There’s no denying it, periods are just awful.
Unfortunately, all women have to deal with periods—but lucky for you I have a few tips to make them better using reusable period products!
My period has always been on the heavier side. As most people do, I used pads in the beginning but then figured out how to use tampons through trial and error because I wanted the additional coverage and cleanliness they provide.
I’ve always doubled up because not only am I a heavy bleeder, but I am also very paranoid and afraid of leaking through my pants. I’m sure you can relate.
When I was in high school I came across reusable period products; more specifically, menstrual cups.
I ordered one and after getting past the learning curve and figuring out what works best for me, I’ve never looked back!
Reusable period products have been a total game-changer for me, and they can elevate your period game too!
So let’s get started! Here are 5 reasons to switch to reusable period products and the 5 best products.
Why Use Reusable Period Products?
Switching from single-use, disposable period products to reusable ones will do wonders for your comfort, health, and sanity. Not kidding.
It’s one of the best period tips and a life hack for women’s health in general.
How can one simple switch do that? Let me break it down for you into 5 reasons why you should switch to reusable period products.
Save Money
One of the many common complaints about periods is how expensive feminine hygiene products are.
$8 for a box of tampons that will be gone in a month or two?! That definitely adds up.
Let’s do some quick math here.
Say you go through 5 boxes of tampons, 2 boxes of pantyliners, and 1 package of pads each year.
Even if you buy the generic store brand you’ll still spend about $50 each year on feminine hygiene products.
The average woman menstruates for about 40 years. $50 per year X 40 years = $2000
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like the idea of spending $2000 over the course of my life for disposable period products that catch menstrual blood.
Reusable menstrual products solve that!
Most reusable period products cost between $20-40 and last for up to 10 years!
Not only are they cheaper, but they’re also environmentally friendly! Everybody wins.
More Comfortable
Reusable menstrual products are more comfortable than single-use, disposable ones.
Once you figure out the best way to use your reusable period product of choice, you can’t even feel it!
Even if you’re on the last day of your period and have a very light flow, you can still use a menstrual cup or menstrual disc without the same dryness and discomfort that a tampon can cause.
Also, reusable pads and cloth pantyliners don’t have the same wet and cold feeling that you get when wearing disposable cotton ones.
Or better yet, period underwear is made to look and feel just like regular underwear! No added bulk, completely discreet, and created for your comfort.
Less Pain
Now I only get cramps occasionally—instead, I’ve been ever so blessed with heavy bleeding—but reusable period products lessen my general discomfort while on my cycle.
Tampons are made to absorb liquid, and they don’t stop at menstrual blood. Any liquid in your vagina will be absorbed into your tampon.
Vaginas are self-cleaning and naturally lubricate themselves as part of that process. When that lubrication is absorbed it can make you feel dried out and uncomfortable.
Menstrual cups and period discs, on the other hand, don’t absorb anything; they collect it.
No dryness here! Just a vagina functioning normally and living its best life.
Also, many women who have made the switch from disposable period products to reusable ones have noticed less cramping, pain, and discomfort while on their period.
Save Time
You know that feeling when you start your period unexpectedly only to realize your package of feminine hygiene products is almost empty?
When I’m on my period the last thing I want to do is make a last-minute run to the store to buy more tampons.
With reusable period products, not only do you avoid last-minute trips to the store when you run out of tampons, pads, liners, or whatever your go-to period product is, but you also save time changing out said product.
Reusable menstrual cups and discs can be worn for up to 12 hours. 12 hours!
It’s incredibly freeing to only change out your period product twice a day.
No more tucking period products in your sleeve to try and discreetly take them with you to the bathroom.
No more going to the bathroom only to realize your tampon needs to be changed and then having to grab one and make a second trip to the bathroom.
You can easily avoid that awkward “Why are you taking your bag with you?” question that you’re sometimes asked as you head to the bathroom to take care of Aunt Flo.
A cup or disc holds 3 super or 5 regular tampons worth of menstrual blood. This 12-hour capacity means you don’t even need to worry about taking care of business while you’re out and about. Morning and night in the comfort of your own home should do the trick!
