#evawear

[etakeh]

ATTN: Menstruators

Well huh.  I guess I should have suspected that since Thinx exist, so do other versions or period panties, but I didn’t think they’d gotten this far.

I’m glad, because the “We’re the cool kids” language on the Thinx website annoys me.  

PantyProp - Lots of style options, up to size 3x.  Also includes styles and sizes specifically for teens, a “first period kit” to make the first time a little less traumatizing, and even styles for men.   People are figuring out that men can have visits from Aunt Flo as well.  Oh and reusable pads and no-waste tampons.

Then someone mentioned Lunapads.  They have a lot of the same things, plus Fashion Colors on the resuable pads.  They also seem to have some kind of dealio with DivaCup.

Ok then there’s EvaWear, brought to you by the EvaCup people. Up to 3x.  And it looks like they have more under the Anigan label?  Up to 2x on some, but most are only up to Large.  Hmm.

Harebrained.  For the snarkier amongst you.  These are not true “period panties” in the sense that they can sort of replace other menstrual products, they’re more for making you feel better while you feel miserable.

Adira has styles in up to 4x on some, but others just to XL.   Just undies.

Dear Kate has underwear, activewear, dancewear.  Up to 3x.

ModiBodi.  They go up to 6x on some styles. SIX EX, guys.   They don’t do any sort of reusable pad or anything, though.

But don’t worry!  If you want organic, free-range period panties, that also exists in Rawganique.  Period panties and reusable pads. 

This is kind of a sideways one: Confitex.  Technically am incontinence product, but I’ve seen reviews that say they’re amazing for periods due to their much higher absorbency.  Like, much much higher.  Even their “light” is pretty good.  Styles for women and men, in up to 3x on some styles.  Don’t they all look happy?

Sooo that’s all I’ve got, after a quick look.  I’m sure there are more, and I did see several “diy” period panty ideas as well.

[coffee-lover-666]

More Confident And Relaxed

[May 6, 2020]

I had a video call with a family friend as I had questions about my cup, and my mother recommended contacting this person.

She answered a lot of my questions, and it honestly helped me. I don’t feel nervous anymore about using my cup now.

I told her I’d let her know how things go with my first time using the cup, and I may by then have more questions. I can’t wait until my period comes now!

I still need to post to my review blog about a review of what I think of the Saalt Soft Cup and if I definitely like it. I also need to do a recent update on my EvaWear.

[vibrantmidwife-blog]

Rethink Your Toxic Menstrual Products

This post contains affiliate links please see bottom of page for disclosure.

Rethink your Toxic Menstrual Products

During women’s reproductive years we use menstrual products monthly for from 3 to 7 days. Rarely do women think about the consequences of what is in their menstrual products. Both tampons and plastic pads have toxins.

These toxins are even more important because of the location of pads and tampons and the cumulative effect over time. The vaginal tissues are some of the most absorbent in the body. Toxins that go through the skin go directly to the blood without being filtered through the digestive system.

Tampons are made of cotton or rayon or a combination of the two. This may seem natural, but here are some facts for you. Cotton has high amounts of pesticides used to grow it and is genetically modified.  Studies pesticides increase infertility rates. (1) Pesticides have also been implicated in miscarriage, premature birth, reduced fertility in both men and women and altered sex ratio with fewer boys being born. (4)

Conventional Sanitary Pads are made from Toxic plastic

Sanitary Pads contain BPA and Phthalates that impact womens hormones and fertility. Harvard researchers speculated that BPA both decreases egg quality and interferes with the environment of the uterus reducing the ability of the embryos to implant. A small study found that the average BPA level in women with recurrent miscarriage was three times higher than in the control group. (4)  Another study showed that women with higher levels of phthalate before they were pregnant were more likely to have a miscarriage than other women. (5) And the studies go on and on.

For more information on BPA and Egg Health read my blog: BPA Villain of Fertility

HealthY Menstrual Options

Use organic tampons and pads. These are the same as conventional tampons and pads but are not bleached and do not contain chemicals such as BPA and phthalates. You can find them here.

