Social, economic and environmentally sustainable menstruation choices.
There are menstrual products that are good for your body, your wallet and the environment and they make your periods super-comfortable. You owe it to yourself to give them a try.
MENSTRUAL OPTIONS FOR SMART
WOMEN
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE
There's a quiet revolution happening among educated, modern and well-informed women in India.
They are switching out of disposable sanitary napkins they've used for decades and embracing reusable products. Not just because they save money or it is the responsible thing to do. These products feel so good that these women are wondering why they haven't heard about these options in all this time.
Be smart. Don't be late to the party.
Mrs. India United Nations
Long-distance runner (pic by Geeks on Feet)
Pinkathon ambassador and fitness enthusiast
Mrs. India United Nations
A SMART WOMAN KNOWS HER OPTIONS
We've compiled everything you need to know about the reusable menstrual options that are taking India by storm.
Click on each product to learn more about its benefits, how to use, where to buy and what we recommend.
MENSTRUAL CUPS
By far the awesomest option because of so many reasons. 1 cup is all you need and it lasts 10 years. It sits inside your vagina (like a tampon but without all that nasty TSS). You remove it once every 8-12 hours, empty, wash and re-insert it. Jump, run, dance, swim, sleep with your leg tossed over a pillow, do a headstand, and simply forget you are on your period.
Great for all women, and particularly recommended for those who are married or have been sexually active.
CLOTH PADS
A modern twist on the age-old wisdom of letting nothing but gentle cotton touch your most sensitive areas. Modern cloth pads are gorgeous, colourful, easily washable and come with modern conveniences like wings and leakproof layers.
An ideal substitute for menstrual cups on low-flow days. For women who cannot use cups due to cultural taboos with virginity or are not comfortable with their vaginas, a whole period packet of different sizes and absorbency would be perfect.
INTER-LABIA PADS
Inter-labia pads are made of soft fabric and shaped like a petal. They are worn between the labia - the outer folds of the vagina.
Great in conjunction with cloth pads on heavy-flow days because they absorb the "gush", so you can use your cloth pads for longer without changing.
PERIOD PANTIES
Period panties are meant for those days to help capture leaks and stay worry-free.
They can be used alone or in conjunction with menstrual cups. Period panties come with insets that can be changed and are leak-proof.
A SMART WOMAN DOES HER MATH
An average woman menstruates for about 30 years. A menstrual cup that costs about Rs. 1000 lasts 10 years. A full-cycle cloth pad kit that costs about Rs. 1500 lasts about 3 years. The disposable sanitary pads set you back by Rs. 165 each month, roughly Rs. 2000 each year. This is how the options stack against each other.
When it comes to disposable pads, stacking seems to be the right word!
A SMART WOMAN IS RESPONSIBLE
Watch this powerful video to see how our monthly periods contribute to the mounds of garbage piling up in our cities, clogging our drains, polluting our environment and ruining the health of our fellow citizens who do the kind of inhuman work no one should have to do.
It's hypocritical to complain about the state of affairs without doing what's within our power. Getting rid of disposable sanitary napkins is the least you can do. Be smart. Be responsible.
WHAT WOMEN SAY
"I started using the menstrual cup a little before I turned 18 and have been using it for a little over a year now. Whenever I see dustbins filled with used pads in my college bathrooms, I feel happy that I do not have to contribute to the waste. Packing for trips has been made easier (I enjoy going on trekking trips and now do not have to worry about disposal of pads in the middle of a forest). I love my menstrual cup!
Aditi Gopinath, Bangalore
Student
CONTACT US
Would you like to organise a talk in your office or your neighbourhood? Are you writing a press article about sustainable menstruation? Do you have a burning question to ask? Or do you just want to say hello?
We'd love to hear from you. Fill out the form here or write to us at our email address.