Itโs the big question. Whether you regularly experience large clots or whether you typically get a light flow; whether youโre doubled over in pain, or (lucky you) able to run, skip and jump for the entirety of your period: choosing the right period care for you often involves trialling and testing many different options before you eventually land on the right one.
So weโve put together a handy guide on popular forms of period care out there: to ensure you never have to waste any more minutes trawling the shelves (and ultimately coming away empty-handed) of your local pharmacy again.
Tampons
Weโd be remiss if we didnโt include an option for our CBD tampons: if youโre not already familiar, theyโre fully sustainable (check), organic (check again) and come with an optional CBD coating (check, check, check) to ensure that your period feels as good as it possibly can; not to mention the no-shed sleeve, which prevents the tampon fibre separating and building up in the vagina.
Ultimately, though, your tampons are your choice. If youโre going down the tampon route, just make sure to get a size that works best for you and your body โ nobody wants to be attempting to insert an extra large size unnecessarily, or dealing with a tampon that didnโt manage to absorb all the clots!
Q&A: Which of the following foods can help ease period cramps?
A.) Bananas
B.) Milk
C.) Beans
Answer: A. Bananas are packed with magnesium, which is known for easing period cramps. But milk can bring on inflammation although the calcium in milk is a good way to control muscle spasms, so maybe consider milk in moderation) and beans, though healthy, can disturb your stomach during your period. Other great foods for easing period pain include oranges and broccoli.
Pads
Once again, it would be a little bizarre for us not to boast about our own pads โ theyโre biodegradable (fully composted in 192 days), created from corn-derived PLA (banishing fears of microplastics) and the absorbent sheets are crafted from 100% bamboo sheets: so they really are as absorbent as you could hope to find.
Again, though, pads are a personal choice. Whether you opt to go with wings or without wings, there are multiple variations of pads to choose from: and pads are a great option for anyone who suffers from vaginismus, or who simply doesnโt like inserting a tampon (or anything else) into the vagina.
Q&A: How long can a standard pad (made with plastic) take to decompose?
A.) 100-300 years
B.) 300-600 years
C.) 500-800 years
Answer: C. We know: thatโs bad.
The Mooncup
Itโs making waves (no pun intended) in the period world, and for good reason: @mooncupltd is a healthy, sustainable option for your period care. Crafted from silicone, plastic or rubber, itโs eco-friendly due to its reusability. Simply insert it into the vagina, and itโll collect (rather than absorb) the blood from your period. Just be sure to empty it out regularly!
And if youโre looking for a way to clean your Mooncup regularly, you could opt for something like the @mypixiecup Cup Cup: simply place your menstrual cup inside this (slightly bigger) cup, fill it with water and put it in the microwave: and itโll sterilise without you having to get saucepans involved.
Q&A: What do blood clots typically look like?
A.) Lumpy
B.) Stringy
C.) Jelly-like
Answer: all! These are all variations on how blood clots can appear โ but if youโre ever concerned, itโs best to make an appointment with your GP, just in case.
Period pants
In a similar vein to the Mooncup, period pants are seriously environmentally friendly, thanks to their reusable nature. Theyโre also comfy, hygienic and โ if you shop around โ can be super stylish, too. Essentially, theyโre leak-proof, hyper-absorbable knickers that youโll barely even notice youโre wearing.
@glamouruk has put together a deep dive on the best period pants you can find in the UK: https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/best-period-pants โ but while youโre here, we like the look of these:
Q&A: On average, how much blood does a person typically lose during their period?
A.) 100 millilitres
B.) 80 millilitres
C.) 60 millilitres
Answer: C. Itโs not as much as youโd think!