Use a menstrual cup. These are reusable bell shaped cups that fit inside the vagina and catch menstrual flow instead of absorbing it like tampons and pads. They are often made of silicone or a more natural product like the Keeper which is made of rubber.  Often they are sized in two sizes: size B for before you have a baby and size A for after. They can last 10 years in good condition.  A popular one is Intimina Lily Cup Compact. Women like that it is is collapsible and fits easily in a purse. Also it is smaller than some and possibly easier to insert. One draw back is it is made of silicone. You can look at it on Amazon here: Lily Cup Compact-Collapsible Menstrual Cup.

Use Clothe Pads. These are reusable pads that attach inside your underwear with snap or Velcro just like regular pads. They come in different absorbancy. They are cleaned by soaking in cold water and then washing in your washing machine. Clothe Pads come in a variety of styles and you can even get a pattern and make them yourself.

Sea sponges are natural sponges that come from the ocean floor. I read that they are usually harvested with a knife and regenerate quickly. They work like a tampon and can then be rinsed out and cleaned with vinegar, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and then reused. Some women report they are a great help with prolapsed cervix, even after menopause. This may sound crazy to you, but I encourage you to give them a chance. :) You can get them through my affiliate link here: Jade and Pearl Sea Pearl Sponge Tampons.

Period Panties are panties that contain a pad inside of them. They are easy to clean just like regular panties and come in a variety of fun styles. Some of them are designed with pouches for pads to slip into and others are designed to be extra absorbent and not need a pad at all. It is advised not to wear them on the heaviest days/nights of your period to avoid leaks but they are great for light days. Amazon has a great selection so be sure to use my link to browse EvaWear Period Panties. 

So you see there are lots of options for non toxic menstrual products I encourage you to try a few of them. You might be surprised at how much you like the non toxic menstural products and the benefits you your hormones and fertility are wonderful!

Sources 1. Smith EM, Hammonds-Ehlers M, Clark MK, Kirchner HL, Fuortes L. Occupational exposures and risk of female infertility. J Occup Environ Med. 1997;39:138–147. doi: 10.1097/00043764-199702000-00011. [PubMed] [Cross Ref] 2., 3.   http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/pesticide-exposure-may-impact-female-fertility 4. http://www.panna.org/human-health-harms/reproductive-health 5. http://www.beyondpesticides.org/resources/pesticide-induced-diseases-database/sexual-and-reproductive-dysfunction 6. Dioxin and Furan Levels Found in Tampons Jeffrey C. Archer, Ronald Mabry-Smith, Sina Shojaee, Jimmy Threet, John J. Eckert, and Vincent E. Litman. Journal of Women's Health. May 2005, 14(4): 311-315. doi:10.1089/jwh.2005.14.311.  Published in Volume: 14 Issue 4: May 25, 2005 7. Ehrlich, S, PL Williams, SA Missmer, JA Flaws, KF Berry, A Calafat, X Ye, JC Petrozza, D Wright and R Hauser. 2012. Urinary bisphenol A concentrations and implantation failure among women undergoing in vitro fertilization. 8. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/feminine-hygiene-products_b_3359581.html 9. http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/dioxin-linked-to-difficulty-conceiving/ 10. http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/health-issues/avoiding-glyphosate-in-feminine-hygiene-products/

Picture are copyright by creative commons for free use without attribution unless otherwise noted.

[caseycardwell]

REVIEW: period pants

“A few pairs are needed as I wouldn't want to wear the same pair all day, so they’re expensive, but will last longer than having to buy pads and tampons every month.” Anisha

Continuing our reviews of eco-friendly sanitary products, Anisha Gupta and her friend Rachel shared why their experiences of period underwear were anything but pants.

Rachel reviewed the EvaWear bikini in size small, while Anisha tried Thinx cotton briefs in size medium.

Use

Anisha: “I have a fairly light flow with maybe one heavier day during my period but absolutely hate the feel of pads, which often cause me to break out or itch, especially at night. Period pants feel like the next best thing to free bleeding with a bit of added security.”

Rachel: “I used the pants as a back-up for a menstrual cup. As I have a copper IUD, I find my periods are heavier than normal and often need to double up on tampons and pads. In a bid to be more sustainable, I am combining a cup and period pants instead.”

