Know Your Period Products: Part 5 – The Conclusion
On the eve of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, I am dedicating this final blog post in my series on menstrual products. Menstrual health is a basic human right, and everyone should have access to products that suit their individual needs. This year’s theme for Menstrual Hygiene Day is “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.”
Period Products Available in India
There is a wide variety of period products available in India. Here are some of the most commonly used options:
How to Decide What to Use?
Choosing a period product is a personal decision. Here are some tips to help you decide:
- Sanitary Pads: Easy to use and convenient, especially for beginners. Ideal for those who prefer external protection.
- Tampons: Great for those who swim or prefer internal protection. Remember to change them every 4-6 hours.
- Menstrual Cups: Reusable and eco-friendly. Can be worn for up to 12 hours, depending on your flow.
- Cloth: Washable and reusable, a sustainable option for those who prefer natural materials.
- Underwear Menstrual Panty: Combines comfort and protection, can be used as a backup for other products.
Tampon or cup might be very comfortable for few as you can’t feel it, while underwear or pads might be preferred if you don’t want to put anything inside your vagina. While disposable ones are convenient, reusable ones are environment friendly and cost effective in a longer run.
You can switch or use a combination of products based on your flow, activity level, time of day, and comfort. Cost, safety, comfort and environmental impact can guide your choice.
Important Tips for Using Period Products
- Clean Your Hands: Always wash your hands before changing any period product.
- Don’t Use scented Products: They might cause allergic reactions.
- Ensure you change your products frequently, at least every 4-6 hours for tampons and pads. Keep them as clean as possible
- Proper Disposal: Dispose of used products properly to maintain hygiene. Wrap them in a paper and dispose them in a bin with lid. Don’t flush them down the toilet.
- Rinse Cloth Products Thoroughly: If using cloth, reusable pads and panty, remember to rinse the detergent off completely.
Remember, the key to menstrual hygiene is maintaining cleanliness and choosing the products that make you feel comfortable and confident.
Summary of the frequently used products
| Menstrual cloth | Reusable pads/ panty | Disposable pads/ Panty | Menstrual cups | Tampon | |
| Insertion | – | – | – | Yes | Yes |
| Reusable | Max 1 year | 1+ year | – | 5-10yrs | – |
| Wear time approx. | 2-4 hrs | 3-6 hrs | 3-6 hrs | 6-8 hrs | 4-6 hrs Max.-8hrs |
| Estimated cost for 1 year | * | ** | **** | ** | ***** |
| Health risks ( depends on general hygiene) | Medium | Medium | Low | Medium | Medium |
| Maintenance | High | High | Low | Medium | Low |
| Environment friendly | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Together, we can create a #PeriodFriendlyWorld where everyone has access to the menstrual products they need!
