Why alternative menstrual products

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Why alternative menstrual products?
Health some (not so new) concerns Artificial
fibers (like rayon) in mainstream products are
abrasive - when a mainstream tampon lengthens, it
pushes against the cervix, causing tiny cuts and
imbedding pieces into the tissue. This has been
traced as a probable cause of Toxic Shock
Syndrome and has been shown to damage the vaginal
walls by causing ulceration and peeling of the
mucus membrane. Absorbent tampons also affect pH
levels by absorbing mucus, which has been linked
to yeast infections. Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)
is a rare but fatal bacterial illness that occurs
mostly in young menstruators. TSS has been
linked to tampon use and the high absorbency in
tampons. The number of reported cases has been
nearly eliminated in recent years, partially due
to increased regulation by the FDA of tampon
absorbency and changes in tampon ingredients. A
menstruator is likely to use over 12,000 sanitary
pads and tampons in a lifetime, and mainstream
disposable products often cost much more than
reusable ones (often more than 2 to 15 times as
much over time). This amounts to thousands of
dollars that could be used for other needs. For
an estimated cost comparison, see graph on other
side. Environment stream of consumption and
waste Mainstream tampons and pads are made from
cotton and rayon (produced from wood pulp and
cotton) which are heavy pesticide industries. In
the U.S., 25 of all insecticides are used on
cotton. 12 billion pads and 7 million tampons
are used once and disposed of annually in this
country alone, clogging our overburdened landfill
sites. The average menstruator throws away 250
to 300 pounds of tampons, pads, and applicators
in their lifetime. The great majority of these
end up in landfills or sewage treatment plants.
Five of the top nine pesticides used on cotton in
the U.S. are known cancer-causing chemicals. All
nine are classified by the U.S. EPA as Category I
and II the most dangerous. Most tampon and
pad factories are located in and ship their
waste to communities of color and low-income
communities which already bear the brunt of
environmental injustice. Dont be afraid to
think and talk about these thingsmenstruation
is important and should be something to
celebrate and be proud of!
For more information check out Tampaction
(tampaction.org) The New Our Bodies, Ourselves by
the Boston Womens Health Collective The Museum
of Menstruation (MUM.org) The Body Project by
Joan Brumberg
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Healthy, Safe, Responsible Alternatives
Organic, non-chlorine bleached
tampons Advantages
Disadvantages Reusable cloth
pads Advantages
Disadvantages
The Keeper and the DivaCup Advantages
Disadvantages
Chance of TSS, though no cases ever reported Can
be messy to change Only come in 2 sizes Takes a
few tries to learn proper insertion/removal Keeper
not for latex-allergic Higher initial investment
Chance of TSS, though no cases ever
reported Disposable and wasteful Expensive (see
graph) Absorbs vaginal mucus Alters pH levels,
which can cause yeast infections Clogs up septic
systems
Pesticide-free No chlorine bleaching Rayon-fre
e You can cut them to the size that is right for
you Easy and often familiar Soft and comfortable
No absorption/abrasion Reusable friendly to the
environment No chlorine bleaching Lasts for a
long time Affordable (see graph) Money-back
guarantee Great for traveling
Long-Term Affordability Estimated costs over 10
years
You have to make time to pre-soak and then
machine wash them Not so convenient if youre
out for long periods of time, you may have to
carry pads home in a plastic bag Can be
bulky Cant wear when swimming
They let blood flow naturally You can make them
yourself out of old clothes and towels Affordable
(see graph) Soft and comfortable Reusable
friendly to the environment No risk of TSS No
chlorine bleaching
1)Organic pads and tampons 650
(65/year) 2)Mainstream pads and tampons 500
(50/year) 3)Reusable pads 200
(20/year) 4)Keeper/Divacup 30 (3/year)