“Oh my, God! I’m hemorrhaging,” screams 11-year old Vada Sultenfuss in the 1991 coming of age comedy-drama film, My Girl. Vada would soon come to learn about the ins- and outs of menstruation. I’m sure we all remember that first speckle of blood, for most of us, in a public setting. It was foregin, something never before seen, what could it be? Those are probably just a few thoughts that might have crossed your mind as you inspected what would be the beginning of a womanly transformation. As the years go by and your body changes, it’s usual for girls to make the transition from sanitary napkins to tampons. For decades, there’s been a silent debate on whether pads or tampons are better. Tampons, however, have had a few mishaps resulting in emergency medical attention and legal cases. This is not to say that using tampons is wrong, but it isn’t always the safest option for women. “Oh my, God! I’m hemorrhaging,” screams 11-year old Vada Sultenfuss in the 1991 coming of age comedy-drama film, My Girl. Vada would soon come to learn about the ins- and outs of menstruation. I’m sure we all remember that first speckle of blood, for most of us, in a public setting. It was foregin, something never before seen, what could it be? Those are probably just a few thoughts that might have crossed your mind as you inspected what would be the beginning of a womanly transformation. As the years go by and your body changes, it’s usual for girls to make the transition from sanitary napkins to tampons. For decades, there’s been a silent debate on whether pads or tampons are better. Tampons, however, have had a few mishaps resulting in emergency medical attention and legal cases. This is not to say that using tampons is wrong, but it isn’t always the safest option for women.
Dr. Maggie Ney, the co-director of the Women’s Clinic at the Alaska Center in Santa Monica, California, was interviewed by the Wellness and Lifestyle brand, Goop, headed by actress, Gwyneth Paltrow. When she was asked about the potentially harmful chemicals used in tampons, she went on to say, “Tampons are considered a ‘medical device,’ by the Food and Drug Administration and manufacturers are not required to issue a full disclosure of what is in their tampons. Tampons may have odor neutralizers, dyes, pesticides, and fragrances. If we are concerned about additives in our foods, we should be equally concerned about inserting them in our tampons—because the vaginal wall is so permeable, this allows toxins and chemicals like pesticides direct access to our bloodstream.” The vaginal wall is extremely delicate and is, as we know, a “natural cleaning agent.” This means that all those fruity fresh scents aren’t necessarily necessary to keep an odorless vagina.
In fact, those scents can more often than not disturb the PH balance and cause itching and irritation. A better alternative to mainstream tampons and pads would be to take the organic route. I found three brands that are worth checking out:
The Honey Pot
For the environmentally conscious gal, The Honey Pot provides an incredible line of pads, tampons, and wipes. Not only do they help the flow, they also have a line of vaginal washes and creams that don’t contain harmful chemicals and won’t throw off your PH. The entire affordable brand can be found on their website https://thehoneypot.co/ and is also available in Target stores. Not only are they female led, they’re also Black owned!
L. Organic Tampons
L. Organic Tampons are more than their green palm tree packaging, they’re also a beacon for women in need. When you purchase an L. Organic box product of your choice, a box is then donated to a woman in need. Their popular 30 count tampons are available for only $6.99 at Target stores.
Charlie Banana Feminine Pads
Periods! But make it Pretty. Charlie Banana Feminine Pads come in packs of 3 or 4 brightly colored, floral patterns. But they’re not like any other pads, they’re reusable. It’s soft fabric is comfortable on the skin and is easy to wash. They come in four sizes from their liner size all the way up to Super+. Their quality and fun patterns are worth prices that vary but are less than $30. They’re available at Target stores and their website https://www.charliebanana.com/
So there you have it, eco friendly feminie hygiene doesn’t have to be as complicated and nauseating as your cramps may be. Remember to always research what feminie hygiene products you use. Every girl is different, so find what works best for you!