The Shocking Truth About Feminine Hygiene Products--What Are Your Options?

re: The Shocking Truth About Feminine Hygiene Products--What Are Your Options?

Karlsmum — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:48:59 GMT

There are many other options for menstral cups as well as The Keeper, I have found this website to be really helpful in working out what to buy and the ins and outs of using one: community.livejournal.com/.../profile

Silvialcg The Diva Cup is made of silicone :)

re: The Shocking Truth About Feminine Hygiene Products--What Are Your Options?

drdaviddarbro — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:26:32 GMT

I certainly appreciate Dr. Mercola's courage, dedication and willingness to spread the truth about sensitive health issues. I am particularly in agreement with his stand documenting the dangers of tampons. In my 40 plus years in family medicine I have removed many putrid tampons from embarrassed patients. And I know of a case that required surgery as the tampon became attached to the cervix. It makes no sense to intentionally plug up the natural flow which can possibly incubate opportunists like staph aureus. Bacteria can multiply every 20 minutes and reach populations of trillions within a few hours. TSS can certainly result. And there is no reason to take the tampon risk, especially nowadays. I have found an option to tampons that wasn't mentioned in Dr. Mercola's article that my patients find most satisfactory. It has to do with innovative technology developed in the East. Dryness, no odor, comfort and a feeling of well being are commonly reported. This technology has only been available in the US since February 2009. I sincerely believe this breakthrough will revolutionize the feminine hygiene industry.

re: The Shocking Truth About Feminine Hygiene Products--What Are Your Options?

SarahI — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:59:57 GMT

I stopped using tampons years ago and my cramping lessened dramatically and I didn't have that nausea I always had during menses. Now, I haven't made the leap to reusable products, but I'm getting there. Two things that prevent women from using these healthier options, in my opinion are:

1. ) the idea that when a woman is menstrating she must "plug it up" and get on with life pretending that there isn't anything different. Let's be honest, when women are menstrating we have less energy, and just don't feel as well as usual. It's perfectly OK to slow down or take the day off. I always try to be gentle with myself during this time and take the day off if possible. It's a time of physical purging as well as mental and emotional purging. We can't pretend that nothing is the matter. Tampons especially make us "forget" that things aren't the same as usual.

2.) What I'll call the "yuck factor." We tend to view the menses as yucky in our culture. So, we want to handle and see something yucky as little as possible. Disposable tampons sanitize menstration. They make it tidy and reduce any yuck that we might come in contact with. Human bodies have all sorts of fluids and such that go in and out. We need to stop seeing everything as yucky!

re: The Shocking Truth About Feminine Hygiene Products--What Are Your Options?

StrangerHereMyself — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:20:26 GMT

Heather! I had never heard of such a thing before. I think I will order a DivaCup when I get home today.

re: The Shocking Truth About Feminine Hygiene Products--What Are Your Options?

heatherchambo — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:12:57 GMT

The issue of "feminine hygiene" products is a glaring symptom of much much larger and more terrifying issues, like the way women are treated and instrinsically viewed in this culture (and so many others). Women are, by far, put in more risk EVERY SINGLE DAY than men due to social norms, consumer trends, and identity construction (you know, those elements of society that build who we are).

Aside from the plethora of socio-political issues that could be addressed by way of this seemingly insignificant topic (how women deal with their monthly blood), there are some very practical approaches and options. While a couple are mentioned in this article, I feel it necessary to add some things to the list.

My personal favorite is the Diva Cup http://divacup.ca/ which is an award winning alternative to disposable menstrual products. While the Keeper was a great start, the medical grade silicone used to make the Diva Cups is far more hypoallergenic and doesn't break down as quickly as the rubber Keeper. I'm telling you, the Diva Cup is absolute brilliance - environmentally and health-consciously.

As well, cloth pads are easy to make, even if you have very little sewing skills. If interested, all you have to do is look it up on the internet and you'll find thousands of sites with patterns and how-tos.

Lastly, I'll mention sea sponges. These are not as long lasting as the Diva Cup, but are much more environmentally and body friendly. The link in this article to the Glad Rags website has information about menstrual sponges, as well as Pandora Pads: www.pandorapads.com/sponge.htm .

Women who care about their well-being and making engaged choices in their lives absolutely MUST think about something as basic as what sorts of things they're putting inside them - whether via their mouths or their vaginas. And the men who care about the well-being of the women in their lives' should be concerned as well! Love your bodies and use your brains!