This is something I know I've needed to talk about for a while. But it's kind of uncomfortable to talk about tampons, pads, cups, and all of those sorts of things. But it's important. So I'm going to do it!

Feminie Care Products - Why it's Important to go Toxin-Free, Non-Toxic, Green, Clean, and Healthy for your Monthly Visit 

If you can't tell, I grew up in a family where you didn't necessarily talk about this kind of stuff. It was embarrassing. You just didn't tell people when you were on your period. So I have been hesitating about talking about this for a while, but I'm just getting it all out there. I am a Gen Xer and I feel like the millennials and maybe the younger generations felt a little bit more confident talking about this stuff. 

So let’s just state the obvious. I mean, come on, we're talking about our beautiful female sexual organs here, right? It is super super important to have our feminine care products be as safe as possible. You may not know this, but many typical conventional pads and tampons often contain some nasty chemicals:

•  Dioxins which are released through the chlorine bleaching process that is used to make cotton. These dioxins are known to cause cancer and they're often found in conventional tampons and pads.

• Fragrances which can contain a slew of hormone disruptors, so we definitely don’t want that near our sexual organs. I have lots of episodes about hormone disruption and why we need to pay attention to that if you want to learn more.

• Rayon which is a synthetic, non-natural, textile that’s manufactured in a way that’s not good for the environment.

It may seem crazy that companies can have these chemicals in tampons, which we put inside our body. But again, regulations aren’t protecting us. We have to be vigilant consumers ourselves, and choose other options that are better for us and better for the environment.

We want to be looking for organic cotton and alternative options when we are looking for more natural and toxin-free feminine care products.

I feel like nowadays, we are so lucky to have so many options when it comes to organic and healthier products in the feminine care aisle. It wasn't too long ago that really there were two brands on the marketplace, maybe three.

Now, we're finding that there are so many more options and there are so many more brands that are prioritizing organic and sustainable materials in the creation of feminine care products.

• Washable Pads I remember when I first started getting a little bit more crunchy and hippie in my lifestyle, and I started shopping at the co-op and I saw washable pads. That was probably the first time I'd ever seen something like that. I’ll be totally honest, I was shocked at the idea of having to wash out and reuse a pad. And you still might think that is not so appealing, but it shows a trend toward healthier and more sustainable feminie care, which is a great thing.

• Organic tampons and pads are going to be better for the earth, both in how they grow the  organic cotton or other organic materials used, like bamboo. It's just better for the environment, it's better for wildlife, it's better for the farmers, it's just better overall.

• Cups When I was thought about trying a cup, I did an online quiz that told me what kind of cup I should try first. I started using a cup right away and I felt like my life had changed. I did not have to buy tampons all the time. I did not have to worry about running out of tampons. I basically feel like I'm not even on my period because I am not seeing what comes out of my body when I change a tampon multiple times a day. The cup holds so much more than a tampon does too. Once I found the cup and found out how awesome it was, I haven't switched back. And guess what? you can reuse the cup over and over and over again. I think I've had mine for over a year and I only had to buy one. It is so convenient. If you happen to be traveling and you think you're going to maybe get on your period, you just throw the cup in your bag. If you need it, you need it. If you don't, you don't, you're not having to bring an entire package of tampons or pads with you. 

• Disk I've also heard really good things about the disk. They can be a little more tricky to use, but with some practice they offer great coverage during your period.

• Underwear  There are several brands of menstrual underwear on the market. The underwear is absorbent and worn like regular underwear. It’s great for young teens just getting their period who maybe feel unsure about trying to mess with pads or tampons. You just want to make sure that the period underwear fabric is as toxin-free and eco-friendly as possible. That it’s made of organic material, or bamboo or is free of some of the nasty chemicals that might be lurking in there like PFAS. 

So that’s it, the nitty gritty on toxin free feminine care products. I shared it all here. Kind of embarrassed. (Just kidding.) I will share anything. I'm an open book. And I hope that this info was really helpful for you. If you have been scared about trying organic toxin free tampons, pads, cups, discs, period underwear, I encourage you to try something new. Get out of your comfort zone and prioritize your health with your feminine care.