Nowadays, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to shopping for menstrual products. But are all these products suitable for everyone? No, they aren’t. So how do you know what’ll suit you best? Well, check out this overview with pros and cons. Everything you need to know when it comes to menstrual management.

Panty liners

Panty liners are actually intended to prevent vaginal discharge. However, they can also be used if you think you’re about to get your period. Or if it’s almost over, but you’re still losing some drops.
PROS They’re small and thin. You hardly feel them. The adhesive strip keeps them in place.
CONS You have to throw them away, so panty liners are harmful to the environment. If you wear them every day, they can cause skin irritation. Vulvas need to be able to breathe.

Menstrual cups

They can sometimes look a bit intimidating, those cups made of medical silicone. But if you fold them properly (there ‘s more than one technique), inserting them is easy. There are plenty of brands, sizes and colours.
PROS You can keep them in for a relatively long time (up to 12 hours). Because the menstrual blood isn’t exposed to oxygen, odours are prevented. Because you can reuse them, they’re much friendlier for the environment and your budget. You get to know your body and can monitor your health better because you can see how much blood you are losing. They don’t absorb the fluid, but instead collect it, which means they don’t dry out the vagina.
CONS Determining the size isn’t easy with some brands. You shouldn’t be too prudish. Removing a very full cup is a mess if you aren’t experienced. Especially in a public toilet with a shared sink. Also: pay attention to the quality. There’s a lot of cheap junk on the market.

Menstrual pads

Anatomically shaped, super thin, with or without side wings, for the day or for the night, with or without perfume, regular or organic cotton: the choice is endless.
PROS There’s an ideal pad for every possible situation. The adhesive strip keeps it in place. Modern sanitary towels are wafer-thin, virtually invisible and have an enormous absorption capacity. More and more attention is being paid to sustainability, and nowadays regular brands also contain less plastic.
CONS You have to throw the pad away after use, which makes sanitary towels harmful to the environment. The plastic layer on the bottom can create a sultry climate that can promote infections. You have to change them regularly, preferably every 4 hours. Or immediately when you get up in the morning after 8 hours of sleep.

Menstrual discs

This variation on the menstrual cup looks a bit like a pessary. However, that was a contraceptive and the disc is intended as a menstrual product.
PROS The advantages are the same as those of the menstrual cup. With a bonus: because you insert a menstrual disc higher – against the cervix – it leaves your vagina free. So you can have penis-in-vagina sex with them. Although it’s smart to empty the disc first. Unlike a menstrual cup, you don’t have to break the vacuum to remove it.
CONS Since you have to put your fingers in your vagina if you want to get the disc in place properly, you should not be too prudish.

Disposable menstrual cups

There are also menstrual cups for single use. They resemble a reusable menstrual disc in terms of design, although the material is a bit creaky and less soft.
PROS A disposable menstrual cup is easier to insert than a normal menstrual cup. They also have the bonus that you can keep them in during penis-in-vagina sex.
CONS A disadvantage is that they’re relatively expensive for a disposable product. The fact that you throw them away after use, makes them harmful to the environment.

Tampliner

This innovative menstrual product combines a tampon with a kind of panty liner and labia pad. When you insert the tampon, your finger is protected by something that most resembles the finger of a latex glove. The accompanying pad, aka the mini liner, disappears between your vulva lips or labia.
PROS The Tampliner was developed by a gynaecologist and is made of organic cotton, among other things. When you remove the tampon, it disappears into the biodegradable applicator cover.
CONS It’s a disposable product. For the time being, you can only buy them in the British webshop.

Period underwear 

Underwear with a moisture-absorbing gusset is becoming increasingly popular. Logically, manufacturers of disposable products are now also entering this market. You see period underwear in all colours and variations: shorts, hip briefs and thongs. There’s even pants especially for teenagers and special versions for sports and swimming. They aren’t new though: as early as 1926, rubber-coated menstrual briefs for the night were advertised. These showed a surprising number of similarities to diaper briefs from that time…
PROS Their styling doesn’t reveal the secret weapon: a gusset that can absorb 2 to 6 tablespoons of moisture. You can choose from different models, for light, medium and heavy days. Combining them with other period products is possible, but not necessary. The purchase price is also reasonable if you consider how long you can use them for.
CONS You have to wash them? But hopefully you do that with your regular underwear as well.

Disposable tampons

Mini, normal or super. With or without applicator. The white sticks come in all shapes and sizes. They are made of synthetic material (rayon) or organically certified cotton. The absorption level is indicated on the packaging by means of drops. This has nothing to do with the size of your vagina, but refers to the amount of blood you lose. You can keep them in for a maximum of 8 hours.
PROS Because you wear them internally, you don’t see them. Apart from the string. They offer optimal freedom of movement. Because the menstrual blood isn’t exposed to oxygen, odours are prevented. But that applies to all internal products.
CONS You have to throw the product away after use. Tampons are therefore harmful to the environment. Tampons with an applicator create even more waste; whether the applicator is made of plastic or cardboard, in both cases you use more (packaging) material. Because tampons absorb blood instead of collecting it, they can irritate your vagina.

Sponges

Sauna tampon, soft tampon, sex tampon, stringless tampon, tampon sponge; they’re all different names for the same product. Sponges are made of flexible, absorbent foam material (such as polyurethane). You wear them internally and can keep them in for up to 8 hours.
PROS Because you wear them internally and the string is missing, you don’t see or feel them. Ideal for sports, sauna visits or making love (sponges were invented in the sex industry).
CONS Sponges are more expensive than regular tampons. After use, you throw them away (although there are people who boil and reuse them). Because the string is missing, removing them is more difficult than with a normal tampon.

Washable pads

Washable pads come in all shapes and sizes and with the craziest designs. The pads are usually provided with a water-repellent layer to prevent leakage. You can keep the pad in place with press studs. It won’t come as a surprise that there are also washable panty liners and labial pads that you wear between your vulva lips to catch discharge. In some collections you’ll even find a complete starters kit.
PROS Because you reuse them, you only have to buy a supply once. That’s good for your budget and for the environment. If made of the right material (unbleached cotton), they’re free of toxic substances and bleaching agents. They’re super soft and generally cause less irritation than disposable pads.
CONS That you have to wash them? Because there is no adhesive strip, they can sometimes shift slightly. The absorbency level is less than that of disposable menstrual pads.

Washable tampons

You read it right. There are also washable tampons. These crocheted pieces of unbleached cotton with a string attached are available ready-made in various sizes, but you can also order a pattern and crochet them yourself. You roll them up and insert them as you normally would with a tampon.
PROS You only have to buy or make them once because you reuse them. That’s good for the budget and for the environment. If made of the right material (unbleached cotton) they’re free of toxic substances and bleaching agents.
CONS You have to wash them. The absorbency is much less than that of a regular tampon. The choice of material is important. If fibers remain in your vagina, it can cause infections.

Sea sponges

Sea sponges have been used to collect menstrual blood since ancient times. They are pieces of sponge animals: primitive, multicellular animals that live on the seabed.
PROS You can keep them in for about 4 to 6 hours. One sponge can last you 4 to 6 months. Because you wear them internally, you don’t see or feel them.
CONS Because they’re a natural product, sea sponges can contain grains of sand and such. The absorption capacity isn’t optimal and sometimes the hygiene isn’t either, seeing as you only wash them with water.

Photo: Shutterstock.

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