Period

Products
#ProjectMahilawari
 Introduction
Once a month, most people aged between around 13 and 50, who have a
uterus, will experience a period – the 3-7 day window where blood from the
uterus is released through the vagina. With this totalling about 450 periods
in a lifetime, it’s always a good idea to think about the products used to
manage your periods.
The landscape of period products has changed dramatically in recent years,
and concerns around sustainability are ever-increasing.
Due to this, there is a huge variety of period products available today.

On the basis of sustainability, these products are of 2 types -

single-use and reusable.
However, they are also broadly divided by their mode of regulation -
absorptive and collective.
 PADS
The most commonly used period product, sanitary pads (or pads for short) are an
absorptive period product. They work by absorbing menstrual blood through layers of
absorbent material and are attached to the inside of the user’s underwear.
They should be changed every 4 to 8 hours, depending on your flow and the type of pad.

DISPOSABLE REUSABLE
● Single-use ● Reusable
● Can be expensive ● Cost effective
● Readily available ● Less common
● Thrown away after one use, can take ● Can be reused for upto 10 years but
upto 800 years to decompose must be hygienically washed and
dried in the sunlight
● Made almost entirely out of plastic ● Made from natural fibres (usually cotton)
● Might have chemicals to whiten the ● Safer and more hygienic
pad or add scent
 TAMPONS
Tampons are a close second to pads in terms of popularity.

Many users like tampons because they are more discreet than pads, both in terms of the
smaller packaging and while they are being used (i.e. they are not visible on the underwear).
However, like disposable pads, tampons are single use and can be expensive.

A tampon is used internally by insertion into the vaginal canal. This can take practice, and not
everyone finds them comfortable to use.
They work by absorbing menstrual blood internally and can be left in for about 4 to 8 hours.
You should never wear wear a single tampon for more than 8 hours at a time.

Another consideration is Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). As well as absorbing menstrual blood,
tampons can also absorb the vagina’s natural lubricant and bacteria, increasing the risk of
TSS, a rare but potentially fatal condition.
To lower the risk, use the lowest absorbency rating possible to suit your menstrual flow.
 MENSTRUAL CUPS
The menstrual cup is one of the most sustainable period products. In recent years, many
people have given up the more traditional options of pads and tampons in favour of the
menstrual cup.

This small silicone or latex cup works by being folded and inserted internally so that it rests on
the vaginal wall, where it collects menstrual blood. It is arguably the most comfortable
product.You can wear a menstrual cup for upto 12 hours, after which they should be
removed, emptied, rinsed, and re-used as necessary.

At the end of the menstrual cycle, they should be sterilized in hot water (by boiling) before
using for the next period. They may last for up to 10 years, making them one of the most
eco-friendly and cost effective options.

As compared to tampons, there is a very small risk of getting TSS

with menstrual cups.
 MENSTRUAL DISCS
Menstrual discs are lesser known, but similar to the menstrual cup.
Menstrual discs are round, flexible rings that are made of plastic or silicone. They are also
inserted into the vagina, and rest on the base of the cervix.
Like the menstrual cup, it can stay in for up to 12 hours, and works by collecting blood in the
disc.

Once the user is done with it, it is removed and its contents emptied into the toilet.
However, it differs from the cup in that most menstrual discs are not reusable, so are not as
environmentally or cost-friendly.

One significant benefit of menstrual discs is that you may have penetrative sexual intercourse
while wearing one. This is a big difference from a menstrual cup - which you must
remove before engaging in the same activity.
 PERIOD
UNDERWEAR
The latest newcomer to the period scene is period underwear, also known as
period panties or menstrual underwear.
They look like regular underwear, except they have a special absorbent layer which prevents
leakages onto clothing.
They are washable, making them one of the most sustainable options available.

They are relatively expensive, but they certainly pay off when compared to years of spending
on disposable products. Some people experience leaks on particularly heavy flow days, so
they sometimes use them as back-up period protection—particularly at night.

However, this innovative item is evolving quickly, and more absorbent iterations are coming
onto the market frequently.
THANK YOU!
ta
By Nishka Gup