Understanding Your Body and Developing a Healthier Relationship with Yourself

 by Lisha

I was listening to a podcast called, Bed Side with Tatiana Fogt, and there was a conversation on how menstrual pads, tampons, condoms, and other hygiene and wellness products that make  contact with and/or are inserted in our bodies can negatively impact our health. Personally, I have been thinking about how I can live with lower-impact routines yet never really thought about reusable period products. Although I own period underwear, I still buy and use tampons. Menstrual products are used by millions of people that menstruate on a regular basis. But many people do not pay attention to the type of ingredients used to produce tampons, condoms, and hygiene pads. When examining the packaging of menstrual products, there is no specific information provided regarding the materials used. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers these products as medical devices. This means that under the law there are no requirements for the brands and companies to disclose the ingredients used in their products.

Hygiene, menstrual, and wellness products are used for the more sensitive areas and parts of the body that also affect the overall health of your body. Condoms and tampons are products that are inserted in the vaginal canal, potentially putting those with latex allergies at risk or exposing people to toxic shock syndrome (TSS). When focusing on the adverse environmental impact, we may conclude that using menstrual underwear, cloth pads, and menstrual cups is the ideal solution to reducing waste in the personal hygiene industry. However, we must keep in mind of the effects these products have on our bodies when using them. There are pros and cons when opting for sustainable products. Choosing between cotton pads and cloth pads or cotton tampons and period underwear, you must consider your own hygiene and wellness.

Menstrual products can impact your skin, causing itchiness or irritation, and even lead to a decrease in the body’s production of natural lubrication. I have experienced the loss of natural lubricant. This happened because my vagina and skin was having a difficult time healing itself following my use of menstrual products. I had itchiness due to the use of liners for my discharge and leaking of tampons. Even though I was using period underwear and changed pads and liners constantly, my skin remained damaged. This eventually resulted in anxiety regarding sex. What if it hurt or felt uncomfortable having sex? What if I leave my partner disappointed? 

Knowing your skin type and what products will bring the most comfortability to your body is very important in preventing any kind of health issues or unsatisfaction in your sex life. Menstrual products are essential hygiene products for women and those that menstruate. Explore what products suit you, research where they are produced, what kind of ingredients are used (e.g., organic, sustainably-made, etc.), and whether they are reusable or not. Sustainability is not only nor always about how to decrease waste. Your health is important, so make sure you choose what is best for you AND the environment.

Article thumbnail image courtesy of Karolina Grabowska