Why Reusable Period Products Matter by Jami de Jesus
What Are Reusable Menstrual Products?
Reusable menstrual products are sterilizable or washable products that collect or absorb menses. Examples include menstrual cups, menstrual discs, period underwear, cloth pads, cloth or crocheted tampons, and sea sponge tampons.
Waste
Menstrual products may not be the first things that come to mind when considering personal products that generate waste, but a lifetime supply of period products for the average menstruator would consist of approximately 5,000 to 15,000 pads and/or tampons. These single-use products are not biodegradable and thus end up in landfill. In contrast, a single reusable menstrual product can safely be used for several years, and at the end of that time many can be recycled, some composted.
Cost
Besides generating several thousand tons of waste, disposable menstrual products are quite expensive over time. Sources vary on specific estimates, but the cost of disposable period products amounts to some thousands of dollars throughout the average menstruator’s reproductive lifetime. Additionally, many states still apply a luxury tax to pads and tampons, despite the fact that period products are most definitely a necessity. Menstrual products are also not covered by food stamps or Medicaid. Reusables aren’t exempt from taxes, but they do cost less in the long run. For example, a typical menstrual cup costs $30 to $50 but will last up to 10 years.
Hygiene
Manufacturers of disposable menstrual products are not federally required to disclose the chemicals or ingredients in the products. Reusable menstrual products are made of known materials (such as medical grade silicone for cups, or cotton for cloth pads), and individual brands almost always list them. Additionally, cups, discs, and sea sponges can be easily sterilized (by boiling or by soaking in a sterilizing solution), while period underwear and cloth pads and tampons can be washed (often along with regular laundry). For obvious reasons, disposables cannot be washed or sterilized.
Convenience
While cloth pads are an age-old period management option, modern cloth pad fabrics are more absorbent and can thus be worn for longer. Menstrual cups and discs can be worn safely for up to 12 hours and thus only need to be removed and emptied a few times a day. This means less time needed for bathroom trips and more time for living life. Many people who menstruate also find reusables more effective than disposables, which means less time dealing with leaks.
Comfort
Disposable menstrual products typically contain plastic and other harsh materials that can chafe or cause discomfort. Cups and discs are made of smooth, relatively soft materials such as medical grade silicone, latex, natural rubber, or TPE (thermoplastic elastomer, a mix of rubber and other polymers), while cloth pads and tampons are just that - cloth (with the exception of the snaps on cloth pads, which are like small buttons that allow the pads to remain secured to underwear). Many people who menstruate find that the lack of hard or abrasive materials in reusables makes them more comfortable than disposables.
TSS Risk
On a similar note, the absorbent materials in disposable tampons absorb not only menstrual flow but also natural vaginal lubrication, altering conditions such as the microflora and pH of the vagina. In a best case scenario, this can be drying and irritating, and in a worst case scenario it could result in Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). Disposable tampons can also act as breeding grounds for bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus, which causes TSS), either while in use or when fibers from the tampon sometimes are left inside the vagina even after removal of the tampon. Although the risk of getting TSS from tampons has greatly decreased after the discovery of the links between the two, due to safer products and greater awareness, the risk with menstrual cups or discs is significantly lower, since they do not absorb vaginal lubrication or provide an adequate breeding ground for bacteria. One of the few documented cases of TSS from/with menstrual cup use (outside of areas with low accessibility to hygienic facilities, and excluding improper use such as using the cup for several days without emptying/washing) was a case in which the user had accidentally created a small vaginal tear, giving the bacteria a place to breed. A study on tampons and menstrual cups and TSS claimed to find that menstrual cups do not reduce the risk of TSS compared to tampons, but the study was conducted using brain heart infusion (a broth used for growing microorganisms) incubated in sterile plastic bags to simulate the vagina. It is unclear how similar this environment would be to an actual vagina, considering no microorganisms typical to the microbiome of a vagina were used in the experiment; thus, many menstrual cup proponents are skeptical of the claims made. Additionally, if cup users developed TSS as frequently as tampon users, then the numbers of reported cases would be equal, and this is not the case.
