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Tampons, Pads or Menstrual Cup. Which is Right For You?

The short answer? It all depends. It’s like choosing your soulmate. You don’t just wake up one night and select one random person. You have to do a lot of digging. You have to kiss a few frogs. Lucky for you, your sanitary hygiene needs have 3 options only, and all of them are viable. You don’t have to choose one and stick to it, for rich and for poor, till death do you part. Different situations will dictate which of the three is right for you at the moment.

Okay, so what are these factors? Let’s list them first:
  • Age
  • Type of birth
  • Type of materials used
  • Cost
  • Your health
  • Your occupation
  • Amount of flow
  • Daily activities
  • Environmental conservation

So we know the factors. How do they help you choose the right menstrual hygiene product? Let’s dive in.

1. Age

Most of us had our first period by age 13. We continue with this monthly cycle until menopause. At a young age, you don’t need to rush things. You’re probably concerned about your flower and want to retain it. It also means that you won’t be comfortable shoving something down your “hoo-haa” and that’s totally acceptable. So sanitary pads are your best friend.

But as you grow older, experience love, maybe give birth, or not, it becomes easier and even necessary to use tampons or cups. But the use of either will be determined by the rest of the factors.

2. Type of birth

If you’ve given birth naturally, then it’s easier and comfortable to use tampons or cups as they’re considered to be more hygienic. Furthermore, your vagina can easily stretch and accommodate the product. 

3. Type of materials

If you have any allergies or your body reacts negatively to certain chemicals found in some products, then it’s best to avoid them. For example, sanitary pads are bleached and sterilized with chemicals that can cause irritation and rash. So they may not be the best option if you experience this. Our menstrual cups made from biodegradable non-plastic materials have zero effects on your vaginal microbiota or ph, so they’re the safest.

4. Cost

What kind of spender are you? Do you love spending small amounts over a long period or buying one product at a higher price but cheaper in the long run? Well, sanitary pads and tampons are cheaper in the short run while menstrual cups are expensive at first but cheaper in the long run. Furthermore, with menstrual cups, you won’t have to include them in your grocery list every month. One cup can serve you upto 10 months.

5. Your health

If you have certain health complications in your vaginal canal like vaginismus, then it would not be best to use tampons or menstrual cups. It might be painful when inserting a tampon or may cause break and tear with a dry vagina.

6. Occupation

By the way, did you know that tampons were invented during World War I to help more women work even during that time of the month? So yeah, your occupation plays a major role. If you work in a fast-paced environment, then using tampons allows you less changes and discomfort as they absorb more blood than sanitary pads. Even better, menstrual cups can collect more than 30 ml of menstrual blood and can last upto 12 hours.

7. Amount of flow

If you experience a heavy period, tampons and menstrual cups are your best friend. Not only do they stay longer, they absorb more blood than a single use sanitary pad. 

8. Environmental consciousness

Are you aware that it takes more than 500 years for sanitary pads to decompose? If you love the planet and want to save it for our future generations, using cotton-based tampons and our natural, silicon-free menstrual cups will help you achieve that mission.

Pros and cons of pads

Pros

  1. No insertion. Your hymen and cervix will remain untouched. Your vaginal microbiota is not affected and your vaginal fluids remain intact.
  2. No toxic shock syndrome caused by chemicals found in tampons.

Cons

  1. Contains bleach which can cause irritation and rashes and even cancer
  2. Higher chances of developing an infection if not changed often
  3. Not environmental friendly

Pros and cons of tampons

Pros

  1. Stain-free.  They're made of absorbent material. Soaks up blood before it gets out of your vagina. Low risk of staining.
  2. Comfortable and unnoticeable. Once inserted, you won’t even feel it. And you can go on about your daily activities, even swimming without changing tampons.
  3. Reduced period days. It absorbs more blood reducing the number of days taken for your period.

Cons

  1. May cause toxic shock syndrome by drying out your vagina.
  2. Insertion. First-time users may struggle to insert them. Some women even feel pain.
  3. Makes peeing a little difficult by pushing against your vaginal wall.

Pros and cons of menstrual cups

Pros

  1. No chemicals
  2. Needs fewer changes. Can collect up to 30 ml of blood.
  3. You can have sex. 
  4. Reusable cup for up to 10 months.

Cons

  1. Some women struggle with insertion but with the right education, it can be inserted easily.
  2. Cleaning is cumbersome and requires sterilization after removing the cup.

 

Parting shot

There are a lot of factors that go into deciding which one between tampons, pads, and menstrual cups is right for you. However, one thing remains constant, and that is your sanitary hygiene. They all offer exemplary hygiene solutions, but depending on your circumstances, one may be better than the other. It is best to choose one that fits into your life perfectly, is comfortable for you, works with your menstrual cycle perfectly, and does not stress you. With the above information, the ball’s in your court now.





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