Which Sanitary Pad is best suited for me?

Women have been menstruating ever since the evolution of the human race & over the centuries, the methods for dealing with the menstrual blood loss have evolved greatly.

Initially, we used a variety of materials like mosses, sea-sponge, seaweed, cotton, wool, rags, vegetable fibres or cloth for absorbing or managing the blood released during the periods. Gradually, with the advances in technology, newer products were developed which could help manage the blood loss in a more sophisticated & efficient manner (Thank God for that! ). So we now have various products like sanitary pads, vaginal tampons, menstrual cups, period panties etc. for managing the menstrual flow. Here, we are discussing the most commonly used period product- The sanitary pads.

The sanitary pads can be of various types and the dilemma of which type of pad to choose to manage her periods haunts every girl & woman at some stage of life. The purpose of this article is to guide you through the process of weighing the advantages & disadvantages of each option & to help you make well informed, responsible choices regarding your preference of the sanitary pad.

So the decision of choosing a sanitary pad or any other form of period protection for yourself revolves around multiple personal & public issues.

• The duration & amount of blood flow:
  Blood flow during the period plays a major role in deciding the type of the sanitary protection that you need. Women with heavier flow will need a more absorbent, probably thicker pad as compared to women who have only minimal flow during the periods. Also, you might need a different type of pad for the different days of the period i.e using a smaller pad for days with lesser flow while switching over to more absorbent & larger pads for the days with heavier flow. Your body shape & size also determine whether you need a regular pad or a pad with a broader hip-guard. Additionally, special night pads are available which have a longer length & a wider back to avoid staining the bedsheets while you’re sleeping.
• Material of the sanitary pad:
  The sanitary pads available in the market can be made of either synthetic or natural materials. As you know, some women may have a sensitive skin & may develop rashes with a particular type of pad, especially a pad which has a plastic or netted weaving on the top layer.
  
  Generally speaking, the more natural a product is, the lesser are the chances of it causing allergic or irritant reactions. Hence, it is safer to choose the pads made of cotton / natural fibres / cloth as compared to the ones with synthetic, plastic layers that may cause rashes. However, it depends upon your skin type to determine what suits you the best and you should choose a product that minimizes the chances of any adverse reactions.
  
  Additionally, the synthetic based pads are known to release harmful substances like dioxins & Volatile Organic Compounds ( VOC’s ) that get absorbed in the body & may stay accumulated in our body’s fat stores for more than 20 years.
  
  These substances are proven to be involved in the development of various hormonal disorders, fertility issues, Endometriosis & even certain cancers.
  
  Even though the manufacturing companies claim that the amounts of these harmful substances is too small to be of any concern, the fact remains that longterm studies in this respect are still awaited & in the meantime, it is difficult to overlook the fact that even small amounts being absorbed in the body over a period of many years can lead to accumulation of a significantly large amount of these chemicals in our bodies and this, dear ladies, is a cause for concern. So even though it has not been conclusively proved as yet, this is a matter that requires consideration in light of the pending future research.
• Lifestyle considerations:
  Your day-to-day routine also plays an important role in choosing the right sanitary protection for yourself. For eg. If you have access to privacy throughout the day or you stay indoors, you may be comfortable with using a pad which needs to be replaced every few hours or where a minimal dislocation of the pad would not cause a problem. However, if you need to be outdoors and mobile for the larger part of the day, you may need a pad which is more absorbent and longer lasting or you may switch to a menstrual cup. Similarly, if you plan to indulge in swimming or Gymnastics or other such activities, it might be better to use a tampon or a menstrual cup.
• Physical Comfort:
  This is probably the most important factor apart from the absorbent capacity, that dictates the choice of the sanitary pad for you. You would surely not want to be wearing anything that keeps irritating or pricking you down there all the day long while you’re wearing it. The softer, cotton based or natural fibre based pads are usually more comfortable compared to the pads which have a synthetic or plastic netting over them that might make them feel dry & leak-proof but causes rashes or allergic reactions in many women.
• Economical aspects:
  Let’s face it, menstruation is a recurring phenomenon & hence the expenditure for management of the periods blood flow also needs to be managed according to what suits your pocket the best. Ideally, the cloth pads or washable pads are the most pocket friendly options that we have among the sanitary pads. Another option is of course, the menstrual cup.
  
  The disposable pads need to be disposed off & new ones need to be purchased for the next use which adds to the financial expenses. Nowadays, we have a variety of reusable options for sanitary pads available in the market which are hygienic, absorbent, comfortable as well as very economical in the long run. Additionally, these reusable & washable pads are also Environment friendly which is a huge bonus.
  
  The cloth based pads can be washed, sun-dried and re-used multiple times for upto 3-4 years. They are also quite absorbent, skin & environment friendly and are hence an appropriate choice for women looking for safe, hygienic & financially viable options for managing their periods.
• Effect on Environment:
  It is estimated that one disposable, plastic based sanitary pad takes about 500 – 800 years to decompose as the plastic used is non bio-degradable. Considering that each woman uses about 8-10 sanitary pads in every menstrual cycle, about 12.3 billion sanitary pads are generated every year within India itself.
  
  This creates a huge burden on the environment and is a matter of rising concern for everybody. As responsible citizens, it becomes our duty to choose the options which are more easily bio degradable / compostable or at least can be recycled. Hence choosing the option of cotton based cloth pads, or natural fibre based pads is a more sustainable & environment friendly decision.

So, before you finalise your sanitary pad, take a moment to ask yourself:

1. Is this pad hygienic & healthy?
2. Is it comfortable?
3. Is it convenient to use?
4. Is it economical for me?
5. Is it environment- friendly?

Always remember to choose the sanitary pad that is best suited for your expected blood flow & lifestyle so that you can avoid leakage accidents & associated embarrassment.

Ideally, you should change your sanitary pad before it gets completely soaked so as to prevent leakage disasters. This may mean changing the pad every 6 hours or 8 hours for most women during the high flow days but you can adjust the frequency based on your pattern of flow.

How to dispose the sanitary pads ?

Improper disposal of sanitary pads by flushing down a toilet drain can lead to clogging & blockage of the drains. Simply throwing them away in random places or in water bodies leads to water, land & air pollution, which has multiple harmful effects on the water animals, land creatures & our environment. Hence it is important to dispose the pads properly & preferably to use the biodegradable or recyclable sanitary pads.

So for disposal of non-biodegradable pads, always wrap them in a paper bag or newspaper and throw them in the bins meant for Bio-medical waste so that they can be segregated & managed separately by the concerned Municipal authorities.

Disposable Bio-degradable pads are best disposed by wrapping them in a paper & either burying them in the ground or putting them in the compost bin. They simply decompose and turn into manure in a span of 3-6 months!

Finally, if you experience any rash/ foul smelling discharge or itching in the vulval/ perineal region with the usage of a sanitary pad, do not hesitate to contact your doctor & get treatment.

Also, please do let us know if you want us to write on anything more related to sanitary pads & we’ll be happy to accommodate. Till then, take care & practice sustainable, safe menstruation.