Menstrual pads: are they harmless or dangerous?
Pads… probably the most timeless menstruation-survival invention in history.
If you look back into history, as early as 400 AD when Hypatia, the famed philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer, was said to have displayed her menstrual rag to a young suitor to try to discourage him. As long as women have had periods, they have had to find creative ways to manage or control their menstrual flow.
As the years have passed, menstrual products for women have become better and more effective! Women no longer have to sit inside like Rachel from Genesis 31:35 in the Bible who hid stolen idols from her father by pretending she was on her period. “And she said to her father, ‘Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.’ So he searched but did not find the household gods.” Now women can take pain relievers and use products that allow them to go to work and school just like any other day!
As improvements have grown over the years, a few concerns have occurred as well. According to this article by Huffington Post, period products are not simply innocent and helpful… in fact, they actually can be dangerous, putting your health at risk!
Your skin is incredibly absorbent, and anything it comes in constant contact with will eventually end up in your bloodstream and from there into your organs. That is why it is so important to know the ingredients in things that touch your skin, and be careful what you allow to have contact with it, especially in more absorbent, sensitive areas like your vagina.
According to the article linked above, “Tampons and pads with odor neutralizers and artificial fragrances are virtually a chemical soup, laced with artificial colors, polyester, adhesives, polyethylene (PET), polypropylene and propylene glycol (PEG), contaminants linked to hormone disruption, cancer, birth defects, dryness and infertility.”
In some ways, using a product with fragrances, bleach, and other chemicals is worse than eating foods with these ingredients because the vaginal walls are so thin, allowing chemicals to reach the bloodstream much easier.
So, why are menstrual cups a better alternative to pads?
Menstrual cups are safe
Your Pixie Cup is made out of medical-grade silicone and completely non-allergenic. Plus, the menstrual cup does not contain any harmful chemicals that could enter your bloodstream.
Menstrual cups are reusable
You can use a menstrual cup for up to 10 years! As long as you keep it clean and sanitized, it will serve you well for a long time! Your pad will only last a few hours, maxi-mum (no pun intended) and then goes straight into a landfill.
Menstrual cups save money
Your Pixie Cup will cost you a little more than a package of pads, but it will save you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in the long run!
If you find that you need a little extra coverage for peace of mind, why not try a reusable pad? They are easy to clean and will save you precious dollars that you could put toward an extra drink at Starbucks this month!
Do you use pads with your menstrual cup? Why or why not?
