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Over 800 million individuals face menstruation daily and are constantly being exposed and encouraged to use unsafe methods of collection (Global Citizen, 2019). Disposable menstrual products such as pads and tampons are used at the expense of the consumer’s health, wellbeing, financial ability, and more. Reusable menstrual products, on the other hand, are designed to be used, then washed and further reused almost limitless times throughout their lifespans as opposed to pads or tampons which are disposed of after limited time, meaning the user needs to continue repurchasing them regularly. Reusables such as menstrual cups or cloth pads can be worn longer as they have less harmful chemicals and are generally healthier for bodies (Cara, 2019). Menstrual cups and cloth pads are the most common reusable options, however there are others. Menstruating people could be impacted greatly from the exposure to reusable menstrual products by learning about safe and comfortable menstruation options rather than what is usually a bland annoyance. By showcasing reusables in the same way disposables are, a larger population of reusable consumers could surface and become the new normal. Reusable products have been around for quite some time yet have changed from unsafe methods that harbour bacterial growth, to the options mentioned above (Hodal, 2019).

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Health Impacts

Research has proven that the ingredients used to make pads and tampons are detrimental to an individual’s health. Ingredients including bleached cotton, synthetic fibres, fragrances and bleached rayon are unsafe for bodily utilisation (Donsky, 2019). When the manufactured fibre rayon is bleached, it releases a by-product call dioxin, toxic to humans. Not only are pads and tampons composed of these materials, but they’re also legally sold to be used near and in an organ that absorbs these harmful toxins. When a tampon is inserted into a vaginal canal, the vaginal mucosa absorbs the chemicals from the tampon and almost directly enters the bloodstream (Heid, 2019). Similar is true of pads as they sit closely to the vaginal opening and therefore absorption of the toxins is still possible, however less likely. They also pose the risk of irritating the skin of the wearer which has a large impact on the user experience. On the other hand, reusable pads are made from sustainable and body-safe materials such as bamboo or organic cotton, meaning that those with sensitive skin problems can wear pads with the knowledge that they will not have any irritation due to chemicals coming in contact with their skin. Furthermore, because they are not chemical ridden there are minimal amounts of toxic chemicals being absorbed into the body, meaning less chance of any serious issues internally. Similarly, menstrual cups are made of medical grade silicone, which is safe to be inserted into the vaginal canal and worn for extended periods of time, unlike tampons which pose the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, otherwise known as ‘TSS’ or simply ‘Toxic Shock.’ Toxic Shock is a sudden and often times fatal medical condition caused by released toxins originating from an overgrowth of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus or staph (WebMD, 2019). TSS develops when the bacteria have a growth environment and a way to release into the bloodstream. A great example of this is a blood-soaked tampon as it supports bacterial growth and allows bacteria to enter the bloodstream through the vaginal mucosa and cervix. This is only elevated as the insertion and removal of a tampon can cause microscopic tears and rapture tiny blood vessels among the vaginal wall (WebMD, 2019).

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Environmental Impacts

Research has shown that one individual uses approximately 11,000 disposable pads or tampons in a lifetime if using them as advised (Jezebel, 2019). While the products themselves create mammoth amounts of waste, the immense and truthfully unnecessary amounts of plastic packaging that they come in only worsens the issue of plastic pollution throughout the world. Waste is a problem for humanity far less than it is for other animals that cannot change anything for themselves. Human’s wasteful habits are causing climate change and the death of “our very own home to come about even faster than we thought just some time ago” (Hausfather, 2019). Not only do disposable menstrual products generate extreme amounts of waste once their recommended use time is through, they’re also detrimental to our planet in other ways, including the following: They use large amounts of resources to make all parts of the products and packaging and emit air pollutants through production as well as contaminate soil once the used products inevitably end up in landfills (Borunda, 2019). This is hardly the case for reusable menstrual products as manufacturing is ethical and sustainable and the 10-12-year lifespan of menstrual cups eliminates substantial amounts of waste. Reusable menstrual products more often than not come packaged in recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging that is made thoughtfully, ethically and with the planet and users in mind. Because reusable product brands do this, even if the packaging is not disposed of thoughtfully or responsibly, it is likely to break down and pose little to no threat regardless.

