We all complain about getting our periods and the rigmarole that goes with having them, from period cramps and mood swings, through to the feminine hygiene products we use. And if you’re like me, you’ve spent the best part of your menstrual life using one of two products, tampons or pads.
Tampons or pads – it’s a bit like “wax or pluck” isn’t it? Neither is a particularly attractive prospect, but if you want the job done it’s a choice you have to make.
Personally, I’ve always been a tampon girl. Not that they’ve ever actually prompted me to go surfing, horse riding or skydiving like the girls in the tampon commercials; but I do think they offer more freedom than pads. But they’re not a miracle product. They leak, meaning that during your heavy days you have to wear a pad anyway, pretty much defeating the purpose of using them in the first place.
Perhaps the worst aspect of Tampons is that they absorb not only your menstrual blood, but any moisture they come in contact with (remember the frightening tampon-in-the-glass-of-water demonstration in Sex Ed.?), leaving you feeling dried out. This in turn makes it harder to insert and remove them, as they’ve absorbed all your natural lubrication. This also prevents the mucus membranes of your vaginal wall from continuing their essential cleansing and protective functions, interfering with your body's natural defense mechanisms. They can also leave fibers inside you and may be made using bleach: that’s to get them so nice and white! You’re also faced with the worry of Toxic Shock Syndrome. I can’t count the number of times I’ve worn one at night, guiltily thinking, “I know I shouldn’t wear one for so long,” but not wanting to deal with wearing uncomfortable pads that aren’t designed to absorb properly when you’re in a horizontal position.
Urgh! Don’t get me started on pads! Walking around with what feels like a pillow shoved in your pants, constantly worrying that everyone can see the extra padding you’re suddenly sporting, not to mention leaking, that soggy sensation and wondering if maybe, just maybe, you smell a little like left-out-of-the-fridge ground beef. And maternity pads! If you’ve ever had a baby, (I’ve had two) you’ll know the indignity of wearing a king-size mattress in your pants. Just when you thought you’d stop the waddle walk now that the little human is on the outside, think again!
And then there’s land fill. There are more than 85 million women of menstruating age in America today, translating to around 12 billion pads and 7 million tampons ending up as landfill each year. Blech! That paints a not-too-pretty picture, doesn’t it? I’m just glad the statistics didn’t tell me how many football fields that would cover, or how much of the Grand Canyon it would fill, because that’s a mental image I’m happy not to have.
Until very recently, tampons and pads were the only two options I was aware of. But now, thanks to the gals on our chatboards, I’ve had a revelation. I’ve discovered the Mooncup.
The Mooncup is a reusable menstrual cup about two inches long and made from soft silicone rubber. It is worn internally, like a tampon, but collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it. Unlike tampons the Mooncup is not a disposable product, so you don’t need to be putting one in your grocery cart every month.
For those of you who are familiar with the Mooncup (and why did no-one tell me about it sooner?) you’ll know it’s a cute little thing, looking not unlike a small, decorative wine glass, without the base. It’s made of soft, pliable silicone, and once it’s inside you it creates a light seal within your vagina, holding it in place. You change it less often than a tampon or a pad, and you don’t have all the extra landfill to worry about.
There’s only one thing I’m concerned about, and that’s the potential for mess when it’s time to remove it. Will it shoot across the room hilariously like a diaphragm in a off-beat romantic comedy? Will I end up looking like the prom queen in Carrie? Both the Mooncup web site and chatboard users of the product assure me it won’t and that it’s no messier than using tampons or pads.
Proponents of the Mooncup swear by it, citing its ease of use and effectiveness. It’s reported to be perfect for camping trips, or when you’re away from the creature comforts we’re all used to, because you don’t have to take tampons or pads with you, or worry about disposing of them. It’s less expensive than constantly buying tampons or pads, and doesn’t result in waste products that damage the environment.
After reading the opinions of women who’ve got one, I decided to order one of my very own, and I’m patiently awaiting its arrival. I’ll take it for a test drive so stay tuned for breaking news about life without tampons and pads.
