlessly match effectively together with your physique and way of life, however every particular person’s vagina is totally different, so you could must experiment to seek out the most effective match.

Kim Rosas, menstrual product knowledgeable and founding father of (opens in a brand new tab)Interval Nirvana(opens in a brand new tab), a website that helps individuals higher perceive and store for menstrual merchandise, famous that even a wonderfully sized cup will take just a few cycles to work out the kinks. Do not get discouraged if it doesn’t seal completely or really feel comfy immediately.

All types of cups Credit score: Anne Loreto Cruz

“Understanding what cup goes to give you the results you want positively cuts down on a number of the mishaps that would doubtlessly occur,” she mentioned. “However definitely even with a tremendous cup, the right cup for you, it nonetheless takes a while.”

I ordered three cups prone to work for my physique sort: the Flex cup(opens in a brand new tab), an ergonomically formed Variety cup, and the (opens in a brand new tab)Saalt Comfortable cup(opens in a brand new tab), which Rosas mentioned has likelihood at becoming an “common” vagina (Disclosure: As a former workforce member of Put a Cup In It, a menstrual product weblog, Rosas collaborated with Saalt to develop their Comfortable cup in 2019.)

Credit score: courtesy flex

The Variety cup was an preliminary favourite. It was straightforward to insert and felt extra comfy than utilizing a tampon. Because it has an asymmetrical design, I used to be barely frightened that if I twisted it throughout insertion it wouldn’t sit as effectively, however I didn’t expertise any leaks or discomfort whereas carrying it, and aside from that, utilizing the Variety cup was a breeze. One other cool function is its further lengthy stem, which helps you discover the cup together with your fingers for elimination and will be trimmed for consolation.

As with most cups, the stem is merely used to seek out the bottom of the cup when it’s time to take it out after 12 hours or when full. Whereas the design of a cup’s stem is paying homage to a tampon, you positively should not pull it out the identical manner. At all times launch the cup’s suction earlier than pulling it out; you do that by pinching the cup’s base to interrupt the seal.

The easiest way to scrub a cup in between makes use of is to dump its contents in the bathroom, then rinse it clear in a sink earlier than reinserting it, however you’ll be able to wipe it down with bathroom paper or disposable wipes(opens in a brand new tab) if you happen to don’t have entry to a sink. Eradicating and dumping the contents of a cup is unquestionably a bit extra hands-on than pulling out a tampon, however when you get the hold of pulling a cup out, a lot of the blood stays within the cup slightly than getting throughout your palms.

Credit score: Flex

A notice of warning: Menstrual cups won’t be the most suitable choice if you happen to use an intrauterine machine, mentioned June Gupta, a Maryland-based girls’s well being nurse practitioner and the director of Medical Requirements at Deliberate Parenthood Federation of America. “The suction from eradicating the cup may cause your IUD to maneuver misplaced, making it much less efficient at stopping being pregnant,” Gupta defined in an e mail.

Since I’ve an IUD myself, I proceeded with utmost warning whereas making an attempt out the opposite cup choices. The Flex cup had a cool pull tab design that unseals the cup so that you don’t should pinch the cup’s base, however general I’d nonetheless be too spooked in regards to the dangers to my IUD to make use of these usually. And whereas I actually wished to love the Saalt Comfortable cup, I discovered it too tough to take away in comparison with the opposite two cups I attempted.

Menstrual discs, $13-40

One other tampon various that Rosas recommends are reusable menstrual discs. Discs are tucked between the vaginal fornix and the pubic bone as an alternative of sitting within the vaginal canal like cups. To insert, you squeeze the disc to kind a slim form and insert it into your vagina such as you would a tampon, then frivolously push the entrance fringe of the disc up behind your pubic bone to set it in place.

One promoting level for discs is that you could have penetrative intercourse whereas carrying them. Rosas additionally mentioned that since discs don’t sit within the vaginal canal, they match extra universally and require much less guesswork than cups. “Cups can typically slide down or be pressured out, as a result of they’re held with muscle tone,” Rosas mentioned. “However discs are far much less finicky in that division.”

Since they do not require a seal or suction inside the vaginal partitions to remain in place, they’re additionally a doable various to cups for individuals with IUDs.

I first tried (opens in a brand new tab)Ziggy(opens in a brand new tab), a reusable menstrual disc by the model Intimina, in addition to disposable discs from (opens in a brand new tab)Flex(opens in a brand new tab) and (opens in a brand new tab)Softdisc(opens in a brand new tab). Inserting the Ziggy felt really easy in comparison with wrestling with menstrual cups that it felt too straightforward.

Credit score: Ziggy by Intimina

The Ziggy felt extra comfy to me than the disposable discs I attempted, since its rim is made with tremendous delicate silicone slightly than agency plastic. I additionally tried one other reusable disc, Nixit(opens in a brand new tab), and located it straightforward to insert and comfy to put on.

Nonetheless, all the discs concerned a little bit of problem to take away. To take out a disc, it’s essential to catch the rim of the disc with a finger, then pull it right down to untuck it from behind the pubic bone. Because the space the place blood collects is a shallow dish that doesn’t actually maintain its form, it acts considerably like a chunk of paper beneath a glass of water: As soon as eliminated, blood kinda will get in every single place it doesn’t matter what. Rosas beneficial taking discs out within the bathe till you get the hold of it, then you’ll be able to attempt eradicating them over the bathroom and considerably purpose the mess into the bathroom (I’ve not gotten there but).

With disposable discs, you merely throw them away after a single use. With reusable discs, you’ll be able to rinse them clear similar to you’ll a menstrual cup, then sanitize them by boiling for 5 minutes on the finish of your cycle.

