Will this become a series?

[gemfyre]

The idea with this series (which started with the poll on shampoo/conditioner) is to make people aware of the other options out there. Too many people don't use environmentally friendly, healthier and cheaper options simply because they don't know they exist. Only the big companies that are interested in something that is cheap to manufacture and consumable - so you buy more - can afford the saturation advertising to make everyone aware of their existence. The rest has to come via word of mouth.

I'm not cutting this poll because I don't see why I should. Almost every woman menstruates so I don't get why anyone should be embarrassed or ashamed of it. To cater for the sensibilities of some, I've set the poll so no-one can see who answered what.

And in case you didn't know. I use a Mooncup.

[Poll #1141757]

Comments

[princess-kessie.livejournal.com]

Not having had a period since 1998 (thank you, hysterectomy!) I can only say what I *used to* use. I was forced to use commercial pads that rustled and leaked so badly (I was a heavy bleeder from day 1) from when I started at 8 right through to when I would sneak them from the school nurse at 15. My mother refused to buy me tampons (OMGtehHORRORZ! You might get TSS!!!eleventy1!!)and I didn't get my own allowance while at home, so couldn't buy my own.

After leaving home at 17, I continued with super tampons plus super pads due to my heavy bleeding (this is what ultimately led to my hyster) which eventually were costing me a fortune (I was going through a 20 pack of each every 2 days for months on end). I used both until my hyster, 20 years after menarche.

It wasn't until more than three years after my hyster that I first became aware of menstrual cups and reusable pads (although how effective they would have been for such a heavy bleeder is questionable), and more than another 3 years before I could find any trace of them either being sold in or shipped to Australia. I sincerely wish I'd had the chance to try a cup - perhaps it could have save me a small fortune in feminine products! :)

I am so glad there are alternatives to commercially produced tampons and pads these days - why shouldn't women have that kind of choice? And why the hell did it take so long to get those choices?

Kudos on the Mooncup, btw :)

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

Cups have actually been around since the 1930s. But seeing as that was when disposables started coming into prevalence too, they sort of fell by the wayside until recently.

With new technology cups can made of medical grade silicone and people are just becoming more aware of the options, and thanks to the internet can tell more people about it.

As for cloth pads, well they've been around since cloth was invented I'm guessing.