Sustainable menstruation- the way ahead!

Whilst we still struggle to 'normalise' periods, the need of the hour is to go a step ahead and also talk about sustainable menstruation. Why, you ask. To answer that, we first need to know a bit on the basics of menstrual hygiene products.

What are sanitary napkins made of?

The core characteristic of a good sanitary napkin is the ability to receive, absorb and retain menstrual fluid at different conditions of rest and activity. For this, the napkin is made up of four essential layers-

1. The top fluid acquisition layer- made up of a perforated polypropylene film, which is so designed as to allow passage of fluid, yet not stick to the skin and cause discomfort. It may also contain dioxins, petrochemicals, genetically modified organisms (GMO) and fragrances.

2. The distribution component- is responsible for spreading out the fluid longitudinally for better utilisation of the napkin.

3. The absorbent structure- is made up of super absorbent polymer (SAP), and retains the fluid for longer periods without allowing back flow.

4. Liquid impervious membrane- made of polyethylene, to avoid soiling.

What may be the potential health hazards of using sanitary napkins?

I'm sure all women who've used pads in their lives are familiar with the annoying 'napkin rash', due to skin irritation. 

The blood and fluid in the napkins are excellent breeding grounds for bacteria, which may thrive and cause infectious if not changed frequently.

Moreover, there have been a few reports that the seemingly innocuous chemicals like dioxins present in napkins may be carcinogenic- even though, when one weighs the risks and benefits, the chances of that are quite low; hence, I'd recommend that one takes these reports with a pinch of salt and not get overtly paranoid regarding the same.

The health risks are not only limited to the woman using the napkins- but also extend to the sanitary workers who sort the garbage containing these napkins we dispose. Exposure to blood and body fluids without the use of protective gloves puts them at a high risk of infections of a varied nature.

What are the environmental hazards of sanitary napkins?

Did you know, a single sanitary napkin takes 500- 800 years to decompose?

That means, you and I would be long gone, and our pads would still be lying in landfills, choking up the earth!

As gynaecologists, we recommend that a menstruating woman change her pad once in every 4- 6 hours, even if not completely soiled, to avoid infection.

Considering that a woman uses, on an average, 15- 20 pads per cycle, and gets periods for around 30 years in her lifetime, each woman produces around 7200 used pads in her life! Isn't that huge?

What alternatives do I have?

Alternatives are aplenty, but the most commonly used are the menstrual cup, cloth pads and biodegradable pads.

The menstrual cup is a receptacle made up of medical- grade silicone rubber, that fits snugly into your vagina and collects the menstrual fluid. You can, at intervals, empty it and fit it back. After the first few cycles of use, one gets quite familiar with the process of insertion and removal, and trust me- of all the women I've known who have 'cupverted', none have had a negative feedback! The plus points of a cup are, apart from being an environment- friendly option, one doesn't get napkin rashes, it doesn't leak (unless improperly fitted, or not emptied in a long time), and a single cup can be used for around 5 years. I, as a professional, am always happy to guide new cup users, and answer any queries regarding the same.

For more information on Menstrual cups do refer my earlier blog.

Cloth pads are an equally good alternative for those who are not comfortable with a cup.

However, use of these entails good hygiene, since if not washed properly, these too, can be breeding grounds for bacteria. 

These pads usually come with a holder and inserts- which you can change if travelling, collect in a bag, and wash all together once back home.

They have flaps that snap shut around the sides of your panties to avoid staining. They are made of soft cotton flannel on the outside and absorbent cotton terrycloth on the inside. Cloth pads too, on an average, would last you around 5 years of regular use.

Nowadays, one often comes across 'biodegradable' pads. The absorbent material in these, instead of being the SAPs, is made of bamboo husk, or cotton. However, even these need to have atleast one plastic film to avoid leakage onto your panties, and hence aren't completely biodegradable, though definitely lesser of the two evils.

Moreover, the absorbent material in some of these sometimes may clump together and cause discomfort.

Are you ready to make the switch?

Deciding what kind of menstrual protection to use is a personal choice. Think about the products you use now and why. Was it because your mother or sister used them? Or because they were the first ones you tried? Most importantly, are they working for you? Choosing your form of protection based on what you value is an important part of self-care. We often ignore our own health- to our detriment! Making conscious decisions about the way we treat our bodies is a powerful message to our children, friends, family, and ourselves.

Moreover, we also need to think about our moral responsibility of using resources wisely and leaving the earth in a habitable condition for the future generations!

The writer is a highly approachable and dynamic Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Infertility specialist practicing in Pune.