Fit & comfort

Rachel: “Really comfortable, soft material and waistband. Feels only slightly thicker than normal underwear and much more comfortable than wearing a pad.” 5/5

Anisha: “I usually wear a UK size 10/12 and I got the Thinx pants in a medium. They’re not quite as high-waisted as I usually like my briefs to be, but they were nice and thick and supportive and the cotton-rich outer material was great as I find synthetic fabrics irritating on my genital area.” 4/5

Absorbency

Rachel: “I had a few small leaks with my menstrual cup as I'm still getting used to it and the pants were great at handling them. It did feel noticeably damp when I had a slightly bigger leak so I doubt that the pants would be effective for me to use without a cup or tampon.” 3/5

Anisha: “The pants work best at the beginning and end of my 4-day flow. Designed to hold around 20ml of blood, or 2 tampons worth, I find I can wear them all day on Day 1 and 4 of my period and not require any additional protection.

“On my heaviest day, usually day 2, I found they weren’t sufficient on their own, but worked well with a tampon. I previously would use a disposable thin or ultra pad but I absolutely hate the feeling of them so these pants are a much nicer alternative.” 4/5

Practicality

Rachel: “As with pads it felt uncomfortable/unhygienic to wear the pants for a whole day if I had leaked. I would imagine that similarly to pads, the smell would be noticeable if not changed throughout the day, meaning I would always want to carry a backup pair. Also after washing they took a whole day to fully dry so I would need a few pairs on rotation to work during my period.” 2/5

Anisha: “The fact they’re not disposable I guess is both a disadvantage and a benefit in this respect. It’s a hassle (and expensive!) having to carry a spare pair or two of pants as a back-up compared to a tampon or pad, and the added difficulty of carrying around a wet/used pair before you can get it home to wash and dry is at times annoying.

“I usually prefer to hand-wash the pants in cold water first to remove blood, before adding to my usual dark washes in the machine. So far there has been no staining with this method, and the pants seem hold their shape and quality when put through my usual 30 degree wash. The elasticated waistband still feels snug and the colour does not seem to have faded either which can sometimes be a problem with black underwear.” 3/5

Overall

Period pants are a great sustainable option for people with heavy periods who usually use a pad/liner as a backup to a cup/tampon, or alternatively worn alone for those with lighter flows.

“If leaks are common or if used as some protection for light periods, a few pairs are needed as I wouldn't want to wear the same pair all day, so they’re expensive, but will last longer than having to buy pads and tampons every month.”

“I previously would use a disposable thin or ultra pad but I absolutely hate the feeling of them so these pants are a much nicer alternative.”

REVIEW: period pants published first on https://spanishflyhealth.blogspot.com/

[thegreenwolf]

You know what’s ALSO awesome? Absorbent period panties!  They’re regular black underwear except there’s an absorbent layer and a waterproof layer. That way you don’t have to worry about the shimmy and shift of a pad. And even if you’re a heavy bleeder who still needs a tampon or mooncup, these make great backup. They’re surprisingly comfortable, too; I was worried about the “diaper effect”, but they just feel like normal undies. I usually wash mine at least twice after use just to be sure, but it’s probably overkill.

Thinx is the best known brand, but I’ve used Evawear ones as well and had good results--in fact, I prefer the Evaqwear undies. They do crinkle just a tiny bit, but it’s not audible when you’re walking around. The other serious downside is that they only come in smaller sizes for most styles, though Evawear does have an XXXL brief, and some of Thinx’s styles also go up to XXXL. Be warned that the sizes may run a little small.

You know what I'm just gonna say it.... pads are better than tampons, everybody needs to stop lying

[coffee-lover-666]

Receiving My Cups

[May 6, 2020]

So I just checked on when my packages will be arriving and where they are.

My cups may arrive today! They’re in my city currently with a carrier facility. I really hope they come today!

I’ve never been so excited for a new menstrual product! Okay, that’s a lie I was very excited about my EvaWear menstrual underwear but this is different.

I’ve always hated certain things about my period, I won’t get graphic, that will come after with a warning, and will be on my review page. I haven’t had any new items to test so my review page has been sort of empty and quiet.

Once I get my cups in I’ll post about it and give a review after my second or third cycle of using it!