Absorbents used during Menstruation
1. Reusable and Washable Cloth Pads:
These pads may be sustainable sanitary option but must be hygienically washed and dried in the sunlight as sun is natural sanitizer. It should be stored in cool dry place for reuse to avoid contamination.
Advantages:
- It can be reused
- It is cost-effective
- It is easily available
- It is eco friendly
Disadvantages:
- This pad is harmful for long-time single use. As it might infect vagina part if can’t change in few hours
- While travelling or at working place it is almost impossible to wash used clothes and replace dried one.
In short, it is useful only for female who stays at home.
2. Commercial Sanitary Cotton Pads:
These are easily available at many stores, chemists etc.
Advantages:
- Less chances of disease because made from cotton
Disadvantages:
- These are expensive compared to cloth pads
- Non reusable
- Not very environment –friendly
- The cotton used in their making is not 100% natural & may contain pesticides
- It’s capacity of soaking or absorbing blood is comparatively less to normal sanitary napkin
- Females have to change it frequently in a day (depends on supply of blood).
- It might spread on under garments or dress worn by a female which create embarrassing situation for her.
3. Tampons:
These are kind of plug of soft cotton which is inserted into vagina to absorb menstrual flow before it leaves body. Nowadays, sea sponge tampons are available in market which are natural alternatives to synthetic tampons.
Disadvantages:
- These are expensive
- Not easily degradable in nature and not very environmental friendly
4. Reusable Tampons:
These are washable tampons made up of natural materials like bamboo, wool, cotton, or hemp. They are also knitted or crocheted using natural absorbent material like cotton or wool. They are inserted into vagina to absorb menstrual
flow same as disposable tampons.
Disadvantage:
- Same as tampons
Advantage:
- Easily degradable in nature
5. Menstrual Cups:
This may be a new technology for poor women and girls and an alternative to sanitary pads and tampons. These are like cups made of medical grade silicone rubber which makes cup easy to fold and get inserted into vagina to collect
menstrual blood. These can be worn upto 6 to 12 hours depending upon amount of menstrual flow, so it needs to be removed & emptied less frequently.
Advantages:
- These are reusable and environment friendly.
- It offers sustainable, practical and cost- effective alternative.
Disadvantage:
- Sanitation conditions are not good
6. Commercial Sanitary Pads:
Actually 90% of sanitary napkins are plastic.
Advantages:
- Normal, XL, XXL and XXXL sizes are very much helpful in travelling, work places or during night where blood flow is like water.
- It absorbs heavy blood flow and don’t allow pad for leakage and spoil clothes.
Disadvantages:
- These are expensive as compared to normal pads.
- Chemicals and materials used to make these pads such as wood pulp, plastic polymer, etc. are harmful for vagina if used for long period.
7. Bamboo Fibre Pads, Banana Fibre Pads:
Bamboo pulp is used as an absorbing material in this sanitary pad.
Advantages:
- It has more absorbing capacity and is safer to use.
- These are affordable, easily decomposed and environment friendly pads which also possess anti bacterial properties.
- This provides infection and irritation- free menstruation.
Disadvantage:
- Easily not available in chemist or nearby shops
Also bamboo charcoals’ pads are available in the market with advantage that blood stains are not clearly visible and are also reusable in nature. Low- cost sanitary pads for rural women made from waste banana tree fiber were sold under trade name “Saathi” in India. These are environment-friendly and decompose in 6 months after use. Beside these products, women in rural areas also use natural material like cow dung, leaves, mud and dry coconut’s hard woody layer etc.
8. Water Hyacinth Pads:
Menstrual pads manufactured using water hyacinth is sold under trade name “jani”.
Advantages:
- These are cost-effective
- These are easily bio degradable and eco-friendly in nature
Disadvantage:
- Easily not available