Credit score: Softdisc

Having the ability to have mess-free interval intercourse was additionally a neat function, though it’s a little bit of a misnomer. It’s “mess-free” for the particular person not carrying the disc, as there’s loads of mess as soon as the disc has to return out. I barely felt the discs throughout intercourse, although my associate reported that sure positions have been much less comfy for him whereas I used to be carrying it. I didn’t love the disposable discs (the rim was extra agency and noticeable as soon as inserted, and the crinkly plastic was off-putting) or the waste they create, however since discs will be worn for as much as 12 hours at a time, they nonetheless create much less waste than tampons.

Reusable pads, $10-22

If inside menstrual merchandise aren’t interesting to you, reusable pads are a fantastic choice to scale back waste with a minimal studying curve. They perform basically the identical as disposable pads, besides they use snaps as an alternative of adhesive to remain in place.

I attempted a pack of reusable pads from (opens in a brand new tab)Simfamily(opens in a brand new tab), which comes with six pads and a carrying case. For people extra used to pads, these have been almost the identical, besides that the dearth of adhesive causes the pad to shift and want adjustment all through the day. You may put on these for as much as eight hours, however how regularly you modify them out will rely on how heavy your stream is, similar to with a disposable pad.

I additionally tried reusable pads from Aisle(opens in a brand new tab), which has been making reusable interval merchandise for the reason that early ‘90s. The pads from Aisle felt a lot much less cumbersome than those from Simfamily, and so they didn’t have a tendency to slip round as a lot both.

Credit score: Aisle

To wash these after every use, you’ll be able to rinse or pre-soak the pads, then toss them into the washer.

As somebody extra accustomed to inside interval merchandise like tampons, the pads weren’t my favourite. Between the 2 manufacturers I attempted, the Simfamily pads left me feeling barely sweaty and uncomfortable after lengthy intervals of sitting at my desk, however they’re nonetheless a good selection for somebody trying to get into reusable pads on a funds. If you happen to’re keen to take a position for extra consolation (and cute muted kinds), the Aisle pads have been my favourite on this class.

I additionally tried (opens in a brand new tab)interlabial pads(opens in a brand new tab), small petals of fabric you tuck into your labia slightly than insert into the vagina, however they have been positively essentially the most uncomfortable choice I attempted. Rosas agreed, describing the sensation of the petals as like “a relentless wedgie.” With no devoted laundering bag, these have been additionally a ache to clean, and bought misplaced within the nooks and crannies of my dryer.

Interval underwear, $15-50

Rosas mentioned interval underwear can function a wonderful backup for cups or discs so you will get the hold of issues with out worrying about leaks. They’re additionally nice for full-time use for lighter days or for these in search of a sustainable choice who don’t wish to use inside menstrual merchandise. There’s no set interval at which you must swap out your interval underwear, however after a few hours micro organism begins forming and so they’ll begin to odor fairly gross, so it’s a good suggestion to alter them out usually.

If you change out interval underwear can even rely on the underwear’s absorbency and your stream. My interval is fairly gentle, so I by no means totally saturated any pairs with blood, however somebody with a heavier stream will wish to both attain for larger absorbency pairs or plan to alter them out usually to forestall leaks.

Credit score: Aisle

A number of the totally different manufacturers I attempted felt like carrying an ungainly built-in pad; others felt remarkably just like my common underwear. Total, I discovered interval underwear to be a fantastic choice for after I’m staying residence, however I may see altering pairs in the midst of the day being a problem if I have been working in an workplace.

My favourite pairs have been the Knix dream brief(opens in a brand new tab), which felt tremendous comfortable and cute whereas additionally promising nice in a single day absorption, and the Innersy 3-pack of underwear,(opens in a brand new tab) which might be good for lighter days and was essentially the most reasonably priced interval underwear I attempted. Aisle’s boxer briefs(opens in a brand new tab) have been additionally tremendous comfortable to put on and could be a nice choice trans or nonbinary individuals who menstruate.

To greatest clear interval underwear, most firms advocate pre-soaking or rinsing with chilly water earlier than tossing into the wash. It’s not a ton of labor, however I do assume my roommate can be considerably shocked to see my blood tinged underwear drip-drying within the tub.

And … sea sponges?

Of all the merchandise I requested Rosas about, there was just one she hadn’t tried: menstrual sea sponges. (Disclosure: I did not attempt them, both.)

“I’m going to completely admit that I am not courageous sufficient to attempt that product,” she mentioned. “And I’ve put plenty of sketchy wanting issues in there to attempt within the title of testing merchandise.”

Rosas mentioned that the unregulated nature of merchandise like sea sponges and do-it-yourself tampons offers her pause. Once I seemed into menstrual sponges for myself, I discovered that the FDA additionally classifies menstrual sponges as “important danger gadgets,” which may pose critical potential dangers to the well being and welfare of the consumer. As compared, merchandise like menstrual cups and discs are made with medical-grade supplies, and should be cleared on the market within the U.S. by the FDA.

June Gupta agreed with Rosas’ concern for untested interval merchandise, saying that not all tampon alternate options are good ones. As with anything you may put in your physique, it is all the time a good suggestion to do your individual analysis or seek the advice of together with your physician earlier than making main adjustments to your interval routine.

“Crocheted or material tampons are untested, unregulated, and might doubtlessly trigger harmful issues together with poisonous shock syndrome, which is what occurs when there may be an overgrowth of staph micro organism within the vagina inflicting your physique to enter shock,” Gupta mentioned. And nobody needs that.

This story was printed in 2021 and up to date in June 2022.