Men, warning you outright that this is a very femme-specific post. And a slight departure from my usual "kill plastic bags" tirade, but really, my vision is to address our disposables mania in general.....
Which includes tampons.
Check out the following stats on the eco-impacts of these disposable "feminine hygenic products":
"*Over 12 BILLION pads and tampons are USED ONCE and disposed of annually.
*According to the Center for Marine Conservation, over 170,000 tampon applicators were collected along U.S. coastal areas between 1998 and 1999.
*6.5 billion tampons and 13.5 billion sanitary pads, PLUS their packaging, ended up in landfills or sewer systems in 1998."
So what's a green girl to do?
Enter The Keeper, an "innovative feminine hygiene product worn internally, freeing women from dependency on cumbersome, uncomfortable, expensive, paper-based products."
I admit I've known about the keeper for some time, just haven't motivated to order one....yet. Its time though, if I'm going to take this anti-disposable thing to heart, gotta...make it close and personal?
13 comments:
To ladies curious to try the Keeper: I swear by it, as do many of my friends. It might seem awkward at first, but you'll get used to it quickly, and then it will just be another part of your routine!
It's a great idea. I've always worried about the public restroom factor, though.
Personally, I like cloth pads. I know it doesn't sound comfortable, but I find them less irritating and more absorbent than the plastic/disposable pads.
I hated it during my first cycle--but by my second it became second nature and I didn't know how to live without it. Everyday Trash: I had mine on a plane and in the airport restrooms--no biggie; just tip the contents into the toilet, then wipe with toilet paper before reinsertion. A *great* deal less messy than dealing with pads while traveling.
I tried the Keeper for months, desperatly wanting it to work. It never did for me, not sure why. (Even tried calling them for help...) I gave it (boiled to clean first) to someone else and they had no problems. I'd love to use cloth, but I work and it just doesn't work for that - I know that paper products create tons of waste, but until I'm a stay at home wife with a washing machine in my house, paper has to be my only option. =(
The Diva, like the Keeper but medical grade silicone, works great for me!
I used the diva cup til I got pregnant. However, I always take a break for one day during my cycle, because after a while, the muscles in the area get sore, and it's good to give them a break. A tampon is a much smaller diameter and little less rigid, though a pad is most comfortable of all for my diva-day-off.
I use the Diva Cup and I adore it. I found it more pliable and easier to use than The Keeper. I really really hated The Keeper - it was too stiff and it gave me cramps.
I can not stress how much I love the Keeper. I bought it several years ago, tried it, got discouraged because there is a definitely learning curve to getting the bugger in and out. I gave up for a few years, and about 2 years ago gave it another shot. This time, I made an all-out campaign to reach my goal. It does take forever putting it in and taking it out at first (sometimes as much as 15 minutes for me), but it does get easier as time goes on. I've been using my Keeper ever since then and I love it. So don't get discouraged if you're interested, ladies. It's definitely worth it!
I'm just about to try the Diva Cup! (And my friend says she loves the Keeper). Curious to know what you think because I might write an article on this feminine hygiene trend, too (for the National Post). Great blog -- just found it today. I'm over at Green as a Thistle (greenasathistle.com) if you want to drop by sometime and talk about tote bags! :)
I love alternative menstrual products. My mainstay is cloth pads (and I work full-time, you just need to bring extras in your purse and have a tidy storage pouch for soiled pads!), I use cups and sponges for swimming or such. There are tons of options and varieties and brands available, so try a few and go from there. It sounds incredibly cheesy, but once you take the first few steps, it's really easy and empowering :-)
Wow! All of this is really interesting. Thank you for the education in a green alternative for my red days ;) I will investigate further and vow to graduate asap on to a new and greener me.
I use the UK Mooncup (different from the US Mooncup), and I love it. I did a lot of research before I decided which cup to get. This link is a great resource for making your decision: menstrual cup support. I'm on my second period using it, and I've been thrilled with it.
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