First thing I must say: I don’t do disposables. I understand that some people have no other options, and I fully support the right of people with medical needs to have disposable items in order to prevent infection, or simply because the mechanisms of their bodies don’t allow them to insert or whatever.
I am really struggling to find reusable period products. In general. Just struggling.
I have a typical office job. Cloth pads are somehow too much fabric in the crotchal region and my pelvis starts to hurt from sitting on two or three extra layers all day. Period panties have that “wet” feeling, and they don’t seem to do well at absorbing clots & clumps, which is what I mostly get. I’ve tried two different reusable discs, and they never ever ever sealed & I may as well have had nothing at all. Menstrual cup? I’d love to, but I’m fat and can’t reach far enough up my hoo-ha to reach the nubbins that you’re supposed to use to pull out most menstrual cups. I did have one silicone menstrual cup with a loop, and it was great until the loop snapped about 3 years in, and now I don’t trust silicone menstrual cups with loops; I want to use these things for 20 years, not 2. I do have a rubber menstrual cup with a loop, but the damn thing won’t “unfold”. I’ve tried three times, I’ve tried two different folds, yes, I’ve even managed to fit half my hand up there and spin it around like a goddamn carousel and no it won’t unfold. I give up.
So what’s left??? What other choices do I have that are eco-friendly? I do cloth pads at night, because they’re fine as long as I don’t sit on them for long periods of time, but what’s left?
Comments
The only thing I’m aware of that you don’t list is am interlabial pad, which you might use in addition to the other things listed, but don’t seem like they’d solve your complaints. The other option is things that stop your period, which would be variations of hormonal birth control and IUDs.
I think there might be other cups and discs you haven’t tried, or other options for pads. I don’t think it is reasonable to expect 20 years, and I do think 2-3 years is a reasonable life for these things, since they need to be cleaned frequently and are put in your body.
You may want to think of yourself as someone with “medical needs” or someone for whom the mechanism of your body doesn’t allow the routine use of reusable products since you can’t seem to place or retrieve cups or discs, and give yourself that permission you give others.
Am I understanding correctly that some menstrual cups you can reach, but don’t work for other reasons? If that is the case, maybe still try another menstrual cup which has a longer design?
Diva Cup used to be the longer cup, but it is know to have trouble forming a seal. Lynette was the second option. But now a days there re tons of culs with different properties. I think there are a couple websites which help you choose. Putacupinit? R/menstrualcups should be able to help.
Also, you my also try different positions for insertion. Squatting is the bet for lowering the cervix, but requires rhe ability to get in that position and work in it. I found seated on the toilet easiest because it relaxes the PC muscles, but I don’t have a high cervix.
Reusable cloth pads don’t meet your needs because they are uncomfortable during the day.
Internal products don’t meet your needs because you can’t find a brand that works with your anatomy.
Have you tried reusable cloth tampons? There are a few brands, I think they recommend boiling them between uses.
I wonder if trying a different cup brand might work for you. It took me 3-4 cups to find one I’m comfortable with and I’ve had it for almost 5 years at this point. I also find I can’t insert it properly in the bathtub, only on the toilet seat.
I also wonder if maybe a different brand or different absorbency of period pants might work better as well. I don’t usually get that ‘wet’ feeling unless it’s full. I also use it with a cup so I rarely get that feeling at all. But then I’m on birth control and my periods have been way lighter since. That ‘wet’ feeling was one of the reasons i stopped using disposable pads in the first place, so I really empathize with how annoying it is.
I’m sorry if this isn’t very helpful. Just my thoughts.
Maybe try a disc instead. If you bear down, I find the edge tips out and you may be able to pull it out easily
It also doesn’t need emptying or replacing through the day, as bearing down on it also empties it.
Give yourself some grace and not completely disregard disposables.
You could be using more waste trying to find product replacements that might work when there is already an option available.
We can reduce and reuse what we can. Consider disposables during the work day and your other alternatives for night.
You deserve comfort. There is enough waste in the world. I promise you you aren’t adding a significant amount with a few pads.
There are eco friendly disposables too!