A Complete Breakdown of Alternative Period Products

Periods. If you own a uterus, you understand the seemingly never-ending annoyance that comes with bleeding for a week every month. Not only do you deal with a laundry list of symptoms like cramps, fatigue and PMS, but you also have to worry about bleeding through your products and onto your clothes.

Most of us are familiar with pads and tampons, but did you know that there are other options out there for period-havers? Everybody is different, and every body is different. The classic period products may not be right for your body. So, let’s explore some alternative options that may change your entire experience.

Menstrual Underwear

Commonly known as period panties, this option allows you to free bleed directly into your underwear without worrying about bleeding through. This type of underwear is washable, so you can use them over and over again. Not only is this option environmentally friendly, but you also save money since you won’t be purchasing disposable products every month. These can last up to two years!

Most menstrual underwear companies sell a variety of underwear styles. Thinx is a company that specializes in this type of underwear, and they have every cut and style that you could possibly think of- even thongs and specialized sleeping boxers! You can also customize the absorbency level of your underwear. They sell undies in five absorbency levels ranging from lightest to super.

This period product is becoming more and more popular, and more brands are selling them, including Victoria’s Secret.

The Menstrual Cup

Similar to menstrual underwear, this is a reusable and environmentally safe option. A menstrual cup is a small, silicone cup that can be folded and inserted into your vagina, where it will then unfurl and collect menstrual blood. These cups come in a variety of sizes that you can choose depending on your age and flow. This option is similar to a tampon, in the sense that it collects the blood internally before it ever reaches your clothing.

Unlike a tampon, these cups can be left in for up to 12 hours, so you’ll spend less time making trips to the bathroom to freshen up or check for leakage. A popular menstrual cup brand is DivaCup. The different size cups they sell can hold a range of 20-32 milliliters of blood. To put this in perspective, a regular tampon holds around 5 milliliters.

The Menstrual Disc

The menstrual disc is similar to the menstrual cup- it collects blood internally and can be kept in for up to 12 hours. As similar as they seem, they have some huge fundamental differences. For starters, the cup sits slightly lower in the vaginal canal, while the disk sits higher. The disc also has a completely different shape. Some disc brands offer reusable cups, and some offer disposable cups.

The main difference between the cup and the disc is a complete gamechanger. The disc is one of the only period products on the market that invites users to have mess-free sex while the disk is still inside them. According to Period Nirvana, the disc shouldn’t cause any discomfort for either participating party, and neither can feel it during intercourse.

Reusable Pads

The last option we suggest is something that’s familiar to many readers- pads. For many period-havers, this is the very first period product that we ever used. Pads attach to your underwear and collect blood externally. While pads are easy, they’re not environmentally sustainable since they’re meant to be thrown away.

In just the U.S, about 12 billion pads and 7 billion tampons are thrown away each year. They either end up in landfills, clog sewers, or end up in the ocean (contributing to the already exorbitant amount of plastic in there.) In addition, the cost of these products adds up over time. It’s estimated that the average period-haver spends $6,360 in their lifetime on just period products.

Reusable pads are pretty self-explanatory. They’re like your classic pad, but they’re made of cotton and are washable, and therefore reusable. They can be used up to 120 times! Not only is the cotton much more comfortable than the scratchy and sticky adhesive pads, but they’re also saving our planet and your wallet.

Here at The Edge, we recognize that cisgender women are not the only people who get periods. Transgender men, our nonbinary friends and anyone else who has a period are valid in their menstrual experience. We hope that these period alternatives help anyone who isn’t vibing with pads and tampons!