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Financial Impacts

According to a recent study, menstrual cups have been proven to have a 10-year lifespan and can safely be worn for up to 12 hours at a time (Lunette, 2019). Opposingly, pads and tampons last no longer than their recommended wear time which is up to 4-6 and 8 hours respectively (Cornforth, 2019). Due to this, a higher quantity of disposable products is required to be purchased to manage an individual’s cycle, which corresponds with spending more money on repurchases however often. Calculations indicate that menstrual cups are cheaper alternatives to pads and tampons. For example, Australian brand Lunette sells menstrual cups for $55AUD (Lunette, 2019). This equates to spending $5.50 on menstrual products annually, for a whole decade. Comparably, another Australian brand U-By Kotex offers a 16-pack of regular tampons for $4.25AUD at Woolworths (Woolworths, 2019). If following the recommended 8-hour wear time and the average 5-day period of menstruation, a person would use a minimum of three regular tampons a day for five days every month, equalling 15 tampons a month. It would cost $51 annually to buy a 16-pack of regular tampons every month. These results would differ depending on the individual and the amount that they personally menstruate. Parliament of Australia states: “This determination makes the following goods GST–free as of 1 January 2019, under section 38-47 of the GST Act: maternity pads, menstrual cups, menstrual pads and liners, menstrual underwear, tampons, and other similar products specifically designed to absorb or collect lochia, menses or vaginal discharge.” As of January 1st 2019, menstrual products such as the ones listed prior were made exempt from the 10% GST and were no longer classed as “luxury items” and instead are considered necessary health products (Sweeney, 2019). This only increases the incentive to buy sustainable and reusable menstrual products as they’re already a cheaper alternative, and now even cheaper since the GST is inapplicable. This proves that a menstrual cup is an extremely budget friendly option so long as the intended buyer possesses the initial sum of money. Understandably, the initial investment of a menstrual cup may deter people from making the purchase as it can be seen as expensive, and even more so if the consumer is unaware on the financial benefits. However, it is well worth continuing with the purchase for the sake of later financial freedom and other benefits regarding health and environmental factors.

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How to make them more accessible/normal

It’s clear that there is a lack of education and exposure regarding reusable menstrual products and while the two are improving somewhat, the level is nowhere near the same as what disposable products receive. Pads and tampons are advertised as the normal and it’s not often that reusable products generate the same attention as most of the reusable brands are still only on the uprise of popularity and have a comparably smaller audience than what disposable products do. While this is the case, very few reusable brands do have more exposure than others, such as DivaCup (menstrual cup brand) or Love Luna (period underwear) which can be found in most Woolworths supermarkets nowadays. Yes, this is a big step in the right direction, but the issue is that these products are placed in such unnoticeable places that they might as well not even be there. They’re situated on the very top or bottom shelves off to the far left or right which is not where most people would look. Right in the centre is where the bigger brands would be placed as more people would look there and in return would equal more purchases, thus continuing the cycle of promoting disposable products and making a bigger market for them rather than reusables. If the supermarkets were to shuffle the products around and find ways to stock additional reusable brands and lower the less popular disposable brands, this alone could make a big difference. Not only is this a problem but the fact that there are so few brands to choose from in the realm of reusable products in supermarkets is another issue, because people want variety, they want to be able to make a choice without being limited to what they can choose from and buyers can’t do this if they are limited to choosing from two reusable brands such as the two mentioned above. The solution to this problem is similar to the previous in the sense that if more reusable brands were introduced onto the shelves, there would be a better chance that people would buy them.

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Conclusion

Disposable menstrual products should not be getting as much usage and recognition as they do purely because of the effects they have on the users and the environment. The fact that they are still legally manufactured and distributed when the science and maths is so clear and readily available for anyone to access is shameful and a disservice to anyone using them. More exposure and support regarding alternative options are required to bring spotlight to the realm of reusable menstrual products. Not only do the reusable products themselves need more exposure, menstruating people also need to be made aware of what they are doing to their bodies, more than likely unknowingly. Many people are unfamiliar with their own bodies and often this leads to the fear of experimenting with new products. Educating people on their anatomy and their options from a young age can spare them from the unnecessary time spent wasting their money, harming their bodies and contributing to the detriment of the environment. The next time someone is about to buy a new pack of pads or tampons, they should think about what they’re putting into their bodies, risking health problems, financial issues, and even contributing to the decay of the planet we all call home. Do you think it’s really worth the convenience if all this is at the expense?