Menstrual Equity & Alleviating Period Poverty
The above properties of reusable menstrual products - little to no physical waste, lower cost over time, hygiene, convenience, and comfort - mean that reusables could be great assets in alleviating period poverty.
In impoverished countries or areas, many young people who menstruate cannot attend or do not feel comfortable attending school while menstruating, which is a form of gender-based oppression. Sometimes this is tied to cultural stigma and/or lack of privacy; sometimes it is due to lack of access to hygienic period products and/or washing facilities. Provided that clean water is accessible (and, if using menstrual cups or discs, that there is a way to boil the water), reusable menstrual products would be easier to supply than disposables, as disposables must be continually discarded and replaced. Combined with destigmatizing menstruation, providing menstrual products and educating people about how to use and clean them properly would allow anyone who menstruates to live their lives and participate (as much as they wish to) in society without worrying about leaks, discomfort, cleanliness, money, or waste.
What Can We Do?
Donate - if you’ve converted to reusable menstrual products and no longer need the disposables you had on hand (or you buy extras), you can keep them around to give to friends in need, or you can donate them to menstrual product drives or local shelters. You can also donate money to charities such as the following:
Support brands that care - many brands that sell menstrual products use their resources and platform to work to combat period poverty.
For every menstrual cup purchased, Ruby Cup sends one to one of their education teams (with locations in impoverished areas of Nepal and several countries in East Africa), who will not only give the cups to people who menstruate but will also educate them on how to use and clean them. The teams also educate them on other menstrual and reproductive health topics, as well as ensure that they have support networks in place, since cultural stigmas and taboos surrounding menstruation can be difficult to dismantle.
Cora also uses some of its profits to provide both reusable and disposable menstrual products to those in need, along with reproductive health education and jobs.
Send letters and sign petitions to change policies/laws - as stated before, menstrual products aren’t covered by food stamps or Medicaid, but they have recently been declared reimbursable under flexible spending accounts (FSA) or health savings accounts (HSA); thus, it is up to you whether you would like to sign petitions to eliminate the “tampon tax” (which is a catchy name that encompasses the luxury tax on all menstrual products). There are plenty of other petitions to sign too. As a disclaimer, a lot of petitions don’t list dates for latest progress/updates, and many situations may have become difficult to handle due to COVID-19-related issues, so some links may or may not still be viable.
Petition to end the tampon tax in Alabama
Period.org has links to sign two petitions regarding ending period poverty in schools
General petition to US Secretary of the Department of Education to end period poverty in schools
Support the Menstrual Products Right to Know Act (which would require all manufacturers of menstrual products to disclose ingredients)
Normalize periods - don’t treat periods like a taboo.
You can go all-out and advocate for menstrual equity and/or reusable menstrual products, or you can simply be unafraid to bring up period talk or participate in the conversation when it comes up. Even sharing or liking an Instagram post can help. Talking about menstruation normalizes it.
Use inclusive language. Yes, many women and girls menstruate. Some don’t. Some trans people, nonbinary people, agender people, genderfluid people, and genderqueer people menstruate. People of any gender menstruate, and it’s best not to assume. Excluding people who don’t identify as women, within an already historically stigmatized subject, can be very off-putting, even if it’s done unintentionally, so try to be conscientious about it.
Conclusion
Reusable menstrual products are not necessarily for everyone - for example, people with disabilities may not be able to use them comfortably. No one is “wrong” for using disposable products. In fact, there are some greener options for disposable menstrual products, such as organic tampons. However, reusables should not be dismissed due to stigma or ignorance; they can be game-changing for many people. Even in wealthier countries or areas, ill-fitting or ineffective period products can make people feel insecure and uncomfortable during menstruation, making them less likely to participate in certain activities while menstruating. Comfort and security pave the road for not just competence but also confidence, and everyone deserves to feel clean, comfortable, secure, competent, and confident - whether they are menstruating or not.