Sunday, March 15, 2009

Tampons and other Alternatives

By Sarah Blarney

While most women use tampons and never even consider another alternative, there are many that want to try something else out because they either are not comfortable with a tampon or want to use something that is more environmentally friendly.

Tampons, while handy, have two main issues. The first is the possibility of getting Toxic Shock Syndrome while using one. This is usually caused if you have a tampon in for more than the suggested time, and is very infrequent, but the illness can be lethal if not treated fast. This is usually caused when women use a tampon that is more absorbent than they required, so it is always recommended that you use a tampon with the least required absorbency.

The second problem with tampons is the amount of waste they generate. Not only they are made from non-recycled materials, but the average woman uses thousands in her lifetime leading to a lot of waste. In the current environment where everything is being made to be environmentally friendly, and people are moving away from products that create too much waste, you might want to consider switching.

If you are considering switching to tampon substitutes due to either health or environmental factors, here are a few options that you can consider if you are thinking of switching:

1. Organic Cotton Tampons: Since these are prepared from organically grown cotton, they are friendlier to the atmosphere. These are obtainable in most health stores or natural food stores, and price about the same as normal tampons.

2. Reusable Menstrual Cups: These are manufactured out of plastic, or silicone. They are washable and reusable. A cup can be used for about ten years, making it particularly environmentally friendly. Women who validate these say that they are extremely trouble-free to use once you get used to them, and you can store them between your menstrual cycles just by washing and boiling them in hot water. This will save you both wealth and the environment.

3. Disposable Menstrual Cups: These do not help out the wastage problem, but you only have to use about a fraction the quantity as compared to tampons, so they are environmentally friendly. These work comparable to the reusable menstrual cups and have no associated peril of toxic shock syndrome or any other disorder.

4. Menstrual Pads: These cause more leftovers than a normal tampon, but there are no related health fears as these are not placed inside the vagina and thus there is no chance of bacteria entering your body.

These were a few replacements to typical tampons in case you are thinking of moving away from your current brand to a healthier or environmentally friendlier selection. While any conclusion you go for will take some period to regulate to, all of the above mentioned alternatives are used by thousands of women all over the world very effectively and the time it takes you to adjust will not be too long. - 14130

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