Frank Talk About Making The Menstrual Cycle a More Eco-Friendly Experience

It is a fact of nature that every month, women go through certain physical changes.  Some women try to hide it, others pretend it doesn't happen at all, and there are a few women who have no shame about it and tell anyone who will listen.  That thing is their menstrual cycle.

There are so many over the counter remedies and cures for all the little symptoms of the monthly cycle, but how eco-friendly are these options?  There are heating pads that help with the pain, and there are pads and tampons in different sizes, absorbencies and scents.  With so many options, there should be a pretty good amount of green choices available too.  Unfortunately, these green choices are harder to find.  The stigma around women's cycles is to take care of it, cover it up, and dispose of the evidence.  With all the women around the world doing this, it leads to a lot of waste.  Here are a few more eco-friendly options to take it from "the curse" to something a little more bearable.

The Diva Cup is a device that is worn internally throughout the cycle.  Since it is reusable after washing, it is a lot more sustainable then a tampon that is disposed of.  The Diva Cup is a pliable material that is approved by the FDA, and it can be worn for up to 12 hours and during all sorts of activities.  It's as comfortable, if not more, as a tampon.

The Luna Pad is a washable sanitary pad that is worn similar to a disposable napkin.  They come in the same sizes, but have the advantage of being softer and more comfortable to the wearer.  They also come in a lot of fun colors and patterns.  If you have a few of these pads, they can last you through a whole period without needing to purchase a disposable one.  You just wash them out at the end of your cycle in water with color-safe bleach and you're good to go.  These are easy to make, too, with a little cotton fabric and batting.

Instead of buying the OTC heating pads that only last 30-45 minutes, purchase or make a rice bag instead.  They're easy to make, and cheap to buy.  These are reusable, and just need to be popped into the microwave.  Heat is proven to help cramps, and there is no reason to buy single use heating pads when you can have a reusable rice bag.

These are just a few of the options out there to make your period more environmentally friendly.  Reducing waste is always a good idea in your day-to-day habits, and there's no reason not to include your period in that.  To make these even better, they also save you money!  It's a one time cost of something that can be washed and re-used, instead of a reoccurring cost of something that you just throw away and can't be reused.