What types of Sanitary pads are available in market?

There are different types of sanitary pads available in the market and these can be broadly divided into 2 categories:

1. Disposable sanitary pads (which can be either Non-biodegradable or Biodegradable)

2. Reusable sanitary pads

1. Disposable pads

Disposable sanitary pads need to be disposed of once they have been used. They are ‘use-and-throw’ type of pads & cannot be reused again. These can be composed of synthetic polymers or natural fibres. Accordingly, they can be either

a) Non-Biodegradable pads or
b) Biodegradable pads.

So what’s the big issue about Non-biodegradable or Biodegradable pads?

To answer this, let us first understand what is Bio-degradable and Non bio-degradable. Well, to state it simply, Biodegradable pads are the ones which can be decomposed / degraded by natural means without harming the environment. This process is accomplished by various microbes, bacteria & fungi available naturally & aided by natural elements including light, water, air, temperature etc.

Among these, the pads which are completely degraded & converted to manure within a period of 90-180 days, are called compostable pads. Others may take some more time for decomposing completely but they do so without releasing any harmful substances into the environment and hence are categorized as Bio-degradable pads.

On the other hand, Non- biodegradable pads are the ones which cannot be decomposed by natural or biological means and stay in the environment for many years ( even upto 500-800 years!!) and can release toxic by-products when decomposed artificially. Thus, they are harmful for the environment.

Considering that an average woman uses about 8-10 pads in a monthly cycle, the number of pads used in India alone is about 12.3 billion! That speaks volumes about the amount of waste we are releasing into the environment.

A) Non-Biodegradable pads- The widely available disposable Non -Biodegradable Polymer based & gel based pads are marketed under various brand names and commonly contain bleached rayon/ plastic/ polymer powder or absorbent gel. These have multiple layers including:

• A top layer of perforated polypropylene and/or polyethylene. Its main function is to transfer the fluid quickly to the underlying layers and to keep the surface dry.
• Below it is the distribution layer which serves to distribute the fluid evenly over the underlying absorbent layer. It is composed of cellulose patch & polyester fibres.
• The third layer is the absorbent layer which consists of superabsorbent polymer ( SAP ) granules and fluff cellulose along with polypropylene. This SAP transforms into a gel like substance once it is wet, absorbing fluid equivalent to upto 30 times its weight. This gel substance thus locks the fluid & does not allow it to be released back externally even under applied pressure.
• Beneath the absorbent layer is the waterproof polyethylene or polypropylene layer which prevents the fluid from leaking.
• Lastly, these have an adhesive layer on the underside to stick to the undergarment.

While these are highly publicized & more easily available, less expensive, highly effective in absorbing menstrual flow, their recycling is difficult & costly and they are practically Non-Biodegradable.

Besides, they contain various fragrances & chemicals which, many studies claim, release Dioxins & Volatile Organic Compounds ( VOC’s) that get absorbed in the body and can cause various diseases, including various skin diseases, rashes, hormonal disorders, fertility problems and yes, even cancers of the genital tract.

Quite an eye-opener isn’t it? So, you see, choosing a sanitary pad is not as simple as going to the market & buying whatever is available on the stands. There is more to it than meets the eye and it is our responsibility as educated, well informed women, to think and research before we arrive at a final decision about which sanitary pad we should use. Let’s look at some of the relatively safer options that are now available in the market:

B) Biodegradable pads- There are various Bio degradable or recyclable disposable sanitary pads made up of natural fibres or polymers that are both environment friendly as well as easy on your skin & the pocket. These include various pads made up of Banana fiber, Bamboo fiber, jute, Water hyacinth fibres and those made up of organic cotton. The structure & absorbent capacity of these pads is similar to the Non-biodegradable pads and being made of natural fibres,these are gentler on the skin. The incidence of allergic rash, irritation & other problems is much lesser with these pads. As these pads are made up of natural fibres & materials, they get decomposed easily in nature without releasing any toxic by-products.

Similar to Non Bio-degradable pads, these also have multiple layers:

• A top sheet of cotton fibre which wicks away the moisture & keeps the skin dry. Cotton is also preferred because it is non-irritant, soft, breathable & skin friendly.
• The absorbent core is made up of either bamboo fibre/ jute/ banana fibre alongwith cotton or flax as fillers. Researchers have also developed cellulose based hydrogels to replace the Superabsorbent Polymers ( SAP) and improve the absorbing capacity.
• The underlying waterproof layer is composed of Bio-based plastic composed from starch or corn starch. Certain natural, non-toxic anti-microbial agents are also added to these to minimize any risk of infections.
• Finally, the adhesive layer may be made of Bee-wax or similar stuff which helps to anchor the pad to the undergarment & prevents shifting/ crumpling.

2. Reusable pads

The reusable sanitary pads are made of cotton / cloth or sometimes synthetic materials.

As the name indicates, these do not need to be discarded after single use because they can be cleaned & sanitized after every use to be ready for the next time.

A) The cotton / cloth based pads- These can of course be washed & dried in the sun for repeated use. After they have been used enough and finally become torn or unusable, they can simply be subjected to bio-degradation. As the absorbent capacity of cotton is quite high, they can absorb a large amount of flow without leakage.

You might be thinking ‘Well, all that is OK, but they don’t have any adhesive, How do these pads stay in position?

Nowadays, we have a number of cotton/ cloth based pads commercially available in the market which have wings, flaps or hooks to anchor them to the undergarment which prevents their shifting during daily activities.

The major advantages of these pads are:

• The absorbent capacity of cotton is very high
• Cotton does not cause skin problems or rashes.
• These are free from chemical substances, so they do not release any harmful or toxic substances that can be damaging to the body.
• Easy to wash & sanitize by letting them dry in sunlight
• For final disposal, they can simply be degraded by natural means without harming the environment.
• Being reusable, the same pad can be used multiple times, even upto many years, thus reducing the overall cost per month.

Some women may feel that they need extra protection due to heavy flow during their periods and the solution for them is to either use two pads together or change the pads before they get completely soaked to prevent leakage. If changing frequently during the day is not possible, they can also combine the use of these pads with some other sustainable options like using a menstrual cup alongwith the cotton /cloth pad.

B) Reusable, synthetic fibre containing pads- These are made of synthetic materials and can be washed & dried easily for reuse.

These may be used repeatedly for 1-4 years depending upon the type of pad that you have chosen. Once used, they can be easily washed under water, squeezed & left to dry in the sun. Being made up of special fibre, these dry out even faster than cloth pads.

These are claimed to be recyclable & Bio degradable although the degradation maybe slower than the natural fibre based pads. Anyhow, even though a small part of these maybe synthetic & non-biodegradable, their potential for repeated use does decrease the environmental load to a large extent, so they are at least better than the disposable non-biodegradable pads.

We hope that this article helps you make an informed choice regarding the type of sanitary pad you wish to use for managing your periods. However, if you are still undecided about how to select the right sanitary pad for yourself, you can read our article that sheds more light on the topic.