Happier & Healthier Vagina
Your vagina is made to clean and regulate itself. Using reusable period products helps to keep things ‘moist’—but the good kind (not like the soggy diaper-esque feeling you get from pads and liners).
You can even use a menstrual cup or menstrual disc if you haven’t started your period but are expecting it.
Personally, I’m always paranoid that I’ll start while I’m swimming or running errands when I know it’s coming. As long as you change it every 12 hours and follow the same steps to keep it clean as you do on your period, you can use a cup or disc to stay both stress and leak-free!
While all insertable menstrual products present some risk of TSS or toxic shock syndrome, TSS has been seen less frequently in menstrual cup or menstrual disc users compared to tampon users.
As long as you’re taking the proper precautions by washing your hands before and after inserting a menstrual cup or disc, cleaning your cup or disc with cup wash between uses, and sterilizing between cycles (this microwaveable sterilizer makes it easy!), you can easily prevent TSS and your vagina can stay happy and healthy!
The 5 Best Reusable Period Products
Alright, now that we’ve gone over the reasons why reusable period products are toiletry cabinet essentials, let’s talk about the 5 most common reusable period products.
Menstrual Cup
Menstrual cups are silicone cups with a rounded bottom and a stem for easy removal. They usually have two tiny holes around the top rim to create suction and keep the cup in place when in your vaginal canal.
Most cups come in two different sizes. The size that will work best for you typically depends on three factors: your flow, cervix height, and if you’ve given birth.
Keep these things in mind when choosing what cup to order. If you keep going back and forth and aren’t sure which size to order, this menstrual cup set comes with both!
Learning to use a menstrual cup definitely takes some time, but once you get the hang of it you’ll never look back!
Learn more about how to use a menstrual cup.
Menstrual Disc
A menstrual disc, like a menstrual cup, is made of silicone and sits inside the vaginal canal. They’re bowl-shaped and sit at the base of your cervix, collecting menstrual blood as it’s released.
Unlike menstrual cups, menstrual discs don’t have tiny holes to create suction, making them a safe option for women with IUDs as there isn’t a risk of dislodging them as there is with a menstrual cup.
Since menstrual discs are placed higher than cups, you can also have sex while wearing them. Who would’ve thought that mess-free period sex was not only possible but also extremely easy and convenient? It’s one of the best sexual intimacy tips.
Check out the complete guide to menstrual discs for more information.
Reusable Pantyliners
Cloth pantyliners are great to have on hand to wear as a backup to a menstrual cup, menstrual disc, or tampon, or even to wear by themselves on lighter days or days when you have more discharge than usual.
Most cloth liners have either snaps or velcro on the wings that keep them snugly fit over the gusset (or lining) of your underwear.
There are typically 3-4 layers of different types of fabric: a charcoal bamboo fiber layer on top to help eliminate odor, an absorbent layer or two in the middle, and a waterproof layer on the bottom to keep everything contained.
Read more about reusable pantyliners.
Reusable Pads
Reusable pads are very similar to cloth pantyliners with the exception of size. As with disposable ones, pads are typically longer, thicker, and wider than pantyliners.
Most cloth pads are made of similar fabric that liners are made of with the same charcoal bamboo fiber top layer, absorbent center layers, and waterproof bottom layers.
They also feature snap closure or velcro closure that folds over and secures around the gusset of your underwear.
Head over to this guide to cloth pads for more information.
Period Underwear
Reusable period underwear is one of the latest additions to the reusable menstrual product market, but they’ve quickly grown in popularity, and for a good reason.
Not only are they both absorbent and comfortable, but they’re also thin and form-fitting—nowhere near the bulkiness of a disposable pad.
Period underwear is essentially indistinguishable from traditional panties. When they’re worn there is no apparent way to tell that they’re super absorbent and leak-proof!
Interested in learning more about period panties? Check out this period underwear guide.
If you’re still using disposable pads or tampons, you need to give reusable period products a try!
By making the switch to reusable alternatives you’ll save money, be more comfortable, experience less period pain, save time, and have an overall happier and healthier vagina.
Trust me, your only regret will be not making the switch sooner. What are you waiting for?
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