Alternatives To Pads And Tampons: Buying, using, and then throwing away pads or tampons during periods every month… this cycle has been going on for years. But did you know that every year, billions of pads and tampons go to landfills as waste and take hundreds of years to decompose? For this reason, many women have now started adopting reusable period products like menstrual cups, discs, and period underwear. These not only last longer, but are beneficial for both the pocket and the environment.

Software engineer Sarla Makhija also bought her last tampon six months ago. She always felt that tampons are expensive and also harm the environment. Then she saw a friend of hers using menstrual discs and thought of trying it herself. Now she says, “This is a game changer!” She is not the only such woman; today, in urban areas, 3 or 4 women out of every 10 are doing this.

Smart way to reduce waste

According to research, about 12 billion pads and 7 billion tampons are thrown into landfills every year in the US. Most of the pads are made of plastic, which can take up to 800 years to decompose. And to be honest, most of us use what we have been taught since childhood, like our mother or grandmother.

Benefits of menstrual cup –
The menstrual cup is inserted inside just like a tampon, but it can have more flow, and it can last up to 12 hours. The menstrual disc fits even higher, which does not cause any problem during sex. The best part is that the chances of toxic shock syndrome associated with tampons are also very low in these.

Need for a little practice.

Yes, it is also true that using them is not easy at first. If not applied correctly, there can be a mess. They have to be cleaned with soap and water every time, which is a bit difficult in public toilets. While removing the cup, care has to be taken to break the suction; otherwise, the contraceptive IUD may move. There may be hesitation in removing the disc as well in the beginning.

Light on the pocket, lasts for years.

The cost of these is around Rs 200 to Rs 100. But imagine, if you use even 10 pads or tampons every month, then the cost is recovered in a few months, and then you do not need to buy a new one for years. This is the reason why it can be called a long-term investment.

Option for those who like pads too

If you do not want to give up pads, then you can try period underwear. It looks like normal underwear, but it has an extra absorbent layer. This can prevent skin irritation caused by plastic and chemicals present in disposable pads. However, it is difficult to find out whether it is full or not, so many women use it as a backup along with a cup, disc, or tampon.

According to health experts, reusable period products will become more popular in the coming years. Today's women are adopting them because they are comfortable, economical, and better for the environment. They are truly becoming a modern, smart, and sustainable way of period hygiene.

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