Sustainable Menstrual Hygiene
This page focuses on feminine hygiene and highlights the need to switch to planet-friendly and healthier options to manage the monthly periods of all menstruators.
Disposable sanitary pad is a popular period care product - majority women in the urban areas and more than half the women in rural areas use them. Though convenient to use, they pose a number of environmental and health issues.
Health
Harsh chemicals used in the pad cause a lot of short-term and long-term health issues like RASHES, Hormonal Imbalance, PCOS/Hypothyroidism, Infertility, Cervical Cancer.
Drain Blockage
Super-absorbant gels in the pad absorb drain water when flushed, the pad swells and blocks drains.
Waste Forever
Each pad takes 500 years to decompose - pollutes soil, ground water and air.
Period Poverty
Need for spending money on disposable pads is causing period poverty the world over.
Sustainable Solutions
Menstrual Cups
A menstrual cup is a re-usable period care product that is made from medical-grade silicone. It is inserted into the vaginal canal to collect menstrual discharge and periodically emptied. One cup can be re-used for at least ten years and it saves thousands of disposable sanitary napkins from going to the landfill. It is very comfortable and women using it vouch for the liberating period experience!
How to use the Menstrual Cup
Fold the cup
Insert it into your vagina
It forms a seal & collects the blood
To remove, pinch base & pull
Empty the cup & reinsert
Cloth Pads
Cloth pads are the new avatar of the age-old menstrual cloth that has been used to manage menstruation since the olden days. They have multiple layers of high-absorbent cotton fabric, a leak-proof layer, wings with buttons and come in vibrant colours and patterns. They are machine-washable. Each set of cloth pads lasts 3 to 4 years.
How to use the Cloth Pad
Use buttons to fasten pad to the underwear
Wash in cold water
Hang-dry in sunlight
Girls of the new world choose cloth pads
Cloth pad revolution by EcoFemme
Online
amazon.in, nykaa.com, shycart.com, stonesoup.in, ecofemme.org, boondh.co
App
bigbasket, blinkit
Offline
Health and Glow, select organic stores, sustainable markets
Cycle of Change
Cycle of Change is a Saahas project based in Hyderabad city. This is a special project where the focus is to create awareness on exclusively on sustainable menstrual hygiene and increase adoption of sustainable period care products. The target of the project is to hand hold selected 1000 menstruators on their journey towards sustainable options.
All Projects
Awareness about sustainable menstrual hygiene is an integral part of our project activities. We have trained team members in our project teams as well as external resource persons, who take these sessions.
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FAQ
These are some of the things to consider when buying a cup –
Stem/ring/knob : the entire cup (along with the full stem) needs to be inside the vaginal canal. If a bit of the stem or ring is jutting out, it will hurt when walking. Hence it is recommended to go for a cup with a tiny knob or nothing at all. Menstrual Cups: The Story of Stem
It is normal to be scared. But rest assured, the cup will not get lost inside. There is a maximum 3 inches space for the cup, beyond that the cup can not go. Tips for inserting initial times:
No. The Cup is to be inserted into the vagina. Vaginal opening is in between urethra (urine opening) and anus (opening for stool). Hence the cup does not block the urine opening. Refer pic below –
Relax, the cup has not got lost inside. All you have to do is bear down the cup like you would when you are constipated – the cup will come down and you will be able to reach it.
Do not pull the cup with the stem or ring. Since there is an airlock, pulling it will only hurt. Use the stem to locate the base of the cup, pinch the cup to release the airlock, tilt and then pull it out.
Things to try if you cup is leaking –
When inserted correctly, one should not feel the cup at all. If it is hurting, it means the cup has not been inserted fully. Push it further inside. Ensure good lubrication with water or coconut oil while inserting. If it is still hurting, give it a break and try again the next day.
This is variable and depends on your flow. You need to empty the cup at least every 12 hours. So, during the first use, it is good to check every 4 to 6 hours, learn how much the flow is and accordingly get to know how often the cup should be emptied.
Yes, but they might find it difficult to insert as the vaginal muscles are tight. Lubrication and guidance from an adult who is a cup-user might go a long way to ensure the adoption is smooth.
Yes. Just ensure you can feel the IUD thread after every period (feels like a toothbrush bristle). Refer attached pic to understand where the cup & IUD sit.
If you maintain proper hygiene, sterilization is not needed. However, for your satisfaction, you can sterilize it once before you start to use the cup at the onset of periods. During periods, you can use clean water to wash the cup. There is no need to even use soap as it may have harmful chemicals and any residue post-use may lead to infection. If you want to use soap, ensure it is a chemical-free and mild soap
Do ensure you dry your cup well after you wash it and store it in a breathable cotton pouch (it is usually provided with the product) at the end of your period cycle.
No
Post-delivery the vagina is stressed and bruised. It is not advisable to use the cup for postpartum bleeding.
When cloth pads are washed well, dried well (preferable in direct sunlight) and stored properly, they are perfectly hygienic
Soaking used pads in cold water prior to washing ensures pads remain stain free.
Typically a set of 8 to 12 cloth pads is sufficient for someone with regular flow.
Yes, Cloth pads can be used for light incontinence.